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Author: Saratoga TODAY

December 19 – December 22, 2020

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Police Blotter.

COURT

Bryan E. Gailor, 42, of Ballston Spa, pleaded Dec. 15 to attempted criminal possession of a controlled substance, a felony, in Malta. Sentencing March 9, 2021.

Merton E. Tyrel, 27, of Malta, was sentenced Dec. 6 to six months in jail, after pleading to felony assault. 

Raymond M. Barnett, 29, of Ballston Spa, pleaded Dec. 18 to criminal mischief felony. Sentencing March 11. 

Michelle L. King, 46, of Glens Falls, pleaded Dec. 17 to vehicular assault in the first-degree, a felony, in Moreau. Sentencing March 4. 

POLICE

Natalie Anderson, 49, of Gansevoort, was charged Dec. 17 in Saratoga Springs with felony DWI, and speed not reasonable and prudent. 

Robert Nadeau, 38, of Troy, was charged Dec. 18 in Saratoga Springs with grand larceny in the third-degree, a felony. 

Jeremy Depasquale, 40, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Dec. 8 with felony burglary, and petit larceny – a misdemeanor. 

Zachary Skellie, 25, of Stillwater, was charged Dec. 8 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and failure to yield the right-of-way. 

Rachel Flores, 38, of Rotterdam, was charged Dec. 10 in Saratoga Springs with criminal contempt in the second-degree, a misdemeanor. 

Thomas Carl Robbins 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Thomas Carl Robbins passed away Friday, December 18, 2020. Tom was born April 1, 1957. Given the environment in which we are living, a celebration of Tom’s life will be held at a later date when we can all gather safely to share our remembrances. Visit www.burkefuneralhome.com

Joseph A. DeFrank, Jr. (DeFrancesco)

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

LAKE PLEASANT — Joseph A. DeFrank, Jr. (DeFrancesco), 87, passed December 12, 2020. Calling hours and funeral home service took place December 19, 2020 at Burke Funeral Home. Memorial donations to: Michael J Fox Foundation or The Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame Goshen, NY. www.burkefuneralhome.com 

Barbara E. O’Brien 

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Barbara E. O’Brien passed away on December 16, 2020. A Memorial Service will be held in spring and will be announced at a later date. Arrangements are under the direction of the Burke Funeral Home, 628 N. Broadway. Remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com

Consumer Alert: NYS DMV Warns of Ongoing Text Message Phishing Schemes

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles is warning New Yorkers of ongoing text message phishing schemes. These illegitimate text messages ask recipients to update their driver license contact information. The messages link to a phony DMV website. Anyone who received such a text message should not provide any personal data and should delete it right away. 

To help protect against phishing or smishing (SMS phishing) scams, the NYS Office of Information Technology Services (ITS) recommends the following precautions:

*Exercise caution with all communications you receive, including those that appear to be from a trusted entity.  Inspect the sender’s information to confirm the message was generated from a legitimate source.

*Keep an eye out for telltale signs of phishing – poor spelling or grammar, the use of threats, the URL does not match that of the legitimate site. If the message does not feel right, chances are it is not.

• DON’T click on links embedded in an unsolicited message from an unverified source.

• DON’T send your personal information via text.  Legitimate businesses will not ask users to send sensitive personal information through text message.

• DON’T post sensitive information online.  The less information you post, the less data you make available to a cybercriminal for use in developing a potential attack or scam.

For more information on phishing scams, as well as steps to mitigate a phishing attempt, visit the NYS Office of Information Technology Services Phishing Awareness resources page: its.ny.gov/resources. For more information about DMV, visit dmv.ny.

Skidmore Grad makes Time Magazine List of “Best Inventions of 2020”

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A disinfection system co-created by Class of 2014 Skidmore College graduate Elliot “Mo” Kreitenberg has been named one of Time magazine’s Best Inventions of 2020. 

The Dimer GermFalcon – a disinfection system from Dimer UVC Innovations – disinfects the interior of an airplane with UVC light. 

“Roughly the size of a beverage cart, the GermFalcon uses the same UVC disinfection systems as hospitals to sanitize every surface of an aircraft’s interior before passengers board,”  according to Time magazine.  While not yet tested against COVID-19, the GermFalcon has been effective against SARS and MERS, two other members of the coronavirus family.w

The GermFalcon utilizes hospital-proven UVC light to quickly and effectively kill germs on all high touch surfaces of an airplane. Dimer is the company that created the appliance. 

Skidmore alumnus Leejay Pollacchi ’13, a marketing and design professional, is also part of the core project team and has been brought on as brand manager at Dimer, according to Skidmore College. Kreitenberg and Pollacchi, two longtime friends, were also college roommates and both studied management and business at Skidmore and played for the men’s baseball team.

Ronald J McCue

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

Ronald J McCue

BALLSTON LAKE, NY – Ronald J. McCue, 86, passed away following a brief illness on Saturday, December 19, 2020.

Born in Pittsburgh, PA, he was the son of the late Ronald and Helen (Dugas) McCue. Ron graduated from Mt. Lebanon High School excelling as a punter and golfer / caddie, somethi9ng he continued to enjoy throughout his life. Upon graduation he joined the U.S. Army, where he would receive his training as a Meteorologist, a career he would continue for the next 35 plus years. While stationed at the Sault St. Marie, MI weather station, he would meet the love of his life, Delores, and wife of more than 63 years.

A newlywed couple looking for adventure would begin their life together along with their not yet 2-year-old daughter, Susan, at the northmost point of the United States, Point Barrow Alaska NOAA weather station. Ron’s novice photography skills would capture and chronicle this part of their life in such a dramatic way, these pictures would later become an educational tool presented in many local elementary schools. Ron and Dee would eventually settle in Colonie, NY to raise their now three children. Ron was a man who throughout his life could build or fix almost anything, enjoying gardening, growing the most beautiful wave petunias and tomatoes that he would graciously give to family and friends. He later became an accomplished RC airplane builder and flier in the Ballston Lake Flying Club. He also loved fishing, always looking forward to the opening day of Walleye season at the beginning of May. Holidays especially Christmas were not always easy due to the work schedule of a meteorologist, but he would always find the time to prepare the 60+ year old family recipe for eggnog to share with family and friends.

Ron retired from the National Weather Service in Albany in 1989, after 35 years of service. Throughout retirement he was able to enjoy his love of golf, not only playing but teaching many aspiring players, young and old at the Northway 8 Golf Shop. Throughout his life he instilled a proud work ethic in all his children and grandchildren. He was always happy to witness and appreciate each of his grandchildren’s achievements. He enjoyed Disney Vacation Club cruises and stayed at Disney and later spent family vacations in Ocean Park, ME, and visited his brother and sister-in-law in Phoenix. He can finally say one of his favorite lines one last time, “hit the road Jack”, rest in peace dad.

Ron was predeceased by his beloved parents. He leaves behind his loving wife Delores; children: a daughter Susan and her husband Michael Hartshorne, two sons, Stanley McCue and his fiancé Laurie and Bernard McCue and his wife Terry; a brother James McCue and his wife Jeri; his cherished grandchildren: Isabella (Sean) Underwood, Tony (Kaitlyn) Ientile, Kayleigh (Patrick) Fischer and Nicholas McCue, Marcus (Lucy) Valentine, Wesley (Jolie) Valentine and Stephanie Valentine; great-granddaughters: rowan Quin Fischer and Charlotte Maben; several nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends will be received on Wednesday, December 23 at the Glenville Funeral Home, 9 Glenridge Rd. from 11:30 to 1 p.m. A procession to the Gerald B.H. Solomon National Cemetery will follow. Military honors will be bestowed at 2 p.m.

Donations can be made to the WoundedWarriorProject.org or St. Jude’s Childrens Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105.

Online condolences may be expressed to the McCue family at Glenvillefuneralhome.com.

Virtual Online Marketplace Features Fine Art & Craft by Beekman Street Artists

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — With just a click from the comfort and safety of your home you can view and purchase the work of talented local artists and support the Saratoga Springs art community.   

This holiday season, the Saratoga Springs Art District (SSADI) presents the Beekman Street Arts District Online Holiday Marketplace. The 8th Annual Beekman Street Art Fair, a yearly event celebrating the local arts community and showcasing the art of regional artists, was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Pivoting in these challenging times, the Online Holiday Marketplace provides the opportunity to browse and buy a variety of fine art and crafts created by the artists of Beekman Street and beyond.

The new website features work of a group of unique and accomplished artists, and includes: jewelry, painting, wearables, ceramics, pottery, and home decor. Local pick up is offered along with direct shipping. The Marketplace is accessible through the Beekman Street Art District website at SaratogaArtDistrict.com

The Magic of Christmas 2020 Local TV Special Broadcasts This Weekend

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Entertainment.

ALBANY — The Albany Symphony and WNYT NewsChannel 13 present The Magic of Christmas 2020, featuring holiday music performed by The Albany Symphony Brass Choir and Symphony Percussionists, Capital Region youth and performing arts groups, and special guests. 

The television special will air 7-8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 19 on WNYT, Channel 13, and 4-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20 on WNYA, My4. The show will be hosted by Albany Symphony Music Director David Alan Miller and NewsChannel 13 Anchor Benita Zahn. 

Featured performers include: Albany Symphony Brass Choir and Percussionists  – performing at the Palace Theatre, The Music Studio, Empire State Youth Orchestra Jazz and Percussion Ensembles, The Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys, Northeast Ballet Company, and students from the City School District of Albany. 

“During these challenging times, the members of the Albany Symphony and I are so delighted to partner with our friends at WNYT and Benita Zahn to bring the magic of the holidays to our entire Capital region community,” Miller said, in a prepared statement. “We are thrilled to feature so many talented young people from throughout our region and the wonderful organizations that nurture them year-round. We hope the whole community will join us in celebrating the beauty of the season.” 

The television show was inspired by the Symphony’s popular live Magic of Christmas performances held annually at the Palace Theatre. Due to COVID-19, The Magic of Christmas has been reimagined this year as a virtual celebration featuring holiday favorites, including “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Sleigh Bells,” a reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and selections from “The Nutcracker.”