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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Stewart’s Holiday Match Program Update: Over $640k Going to Local Charities So Far

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Stewart’s Holiday Match funds – which are collected from Thanksgiving to Christmas Day in each of the company’s 338 shops – had garnered more than over $320,000 customer donations through Sunday, Dec. 6, resulting in over $640,000 with the Stewart’s match.   

These donations stay local and fund local nonprofits; funding may go to a virtual library program, keeping the shelves stocked at the local food pantry or helping hungry kids at school. 

The Stewart’s Holiday Match Program has no administrative fees and donates 100% of donations received to charities in their market areas. The company matches each donation dollar for dollar and has been doing so for the past 34 years, raising over $30 million for local charities. 

Local children’s organizations are encouraged to apply for funding online at stewartsshops.com. The deadline for submission is Jan. 31, 2021. All groups applying must be locally based, benefit children under 18, and be a qualified, charitable 501c3 organization. 

Saratoga Hospital Volunteer Guild Donates $180,000 for Key Hospital Projects: Organization Recognized as “Outstanding Fundraising Group”

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital Volunteer Guild recently donated $180,000 as part of its continued support for three hospital projects: “smart” IV pumps, expansion of the cardiac and interventional suite, and renovations to Saratoga Community Health Center.

“Certainly, our lives have changed because of the pandemic, and we’ve had to make adjustments to keep our volunteers safe,” said Terry White, Saratoga Hospital Volunteer Guild president. “But COVID-19 is no match for our unwavering commitment to this hospital and our community.”

That determination—and a track record of raising more than $5 million for Saratoga Hospital over the years—earned the Guild the 2020 Outstanding Fundraising Group Award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals Hudson-Mohawk Chapter. The award recognizes a group of individuals who demonstrate “the true spirit of philanthropy through time, treasure and talent.”

The Guild’s recent $180,000 donation is the latest installment on three five-year pledges made in 2018 and totaling $900,000. This year’s gift includes: $100,000 toward a $500,000 pledge for smart IV pumps that enhance patient safety and outcomes; $40,000 toward a $200,000 pledge to support the expansion of the hospital’s Whitney-Hendrickson Cardiovascular & Interventional Suite; $40,000 toward a $200,000 pledge to help renovate and expand the hospital’s Saratoga Community Health Center. 

In addition to their fundraising efforts, during a typical year Guild volunteers donate more than 50,000 hours of service to Saratoga Hospital. Although most Guild activities have been curtailed during the pandemic, volunteers have found safe, socially distant ways to continue to support the hospital and community.

Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge Delivers Goods, Meals for Homeless

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Members of the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Lodge #161 recently delivered a variety of items to Shelters of Saratoga to help aid the homeless. 

Goods included: six tents, dozens of canisters of propane for outdoor heaters, long thermal underwear, socks, and hand and foot warmer packets. For this project, a $1,000 portion of an Elks National Foundation Beacon Grant was used. 

Additionally, and unrelated to the Beacon Grant, the Lodge in late November donated 40 meals for the homeless, which volunteers from the Shelters of Saratoga (SOS / Code Blue) delivered to people locally.

Light Up Saratoga for the Holidays

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — In lieu of the annual Victorian Street Walk, and the city’s First Night Saratoga celebration – both of which have been cancelled due to public health safety concerns – city residents and businesses are encouraging the community to illuminate the exterior of their homes with lights this holiday season.

Equine Education & Family Fun: CCE Equine Selling Horse Shoe Decorating Kits

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Neighborhood Buzz.

Saratoga Springs ­—Saratoga’s Cornell Cooperative Extension Equine (CCE Equine) is offering horse shoe decorating kits as a fun family project for the holidays. Each kit includes a story, equine educational materials, a cleaned horse shoe and decorating supplies. 

Kits are $5 each and will be available for pick up during the week of Dec. 14 at the CCE Office, 50 West High Street, Ballston Spa. To order, call 518-885-8995 or email Nicolina Foti at Nvf5@cornell.edu. 

Cornell Cooperative Extension Equine (CCE Equine) was established in 2006. They offer equine education in Saratoga County and throughout the Capital Region. To learn more, visit ccesaratoga.org/agriculture/cce-equine.

Individuals Experiencing Homelessness to Receive Services via New Homeless Court

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Mayor’s Office and Community Development Department, together with City Court Judge Francine Vero, and Transitional Services Association (TSA) worked together to design a Homeless Court which assists individuals who are homeless and charged with non-violent offenses. 

Individuals who are eligible and agree to participate are provided with individually tailored, case management services and connected to human service providers. This will assist a person with a mental health diagnosis or substance use disorder who is also experiencing street-homelessness from continuing the cycle of street, to jail, and back into the courts. 

The Homeless Court was designed in response to the concern by Saratoga Springs City Court officials of an increasing pattern of individuals experiencing street-homelessness and frequently failing to appear in Court or re-offending shortly after being convicted. City Police echo the Court’s concerns. The pattern results in a backlog of warrants, as well as a significant amount of law enforcement time and resources spent policing individuals experiencing street-homelessness for minor, yet disruptive, offenses.

The Honorable Francine R. Vero presides over the Homeless Court which is scheduled for the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. 

December 5 – December 11, 2020

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Police Blotter.

COURT 

Michael T. June, 36, of Schenectady, was sentenced Nov. 30 to 1 to 3 years state prison, after pleading to felony DWI in Saratoga Springs. 

Joyce Q. Dadhirao, 56, of Round Lake, was sentenced Dec. 2 to five years of probation, after pleading to DWAI, a felony, in Clifton Park. 

Linda C. Deitz, 43, of Albany, was sentenced Dec. 2 to five years of probation, after pleading to felony DWI, in Moreau. 

Erik T. Cargile, 34, of Albany, pleaded Dec. 3 to aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, a felony, in Malta. Sentencing Feb. 3, 2021. 

POLICE

Dennis J. L. Lescault, 28, of Lake Luzerne, was charged in Saratoga Springs with three felonies: attempted assault with intent to cause injury to officer, criminal possession of a weapon, criminal mischief, and the misdemeanors: obstruct governmental administration; reckless endangerment; unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle; aggravated unlicensed operation, and reckless driving. The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office added additional charges: AUO in the first-degree, DWAI, unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle, resisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration, and numerous vehicle and traffic law infractions. The Saratoga Springs incident took place about 7 a.m. on Nov. 26, when a city Police Department officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop on Spring Street, authorities said. As the officer approached the vehicle on foot, it quickly accelerated and turned southbound onto Circular Street, onto Whitney Place and then entered the Greenridge Cemetery. As the vehicle attempted to exit the cemetery, it allegedly rammed the driver’s side of a marked Saratoga Springs Police Department car which had its emergency lights on. The officer of the rammed car was not injured. The vehicle continued onto roads in the southeast area of Saratoga Springs and then into the Town of Malta. Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office officers attempted to stop the vehicle for a failure to signal lane changes on I-87 northbound in the Town of Malta. The driver is accused of then leading police on a pursuit that continued after it exited I-87 at Exit 15, and north on New York State Route 50, and eventually south on Route 9 where the operator was apprehended after a short foot chase. Lescault was arraigned on city charges on December 2 and sent to Saratoga County Jail in lieu of $15,000 cash, or $30,000 bond.

Barrett Zalocha, 28, of New Hartford, was charged Nov. 20 in Saratoga Springs with forcible touching, and public lewdness. Both charges are misdemeanors. 

Annabella Boyea, 20, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Nov. 20 with misdemeanor assault, and misdemeanor criminal possession of a weapon. 

Juan Munguia, 30, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Nov. 21 with misdemeanor petit larceny, and felony grand larceny. 

Elizabeth Hanson, 29, of Ballston Spa, was charged Nov. 22 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and speeding. 

Daniel Earley, 27, of Schenectady, was charged Nov. 22 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a vehicle equipment violation.

Nicholas Warner, 21, of Ballston Spa, was charged Nov. 23 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a vehicle equipment violation. 

Kodi Goodson, 29, of Ballston Spa, was charged Nov. 23 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a vehicle equipment violation.

Devin Orphan, 20, of Rotterdam, was charged Nov. 23 in Saratoga Springs with criminal contempt misdemeanor, and aggravated family offense – with more than one offense within five years rising to a felony count. 

Kayla Harris, 21, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Nov. 25 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to stop at a stop sign. 

Ethan Kriesel, 30, of Amsterdam, was charged Nov. 26 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, unlawful possession of marijuana, and speeding.

Daniel Thornton, 66, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Nov. 27 with operating a motor vehicle impaired by drugs – a misdemeanor, and six driving related violations. 

Stephen Budesa, 63, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Nov. 28 with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor. 

Marion E. Ash Julius

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Marion E. Ash Julius, 81, passed away December 6, 2020. Calling hours are 9 – 11 a.m. on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Burke Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Orwell, VT next to her husband and son. Remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.

Helene (Lee) M. Gary

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Helene (Lee) M. Gary, 88, of Saratoga Springs, passed peacefully Nov. 30, 2020. Services are private. Contributions can be made in memory of Lee to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Visit burkefuneralhome.com

Peter F. Russo

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

RussoPeter

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Our loving father Peter F. Russo laid his head to rest November 26, 2020. 

He has joined his son Charlie, wife Phoebe and his parents Charles and Thelma Russo.

Peter’s passion was Saratoga and horses. At the age of 14 Peter became a horse trainer, and at 16 he went on to become the youngest sulky driver at the Saratoga Harness Track and retired as a racing judge. Other things that Peter enjoyed with his family were traveling to Florida, especially Disney World, watching New York Giants football and was an absolute phenomenal cook, who enjoyed cooking for his family. 

Peter was a very loving and doting father who truly loved his family. He is survived by his children: Elizabeth, Sondra and Charles’ twin brother Peter; his grandchildren, Richard, Angelina, Joey, Nicole and Ashley. Peter also leaves behind his special little dog Holly. They absolutely adored each other. 

Dad, Poppy, you will be loved and missed until we meet again.

Services were private. Burial was in the family plot in Our Lady of Angels Cemetery, Colonie, NY. 

Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/ Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Home of 628 North Broadway (518-584-5373).

Online remembrances may be made at burkefuneralhome.com