Skip to main content

Author: Saratoga TODAY

Saratoga County Adopts $381 Million Budget for 2022

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 8 voted to approve the 2022 county budget. 

The $381 million budget depicts an increase of $10 million over 2021 and offers “significant investments in public safety, health and human services, infrastructure, open space and conservation while once again lowering our property tax rate and staying below the property tax cap,” according to a prepared statement released by the county. The 2022 budget also makes available $5 million in community support grants and devotes another $1 million to economic development and tourism for the county.

“This budget lays the groundwork for smart initiatives and investments that will ultimately help Saratoga County residents continue to enjoy a strong local economy in one of the safest and healthiest counties with one of the lowest tax rates in New York State,” said Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr., town of Moreau Supervisor and Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chair.

More than $4 million was approved in new investments in the county Sheriff’s and District Attorney’s offices for body and car cameras, judicial discovery laws, officer training, and mandated jail programs, and more than $3 million to support health and human services initiatives and the county’s Public Health Services department’s transition to a full-service Department of Health. Approximately $1.1 million was approved for economic development, heritage promotion, and tourism.

The 2022 sales tax revenue is projected at $141 million, a slight decrease from anticipated 2021 revenues. 

Ugly Sweater Breakfast With a Blessing

Kudos this group of friends who came up with  ‘Ugly Sweater Breakfast With a Blessing.’

A simple idea with BIG impact:
Wear an ugly sweater
Have a great meal with your friends
Everyone throws in $100 for a tip for their server.

The tip total came to $1,500.00!

Great job Ronda Parsha, Terry Hynes, Nichole Loscalzo, Vanessa Baer, Patricia Smith, Tammy Loya, Rick Kunta, Starr Iula, Chris Iula, Joe Fasolino, Amada St. George and Alicia Fuss.

All of you in our reading audience…Let’s keep this idea going and share our blessings!

Holiday Match Update: Over $944k to Local Charities So Far

SARATOGA COUNTY —The Stewart’s Holiday Match Program customer donations have reached over $477,983 as of Thursday, Dec. 9. That’s over $944,000 with the Stewart’s match so far, and there’s just over two weeks left to collect.

These donations stay local and support local nonprofits; funding may go to a Girl Scout Troop, an arts program or a food pantry. Each week a different Holiday Match recipient is highlighted. This week Unity Hall is being featured. Unity Hall located in Oneida county is one of New York’s most exciting homes for live events and hands-on programs all year round. They offer diverse music, theater, spoken word and more, in their beautifully restored 19th century center for the arts.

The Stewart’s Holiday Match Program has no administrative fees and donates 100% of donations received to charities in their market areas. Stewart’s Shops matches each donation penny for penny and dollar for dollar and has been doing so for the past 35 years, raising over $32 million for local charities.

Holiday Match funds are collected from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day in each of the 354 shops. Local children’s organizations are encouraged to apply for funding here. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2022. All groups applying must be locally based, benefit children under 18, and be a qualified, charitable 501c3 organization. A listing of all the local organizations that received funds last season is available online.

Saratoga Hospital Once Again Designated a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital has once again been designated a Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence – the highest level of recognition awarded by the American College of Radiology. 

The hospital first earned the designation in 2017 and has remained the only Diagnostic Imaging Center of Excellence in the Capital Region since. Redesignation was awarded this fall and applies to all imaging services at Saratoga Hospital, its Wilton campus, and mammography and bone density imaging on the Malta campus. 

To earn the Center of Imaging designation, facilities must first be accredited in each imaging service for which the American College of Radiology offers an accreditation program. 

In addition, Centers of Excellence must participate in national radiology data registries as part of benchmarking and quality improvement efforts and must take steps to limit patients’ exposure to radiation. This includes using the lowest possible dose of radiation during imaging procedures and avoiding unnecessary imaging exams. 

Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce Factory Open House Dec. 18

GANSEVOORT — Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce will host an open house and pop-up shop at their manufacturing facility on Dec. 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrating 20 years in business, owner Katie Camarro and friends will be on hand with product displays and gift ideas for everyone on your list. Sundaes Best Hot Fudge Sauce kitchen is located in Gansevoort at 23 Northern Pines Rd, 1st floor, Bldg. 2, across from Saratoga Restaurant Supply. For more information on Sundaes Best, visit their website at www.sundaesbest.com or give them a call at 518-584-4036.

Mohawk Honda Names Local Nonprofits Chosen to Receive $60K

SCHENECTADY — Mohawk Honda has announced the 12 local nonprofits named to receive a combined $60,000 as part of its “12 Days of Giving.” The Schenectady-based dealership launched the campaign in late November as a way of giving back to the community the auto dealer has called home for more than 50 years. 

Community members were asked to nominate charities close to their hearts through a social media post that went viral throughout the Capital Region community. The post, located on the company’s Facebook page, collected more than 800 comments, 300 likes, and 7,500 views. 

After a two-week submission period, dealership executives were overwhelmed with the amount of support shown by the community. 

“From the moment we hit the publish button for the social media post, we just started watching the campaign grow and grow,” said Nathanael Greklek, Chief Digital Branding Leader, Mohawk Honda. “We monitored the post each day and we just kept receiving more and more comments, and post shares. It was great to see community members rally together for organizations they love and cherish.” 

The 12 chosen nonprofits to receive $5,000 each include: Family & Child Services of Schenectady, One Church Street, Schenectady Day Nursery, Wicklund Warriors, Operation at Ease, Safe Inc., Community Hospice of Schenectady, Capital Region Legacy Project/Veterans Memorial, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern NY, Jack’s Place, Bring on the Spectrum, and Mother Theresa Cancer Awareness Fund. 

The Mohawk Family will present a check to each finalist between Dec. 13-24. The finalists will also be featured on Mohawk Honda’s social media pages. 

December 11 – December 17, 2021

COURT

Amanda L. Martin, 34, of Halfmoon, was sentenced Dec. 6 to 1 year incarceration, after pleading to aggravated DWI with child, in Clifton Park. 

Michelle Iorio, 32, of Moreau, was sentenced Dec. 6 to 1-/12 to 2 years’ incarceration after pleading to fourth degree arson.

Victor M. Dominguez, 21, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced Dec. 6 to 5 years of probation, after pleading to criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth-degree. 

Andrew V. Cino, 28, of Rexford, was sentenced Dec. 6 to 5 years of probation, after pleading to felony DWI, in Saratoga Springs. 

Justin LeBarron, 37, of Gansevoort, pleaded Dec. 6 to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, in Northumberland. 

Colby Flood, 19, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced Dec. 3 to 1 year incarceration, after pleading to attempted robbery in the third-degree, first charged in May in Saratoga Springs. 

Tieberius T. Rozier, 22, of Ballston Lake, was sentenced Dec. 2 to 1 year incarceration, after pleading to rape in the third-degree, in Malta. 

Anthony J. Lashway, 22, of Fort Edward, was sentenced Dec. 1 to 3 years conditional discharge, after pleading to attempted criminal possession of a weapon, in Wilton. 

Tori Spina, 33, of Ballston Spa, was sentenced Dec. 1 to 90 days incarceration and 5 years of probation, after pleading to felony DWI. 

Christian Colon, 33, of Burnt Hills, pleaded Dec. 1 to possessing a sexual performance by a child. Sentencing scheduled for Dec. 1, 2022. 

POLICE

Cassandra C. Morsellino, 30, of Amsterdam, was charged Dec. 5 with felony assault and felony burglary. Morsello is accused of intentionally causing serious physical injury to a person known to her by stabbing the victim in the neck with a knife. It is alleged she acted in concert with a man to unlawfully enter the residence of the victim with intent to commit a larceny and in the process causing physical injury to that victim, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. The victim suffered serious injuries not expected to be life-threatening. 

Michael L. Girard, 32, of Clifton Park, was charged Dec. 2 with the felonies: predatory sexual assault, criminal sexual act in the first-degree, and aggravated sexual abuse in the second-degree; and the misdemeanors: criminal obstruction of breathing or blood circulation, and unlawful imprisonment in the second-degree. Girard is accused of engaging in a criminal sexual act by forcible compulsion with another person known to him in the town of Clifton Park in October. He is suspected of impeding the normal breathing of the victim by applying pressure to her neck. He was previously arrested for a similar incident to a separate victim on a separate date, leading to the charge of predatory sexual assault, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. Gerard was sent to Saratoga County Jail without bail. 

Kevin C. Johnson, 34, Gloversville, was charged Dec. 3 with six felonies and one misdemeanor in Saratoga Springs in connection with an alleged incident on Nov. 25 at around 3:30 a.m., at 11 Excelsior Ave., according to Saratoga Springs Police. The felonies include: two counts of rape, predatory sexual assault; aggravated sexual abuse, strangulation – obstruct breath/blood circulation, and assault, in addition to the misdemeanor charge of criminal contempt. The female victim did sustain injuries which required medical treatment, police said. 

Thomas McCall, 33, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with two counts criminal possession of a controlled substance, and one count criminal use of drug paraphernalia. 

Jessica Henderson, 35, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with misdemeanor DWI, refusal to take a breath test, speeding, and operating an unregistered vehicle. 

Christopher Post, 39, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with criminal possession of a controlled substance. 

Joyce Butler, 66, of Gansevoort, was charged in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, failure to keep right, and operating a vehicle without insurance and registration suspended. 

Nicholas Crupi, 30, of Saratoga Springs, was charged with misdemeanor DWI, and driving in the wrong direction on a one-way street. 

Ian Price, 23, of Craryville, was charged in Saratoga Springs with felony criminal possession of a controlled substance. 

Life Transitions Program Opens to Saratoga Seniors

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A new program to assist older residents with serious illness to navigate health and community services and continue aging in place has been introduced by the Saratoga Senior Center.

The program, called Senior Life Transitions, is designed for seniors aged 50 and older who have a new advanced illness diagnosis or a set of worsening health conditions. The program is open to residents of Saratoga County. Membership in the Saratoga Senior Center is not required.

The need for this program is in large part due to the isolation, worsening health conditions, new diagnoses, and aversion to nursing home placement, much of it exacerbated by the COVID epidemic.

The transitions dealt with are emotional adjustments to a changed life, practical needs for in-home care, support services such as transportation and grocery shopping, advocacy in navigating the health system, and coaching around wellness and growth potential in the midst of serious illness. The program features the development of an Aging-in-Place plan that takes possible future scenarios into consideration, including resources to support those plans. Referrals to appropriate health, mental health, and social service agencies are made. Collaborative relationships exist with other Saratoga County agencies serving the elderly, including Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, the County Office of Aging, the Alzheimer’s Association, and various care coordination services.

For more information, call the Saratoga Senior Center, 518-584-1621 ext. 206. Other services offered by the Saratoga Senior Center aimed at fostering independence include weekly food programs, wellness programs, caregiver support groups, information and referral, advocacy, and direct assistance through Community Connection volunteer matches. 

Gerald P. Hennigan

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Gerald P. Hennigan, 88, passed peacefully on December 12 surrounded by family. Calling hours are 9-10 a.m., Monday December 20, 2021 followed by service at Burke Funeral Home. Burial with military honors will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Saratoga National Cemetery. Please visit  www.burkefuneralhome.com

Constance M. Foley 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Constance M. Foley (nee Burns), 90, died December 2, 2021.  In lieu of flowers, her family asks that you cherish your loved ones and aid those who are less fortunate. Mass 10 a.m., December 17, 2021 Church of St. Peter, followed by burial in Greenridge Cemetery. burkefuneralhome.com