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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Saratoga PLAN, Dancing Grain Farm Brewery Partner for Upcoming Earth Day Celebration

Earth Day event at Dancing Grain Farm Brewery. Photo provided.

MOREAU — Dancing Grain Farm Brewery and local land trust Saratoga PLAN (Preserving Land and Nature) are joining forces to release a honey IPA, inspired by the surrounding farmland for Earth Day. Each pour of this new draft will raise $1 towards land conservation in Saratoga County.  

The public is invited to commemorate the occasion at Dancing Grain Brewery (180 Old West Rd, Moreau) on Saturday, April 22 from noon-5 p.m. The Earth Day event will be a celebration of both the environment and the community’s commitment to sustainability. 

Saratoga PLAN will be available at the event with information on local trails, land conservation, and upcoming volunteer opportunities. Dancing Grain Farm Brewery is a field-to-glass farm brewery, owned by former PLAN Board Member Rachel McDermott.

Virtual Film Discussion Of The Zookeeper’s Wife Set For April 16

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Saratoga Jewish Community Arts presents a Zoom panel discussion on Sunday, April 16 at 7 p.m. of The Zookeeper’s Wife, a 2017 film adapted from the book by Angela Workman and directed by Niki Caro.

The film is a story of Jan and Antonina Zabinska, Polish husband and wife zookeepers. He was the Director of the Warsaw Zoo who opened the zoo to fleeing Jewish refugees when prize animals had been taken to Berlin by Nazi zookeepers after the September 1939 German invasion of Poland. 

The film premiered in theaters and festivals in Warsaw, Poland, the United Kingdom, Spain, and France. The Zookeeper’s Wife is available to subscribers free on Netflix or for rent from Apple, Amazon, and others.  To Register for the Zoom discussion of this program on April 16 at 7 p.m., email sjca.sjcf@gmail.com.

April 8 – April 14, 2023

Saratoga Springs Police Department

Nicholas Crupi, 31, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 3 with petit larceny. 

David Williams, 34, of Victory Mills, was charged April 3 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and obstructing traffic at intersection. 

Justin Traver, 34, of Ballston Spa, was charged March 30 with grand larceny. 

Tasha Tatsey, 39, of Lake Luzerne, was charged March 29 with criminal possession of a controlled substance. 

Randy Jones, 55, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 28 with criminal trespass, and resisting arrest.

Jeramy Zepf, 44, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 28 with assault.

Rachel Toussaint, 21, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 28 with DWI, failed to stop at stop sign, improper left turn, and insufficient tail lamps. 

Aurelio Bidinost, 56, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 27 with criminal contempt, and aggravated family offense. 

Terri Flewelling, 37, of Glens Falls, was charged March 27 with DWI, and drinking alcohol or smoking cannabis in a motor vehicle on HWY.  

George Chillis, 32, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 27 with criminal mischief, and unlawful imprisonment. 

Bretton Hill, 35, of Petersburg, was charged March 26 with criminal possession of a weapon. 

Brian Ausfeldt, 35, of Clifton Park, was charged March 26 with DWI, and failed to use designated lane. 

Tyrell Jackson, 43, of Schenectady, was charged March 26 with menacing, and criminal possession of a weapon. 

Jordan Sartin, 24, of Greenfield, was charged March 24 with criminal mischief, and criminal contempt. 

Marlene Alfonso, 62, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 24 with DWI. 

Nicholas Gallo, 28, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 24 with DWI, aggravated DWI, speeding, and criminal possession of a controlled substance. 

Saratoga County Court

Daniel Canty, 52, of Middle Grove, pleaded March 27 to felony DWI, charged January 2023 in Saratoga Springs. Sentencing May 31.  

Todd J. Whitcher, 43, of Mechanicville, was sentenced April 4 to 5 years of probation, after pleading to felony DWI charged August 2022 in Saratoga Springs. 

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Department

Shawn M. Soderberg, 47, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 3 with criminal possession of a weapon – felony, and menacing, a misdemeanor. Soderberg is accused of threatening another person with a machete, following the Sheriff’s Office responding to a disturbance call at the Saratoga Lake Motel in the town of Saratoga. He was sent to Saratoga County Jail in lieu of bail or bond. 

On March 25, 2023, the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office charged Joseph Murauskas, 44, of Corinth with felony assault, in connection with an alleged physical domestic dispute in the Town of Corinth. Murauskas is accused of physically assaulting a female victim causing serious physical injury to the victim’s head and face. The victim was treated on scene by Luzerne-Hadley EMS, transported to Saratoga Hospital for further medical attention and was ultimately cared for at Albany Medical Center. Murauskas was arraigned in Corinth Town Court and sent to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in lieu of $40,000 cash/$80,000 bond/$800,000 partially secured bond. 

Beatriz A. Garcia, 43, of Mechanicville, was sentenced March 30 to 5 years of probation, after pleading to felony attempted assault. 

Justice D. Ross, 25, of Schenectady, was sentenced March 30 to 2 to 4 years’ incarceration felony attempted assault, first charged in 2022 in Milton. 

William D. Mansfield, 43, of Schaghticoke, pleaded March 31 to felony DWI, charged May 2022 in Stillwater. Sentencing June 1.   

Michael A. McCleary, 35, of Hadley, was turned over to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office by the Warren County Sheriff’s Office on March 27 on an outstanding warrant for failure to register a change of address as a sex offender – 2nd offense, a felony. 

On April 6, the Sheriff’s Office charged Daniel Rivera, 35, of Wilton with burglary, criminal contempt, and criminal mischief – all three are felonies, and harassment violation. The Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence in Louden Oaks Mobile Home Park in the Town of Wilton for a reported burglary in progress. Investigation revealed that Rivera allegedly forced his way into the victim’s residence, violated an active order of protection and caused damage to items inside the residence. The victim and defendant were familiar with each other. He was sent to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail. 

Joseph Patterson 

WILTON – Joseph Patterson died April 9. Calling hours: 5 to 7 p.m., Friday, April 14 at Compassionate Funeral Care, Saratoga Springs. A service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 15 at Compassionate Funeral Care followed by a graveside service at Southside Cemetery, South Glens Falls. For online condolences, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com

James M. Morrell, Sr.  

SARATOGA SPRINGS — James M. Morrell, Sr., 73, passed away April 8, 2023 at Saratoga Hospital. Calling hours are 4-7 p.m., Monday, 4/17/2023 at Burke Funeral Home. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m., Tuesday, 4/18/2023 at St. Mary’s Church, Ballston Spa. Burial is private www.burkefuneralhome.com 

Ryan Gritt  

LAKE LUZERNE — Ryan Gritt passed away on April 7. Calling hours will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. on April 20 at Compassionate Funeral Care, 402 Maple Ave., Saratoga Springs. For online condolences and the full obituary, visit www.compassionatefuneralcare.com

Henry Redling 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Henry Redling died March 31. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, June 23 at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, 52 Totowa Road, Totowa, NJ 07512. For online condolences, visit compassionatefuneralcare.com

Ralph Arthur Hatfield 

QUEENSBURY — Ralph Arthur Hatfield passed away on April 7 at Fort Hudson Nursing Home. The services will be held at the convenience of the family. For online condolences, visit  compassionatefuneralcare.com

America’s Turning Point: Women In War Symposium; Historical Trolley Tour

SCHUYLERVILLE — Registration is open for the 2nd Annual Women in War Symposium, a two-day event featuring a historical trolley tour and a speakers’ symposium focusing on the roles women played during the American Revolution. 

The Symposium takes place 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at the Town of Saratoga Town Hall, 12 Spring St., Schuylerville. Registration for the Symposium is $50 and includes morning refreshments and lunch. 

The Women in War Symposium features five dynamic speakers who will present on topics related to the roles women played during the American Revolution and will be emceed by Bruce Venter. Whether patriot or loyalist, wealthy or impoverished, females were deeply affected by the war in all aspects of their lives. These presenters offer new scholarship unearthing relatively unknown stories that broaden our understanding of the revolutionary era. 

“Too often, the important roles women played during the American Revolution are not widely known. Their experiences, whether in following the army or managing their homes, help to inform the larger narrative of what life was like for those not on the battlefield,” Lauren Roberts, Saratoga County Historian and Chair of the Saratoga County 250th Commission said in a statement.

A trolley tour, titled “Through the Baroness’ Eyes,” traces the route traveled by the Baroness Frederika von Riedesel and her three young daughters as they followed the British Army during the Saratoga Campaign. The tour, led by Saratoga Battlefield Licensed Guide Pat Niles, will take place Friday, May 5, leaving at 1 p.m. from Fort Hardy Park in Schuylerville and returning at 5 p.m. Registration for the trolley tour is $60.

The events are part of Saratoga County’s commemoration of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution and Battles of Saratoga and is coordinated in partnership with the Marshall House, Inc. 

America’s Turning Point is a multi-year celebration of Saratoga County’s pivotal role in the American Revolution culminating in 2027 with the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Saratoga. 

Space is limited for both the symposium and the tour. Those interested can register for either event at www.saratoga250.com.  

Upcoming Meetings: Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County

Excelsior Site Sketch Plans. Source: Saratoga-springs.org.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A joint Design Review Board/Planning Board meeting is scheduled to take place 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 19 at Saratoga Springs City Hall. 

The project under consideration – titled 182 Excelsior Avenue Apartments – involves the demolition of an existing 8-unit apartment and 3-unit carriage house, and in its place the development of 3 three-story apartments with 12 units each. 

The near 2.5-acre parcel where the work would take place is located on Excelsior Avenue. 

The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, which meets monthly, will hold its meeting at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18 at the county complex in Ballston Spa.  

The Saratoga Springs City Council – which meets the first and third Tuesday of each month, will hold its next meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18.