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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Schuylerville Wins FFA Grants

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Education.

Schuylerville — Schuylerville High School’s FFA Chapter of has been named a 2020 recipient of two National FFA Organization grants, totaling $7,555. Both grants will be used to fund agricultural education and experiential learning initiatives at the high school.

The Chapter received $4,955 from the Grants for Growing program to begin a maple syrup production operation. They plan to purchase a maple syrup evaporator, canning unit, taps and other equipment for maple syrup production. 

Also awarded the Living to Serve Grant in the amount of $2,600, the Schuylerville FFA plans to build raised bed gardens to grow fresh produce for donation to both the school cafeteria as well as S.A.F.E.R, Schuylerville Area Food Emergency Relief. This project will be done in conjunction with the high school technology program. 

The funding for both grants is provided by the sponsors of the National FFA Organization, including: CoBank, Tractor Supply Company, Cargill, CSX, Dominoes and Elanco. 

The Grants for Growing program is funded through the donations of customers who purchase $1 paper emblems at Tractor Supply stores at checkout during National FFA Week

Emily Frost Joins Julie & Co.

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Julie & Co. Realty has announced Emily Frost as the newest member of the brokerage.

A licensed real estate salesperson, Frost was born and raised in Queensbury. In 2011, she graduated from the State University of New York with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration and Communications. She applied her knowledge to a hands-on sales role managing representatives throughout the state of New York for five years. 

Frost specializes in residential sales and leases, first time home buyers, condos, and townhomes. 

For more information, call 518-350-SOLD (7653), email info@juliecorealty.com or visit www.JulieCoRealty.com

Saratoga Hospital Medical Group Names Executive Director

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Hospital Medical Group has appointed Scarlet Clement-Buffoline of Ballston Spa as executive director of the multidisciplinary medical practice. 

Clement-Buffoline has more than two decades of administrative experience in positions of increasing responsibility at Capital Region hospitals. Most recently, she was chief operating officer for acute care services at St. Peter’s Health Partners in Albany.  She also has served as vice president of administration and specialty services at Samaritan Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital, both in Troy.

 At Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, Clement-Buffoline will play a lead role in overseeing operations and developing strategies to expand the practice and increase access to high-quality healthcare in the region. 

Clement-Buffoline holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and health from the State University of New York at Potsdam and a master’s degree in counseling psychology from the University at Albany. A fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Clement-Buffoline is a member of the Association of Healthcare Management – Western New York, the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, and the Healthcare Association of New York State Behavioral Health Task Force. In addition, she has served on the boards of the Troy Redevelopment Foundation, Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce, and Rensselaer County Community Services.

Stewart’s to Close Shop in Burnt Hills

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Business.

BURNT HILLS — Stewart’s Shops on Oct. 16 announced that it will be closing two of its shops in the upcoming weeks. 

The Burnt Hills shop on 710 Saratoga Rd. will be closed on Sunday, Oct. 25 and the Wappingers Falls shop on 2048 Route 9D, will be closed on Sunday, Nov. 8. All partners have been offered opportunities in nearby locations, the company said.

Stewart’s Shops released the following statement regarding the closures: “Unfortunately, these shops do not have the ability to accommodate the equipment or space needs to expand food-to-go offerings or gasoline and cannot expand with their ever-growing customer needs. The inability to expand coupled with rising costs have made the closures necessary.”

The closures are not a reflection of the company overall, the company added, reporting: “Stewart’s Shops continues to grow. They’re expanding to new markets and rebuilding and improving existing locations where they are seeing growth. In 2020, Stewart’s Shops is celebrating 75 years and will again invest over $45 million in construction of new shops and shop additions, with 19 new and rebuilt shops planned.”

Property Transactions: October 17 – October 23, 2020

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Property Transactions.

BALLSTON

Tracine Companion sold property at 30 Beacon St to Letty Rudes for $280,000.

Gary Guilfoyle sold property at 738 Goode St to Lance Decker for $325,000.

Michael Attanasio sold property at 36 Beacon St to Matthew Eberlein for $269,000.

Rachel Schwendinger sold property at 25 Nolan Rd to Michael Dorsher for $308,400.

David Barclay sold property at 18 Kingsbridge Ct to Zachary Ellis for $573,000.

GALWAY

Stephen Raeburn sold property at 4916 Jockey St to David Miller for $432,500.

Richard Alkinburgh sold property at 1070 Palmer Rd to Barry Dibernardo for $369,000.

Dennis Decker sold property at 5079 Jersey Hill Rd to Wayne Eckle for $265,000.

Steve Drouin sold property at 5190 Armer Rd to Ashley Metz for $234,900.

GREENFIELD

Michele Morrissey sold property at 200 Middle Grove Rd to Nicholas Nightingale for $575,000.

William Bennett sold property at 39 Greene Rd to Michael Sanita for $170,000.

Albino Ceballos sold property at 399 N Creek Rd to Shane Huggins for $254,900.

MALTA

Adam Gagnon soldproperty at 18 Glade Mallow Rd to Garrett Bernardo for $312,000.

Mujtaba Hasnain sold property at 43 Bayberry Dr to Ryan Larson for $380,000

Albert Zumpano sold property at 151 Thimbleberry Rd to Chelsea Vandenburgh for $170,000.

Brittany Taranto sold property at 41 Thimbleberry Rd to Aurora Heller for $201,000.

Matthew Lumley sold property at 1 Penny Royal to Nicole Dimarco for $260,000

Kevin McAuliffe sold property at 1151 Laurel Lane to Zachary Emmerick for $280,000

SARATOGA

Colin Baird sold property at 29 Ironwood Dr to Marita Martinez for $390,000

Anthony Erceg sold property at 100 Condon Rd to Nathaniel Johnson for $730,000.

Craig Cornwell sold property at 25 Palmer Heights to Scott Draiss for $515,000

Marie Barbera sold property at 107 Point Breeze Rd to Nicholas Mattiello for $445,000.

SARATOGA SPRINGS

Bryan Lynch sold property at 14 Ellis Ave to Mona Tawadrous for $339,000

Jason Rutigliano sold property at 11 Curt Blvd to Druanne Richmond for $248,000

John Larow as trustee sold property at 5 Horizon Dr to Peter Hagos for $606,000.

Downton Walk LLC sold property at P/O 27 Jumel Pl and Robert Marini for $989,000.

Amit Gupta sold property at 349 Grand Ave to Eve Borden for $342,000.

Richard Sandman sold property at 116 Catherine St to Sheri Delarm for $225,000.

Randy Blodgett sold property at 105 Catherine St to Washco Holdings LLC for $225,000.

John Koella sold property at 1 Glenmore Ave to Kathleen Bango for $395,000.

Scot Trifilo sold property at 126 Nelson Ave to 126 Nelson Ave LLC for $735,000

Scot Trifilo sold property at 0 Nelson Ave to 126 Nelson Ave LLC for $315,000

Ron Pedrick sold property at 11 Walter Dr to Michael Blais for $330,000.

Hady Elokby sold property at 42 Circular St to Thomas Furey for $800,000.

Patrick Degregorio sold property at 169 West Circular St to Rachael Moss for $695,000.

WILTON

John Williams sold property at 166 Gailor Rd to James Cook for $335,000.

Katherine Tavernia sold property at 37 Claire Pass to Andrew Frank for $480,000.

Shelley Hodgson sold property at 20 Evergreen Dr to Derrian Hodgson for $200,000.

US Bank National Assoc. as trustee sold property at 25 Christina Court to Lia Parisyan for $260,000.

Alan Bucknam sold property at 11 Cobble Hill Dr to Craig Condra for $535,000.

Valorie Hanington sold property at 42 Meditation Way to Katherine Ball for $310,000.

John Hudak sold property at 15 Connemara Court to Roger Leonbruno for $395,000.

Charles Brady sold property at 45 Cobble Hill Dr to Robert Bergin for $384,900.

Glenn Campbell sold property at 120 Edie Rd to Stephen Zink for $640,000.

Thruway Going Cashless Get Your E-ZPass Before It Is Too Late

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in News.

NEW YORK — The New York State Thruway is scheduled to convert to an entirely cashless tolling system by the end of 2020.

The Thruway Authority is modernizing its 570-mile transportation system by converting to cashless tolling. Their goal is to reduce congestion, improve traffic flow, help the environment, and allow for non-stop travel on New York’s toll roads, bridges, and tunnels.

The Design Build project will include the installation of cashless tolling gantries and equipment and the removal of existing toll booths at 52 Thruway interchanges and toll barriers across New York State. There are two main phases to the project. The first phase is the installation of the gantries on the Thruway and ramps. The second phase will be the removal of the toll plazas.

How does cashless tolling work?

Motorists drive under a gantry with state-of-the-art sensors and cameras that read E-ZPass tags and take license plate images, so vehicles no longer have to stop to pay the toll. Vehicles with E-ZPass tags are automatically charged and vehicles without E-ZPass tags will have their license plate image captured and a toll bill mailed to the registered owner of each vehicle. Customers who pay using Tolls By Mail will pay the same toll rate as previously paid by cash customers, and E-ZPass customers with New York accounts will continue to receive a five percent discount.

Once cashless tolling goes live across the system, work will continue in 2021 to remove the toll plazas and realign interchanges.

The first tolls were collected on the Thruway in June 1954; more than 12,000 men and women have served as toll collectors, working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in all weather conditions.

Tolls will not increase, and are frozen through 2020, according to the state Thruway Authority. For more information, or to sign up for E-Z Pass go to: www.thruway.ny.gov/ezpass/index.html. 

October 17 – October 23, 2020

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Police Blotter.

COURT

Adam J. Ross, 38, of Greenfield Center, pleaded Oct. 8 to felony DWI in Saratoga Springs. Sentencing scheduled Dec. 10. 

Brandon H. Welfinger, 24, of Malta, was sentenced Oct. 7 to two years state prison, after pleading to criminal sexual act in the third-degree. He was originally charged Dec. 10,2019. 

Bruce Stanley, 76, of Halfmoon, pleaded Oct. 5 to sexual abuse in the first-degree. Sentencing scheduled Dec. 7. 

POLICE

Parvatie Sukhram, 29, of Schenectady, was charged Oct. 16 with three counts of criminal possession of stolen property, and grand larceny – both felonies. She is suspected of the thefts of multiple vehicles. vehicle theft. According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office, Sukhram was charged after an investigation into a report of a stolen vehicle on Ushers Road in the town of Clifton Park.  Prior to allegedly stealing this vehicle, Sukhram earlier abandoned another vehicle reported stolen to the Albany Police Department on Oct. 14.   

Isaac H. Montero, 38, of Middle Grove, was charged Oct. 18 with reckless endangerment in the first-degree, unlawful imprisonment in the first-degree, both felonies, and menacing in the second-degree, a misdemeanor, following an altercation at a residence in the town of Greenfield. Montero is alleged to have fired a 12-gauge shotgun at a victim, a hunter, after a dispute over property lines, and subsequently restraining him. 

John Pasquariello, 33, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 25 with criminal tampering, a misdemeanor. 

Aric Lemon, 41, of Watervliet, was charged Sept. 26 with felony DWI, and making an unsafe turn. 

Andrew Sanderson, 46, of Far Rockaway, was charged Oct. 2 in Saratoga Springs on a warrant with bail jumping, a felony. 

Zane Jeffrey, 31, of Queensbury, was charged Oct. 3 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to stop at a stop sign. 

Adirondack Nickolas, 22, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 3 with assault in the third-degree and disorderly conduct.

Aaron Edwards, 39, of Corinth, was charged Oct. 3 in Saratoga Springs with assault in the third-degree. 

Shawn Shannon, 34, of Mechanicville, was charged Oct. 3 in Saratoga Springs with assault in the third-degree, and two counts of disorderly conduct. 

Michael Redd, 18, of Malta, was charged Oct. 3 in Saratoga Springs with criminal mischief. 

John Sgorrano, 26, of Fort Edward, was charged Oct. 3 in Saratoga Springs with menacing, criminal possession of a weapon, and obstructing government administration. 

Nichola Rapp, 25, of Schenectady, was charged Oct. 4 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, and two driving violations. 

Stephen Budesa, 62, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 5 with criminal trespass. 

Djontay Bennifield, 21, of Greenfield Center, was charged Oct. 5 with assault, criminal possession of a weapon, burglary, and aggravated criminal contempt. All four charges are felonies. 

Ricky Delorenzo, 59, of Corinth, was charged Oct. 6 in Saratoga Springs with petit larceny. 

James Blair, 64, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 6 with aggravated family offense, and criminal contempt. 

Michael Belcher, 21, of Middle Grove, was charged Oct. 7 in Saratoga Springs, with two counts aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and multiple driving and license/equipment violations.

Jessica Smith, 39, of Gloversville, was charged Oct. 8 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and license and equipment violations.

Nicholas Dixon, 25, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 8 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief, assault, aggravated family offense, acting in manner to injure child, and criminal obstruction of breathing. 

Elissa Natarelli, 39, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 8 with assault. 

Edwin Perez, 60, of Milton, was charged Oct. 9 in Saratoga Springs with harassment. 

Henry Hester, 45, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 10 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and speeding. 

Chad Cruger, 45, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Oct. 10 with harassment. 

Hunter Mahar, 26, of Corinth, was charged Oct. 12 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and making unsafe turn/ failure to give appropriate signal. 

Penny Mangini

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

Penny Mangini

EUSTIS, FL — Penny Mangini, age 77, passed away at her home in Eustis, Florida on Thursday, October 8, 2020. She was born in Saratoga Springs on September 21, 1943. She attended St. Peter’s and graduated in 1961 from Saratoga High and later attended Lake-Sumter State College for Financial Services. Penny loved horses from an early age, something she carried with her into a career in the Standard Bred Horse Racing Industry. In 1981 she went into Banking Services becoming a Manager of Operations at Barnett Bank, then onto Bank of America where she retired from Banking in 2010. She found great joy working as a receptionist at The Father’s House until her final retirement in 2015.

Penny had a great love of travel and scrapbooking her adventures. Her love of the ocean and the Keys in Florida always brought a smile to her face and calm to her heart. Penny loved the history of Saratoga Springs where she was born. She could always be found with a book or Kindle in her hand, whether it was on the many books of her hometown or the classics, Charles Dickens being a favorite and even named her beloved Maltese, Dickens. 

Researching her family history had taken her places she found fascinating, and Facebook brought her in contact with family members all over the United States. She had reconnected with old classmates from her school days and loved how easy it was to fall into conversations like it had just been yesterday. She had a unique sense of humor, a deep belief in her political views and boy, did she ever like posting about “coffee!” She was very grateful for the new friends she had made at Pendry Villa and cherished her many friends from her work at the Bank and from Church. 

Her faith was a very important part of Penny’s life. It filled her soul with the nourishment of God’s Love, Salvation and made her whole. She found the power of prayer to be one of the most powerful forces on earth and did not get up from her bed until she finished all her prayers for loved ones whom she knew needed the Grace of God.

Her family was her heart, her everything. She could not be prouder of her three children and the wonderful people that they had become. She relished in their achievements and gave a shoulder to their tears. She never grew tired of long conversations and hearing of their adventures, travels or everyday life. Her grandchildren brought her so much joy it was hard to understand how her heart could be contained inside her. She had loved being part of the special days as much as the pick-ups from school and boy, could she go on and on about concerts and achievements! She was thrilled being a great-grandmother and loved all the special moments that only they could bring. She was blessed with getting to spend as much time as she did with her great-grandson Shia. He brought so much light into her life. She recently became a proud great-grandmother again in September.

Penny and her sister Terry were an affirmation that Love is a Verb and spent time daily with phone calls, many filled with stories of Buttons, her cat who could be both a joy and a handful.

She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Lillian and Rocco Mangini, a sister Donalee Mangini, all of Saratoga Springs.

She is survived by her children Roben Cunningham Bronson of Tavares, FL, Christine Cunningham of Saratoga Springs, JJ (Marie) Southall of Eustis, FL, her six grandchildren Nathan Cunningham, Taylor Bronson, Austin & JaLynn Southall, Jimmy and Aubrey Bronson, her five great-grandchildren Shia, Owen, Hailey, Harper and Eli. Also, a sister Terry-Lynn Mangini (William) of Louisville, CO, daughter Roclyn Harrington and her four children of Saratoga Springs, a brother James Mangini and his two daughters, Crystal and Mallory Mangini of Kansas City, MO, plus many cousins near and far.

She was a guiding light in all our lives and her passing has left a hole in our hearts that will be hard to fill. She will be forever remembered with Grace, Love and Joy.

Sheila Brooks

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Sheila Brooks, 65 passed away October 11, 2020. Born February 13, 1955, she was a lifelong resident of the City of Saratoga Springs. A City that she dearly loved. Calling hours were October 22, 2020 at Burke Funeral Home followed by graveside service in St. Peter’s Cemetery. Visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.

Patricia Brown DeSio

Written by Saratoga TODAY on . Posted in Obituaries.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Patricia Brown DeSio, 91, passed away peacefully at her home Sunday, October 18, 2020. Calling hours will be held Thursday, October 29, 2020 at Burke Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian Burial: 10 a.m. Friday, October 30, 2020 at Church of St. Peter. Burial: Monday, November 2, 2020 at the Saratoga National Cemetery. Visit www.burkefuneralhome.com.