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Author: Saratoga TODAY

September 23 – September 29, 2023

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Blotter.

Saratoga Springs Police

Michael Roohan, 31, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 19 with obstruct governmental administration, and on Sept. 18 with criminal possession of a controlled substance. 

Brett Fox, 34, of Ballston Spa, was charged Sept. 18 with criminal obstruction of breathing. 

Courtney Pigliavento, 38, of Ballston Spa, was charged Sept. 18 with petit larceny, and criminal possession of stolen property. 

Salvatore Panetta, 54, of Whitehall, was charged Sept. 18 with petit larceny. 

Armistead Mead, 45, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 18 with operating motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, and moved from lane unsafely. 

Ivan Belov, 25, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 17 with criminal mischief, and acting in manner injure child. 

Anthony Kelly, 66, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 17 with assault and criminal possession of a weapon. 

Stephanie Pacheco, 24, of Schenectady, was charged Sept. 17 with DWI, resisting arrest, and failure to obey traffic control device. 

Zachary Petit, 30, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 16 with DWI, operating motor vehicle without inspection certificate, and making an illegal signal. 

Tracy Fox, 29, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 16 with petit larceny. 

Korey West, 25, of Greenfield, was charged Sept. 16 with criminal possession of a controlled substance, aggravated unlicensed operation, operating motor vehicle without inspection certificate, and making an illegal signal.  

Erik Salazar, 27, of Watervliet, was charged Sept. 16 with DWI, and moved from lane unsafely.

Candace Slaven, 41, of Malta, was charged Sept. 15 with DWI.

Taylor Ruddy, 21, was charged with criminal impersonation. 

John Jarvis, 60, was charged Sept. 13 with petit larceny. 

Beth Miller, 62, of Greenfield, was charged Sept. 13 with petit larceny. 

Ann Matrazzo, 62, of Lynn, Massachusetts, was charged Sept. 12 with petit larceny. 

Daniel McKay, 40, of Amsterdam, was charged Sept. 12 with robbery in the first-degree. 

Joseph Castro-Serrano, 36, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 11 with criminal mischief, menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon. 

Shane Hemphill, 31, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 11 with assault, menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon. 

Michael McDonald, 37, of Amsterdam, was charged Sept. 10 with criminal mischief. 

Yasmine Moore, 27, of Watervliet, was charged Sept. 10 with criminal mischief, and criminal tampering. 

Saratoga County Court

Henry Desnoyers, 52, of Mechanicville, was sentenced Sept. 21 to 1-1/2 to 3 years incarceration, after pleading to felony criminal contempt, charged May 2023 in Malta. 

Casey Mohan, 36, of Clifton Park, was sentenced Sept. 21 to 3-1/2 years incarceration/5 years post-release supervision, after pleading to felony burglary, charged January 2023 in Providence, and 1-1/3 to 4 years incarceration after pleading to felony grand larceny in Greenfield charged February 2023.  Sentences to run concurrently.  

Herbert L. Marlow, 76, of Clifton Park, pleaded to two felony counts of possessing a sexual performance by a child. Sentencing Nov. 30. 

Cole D. Vincent, 54, of Troy, was sentenced Sept. 18 to 2 to 4 years incarceration, after pleading to felony grand larceny, charged June 2023 in Clifton Park. 

David E. Linen, 44, of Waterford, pleaded Sept. 18 to felony strangulation. Sentencing Dec. 18. 

Brian D. Horn, 49, of Schenectady, pleaded Sept. 18 to attempted possession of a forged instrument, charged February 2023 in Wilton. Sentencing Nov. 20. 

Patricia M. Pillar, 47, of Clifton Park, was sentenced Sept. 15 to 1 to 3 years incarceration, after pleading to felony vehicular assault, charged July 4, 2002 in Wilton. 

James B. Foster, 60, of Northumberland, was sentenced Sept. 15 to 1-1/3 to 4 years incarceration, after pleading to felony criminal contempt, charged May 2023 in Corinth. 

“Play Ball!” – City Celebrates Opening of Outdoor Multi-Sports Court

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

Ribbon-cutting of a new, multi-use sports area at the city’s Vanderbilt Avenue recreation center on Sept. 25, 2023. Photo by Thomas Dimopoulos. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The city of Saratoga Springs cut the ribbon on a new, multi-use sports area at the Scott T. Johnson Recreation Center this week, boasting six goal cages that recess into the mesh network and a pair of basketball hoops – with nylon nets intact and in place – standing tall at opposite ends. 

The ribbon-cutting ceremony on Sept. 25 included current City Council members Jason Golub and James Montagnino, and former city Mayor Scott Johnson – after whom the adjoining recreation facility on Vanderbilt Avenue is named.  

Johnson, who served three two-year terms as Saratoga Springs mayor from 2007-2013, is largely credited for helping make the near-34,000 square foot recreation facility a reality. The $6 million facility had been more than a decade in the making, facing council debates, outspoken community protests and a series of legal challenges prior to its public unveiling in the summer of 2010.

Thirteen years later, Johnson led the assembled group to shout “Play Ball” when the ribbon was cut on the count of three along the new sports court.  

The Recreation Department oversaw the 70’x37’ sports court project using funds from the Sub-Division Recreation Fund and the Recreation Facility Capital budget. 

The Department of Public Works prepared the site and paved the court, and the Department of Public Safety’s traffic division painted lines on the court.

“The completion of this sport court is part of the Mayor’s Office initiatives to bring more opportunities for recreation to our community,” current city Mayor Ron Kim said, in a statement. 

Soroptimists Offering “Live Your Dream” Award

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA COUNTY — Women who are providing the primary source of financial support for their families while pursuing their education are encouraged to apply for the Soroptimist “Live Your Dream” award. 

Soroptimist International of Saratoga County, a volunteer organization for business and professional women, is offering grants up to $5,000 for any costs related to pursuing an education. The first-place award recipient is also eligible for additional awards at the regional and international Soroptimist levels. 

Eligible applicants must: Demonstrate financial need; Be accepted or enrolled in an undergraduate or vocational skills training program; Live in or near Saratoga County.  

Applications must be submitted by Nov. 15, 2023. For more information and a link to the online application go to: www.soroptimist.org/our-work/live-your-dream-awards/apply-for-the-live-your-dream-awards.html.  

For assistance with the application process, e-mail liveyourdreamsaratoga@gmail.com with questions or to request a mentor.

Soroptimist International of Saratoga County is part of an international volunteer women’s organization with 72,000 members in 121 countries and territories. For more information: www.soroptimistsaratoga.org.

NYS Police: Deadline for Trooper Exams Oct. 1 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

NEW YORK STATE — The New York State Police announced that applications to take the Trooper Entrance Exam are now over 10,000. Applications opened on July 1 and the deadline to apply is Sunday, Oct. 1. 

Earlier this year, NY Gov. Kathy Hochul approved a request from the New York State Police to raise the maximum age to apply to become a New York State Trooper from 29 to 34.  As a result, almost 2,400 individuals between those ages have taken advantage of this change and applied. Military applicants may be able to apply up until the age of 42.

Candidates can learn about becoming a New York State Trooper and sign up to take the exam at JoinStatePolice.ny.gov. Individuals can get in touch with a recruiter by emailing recruit@troopers.ny.gov or calling 518-485-0855.

Considering Belmont in Saratoga

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Letters to the Editor.

I read with interest Tom Dimopoulos’s piece about NYRA considering the Belmont Stakes, 2024, be held at Saratoga Racecourse. That’s an exciting prospect for Saratoga Springs, however I’m wondering why NYRA isn’t  considering running this third jewel of the Triple Crown at Aqueduct. This race was contested at Aqueduct in the 1960s at 1.5 miles. If it was run at Saratoga, the race would be a mile and a quarter, the same distance as the Kentucky Derby. 

These three distances — 1-1/4 miles for the Derby, a mile and an eighth at the Preakness and 1.5 miles for the Belmont — are the ultimate challenge for top thoroughbreds. To win the Triple Crown, a horse must excel at all three distances — a rare occurrence at that level in horse racing. Consequently, the few horses that have won all three races are legends in their own time. 

It seems if the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes are each run at 1-1/4 miles, a potential Triple Crown winner would have a tarnished title, since he wasn’t tested at the grueling 1.5 miles of the Belmont. That is the race that, because of its distance, is often a heartbreaker for the horse that has won the Derby and the Preakness and is beaten in the Belmont.

Hurrah for Saratoga if they opt to run the Belmont Stakes here, but I hope NYRA considers the consequences of a Triple Crown winner that has not been tested at all three distances.

– Jill Wing, Saratoga Springs

Let Freedom Read: 60 Years of Banned Books Event at Library Oct. 5

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sixty Years of Banned Books will be hosted by Caffè Lena at the Saratoga Springs Public Library on Thursday, Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. in celebration of National Banned Books Week.

In partnership with the American Library Association, “Let Freedom Read” will feature seven local authors: Dr. John Brueggemann, Carol Graser, Patricia A. Nugent, James Preller, Dr. Minita Sanghvi, Dr. Gerald Stulc, and Stephen Williams. They will read from the top-banned books from each of the past seven decades, such as Slaughterhouse Five, Fahrenheit 451, and Amanda Gorman’s inaugural poem The Hill We Climb. 

Original music will be performed by Dan Berggren and Reese Fulmer. Videos advocating the freedom to read will also be shown, including a video message from bestselling author Salmon Rushdie. 

“Banned Books Week” was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in libraries, bookstores and schools. The annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.  

Retired Glens Falls Post-Star editor Ken Tingley will serve as the emcee and introduce each of the writers.

Attendance is free, but reservations are recommended; last year’s program sold out. To support the Little Liberty Library in Caffe Lena’s courtyard, attendees are invited to donate a banned book. For more information and to reserve a seat, visit https://sspl.libcal.com/event/10667478.

Notebook: Saratoga Board of Supervisors Monthly Meeting  

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

BALLSTON SPA — During its monthly meeting, held Sept. 19 at the county complex in Ballston Spa, the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors announced the acceptance of two grants from the NY State Department of Health totaling approximately $670,000 overall, authorized more than $30 million in spending to three health providers related to medical insurance costs to cover county employees for the 2024 calendar year, and announced a series of countywide proclamations to be initiated in October.      

Acceptance of Funding, Grants

• The Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act Grant: $67,437, for the term through March 31, 2024. The Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act (ATUPA) regulates the sale of tobacco and vaping products to restrict their access by youth and young adults, including banning the sale of flavored vapor products, ending price discounts on tobacco and vapor products, banning exterior display of tobacco and vapor product ads near schools, stopping shipment and delivery of cigarettes and vapor products to private residents, increasing retailer penalties for tobacco sales violations, and raising the minimum legal sale age to purchase tobacco and vapor products  

• Immunization Action Plan Grant.  Acceptance of the NYSDOH five -year grant in the amount of $118,680 per year, through March 31, 2028, totaling $593,400. Grant funding shall be used to reduce and eradicate vaccine preventable diseases in adults and children by eliminating barriers to the receipt of the immunizations. 

• Acceptance of $343,450 in funding from the New York State Office for the Aging, for the Saratoga County Department of Aging and Youth Services. The funding will assist with the Senior Nutrition Program, Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly, senior transportation, and mandatory caseworker conference fees, among other items. 

Medical Insurance Costs for County Employees

The Board authorized an agreement with Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. for the provision of medical and prescription health care insurance and administrative services for County employees for the 2024 calendar year at a projected cost of $25,884,468.25.

Authorized to execute any and all agreements required with MVP Health Plan, Inc. of Schenectady, for the provision of medical and prescription drug health care insurance for Medicare eligible retirees from County employment under MVP’s Medicare Advantage Plan for the 2024 calendar year at a projected cost of $3,816,471.98.

Authorized an agreement with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, Inc. for the provision of dental health care insurance for County employees and the offering of voluntary dental health care insurance plans to County retirees, for the 2024 calendar year at a projected cost of $925,696.75. 

Proclamations

•The Board proclaimed Oct. 7 – 13 as “National Fire Prevention Week” In Saratoga County, and encourages all residents to plan and practice a home fire escape for Fire Prevention Week 2023. Home fires caused 2,285 civilian deaths in the United States in 2022, according to the National Fire Protection association (NFPA), and fire departments in Saratoga County responded to 899 residential fire alarms of which 372 were reported structure fires. 

•The Board proclaimed the month of October 2023 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month” in Saratoga County and urges all of our citizens to support and participate in on-going programs designed for the reduction and elimination of domestic violence. Each year more than 10 million adults experience domestic violence; on a typical day, domestic violence hotlines nationwide receive over 20,000 calls.  

One community member requested to speak during the public input session of the monthly county meeting. 

Darlene McGraw, of Halfmoon, suggested Saratoga initiate a reporting App for county residents to inform community leaders of street signs being down, and requested the county institute a smoke-free and vape-free policy in the vicinity of county buildings. 

September 29 – October 5, 2023

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Property Transactions.

50 Castleberry Dr. in Wilton was listed by Tamara Valentine from Roohan Realty and sold for $300,000

BALLSTON

Edward Swanson sold property at 234 Round lake Rd to Amanda Dealo for $275,000

Brookview Court Inc sold property at 31 Arcadia Ct to Megan McCormack for $356,469

Kathryn Schneider as trustee sold property at 7 Sycamore St to Terri Allen for $401,500

CORINTH

Louis Faraone sold property at 91 Main St to Michaela Bovee for $220,000

Brendon Emery sold property at 1 Mill Creek Rd to Paul Posson for $410,000

GALWAY

Lisa Letourneau sold property at 2467 Galway Rd to Jason Barnes for $402,000

Frederick Puliafico sold property at 3011 South Shore Dr to Joann Gallucci for $235,000

GREENFIELD

Denise Richards sold property at 74 Bump Hill Rd to Adam Favro for $460,000

ANW Holdings Inc sold property at 30 Middle Grove Rd  to Chris Burby for $125,000

MALTA 

John Fogarty sold property at 1143 Laural Lane to Joseph Guerette for $350,000

Gail Kyler sold property at 76 Riley Cove Rd to Kimberly Lenoci for $1,400,000

Wilma Mosely sold property at 64 Pepperbush Place to Cameron Crouse for $289,000

SARATOGA

CMH Homes Inc sold property at 8 Louden Rd to Daniel Orza for $437,982

SARATOGA SPRINGS

McInski Properties LLC sold property at 2220 rt 50 South to Towaway LLC for $790,000

John Hamelin sold property at 160 East Ave to David Sherwood for $685,000

Mark Hover sold property at 43 Long Alley to James Manuele for $770,000

Sandra Lee Peculis sold property at 116 West Ave #305  to Merav Yarkoni for $690,000

Chloes Way LLC sold property at 35 Chloes Way to Cobblehill Development LLC for $275,000

Cobble Hill Development LLC sold property at 35 Chloes Way to Daniel Guzman for $849,000

Christine Paradiso sold property at 68 Trottingham Rd to Kathleen Allen for $310,000

Thomas Rein sold property at 13 Sunset Dr to Roy Rotheim for $350,000

Maria Lucchese sold property at 14 Rolling Brook Dr to Martin Hellwig for $1,475,000

John Witt sold property at 36 Hyde St to David Crenshaw for $1,900,000

Fiona Benyon sold property at 5 Furlong St to Robert Bruno for $610,000

WILTON

Carl Flanders sold property at 9 Carr Rd to Marta Baxter for $412,000.

Berkshire Bank Hires Rob Nichols as SVP of Business Banking

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

Rob Nichols. Photo provided by Berkshire Bank.

ALBANY — Berkshire Bank has announced the hiring of Rob Nichols as SVP, Business Banking Team Leader.

Nichols joins Berkshire with over 33 years in commercial banking, a press release states. At Berkshire, Nichols will lead the sales team for business banking within Central and Eastern New York, Berkshire County (MA), and Southern Vermont. Nichols’ background covers a range of corporate and commercial banking leadership and management positions, including overseeing Business Banking departments at Citizens and First Niagara banks, the release states. Most recently, he served as the chief credit officer for a community bank.

Nichols resides in the Albany, New York region. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee and treasurer for the Capital District YMCA.  He also serves as a member of the board for the Albany Black Chamber of Commerce, and teaches Entrepreneurship Finance at Siena College, according to the release.

Schuylerville Middle School Holds Third Annual Friday Festivities

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Photo provided by Schuylerville Central School District.

SCHUYLERVILLE — Schuylerville Middle School wrapped up the first full week of school with its third annual Friday Festivities Positive Culture event.

Students in grades 6-8 gathered together to receive an introduction to all the middle school has to offer. As a way to encourage involvement outside the school day, students were introduced to the various clubs and organizations they can join.

Students selected five clubs they wanted to learn more about, and attended presentations with advisors throughout the building. They also learned about athletic offerings, mental health supports, and the National Junior Honor Society, according to a release on the district website.

The day ended with a student and staff relay event on the turf field, and popsicles. Students were also introduced to the ‘Gotcha’ ticket program, where teachers will catch kids doing great things, and their tickets will be entered into a prize drawing each month, the release states.

“We always emphasize positivity and kindness go a long way in the middle school,” said Assistant Principal Maddie Wright in the release. “Our Friday Festivities event was a great opportunity for students to build connections with each other and staff, and start the year off on a great note.”