The New York State Police has announced that they successfully intercepted $10,000 sent by a Saratoga County man destined for scammers. 

The scam was a continuation of a previous attack by scammers on the man which occurred in March. 

According to New York State Police, the incident occurred when the man was contacted over the phone by alleged scammers claiming to be from their financial institution. The scammers claimed that they were following up on an investigation into compromised accounts. The alleged scammers instructed the man to send $10,000 to address in The Bronx. 

While the man complied and sent the money, the next day he realized it likely a scam and contacted State Police on April 24. Working with United Parcel Service (UPS), the State Police were able to locate and intercept the money in Yonkers and return it to the man. 

In light of the scam, the State Police offered the following advice from the FDIC : 

• Do not open emails from people you don’t know. If you are unsure whether an email you received is legitimate, try contacting the sender directly via other means. Do not click on any links in an email unless you are sure it is safe.

• Be careful with links and new website addresses. Malicious website addresses may appear almost identical to legitimate sites. Scammers often use a slight variation in spelling or logo to lure you. Malicious links can also come from friends whose email has unknowingly been compromised, so be careful.

• Secure your personal information. Before providing any personal information, such as your date of birth, Social Security number, account numbers, and passwords, be sure the website is secure.

• Stay informed on the latest cyber threats. Keep yourself up to date on current scams. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) can provide you with Alerts.

• Use Strong Passwords. Strong passwords are critical to online security. Review CISA guidance on Choosing and Protecting Passwords (PDF).

• Keep your software up to date and maintain preventative software programs. Keep all of your software applications up to date on your computers and mobile devices. Install software that provides antivirus, firewall, and email filter services.

• Update the operating systems on your electronic devices. Make sure your operating systems (OSs) and applications are up to date on all of your electronic devices. Older and unpatched versions of OSs and software are the target of many hacks. Read the CISA security tip on Understanding Patches and Software Updates for more information.

 On Friday May 1, students at Caroline Street, Lake Ave, and Division Street Elementary Schools hopped on their bikes and pedaled into school with the Toga Bike Bus. Last year, after seeing how much fun students had when biking to school at Lake Avenue’s Bike to School Day a group of moms got together to brainstorm how to make it a regular thing… and Toga Safe to School was formed. Now the group is growing their Bike Bus to include more routes, schools, and most importantly, more kids on bikes! 

“At the end of the 2025 school year we had four routes for Lake Avenue and a small route at Caroline Street, now we have officially added two Caroline Street and one Division Street routes as well,” Maddy Zanetti said. “We are working to get a route for Geyser, and if there are other schools interested and we can the volunteers we will make it happen.” 

What is a Bike Bus? It is simple! A group of students who cycle to school together along a set route with designated stops/times and adult supervision. Bike buses promote a healthy lifestyle as well as community engagement and reduces traffic. It is a way to teach bike safety to both riders and drivers plus advocates for mixed use paths, safer roadways, and a more bike friendly city. 

Katie Roque says “The Bike Bus is a way to give our kids a piece of childhood that many of us remember. It empowers kids to get themselves to school in a healthy, active way, while also building a sense of community. We are lucky to join the ride! It’s something simple, but deeply meaningful.” 

Toga Safe to School has been incredibly fortunate to have the support of Bikeatoga, a non-profit dedicated to “pedaling toward a brighter future… by making functional cycling more convenient, accessible, and safe for all members of our community.” Riders from Bikeatoga have been present each ride to lead, trail, advise, and provide minor bike fixes. The Bikeatoga group has helped build awareness and given the Toga Safe to School crew invaluable advice. 

“The Bike Bus has been a great way to bond with my girls and do something fun with them without the modern-day distractions like being on my phone. And I have to get them to school safely anyway, so it might as well be fun!” said Lindley Hickox 

Bicycle Benefits, Stewarts Shops, and Trek Saratoga have donated coupons and prizes for riders. While local businesses and families have made donations that were used to buy lawn signs that you may have seen popping up around town reminding drivers “WHOA… SLOW DOWN”. The signs were first meant to mark only the Bike Bus routes but after many requests from people all over the community they are showing up wherever people feel cars need to hit the brakes. 

“I joined the Bike Bus because I want kids to experience the fun and freedom of life on two wheels,” Erin Crowe Conklin said “I envision my kids growing up and biking all around Saratoga Springs – to school, the park, library, downtown, the list goes on!”

To check out the current routes visit TogaSafeToSchool.com where you can see the times, routes, and other Bike Bus information. There is no RSVPing needed, if you see a stop on a route that works for your student and schedule hop in on Fridays! 

The 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes Committee is proud to announce this year’s dates and list of builders as of this date. 

Celebrating 30 years of exceptional homes, this annual tradition will be presented over four beautiful fall days on October 3-4 and October 10-11. We will have a spectacular line-up from our region’s finest builders for the area’s premiere new home tour event. 

Thank you to all our generous sponsors and the award-winning builders committed to this year’s event so far; Amedore Homes, Barbera Homes, Belmonte Builders, Kodiak Construction, Kohler Homes, Malta Development, Spa City Builders, Trojanski Builders, Urvalek Builders, Witt Construction and a few more to come! 

Last year $66,000 was raised and over the past 29 years this community event has contributed nearly $1.7 MILLION dollars to our two local charities. Proceeds from the Showcase of Homes benefit Rebuilding Together Saratoga County www.rtsaratoga.org and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties www.glensfallshabitat.org. For more details on the 2026 Saratoga Showcase of Homes event, please visit www.saratogashowcaseofhomes.com.  

About Saratoga Builders Association 

The Saratoga Builders Association, Inc. (SBA) is a specialized professional trade association representing an industry basic to the well-being and economy of the people of Saratoga County. Its membership includes residential and commercial builders, developers, remodelers, building material suppliers, sub-contractors, financial institutions, architects, engineers, Realtors, attorneys, and other industry professionals. SBA is committed to the continued growth, prosperity, and quality of life in Saratoga County. For more information, please visit www.saratogabuilders.org

The Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office announces that a Saratoga County Grand Jury has returned an indictment against Aaron G. Gookin. The defendant is charged with attempted murder in the second degree, a class “B” violent felony, attempted assault in the first-degree, strangulation in the second degree, two counts of assault in the second degree, and other misdemeanor offenses. 

The indictment alleges that on February 18, 2026, in the Town of Moreau, Gookin attempted to intentionally cause the death of his 77-year-old mother. It is alleged that the defendant strangled the victim and struck her in the head with a piece of wood, causing serious physical injuries. The investigation concluded that the attack occurred after the victim attempted to intervene and protect Gookin from an internet financial scam.

The case is being prosecuted by Special Victims Unit Bureau Chief Rachael Phelan and Assistant District Attorney Emily Williams.

The District Attorney’s Office extends its sincere gratitude to the South Glens Falls Police Department, and in particular Patrolman Michael Gailor, for their diligent and professional work in investigating this matter.

“This was a deeply disturbing and violent attack against a vulnerable member of our community,” District Attorney Brett Eby said. “Our office is committed to supporting the victim and ensuring she is treated with dignity and respect throughout this process. We will continue to work diligently to prepare the strongest possible case and to pursue justice on her behalf.”

Saratoga Springs County Supervisor Sarah Burger has plead guilty to charges of driving while ability impaired. 

Burger had initially been charged with misdemeanor DWI, operating a motor vehicle with a BAC of .08 and received a speeding ticket but accepted a plea deal which saw the speeding ticket dropped and the two misdemeanors reduced to driving while ability impaired, an infraction. 

Burger was arrested in the early hours of January 11 by New York State Park Police after an officer observed her 2023 BMW going 41 in a 25 mile per hour zone on Broadway.  Upon being pulled over, the officer observed that Burger had glassy eyes, impaired speech, impaired motor coordination and smelled alcohol, according to court documents. 

Although she denied drinking multiple times to the officer, Burger subsequently failed a field sobriety test and a later breathalyzer test showed a blood alcohol content of .13, according to court documents. 

Burger was sentenced on April 28 to a 90 day driver’s license suspension and a $300 fine. She is also required to attend a DWI victim panel and enroll in New York’s Impaired Driver Program.  

“Public service is built on trust and I remain dedicated to continuing to serve as Saratoga Springs county supervisor with integrity and focus and will continue doing the work the people elected me to do,” Burger said in a statement to media outlets. 

The case was handled by the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office after the Saratoga County District Attorney’s Office recused itself from the case. 

Burger won her seat on the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors this past November and was sworn in on January 1 of this year. In her election, she received the most votes of any candidate running in a competitive race with 5,458 across the One Saratoga and Democratic party lines. 

The New York State Police has announced that two businesses failed a compliance check after they sold alcohol to someone below the ages of 21. 

The Speedway located at 229 Church Ave in the Town of Ballston and Lucky’s Market in the Town of Milton were found not to be in compliance with state liquor laws. The checks resulted in two people being arrested and charged with misdemeanor first degree unlawful dealing with a child. 

Of the 21 businesses checked in the sweep, 19 were found to be in compliance of the law. Those 19 were:

• Valero, 1324 NY 50 Ballston Spa, NY 12020

• Runway Express, 1402 Saratoga Rd Ballston Spa, NY 12020

• Cumberland Farms, 75 Milton Ave, Ballston Spa, NY 12020

• Citgo Yazzy’s Market, 252 Milton Ave Ballston Spa, NY 12020

• Gulf Union Food Mart, 2 South St Ballston Spa, NY 12020

• Sunoco, 2135 Double Day Ave, Ballston Spa, NY 12020

• CVS, 2027 Double Day Ave, Ballston Spa, NY 12020

• Post Time Wine and Spirits, 170 South Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

• Sunoco, 154 South Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

• Stewarts, 210 South Broadway Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

• Spa City Wine & Liquor, 129 Ballston Spa Saratoga Springs, NY 12866

• Dollar General, 44 Spring St Schuylerville, NY 12871

• Cumberland Farms, 19 Spring St Schuylerville, NY 12771

• Stewarts, 208 Broad St Schuylerville, NY 12871

• Sunoco, 75 Hudson Ave Stillwater, NY 12170

• Del’s Wine & Spirits, 1 Price Chopper Plaza Mechanicville, NY 12118

• Dollar General, 1 Price Chopper Plaza Mechanicville, NY 12118

• Walgreens, 27 Round Lake Rd Ballston Lake, NY 12019

• Saratoga Wine Exchange, 43 Round Lake Rd Ballston Lake, 12019

During the sweeps, New York State Police utilized a plainclothes trooper and an underage operative. 

SLICFiber, the fastest growing internet service provider in Upstate New York, today announced the launch of the first 100% fiber-optic internet and phone service in Saratoga Springs, strengthening the city’s economic competitiveness. 

The company announced this major milestone in connectivity alongside elected officials and business leaders in the Spa City at a press conference at Saratoga Springs City Hall to showcase the economic impact of 100% fiber-optic infrastructure and the difference this service makes in providing faster speeds to accommodate the city’s growing economy. 

“We’re pleased to invest in Saratoga Springs and bring our 100% fiber optic service to the area, offering consumers another choice,” said SLICFiber Chief Executive Officer Kevin Lynch. “This is new technology, not the legacy technology utilized by existing providers in this area. Fiber is the infrastructure that will support communities long into the future, and we’re ‘future-proofing’ Saratoga Springs by having it here.” 

Unlike traditional cable or hybrid networks, SLICFiber delivers 100% fiber-optic connections directly to homes and businesses, offering symmetrical upload and download speeds, increased reliability during peak usage times, and long-term scalability. This means faster internet service that is unaffected when the power goes out, and more reliable internet service that doesn’t crash when there is high community usage. 

Local business and economic development leaders also highlighted the broader impact of fiber infrastructure on the region.

“SLIC represents another choice for our residents and businesses,” said Saratoga Springs Mayor John Safford. “They’ve taken the time to work with us every step of the way, and their commitment to serving the community sets them apart. Importantly, this investment comes at no cost to the City and will add to our tax base, providing additional value to taxpayers.” 

“The presence of broadband fiber is an important asset for this community,” said Todd Shimkus, President of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. “It strengthens our ability to retain and attract businesses, supports our existing employers, and helps position Saratoga Springs for long-term growth.” 

“Reliable, fast internet is of utmost importance to our businesses and retailers who are already here, as well as those who want to start businesses here,” said Saratoga Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) President / CEO Greg Connors. “Fiber also helps us attract people who want to live here but, in the past, have been tied down to other locations because of better connectivity.” 

SLICFiber’s investment in Saratoga Springs represents more than three years of planning, collaboration, and infrastructure development. The company worked closely with city leadership and local partners to ensure a thoughtful, community-driven approach to building out its network. Residents and businesses may remember promises of fully fiber-optic internet four years ago. Those plans were never realized, leading to SLICFiber studying the area and deciding to build here. 

SLICFiber also announced that Saratoga Springs is the latest community to participate in its #FiberofHope initiative, which donates $25 to local cancer charities for every new customer installation. Custom pink drop fiber optic cable was developed to provide a powerful visual for this initiative. In Saratoga Springs, SLICFiber will partner with Kelly’s Angels, a nonprofit organization supporting children and families affected by cancer and other serious illnesses. 

“We work with each community to identify a local beneficiary for our #FiberOfHope give-back effort, ensuring donations stay local and support those affected by cancer,” Lynch said. 

SLICFiber is now actively serving portions of Saratoga Springs, with continued expansion planned. Residents and businesses can check service availability and sign up through the company’s website, slicfiber.com.