Author: Saratoga TODAY

BALLSTON SPA — A Saratoga County jury has returned a verdict finding a Moreau man guilty of several charges in connection with the death of a 33-year-old tow truck driver last September that occurred on the Northway in the town of Wilton. 

During a near three-week trial, the evidence showed that on September 15, 2022, Justin Rodriguez struck and killed Alex Bleickhardt on the northbound shoulder of I-87 between exits 15 and 16, according to a statement released by the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office. 

Rodriguez was driving a 2008 work truck at the time, despite his driver’s license having been permanently revoked due to four prior drunk driving convictions. He also illegally possessed a loaded semi-automatic pistol in the vehicle. 

Prior to the crash on the Northway, Rodriguez visited the Applebee’s restaurant in Wilton “where he consumed excessive amounts of alcohol and showed signs of severe intoxication,” according to the district attorney’s office. Despite pleas from citizens to not drive, Rodriguez, claiming he was not afraid to go back to prison, left the restaurant and proceeded to drive recklessly through the parking lot at a high rate of speed and entered the Northway where he swerved across lanes, according to witnesses. As he approached a disabled box truck attended to by Bleickhardt, Rodriguez made no effort to move over, slow down or avoid the collision and rear-ended the box truck, leading to Bleickhardt’s death. 

Rodriguez’ blood-alcohol-content was 0.26% at the time of the crash, and additionally had cocaine and cannabis in his system, according to the district attorney’s office.   

The jury verdict found Rodriguez guilty of three counts aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter, two counts criminal possession of a weapon, two counts DWI, aggravated DWI, driving while impaired, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, reckless driving, leaving the scene without reporting property damage, and a violation of the Move Over Law. 

The Move Over Law requires drivers to exercise care and safely move to an adjacent lane when approaching a stopped emergency vehicle or tow truck with its flashing lights activated.

Rodriguez faces up to 25 years in prison on the aggravated vehicular homicide charge. Sentencing is Sept. 14.  

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Wesley Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community in Saratoga Springs, will host its annual Saratoga 9 & Wine golf fundraiser on Tuesday, Aug. 8 at the Saratoga Lake Golf Course in Saratoga Springs. 

Registration opens at 12 p.m. with a shotgun start at 2 p.m. Golfers will receive a grab-and-go lunch and enjoy wine tastings along the course, followed by a Party on the Patio following the tournament. Guests who don’t participate in the golf tournament can purchase tickets to attend the Party on the Patio, featuring live music, light fare, tastings and complimentary beverages. 

Saratoga 9 & Wine is a nine-hole scramble format golf outing with fun contests and a wine theme. Proceeds will support Wesley Health Care Center’s Life Enrichment Program. This initiative provides ongoing, meaningful social and therapeutic activities tailored to the capabilities and needs of each Wesley resident so they may continue to pursue their interests and passions.

Founded in 1972, The Wesley Community was established as a long-term senior care facility and has steadily grown into a continuum-of-care campus featuring independent and assisted living apartments, compassionate skilled nursing and memory care services.

Tickets for Saratoga 9 & Wine can be purchased for $150 per golfer via Saratoga9Wine.com. Non-golfers can purchase tickets to attend the Party on the Patio, starting at 5 p.m., for a $50 donation.  

ROUND LAKE — Saratoga County will hold a free Narcan training and distribution event noon – 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in the Town of Clifton Park – located at 2001 US-9, Round Lake.  

Participants will learn how to recognize an opioid overdose and administer nasal Narcan, and will receive a free Narcan rescue kit, which includes two doses of Narcan, a rescue breathing face shield, a certificate of training, a drug disposal system, and a mental health and substance use disorder resource guide.

Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, is a safe medication that can save someone’s life by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose. It only works on opioids, such as heroin, prescription pain medications and fentanyl, but it is safe to use even if opioids are not present. 911 should always be called after administering Naloxone. New York State’s Good Samaritan Law allows people to call 911 without fear of arrest if they are having a drug overdose that requires emergency medical care or if they witness someone overdosing.

Residents who are unable to attend the distribution can register to obtain an overdose rescue kit at www.saratogacountyny.gov/narcan.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Temple Sinai, Saratoga Springs’ Reform Jewish Congregation, will host a grand used book sale of hard and soft cover books for the public, honoring the memory of Jack Schoen, whose large and varied donation of Jewish books forms the majority of the hundreds of good-quality used books the temple’s library is offering. 

The book sale will be held at Temple Sinai at 509 Broadway on Tuesday-Wednesday, Aug. 8-9 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Schoen, who died in 2020, was a Jewish literature omnivore: his donations range from the textual and philosophical to the light and humorous, with a very generous quantity of first-rate fiction and memoir. 

Proceeds from the sale will help maintain and further expand and house the library. Today the library contains approximately 2,500 unduplicated volumes.