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Author: Saratoga TODAY

1st National Bank of Scotia President And CEO Assumes Leadership Role With Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Community Bank Advisory Council

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SCOTIA — John Buhrmaster, president and CEO of 1st National Bank of Scotia, is assuming a leadership role as vice-chair on the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Community Bank Advisory Council (CBAC). He will transition to committee chair in October.

Buhrmaster, who joined the nation’s premier consumer rule-making entity last fall, has a two-year term advising Bureau leadership and staff on how the CFPB can further its mission of protecting consumers, while at the same time developing rules that enable community banks under $10 million in assets to continue their effective delivery of banking services to consumers.

The Scotia native, who holds an undergraduate degree in management information systems and marketing from Syracuse University, has served as president and CEO of 1st National Bank of Scotia since 2005. The independently owned and operated bank has branches in Albany, Saratoga and Schenectady counties and assets of $500 million. For more information, visit firstscotia.com. 

2021 Ballston Spa Farmers’ Market to Open June 12

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

BALLSTON SPA — The 2021 Ballston Spa Farmers’ Market, sponsored by the Ballston Spa Business and Professional Association (BSBPA), will run from June 12 through Sept. 30. The markets will be held on Thursdays from 3-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m.- 1 p.m. and will have a new location on the grounds of the historic Brookside Museum, 6 Charlton St. in the village of Ballston Spa. 

The new location is an easy stroll from the market’s previous location in Wiswall Park, with more available parking as well as proximity to Old Iron Spring Park and the Thursday evening summer concerts.  The markets have been serving the local community since 2003. 

The market will be conducted in accordance with any continuing COVID-related guidelines that may still be in place, as directed by NYS Ag & Markets.  Vendors will be properly spaced. Like grocery stores, masks will be required for vendors and customers and social distancing will be implemented.  Hand sanitizer will be available for customers and vendors. Customers are encouraged to shop individually.

The market is now accepting vendors for the 2021 season.  New and returning vendors can apply online at www.ballston.org/category/farmers-market. Customer admission to the market is free. 

Carrie Woerner, Capital Region Assembly Members Urge Pre-Registration System for Vaccine Appointments

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

ALBANY — Problems surrounding eligibility prioritization, excluded essential workers, limited access to available appointments, and more related to the rollout of New York State’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution program continue to persist. An easily accessible, statewide pre-registration tool available for every New Yorker’s use, would tackle these issues and provide much-needed peace of mind to an increasingly-anxious population.

Assembly members Patricia Fahy (D-109), John McDonald (D-108), and Carrie Woerner (D-113) released a joint statement urging the state to create a pre-registration tool. 

The pre-registration registration process would capture an individual’s age, occupation, any underlying health conditions, and how they’d like to be contacted. The state would reprioritize the list based on eligibility phases — healthcare, frontline, essential workers first, those with comorbidities, over 75 next, over 65, and so on. 

As the vaccine arrives in the state, the Department of Health would allocate a number of doses to each county, pharmacy, and other providers, and provide the list of the same number of people who are next up on the eligibility list. The County Public Health department would then reach out to those specific people, and schedule them for an appointment, making sure to schedule sufficient people on any given day so that no vaccine dose goes to waste. 

“The vaccine distribution process is confusing, frustrating, and makes an already-anxious populace even more so. We need a straightforward system that matches supply with demand,” reads the statement. “We recommend the Governor and the Department of Health move to a pre-registration system that will allow the state and counties to simplify the scheduling process, eliminate the competition for vaccine appointments, reduce the need to travel several hours to secure a vaccination, and overall reduce the stress people are experiencing.” 

February 6 – February 12, 2021

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Police Blotter.

COURT

Javier A. Dalmasi, 26, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced Feb. 2 to six months incarceration and five years of probation, after pleading to criminal contempt in the first-degree, a felony in connection with an incident that occurred Nov. 21, 2019. 

Barkim H. Tomer, 26, of Schenectady, was sentenced Feb. 3 to 3.5 years in state priosn, after pleading in Saratoga Springs to attempted criminal sale of a controlled substance, a felony. 

POLICE 

Wayne A. Rice, 43, of Schenectady, was charged with two felony counts of reckless endangerment in the first-degree, in the town of Saratoga. According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, Rice is accused of “recklessly engaging in conduct that created a grave risk of death to another person under circumstances evincing a depraved indifference to human life.” He is suspected of nearly striking two deputies with his car in efforts to fell the scene of what was believed to be a domestic incident. As a deputy attempted to take Rice in to custody, he drove off while the deputy was partially inside the vehicle, according to authorities. Rice was sent to Saratoga County Jail without bail.    

State Police in Troop G, which serves a 10-county area that includes Saratoga, removed 17 impaired drivers from local roadways during Super Bowl weekend. The special STOP-DWI enforcement campaign ran from Friday, Feb. 5, 2021 through Monday, Feb. 8. During the campaign, troopers in Troop G issued 690 traffic tickets including 147 for speeding, 21 for distracted driving, 14 for failure to move over, and 17 for not wearing a seatbelt. Troopers also responded to 60 traffic collisions.

Keegan Farrell, 20, of Greenfield Center, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 5 with criminal possession of stolen property in the fourth-degree, a felony. 

Omar Stout, 26, of Albany, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 6 with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh-degree, a misdemeanor, and unlawful possession of marijuana. 

Lucy Johnson, 36, of Greenfield Center, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 6 with two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh-degree. 

Kevin Lindsay, 32, of Greenfield Center, was charged in Saratoga Springs Feb. 7 with felony DWI as a second offense within 10 years, vehicle not equipped with interlock device, three driving related violations and one vehicle related violation. 

 Michael J. McLaughlin, 29, of West Enfield, Maine, was charged Feb. 5 with five felony counts of criminal possession of a weapon. According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office, on Feb. 4 deputies responded to the La Quinta Inn and Suites on Route 9 in the Town of Clifton Park for reports of a subject walking around the hotel with a firearm.  The subject in question, identified as Michael J. McLaughlin, was located in the hotel and allegedly found to be in possession of several weapons at the time. He was charged and arraigned and sent to the Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $20,000 cash bail, $40,000 secured bond, or $80,000 partially secured bond.

Maria Hernandez, 20, of Moreau, was charged Feb. 1 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, misdemeanor aggravated DWI, unlawful possession of marijuana, and two driving related violations. 

Katelynn Hulett, 29, of Ballston Spa, was charged Feb. 1 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor petit larceny. 

Jennifer Parsons, 40, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Feb. 1 with misdemeanor criminal mischief. 

Tammy McCray, 42, of Ballston Spa, was charged Feb. 2 in Saratoga Springs with grand larceny in the fourth-degree, a felony. 

Jonathan Hendrix, 29, of Halfmoon, was charged Feb. 4 in Saratoga Springs with operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and two vehicle related violations. 

Ashley Fear, 21, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Feb. 4 with assault in the third-degree, a misdemeanor. 

Bibi Zulfekar, 33, of Schenectady, was charged Feb. 5 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor criminal mischief.

Andrew Brown 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

AndrewBrown

SARATOGA SPRINGS — It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the death of our dear friend Andrew Brown of Saratoga Springs who passed away January 20, 2021 at the age of 96. 

He was born on April 6th, 1924 to Mittie Logan Brown and Jerry Brown in Birmingham, Alabama. Andrew was the youngest of 8 siblings. By the time he was the age of 15 most of his relatives, including both parents, had passed away. 

Andrew moved to Tennessee to live with his sister for a while. He left school in the 10th grade and began to nomadically travel until he settled in Saratoga Springs, working with the horses at the racetrack. Andrew fell in love with this town and over the years he became known to many. He was good friends with Hattie Moseley and even had a friendship with Mary Lou Whitney. Andrew famously found Mary Lou’s gem in Congress Park while walking and returned it to her. Andrew became a member of the Frederick Allen Elks Lodge, a fraternity that he would always cherish. He enjoyed traveling all over the country especially with his dear friend Emma. 

Through all his travels he enjoyed collecting and taking photographs. However, he had many other interests as well. Andrew relished in the sound of music, enjoyed fishing and loved watching a good sporting event, football, basketball, baseball etc. Andrew was known for his love of cooking; people would walk past his window asking for a plate of food. He was a man of different trades. He worked in a factory in Detroit, laid sidewalks all over Saratoga, drove cars all over the east coast and was even a super for an apartment building in Detroit. 

Andrew was predeceased by both his parents, his seven siblings, Clifford, Ralph, Ronzola, Ernest, JB, Goldie and Mable; a very special great niece Gloria Jean Trout Nelms Hall; and his best friend Emma Nelson. He leaves behind a loving great-great niece Roshunda Turner, and children, Tyresha and Tyrone Jr; two great-great nephews, Tony and Damon Nelms and son Damon Jr.; His loving sister-n-law Patricia (Clifford) Brown and children, Kimberly, Daphne, Samantha, Jasmine, Jade and Louwana; and three very special friends Patrice Figuereo, Lisa Cilenti and Erika Manning. 

Andrew will be missed dearly by those he left behind. Services will be held in the springtime with more information to follow.

Michael R. Maki

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

MMaki

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Michael R. Maki, age 51, passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 4, 2021 at home with his family by his side. Michael was born on August 11, 1969, son of the late Robert J. Maki, Sr. 

Mike was employed with Spa Moving for many years. He was an avid NY Giants fan and loved to fish and play golf. Your smile will always warm our hearts because we know you are only away…not gone.

Mike is survived by his wife, Chrissy Maki; his mom, Rose Travis; twin brother, Joseph Maki and brother, Donald Pratt, all from Saratoga Springs. Two sisters, Esther Stanton from Porter Corners and Sherry Maki from Fulton, NY. Two stepsons, Steven Sherlin and his partner Megan Roland, and Joshua Sherlin. Also, his grandson Noah, who he loved beyond words…and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his two brothers, Robert (Jim) Maki Jr., and Edward D. Pratt.

Burial will be held at a later date in the spring at Riverside Cemetery, Oswego NY.

A celebration of life will be planned for a future date.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Michael’s name to the Saratoga Community Hospice, as the family was thankful for the love and support from the nurses and staff. 

Michael J. Cahill

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

WILTON — Michael J. Cahill, 24, passed away Sat., Feb. 6, 2021 after a snowboarding accident. Relatives and friends may call from 3:30 to 7 p.m. on Fri., Feb. 12, 2021 at Burke Funeral Home. Mass will be at St. Peter’s Church on Sat., Feb. 13 at 10 a.m. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com

Judy A. Schmidt

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

GREENFIELD CENTER — Judy A. Schmidt, nee Turney, passed away peacefully at home on January 23, 2021 after a long illness. Judy was a joyous person who enjoyed large gatherings of her family and friends and was the life of the party. Funeral services will be spring of 2021. Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com

Edward “Ned” Joseph Minahan

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Edward “Ned” Joseph Minahan, 82, passed away January 5, 2021. No calling hours. Mass of Christian Burial will be April 30, 2021 at the historic Church of St. Peter. Burial with military honors will follow at Saratoga National Cemetery. Visit burkefuneralhome.com