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Author: Saratoga TODAY

Meet the Newest Member of the Therapy Horse Herd

SARATOGA SPRINGS —Therapeutic Horses of Saratoga (THS) welcomes Cut Me Loose, a 2017 Thoroughbred gelding from Hold Me Back and Quiet Honor. His bloodlines reach back to Giant’s Causeway, Danzig, and Secretariat. This gorgeous young horse is called Copper for his shining personality and color.

Copper developed EPM (Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis) at a very young age – a disease that attacks the central nervous system of the horse. Because Copper was so young when he developed this disease, it severely impacted his physical functioning, making him disoriented, agitated, and unable to race.

Founders of THS, Erin and Jim Sisk, set Copper up with intensive treatment from the veterinarian as well as condition training from Christine Schaszberger. With over a year of hard work and close monitoring, Copper has grown into a calm, affectionate, intelligent, and hard-working young horse. Despite his inability to race or be ridden more than trail riding, Copper has found an incredible new career as a therapy horse.

September 19 – September 25, 2020

POLICE

A 20-year-old Greenfield man was charged with 10 counts of reckless endangerment in the first-degree, in connection with an alleged shooting incident in the village of Schuylerville Sunday afternoon, Sept. 13. According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s department, Charles L. Bennifield is suspected of firing a shotgun at a residence on Washington Street, which was occupied by 10 people at the time.  No one was injured in the incident.  Bennifield was arraigned at Town of Saratoga Court, and sent to Saratoga County Jail, in lieu of $100,000 cash bail, $200,000 secured bond, or $1,000,000 partially secured insurance bond.

John J. Martino, 34, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 15 with menacing in the second-degree, robbery in the second-degree, petit larceny, and three counts of endangering the welfare of a child, in connection with an alleged incident that occurred in Wilton. According to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s office, Martino entered a vehicle on Sept. 9, displayed what appeared to be a handgun and demanded cash and drugs. It is alleged Martino physically took a vape pen from one victim’s hand and exited the vehicle.  The victim’s minor children were present in the back seat of the vehicle during the incident.  The handgun was later determined to be a BB gun. Martino was arraigned in the Wilton Town Court and released to pre-trial services. 

Dean J. Atwell, 31, of Milton, was charged Sept. 16 with robbery in the third-degree, attempted robbery in the third-degree, burglary in the second-degree – all felonies; endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief , and resisting arrest – all misdemeanors, in connection with an alleged domestic incident at a residence in the town of Greenfield.  Atwell is suspected to have forced entry into a home, causing damage to the doorway, and forcefully stealing property from one of the residents. The victim is a female acquaintance of the suspect. Atwell later attempted to steal additional property from the victim, in the presence of the female’s child, but the woman was able to fight him off, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Atwell was arraigned and is being held in lieu of $30,000 bail, $60,000 insured bond, or $300,000 unsecured bond, to return to court at a later date. 

Christopher R. Swistak, 46, of Ballston Spa, was charged Sept. 10 with petit larceny, and grand larceny in the fourth-degree. He will appear in Milton Town Court at a later date. 

Sharon Pratt, 76, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 14 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a suspended vehicle registration. 

Kwame Pennick, 30, of Schenectady, was charged Sept. 14 in Saratoga Springs was charged with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to keep right. 

Anastasia Thrane, 24, of Stillwater, was charged Sept. 15 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a speeding violation. 

Christopher Anderson, 22, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 15 with misdemeanor DWI, and operating motor vehicle without signal/reflectors. 

Kory Willis, 30, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 15 with assault in the third-degree, a misdemeanor. 

Justin Harris, 32, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 16 with third degree assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and unauthorized use of a vehicle: without owner consent. All three charges are misdemeanors. 

William Kelly, 35, of Clifton Park, was charged Sept. 16 in Saratoga Springs was charged with forcible touching, a misdemeanor. 

David Lolik, 50, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 16 with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor. 

Chad Lang, 46, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 17 with petit larceny and criminal trespass. Both charges are misdemeanors. 

Kevin Clark, 31, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Sept. 18 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a speeding violation. 

Joyce M. D’Andrea

SARATOGA SPRINGS ­­— Joyce M. D’Andrea, 88, passed away September 20, 2020 at Wesley Health Care Center. The family will hold a private graveside service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be to the Wesley Health Care Center, 131 Lawrence St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Visit burkefuneralhome.com

Norman Bigman

SARATOGA SPRINGS/GLEN COVE — Norman Bigman, 77, died September 17, 2020. Norman and his wife Ruth spent most of their married life in Glen Cove, NY where they raised their family until moving to Saratoga Springs in 2018. May his memory be a blessing. Services were private. Visit burkefuneralhome.com

Brent Ames Wilkes

GLOUCESTER, MASS — Brent Ames Wilkes, 67, beloved husband of 22 years of Linda (Dadourian) Wilkes, passed away on Thursday, September 10 at the Kaplan Family Hospice House. Born in Melrose, he is the son of the late Gordon and Frances (Ames) Wilkes.

Brent grew up in Lynnfield and was a graduate of Lynnfield High School. He graduated from UMASS Amherst and then received his graduate degree from the University of Connecticut.  Brent was the owner of Northeast Association Management Company INC.  Brent lived for many years in Middleton, then spent 12 years in Saratoga Springs, New York and then settling with his wife Linda in Gloucester.  He enjoyed being on his boat, playing volleyball and pickleball and enjoying good music. Brent also liked to keep up-to-date on politics, reading the daily newspaper and watching public television.

In addition to his wife Linda, he is survived by daughter Erin Wilkes and her husband Gabriel Casellanos and Erin’s Mother Betsy Timmerman, two stepdaughters Laura Engel and her husband Greg and Anne MacMillan and her husband Dave, one sister, Gail Moyers and her husband Michael, five step grandchildren: Jacob, Justin, Megan and Joshua Engel and Madeline MacMillan, four nieces and nephews: Brent Moyers, Amy Moyers, Daren Wilkes and Stephanie Wilkes, along with many great nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his brother Jeffrey Wilkes and step-sister Ruth Adrienne Handschu.

Services for Brent will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Reading, at a date to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Brent’s Memory to the Unitarian Universalist Church of Reading, 239 Woburn St, Reading, MA 01867, Boston Public Television at wgbh.org., Boston’s NPR News Station at www.wbur.org, WAMC Northeast Public Radio wamcpledge.wamc.org, WMHT Public Media: be.wmht.org/donate/index.html, The Unitarian Universalist Church, 624 N Broadway, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, The Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation: gloucestermeetinghouse.org, Caffe Lena of Saratoga Springs and Albany, NY: www.caffelena.org/support, and the Albany Pro Musica at www.albanypromusica.org/donate/ways_to_give.

For updated service information, directions and to leave an online condolence visit www.barilefuneral.com and for further information visit www.facebook.com/BarileFamilyFuneralHome.

September 25 – October 1, 2020

Craft and Garage Sale
On Saturday, Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. -3 p.m. the popular Elks Ladies Auxiliary Craft and Garage Sale will be held at the Saratoga-Wilton Elks Club on Elks Lane.  Due to the pandemic, the sale will be held outside in the parking lot with free admission. There will be over 30 vendors and bargains galore.  Covid-19 distancing will be followed; people must wear masks and adhere to socially distancing guidelines. We offer household items, sports equipment, hand-made items, clothing, jewelry, food treats, and just about anything you can imagine. Sunday, Oct. 4 will be the rain date and it is a fun activity the entire family enjoys.  Come browse, visit, or just get out of the house with a friend.  All proceeds go to our local charities.  Call Linda at 518-289-5470 for information.

Recipe for Success: A Workshop for Food Entrepreneurs 
Offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Saratoga County on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 8:30 a.m. -4:30 p.m., via Zoom. If you’re thinking of selling a favorite recipe, or if you have a small food business, the presenters of this program can give you guidance. Their experience and expertise in licensing a food product, processing, packaging, marketing, and selling are an invaluable resource. Workshop includes speakers from Cornell University Food Venture Center, NYS Department of Agriculture & Markets, NY Kitchen Company Food Consultant, SCORE Business Marketing and Counseling, and more. Fee: $50 full day, or $30 for morning or afternoon session. Register by Oct. 20 at: reg.cce.cornell.edu/RecipeForSuccess_241, call 518-885-8995 or email dwhitten@cornell.edu.

Fall Flea Market – Space Available
The Flea Market will be held Nov. 14 at the Elks Lodge, located at 130 Bulson Rd., Greenwich, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. in the banquet parking lot, rain or shine. Limited spaces available. Call for an application today. You must bring your own set up. Sponsored by the BPOE Elks Auxiliary and proceeds donated back to our community by donations, scholarships, or friends in need. Please contact Donna Blair at 518-692-2347 or eccdb@verizon.net or Annette Arnold at 518-692-9387 for your application or details.

Game of Logging Chainsaw Safety Training
The Agricultural Stewardship Association (ASA) is pleased to offer four levels of the highly sought-after Game of Logging Training. Levels 1 and 2 will be held on Oct. 17 and 18. Levels 3 and 4 will be held on Oct. 24 and 25. Game of Logging is widely acknowledged as the premier chainsaw safety training program in the country. The trainings will be taught by David Birdsall from Northeast Woodland Training. A limited number of scholarships are available for landowners and farmers in Washington and Rensselaer counties who can commit to completing all four levels this year. Space is limited. For details and to register online, visit www.agstewardship.org, by emailing janet@agstewardship.org or by phone at 518-692-7285.

Saratoga Recycles Day
Keeping it out of the landfill. The event will be held in the SPAC parking lot, west side of Route 50 from 9 a.m.- 12 p.m. Cost is $5 per vehicle, $20 each for TVs and Monitors (please bring exact change to minimize the handling of money). Find full details at protocols: www.sustainablesaratoga.org/projects/zero-waste/recycles-day.

September 25 – October 1, 2020

Friday, September 25

Fall Pond Discovery
Wilton Wildlife Preserve, 80 Scout Rd, Wilton | 10 a.m. – Noon

Catch and identify aquatic animals. 

Saturday, September 26

Mums and Flower Basket Sale
St. Luke’s on the Hill, 40 McBride Rd., Mechanicville | 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

We are partnering with Green Scapes (formerly DiSiena Garden Center) to support St. Luke’s Recovery Resource Center. Please come and buy some beautiful mums to help in offering hope through recovery.

Chicken and Biscuit Dinner
South Glens Falls United Methodist Church, 15 Maplewood Parkway | 4:30 – 6 p.m.

Drive-thru only. Menu: chicken and gravy, veggies, biscuit, soup, and homemade chocolate chip cookies. Adults $12. Pre-orders are recommended, and delivery is available. Call 518-793-1152.

Sunday, September 27

Fish Fry Take-Out
Fish Creek Rod and Gun Club, Route 32 South of the Village of Victory | 3 – 6 p.m.

Menu: Fish Fry or Chicken Tenders with French fries and tartar sauce and roll. $8 per meal. Call ahead with your order at 518-695-3917. Please stay in your vehicle, we will collect your money and serve your meal. We welcome all to attend.

Monday, September 28

Mindfulness Meditation
Adult Programs Online Learning (Zoom) | Noon – 1 p.m.

Mindfulness meditation promotes well-being from the inside-out. Research has shown that mindfulness benefits those struggling with depression, anxiety, emotional regulation, distractibility, high sensitivity, and difficult life transitions. During this time of deep suffering and uncertainty, many are turning to mindfulness practices as a refuge in the storm. This series (through 10/19) will provide practical support for developing a daily meditation practice that is accessible even on tumultuous days. Each class will include instruction, a guided practice exercise, and a Q&A discussion. To register, visit www.sspl.org. 

Tuesday, September 29

Acting Classes
Malta Community Center, One Bayberry Dr., Malta

Malta Parks and Recreation announces limited in-person Acting Classes. Malta Drama Programs are run by Elyse Young, Malta’s Theater Director and founder of Malta’s Spotlighter’s Theater Troupe. Three Classes will be offered: After School Drama- Ages 6-9; starting Sept. 29 from 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., Acting Academy-Ages 10-13; starting Sept. 29 from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., and Teen/Adult Acting -Ages 14-Adult; starting Oct. 8 from 6 – 7 p.m. Classes will run once of week, limited to 10 students and conclude with a virtual performance. Additional information including more Covid-19 protocols and online registration can be found at www.maltaparksrec.com or by calling 518-899-4411.

Grief Share
South Glens Falls United Methodist Church, 15 Maplewood Parkway, South Glens Falls | 6 – 8 p.m.
GriefShare seminars and support groups are meant to help you recover from your loss and look forward to rebuilding your life. You don’t have to go through the grieving process alone. The group is for anyone who has lost a loved one and is grieving. We will meet for 13 weeks. For more information, call 518-793-1152. 

Wednesday, September 30

Roast Pork Dinner
Saratoga-Wilton Elks, 1 Elks Lane, Rt. 9, Saratoga Springs | 4:30 – 6 p.m.
For curbside pickup only. Menu: roast pork, mashed potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, applesauce, gravy and roll, tossed salad. Dinner for 2 / $25 (cash only). Call Monday or Tuesday between 10 a.m. and noon to place an order, 518-584-2585.

Thursday, October 1

Dancing at SPAC- Free Class
SPAC Outdoor Pavilion | 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

Free dance class for new-comers. Co-directors Johnny Martinez and Diane Lachtrupp Martinez will be offering classes in Salsa, ChaCha, Bachata and other Latin dances. Classes are designed for a couple or single dancer. To register contact info@tangofusiondance.com. Safety measures will be in place to ensure a fun, energetic and safe experience. Online classes also available. Registration in advance is necessary. www.tangofusiondance.com

David A. Wasser

WasserDavid

SARATOGA SPRINGS — David A. Wasser, 95 passed away September 2, 2020. He was born in Toronto, Canada on May 22, 1925 to the late Max and Lina Wasser. He completed his preliminary and secondary education in the Toronto Public School System, then went on to receive his MD from the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine. After graduation, David did his post-graduate training in the United States and Canada, completing his residency in Psychiatry at the State University of Iowa in July 1953.

David married the late Florence E. McAninch in September of 1953. They had three children together before her death in July of 1978.

In the early part of 1957, David came to Saratoga Springs to participate in providing community mental health services to Saratoga, Warren, and Washington counties. He was recognized by his medical colleagues and the Warren-Washington County Mental Health Association for his professional contribution to the community. David was also affiliated with a number of local health care institutions at various times, including Glens Falls, Saratoga, Mary McClellan, and Four Winds Hospitals. He was the past President of the Washington County Medical Society and The Capital District Branch of the American Psychiatry Association, as well as a Diplomate in Psychiatry of the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. 

David was known to friends and family for his sense of humor.  He wanted to be remembered as an avid indoorsman.  Retiring from his professional practice in 2000, David felt fortunate to be part of a vibrant and caring community. He contributed and served on the governing boards of a number of cultural and service organizations including: Saratoga Chamber Players, Troy Chromatic Concerts, Music from Salem, Caffe Lena, Saratoga County Arts Council, Transitional Services Association, and Saratoga County Community Services Bd. David and his partner Lynne were enthusiastic concert goers and foreign travelers.

David is survived by his partner of 30 years Lynne Gelber; three children Rachel, John (Robin), and Eric (Jean); and grandchildren Nicole and Ian.

A concert in David’s honor will be arranged for next May close to what would have been his 96th birthday.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Saratoga Chamber Players; P.O. Box 60; Saratoga Springs NY 12866

Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.