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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Property Transactions: June 19 – June 25, 2021

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Property Transactions.

BALLSTON

Zachary Robbiano sold property at 203-205 Kingsley Rd to Evan Comilloni for $441,500.

Sonta Mone sold property at 259 Lake Rd to Nicholas Mangino for $449,500.

Brookview Court Inc sold property at 3201 Stonebridge Dr to Nicole Capasso for $312,673.

Christa Ippolitti sold property at 82 Connolly Rd to Christopher Mosca for $407,000.

GREENFIELD

Trevor Gowan sold property at 3141 New York State Rt 9N to Thomas Pedulla for $280,500.

Matthew Houle sold property at 453 Maple Ave to Elizabeth Keenan for $245,500.

Grant Selfridge sold property at 23 Old Stone Ridge Rd to Derek Demeo for $1,325,000.

Cassandra Johnston sold property at 565 North End Rd to Richard O’Connor for $438,000.

MALTA 

Sharon Spadaro sold property at 869 Malta Ave Ext to Joshua Heald for $232,000.

Romel Gobunsuy sold property at 12 Sage Ct to Stephen Leisenfelder for $600,000

Nelson Hildreth sold property at 262 Old Post Rd to Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc for $689,000

Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc sold property at 262 Old Post Rd to Frank Opie for $689,000

Spyridon Manesis sold property at 2 Cambridge Way to Catherine Catalano for $309,900.

MILTON

James Polson sold property at 41 Red Oak Lane to Michaela Conway for $201,585.

Veronica Cooney sold property at 29 Crestline Dr to Nicole Ronca for $175,000.

Cailin Peek sold property at 19 Kristan Dr to Samuel Williams for $260,000.

SARATOGA

Vicki Bucciantini sold property at 1158 NYS Rt 9P to Sandra Sullivan for $775,000

Thomas Macica sold property at 155 Cemetery Rd to Leila Harrison for $288,900.

SARATOGA SPRINGS

Gordon Male sold property at 37 Clark St to Skia Realty Company One LLC for $485,000

Helen Case LLC sold property at 69 Phila St to Joseph Deleva for $285,000.

Anderson Holdings LLC sold property at NYS Rt 29 to Stewarts Shops Corp for $400,000.

5A High Rock LLC sold property at 38 High Rock Ave Unit 5A to Tri Properties High Rock 5A LLC for $670,000.

Mel Macy sold property at 42 Eureka Ave to Seth Mceachron for $595,000.

West Ave Development Saratoga LLC sold property at 116 West Ave Unit 203 to George Zanaros for $468,937.

Eric Nagler sold property at 32 Lexington Rd to Herbert Nagler for $262,600.

Bernard Gurtler sold property at 26 Dyer Switch Rd to Peter Terranova for $359,600.

Spencers Landing LLC sold property at 16B Arrowhead Rd to Ann Marie Dalessandro for $591,263.

Manuel Ballesteros sold property at 3 Mijas Trail to Amy Koshgarian for $150,000.

James Kennedy sold property at 36 Piping Rock Circle to Erin Ennis for $485,000.

Saratoga County sold property at 31 Woodlawn Ave to Adirondack Trust Company for $2,800,100.

Richard Lofink sold property at 130 White St to Erin Ennis for $485,000.

Saratoga County sold property at 31 Woodlawn Ave to Adirondack Trust Company for $2,800,100.

WILTON

Alison Pase sold property at 37 Fairmount Dr to Michelle Lottridge for $320,000.

Megan Pero sold property at 4 Erinn Ct to Caitlin Allen for $612,000.

John McKeon sold property at 28 Glenburnie Rd to Patricia Logan for $305,000.

ReShop for the Good Announces 4th Annual Anniversary Celebration

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

Saratoga County — ReShop for the Good is hosting their 4th Annual Anniversary Celebration, which will take place on Saturday, July 10 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at 132 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa. 

Planned events for the anniversary celebration include live music from Bobby Dick and Susie Q from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., free hot dog and sodas (while supplies last) starting at 12 p.m., and free ice cream from Stewart’s Shops (while supplies last) from 1 -3 p.m. 

ReShop for the Good is also hosting anniversary promotions:

July 8: Take 15% off

July 9: Take 20% off

July 10: Take 25% off and 

enjoy additional deals

ReShop for the Good sells new and gently-used furniture, household goods, and decor, and the proceeds support Rebuilding Together Saratoga County’s work to provide critical repairs and accessibility modifications for low-income homeowners in our community.  ReShop for the Good originally opened in 2017 and has continued to see increased business year-over-year. 

“We are thrilled to celebrate ReShop for the Good’s 4th Anniversary! Every item you donate and every dollar you spend at the ReShop helps our neighbors in need live in safe, healthy, warm, dry, and affordable homes,” said Michelle Larkin, Executive Director of Rebuilding Together Saratoga County.

Rebuilding Together Saratoga County is a volunteer-driven, registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission of “Repairing homes, revitalizing communities, rebuilding lives.”  In the 18 years since our founding, we have repaired 1,379 homes, improved 103 nonprofit centers and community spaces, and replaced 20 substandard manufactured homes with the help of 10,672 volunteers who have dedicated 81,847 hours of their time.

For more information about ReShop for the Good, please visit their website at www.reshopforthegood.com.

Amasiah Ford: A Veteran of the War of 1812 who Fell on Hard Times

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in History.

In 1845, Amasiah Ford, of Ballston Spa, wrote a multi-page manuscript for his application seeking a veteran’s pension. The account of his military experience 30-plus years earlier would be used 150 years later as references in several books on the War of 1812.

Amasiah was born on June 24, 1796, the third son of Revolutionary War veteran Sanbun Ford and his wife Ada. While farming was certainly a part of his early life in Saratoga County, at the age of 16 he enlisted in the U.S. Army at the outbreak of hostilities with Britain in 1812. Like his patriot father before him, Amasiah answered the call to arms to defend America at an early age.

He would see action at places such as Fort George, Ontario; Sackets Harbor, N.Y.; Chippawa Creek, Ontario and Lundy’s Lane, Ontario.  At Lundy’s Lane (on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls) he noted that he was advancing with comrades when the British rose up and ambushed his company. Amasiah was one of just eight U.S. soldiers to escape the slaughter. He recounted how during another action he leveled his gun at an enemy soldier and they both discharged their guns at the same time. A musket ball passed through Amasiah’s cap under his cockade and he never saw that soldier again.

Amasiah’s pension records reflect forced marches in cold and inclement weather with little or no protection from the elements. In some spots, the soldiers were in mud up their knees. Another account relates how they had no food, but the officers procured a cow which was shared by all.  With no bread to eat, they roasted pumpkins as a substitute.

His wartime deprivations while on campaign would be one of the main reasons why Amasiah sought a pension from the federal government. He stated that those years in which he served his country ended up giving him rheumatism which stopped him from working in his trade as a shoemaker. Two physicians from Ballston Spa would attest to this affliction.

Amasiah stated in pension papers for his older brother Simeon that they saw each other at Fort George in Upper Canada (Ontario) in June of 1813.  Their paths crossed again in January of 1814 at Shadagee Four Corners, now present day Chateaugay, N.Y and finally in Plattsburgh, N.Y. in April of the same year.  What joy there must have been at each of these encounters so far from home. 

With his war years behind him, Amasiah met and married Selina Whitford July 4, 1818. They would have three boys and a girl. None would live past the age of 11, his second son dying in 1829 followed by his only daughter and youngest son in 1830. In 1831, his oldest child, 11-year-old Sanborn, was killed by a horse-drawn gig near the Sans Souci Hotel in the village of Ballston Spa.  He would sue Col. James Monroe (nephew of President James Monroe), whose servant was driving the gig, and win a settlement of $200.

Amasiah’s older brother Simeon would name his youngest son, my great-great-grandfather, Sanborn. Was it to honor his brother’s loss?

In May of 1843, Amasiah was indicted for conspiring to defraud. Amasiah, along with Samuel Welden and Benjamin Howd, had conspired to defraud William P. Green by falsely reporting lawsuits before the justice of the peace in both Malta and Clifton Park. They were charged with procuring the issuance of a summons against Green and had Howd, a Clifton Park constable, serve the papers to a person impersonating Green. They later would get a judgment in default when the real Green didn’t show up. The evidence against Amasiah and Welden was so compelling they were both sentenced to three months in county jail and fined $250 each. Howd escaped judgement because it wasn’t clear if he was a willing participant or a duped official like the two town justices.

Amasiah died 13 days before his 57th birthday on June 11, 1853 and is buried in the Ballston Spa village cemetery next to his son Sanborn. He would reach out across time and establish his legacy by the pension papers he wrote over 175 years ago. His widow Selina received half of Amasiah’s pension after attesting to having run herself down taking care of her husband. Selina would live out her life with her sister and brother-in-law in Henrietta, just outside Rochester, N.Y. There she would join her husband and children, reunited for eternity, on February 11, 1873.

Making Sense of the Market

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

We have all seen some version of this in a headline: “Stocks were (up/down/mixed) today as investors (verb) about (current event).” In these financial Mad Libs, an attempt is made to summarize in a few words the reason for the movements of thousands of stocks and interest rates. As human beings, we crave this sort of narrative because it helps us make sense of a very complex system. Unfortunately, a simple explanation is neither pertinent nor useful in the big picture. ‘What’ is happening is infinitely more valuable than ‘why’ something is happening.

By focusing on ‘what’ rather than ‘why,’ you distance yourself from the biases that inadvertently creep into our decision-making process. To start, mental energy might be wasted connecting the dots on something that does not turn out to be true at all. I think back to the people who piled into gold coming out of the financial crisis because the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing programs would surely lead to hyperinflation and therefore higher gold prices. Gold peaked around $1,900/oz in 2011 and 10 years later, it is currently below $1,800/oz. That is a lost decade for those who have held this entire time. At the time, it was a very reasonable scenario to believe, but it just was not true. Once the narrative took hold, it was hard for believers to recognize that their thesis was not going according to plan.

Recently, we saw an example of this play out in real time when the highly anticipated inflation report came out and drastically exceeded expectations. In such an environment, it would be expected that bonds would be sold. The reasoning behind this is: receiving fixed interest and principal payments in an environment when the value of the dollar is depreciating becomes very unattractive. Instead, bonds were aggressively bought on the news leaving many to scratch their heads. Why were they bought? Frankly, it does not matter. The reality of the situation is that they were and we have to accept that for fact. 

‘Cognitive dissonance’ is a term that psychologists use to explain the psychological stress one encounters when faced with information that contradicts what they believe to be true. We want to be right and will jump through mental hoops in order to convince ourselves that we are, even in the face of opposing information. Being right and making money can be opposing forces at times.  As advisors, we help you look at the big picture and make sure you are on the right side. 

For more information, visit
contwealth.com

David Rath, CFA is the Director of Portfolio Strategies at Continuum Wealth Advisors in Saratoga Springs.

Paving: Week of June 28

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS ­­ — The following streets are to be paved according to the schedule below.  Paving will begin at 6 a.m. and should be completed by 4 p.m. There is no parking of cars on the street during these hours, and driveway access/egress will be limited with potentially lengthy delays.

Monday, June 28

Mill Seward St. from Church St. to Pearl St.

Mill Long Alley from Walton St. to Dead End

Tuesday, June 29

Mill Morton Place from Nelson Ave. to Ludlow St.

Mill Fasig Lane from Nelson Ave. thru Ludlow St. to Dead End

Wednesday, June 30

Pave Seward St. from Church St. to Pearl St.

Pave Long Alley from Walton St to Dead End

Thursday, July 1

Pave Morton Place from Nelson Ave. to Ludlow St.

Pave Fasig Lane from Nelson Ave. thru Ludlow St. to Dead End

Sheep to Shawl Returns to Ballston Spa

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

BALLSTON SPA — The long-running interactive “Sheep to Shawl” program at Brookside Museum is making its return with a special Family Day as part of the weekend’s celebration of the museum’s grand reopening.

Sheep, lambs, farmers, herders, and shearers will assemble on Brookside’s lush front lawn to demonstrate every facet of sheep husbandry, shearing, and weaving to produce the wool clothing that was so ubiquitous in colonial America. The event takes place noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 27. 

Sheep to Shawl is an interactive, family-friendly event.  Young and the young-at-heart will have fun petting the sheep, meeting farmers, and participating in demonstrations.  The event is free and open to the public. 

Debuting in 1979, Sheep to Shawl quickly became a staple of area school field trips.  As soon as public health policy permits, History Center staff will once again offer the unique learning experience for school groups.  “I hope that people of all ages who have memories of past Sheep to Shawl programs will return to Brookside to join us again,” notes Director of Education Anne Clothier, in a statement.  “And we look forward to welcoming new folks who want to make new memories.”

Brookside Museum is located at the west end of Front Street in historic Ballston Spa.  Admission is free, though donations are appreciated.  For more information telephone 518-885-4000, visit www.brooksidemuseum.org, or follow on social media: Twitter, @SaratogaCoHist; Instagram, SaratogaCountyHistory.

Firecracker 4 Road Race Set for July 4

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The 15th Annual Firecracker 4 Road Race will take place Sunday, July 4, the Firecracker 4, Inc. committee announced this week.  The race will start and end at the Saratoga Springs City Center.

The Firecracker 4 is a competitive, yet fun race. As one of the largest Independence Day road races in the Northeast, it includes a thundering start down Broadway. Runners pound the pavement while receiving cheers from the historic city neighborhoods with an inspiring finish under the United States Flag. Runners enjoy a spirited run, entertainment on the course, a festive finish with food, music, and activities.

“We are pleased to bring back the Firecracker 4 Road Race to what we hope will be 3,000 runners,” said Peter Goutos, Race Director, in a statement. 

Proceeds from the Firecracker 4 benefit local nonprofits and causes, according to the organization. For more information and to register, visit: www.firecracker4.com. Runners are encouraged to register at either the Fleet Feet store in Albany or Malta. Doing so will get a $5 off and a $5 coupon to Fleet Feet. The presenting sponsor of this year’s race is Fleet Feet Albany – Malta and their vendor partner ACISIS.

FC4 Inc, a designated 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, manages the Firecracker 4, and is committed to local athletes, the wellness of the community, and the continued development of infrastructure that makes Saratoga Springs a destination for runners, walkers, bikers and, recreationists.

Groups Secure Grant to Create Saratoga County’s First Publicly Owned Community Forest

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

WILTON — The Open Space Institute (OSI) celebrated a grant to establish the first publicly owned community forest in Saratoga County. 

The Saratoga County Community Forest, a joint project of OSI, Saratoga County, and Saratoga PLAN, will serve as a dynamic community hub for multi-use recreation and offer connections to a larger trail system envisioned for the Palmertown Range, a sector of the Adirondack Foothills that runs from Fort Ticonderoga in the north to Saratoga Springs in the south. 

In the community forest model of land conservation, municipalities or community-based organizations own the forestland and local citizens participate in the planning and management of forests. 

Easily reached off Route 9 and with ample space for developing public parking, the proposed Saratoga Community Forest property’s will allow visitors of varying abilities, fitness levels, and experiences to easily utilize and enjoy local trails and quickly immerse in an Adirondack experience. Additionally, as the first publicly-owned community forest in the area, the project is intended to serve as a model for future community forest development.

The $391,000 award, made available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Community Forest Program, will support the permanent protection of the proposed 202-acre Saratoga County Community Forest property, which includes a rocky ridgeline, forested ravines along streams, a diversity of mixed northern hardwood forest communities, old logging roads, and an historic graphite mine.

The Community Forest Grant Program pays up to 50 percent of the project costs and requires a 50 percent non-federal match. OSI, Saratoga County, and Saratoga PLAN are pursuing additional partnerships, private fundraising efforts, and grants to help fully achieve this ambitious plan. 

The proposed Saratoga Community Forest Property contains four acres of wetlands, more than 6,700 linear feet of streams, and is within the Lake Loughberry watershed, which is the main source of drinking water for the more than 28,000 residents of the City of Saratoga Springs. The protection of this property will help filter rainwater before it drains into Lake Loughberry and help maintain water quality.

Visit OSI online at www.openspaceinstitute.org.

Stefanik Cosponsor of Essential Caregivers Act

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

Washington, D.C. — Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) is among nine co-sponsors of the bipartisan Essential Caregivers Act – a bill to protect residents of long-term care facilities and allow them to access up to two designated essential caregivers during a public health emergency. 

Specifically, the bill, H.R. 3733, designates up to two individuals who can be designated as an Essential Caregiver by a facility resident in the event of a public health emergency. These Essential Caregivers are required to follow the same safety protocols as facility staff during visitations and can assist in developing treatment plans, communication with medical professionals, and advocate on behalf of the patient.

June 19 – June 25, 2021

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Police Blotter.

POLICE

Georgios N. Kakevelos was found guilty of murder in the first-degree and several additional felony charges at the conclusion of a six-week long jury trial on June 17 in Saratoga County.  The conviction is in connection with the death of 22-year-old Allyzibeth A. Lamont in late October 2019, in the city of Johnstown in Fulton County. Lamont had worked for Kakevelos at his sandwich shop and deli in Johnstown.  The jury found Kakevelos hired employee James Duffy to assist him with the murder and removal of the victim to a grave site in Malta, according to Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen. The jury returned a guilty verdict on the following felony charges: murder in the first-degree, conspiracy in the second-degree, two counts concealment of a corpse, and six counts of tampering with physical evidence. Sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 19 at Saratoga County Court in Ballston Spa. 

Jonathan Lawless, 30, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 9 with misdemeanor DWI, and a driving violation. 

Robert Rich, 30, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 10 with misdemeanor DWI, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident-Fail show license/insurance ID, speed not reasonable and prudent, moved from lane unsafely, refusal to take breath test. 

Charles Walz, 32, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 10 with criminal mischief misdemeanor, and felony burglary.   

Matthew S. Lawrence, 24, of Corinth, was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the first-degree (felony); assault in the third-degree, DWI, reckless driving (all misdemeanors), speed not reasonable and prudent, failure to keep right, moving from lane unsafely, and consuming alcohol in a motor vehicle (infractions). Lawrence is accused of operating a motor vehicle in an intoxicated condition at a time when his driver’s license was suspended for an alcohol-related conviction from April 2021. His 2001 Ford F350 struck a 2017 Mercedes Benz occupied by 4 people — all of whom needed to be transported to Saratoga Hospital by ambulance for evaluation and treatment of non-life threatening injuries, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office. The incident occurred June 10 on Main Street in the Town of Corinth. Lawrence was arraigned and sent to the Saratoga County Jail in lieu of bail or bond to await further action in the matter. 

Nicholas C. Moffitt, 32, of Moreau, was charged June 16 with felony assault, obstructing governmental administration, and criminal mischief, in connection with an alleged incident that occurred in the town of Moreau. 

Jerry Carpenter, 64, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 7 with harassment in the second-degree. 

Steven Tourtellot, 47, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 7 with misdemeanor petit larceny. 

Kalen Minott, 25, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 7 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, license plate missing/displayed improperly, and failure to keep right. 

Joseph Deschenes, 50, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 7 with criminal trespass, as a misdemeanor. 

Michael Redd, 19, of Malta, was charged June 8 in Saratoga Springs with criminal contempt, a misdemeanor. 

Joanne Thompson, 50, of Albany, was charged June 8 in Saratoga Springs with two felony counts of criminal sale and two felony counts criminal possession of a controlled substance. 

Qwanna Davis, 30, of Schenectady, was charged June 8 in Saratoga Springs with criminal impersonation, a misdemeanor. 

Steven McCarthy, 43, of Saratoga Springs, was charged June 9 with felony DWI, refusal to take a breath test, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth-degree – a felony, motor vehicle registration suspended, motor vehicle license violation, and a vehicle equipment violation. 

Aaron Edwards, 40, of Corinth, was charged June 9 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, reckless driving, driving on the wrong side of the street, license plate missing/improperly displayed, failure to keep right, speed not reasonable or prudent, vehicle equipment violation, refusal to take breath test. 

David Brown, 65, of Cohoes, was charged June 9 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, motor vehicle registration suspended, and operating a motor vehicle without insurance. 

Carmen Cammuso, 37, of Glenvile, was charged June 9 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated harassment in the second-degree. 

Devin Orphan, 21, of Rotterdam, was charged June 9 in Saratoga Springs with criminal contempt in the first-degree, and aggravated family offense – both felonies, and act in manner injure child, a misdemeanor.