Saratoga County closed its “services building” on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, due to a gas odor in the building. 

The Departments of Social Services, Aging and Youth Services, and Workforce Development were affected by this closure.  At time of publication, the building was expected to reopen for regular business hours on Thursday, February 19, 2026.

The odor was due to a mechanical failure with one of the building’s HVAC units. That HVAC unit has been taken offline for repair. 

The New York State Police have arrested Shayne F. Vaccaro, age 22, in connection with a stabbing that occurred on February 15, 2026, at a business in the Shops of Malta, Town of Malta, Saratoga County.

At approximately 10:19 p.m., a State Trooper was clearing a traffic stop on State Route 67 when Vaccaro ran toward the patrol vehicle, stating that he had just stabbed someone. He was immediately taken into custody without incident.

Additional patrols responded to a nearby restaurant, where they located a 34-year-old male employee suffering from stab wounds to his chest and arm. A Saratoga County Sheriff’s Deputy applied a tourniquet, and EMS provided medical treatment before transporting the victim to Albany Medical Center. He is listed in stable condition and is expected to survive.

The investigation determined that Vaccaro allegedly waited outside the restaurant and attacked the victim as he exited after his shift. The knife used in the incident was r   ecovered and processed by the State Police Forensic Investigation Unit.

Vaccaro has been charged with Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (Class B Felony). He was arraigned early the next morning and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail on $200,000 cash bail or $400,000 bond.

The investigation remains ongoing.

This February, the Saratoga Senior Center is opening its doors on a winter Saturday with a community-wide Cabin Fever Open House in partnership with the Saratoga YMCA, alongside Sipping for Seniors, a fundraiser that turns a night out downtown into direct support for the Saratoga Senior Center’s programs promoting connection, independence, and well-being for older adults in Saratoga Springs. 

Whether you’re a longtime member or simply curious about what the Center has to offer, February is the perfect time to stop by, stay active, and reconnect. 

Saratoga Senior Center Cabin Fever Open House 

Saturday, February 21 | 9 AM–1 PM | FREE & Open to the Public in partnership with the Saratoga YMCA  

Shake off the winter chill and spend a Saturday exploring two of Saratoga’s community hubs.  The Cabin Fever Open House welcomes current members and newcomers alike to tour both facilities, try sample classes, and enjoy a lively, welcoming day designed to encourage movement, creativity, and connection. Additional activities will be announced ahead of the event. 

Highlights include: 

• Facility tours of the Saratoga Senior Center and Saratoga YMCA  

• Intro Spanish class, Zumba, resistance band training, and creative stamping 

• Live music by Jeff Brisbin 

• Drop-in tech assistance

• Tarot card readings with Mary Shimp 

• Stewart’s Ice Cream and refreshments from the Center’s Refresh Kitchen 

Perfect for anyone looking to stay active, meet new people, or simply get out of the house this winter. 

Sipping for Seniors Fundraiser 

Thursday, February 26 | 11 AM–9:30 PM | Bailey’s at 37 Phila Street 

Support the Saratoga Senior Center while enjoying a bite and beverage out downtown. Sipping for Seniors is a community give-back partnership that turns a night out downtown into direct support for the Saratoga Senior Center’s programs promoting connection, independence, and well-being for older adults in Saratoga Springs. 

Guests who dine at Bailey’s on February 26 will help support the Center through 20% of all food and beverage sales donated throughout the day, along with 100% of bartender tips from 5–9:30  PM. Guests are encouraged to mention the fundraiser to their server and bartenders. 

February Educational Presentations 

All presentations are FREE and open to the public. RSVP required unless noted.  

National Senior Independence Month Panel 

Monday, February 23 | 1:30 PM 

A special panel discussion focused on independence, health, and aging well, featuring local experts and advocates. 

Weatherization & Services for Seniors in Saratoga County 

Tuesday, February 24 | 1:30 PM 

Learn about local programs that help reduce household costs and support aging in  place. 

Sellers Seminar 

Presented by The Scott Varley Team 

Thursday, February 26 | 3–4:30 PM & 6–7:30 PM 

A seller-focused seminar offering practical guidance on planning, preparing, and 

navigating the home-selling process, with insights from experts in inspections, real  estate law, lending, staging, and handyman services. Food and light refreshments provided.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the launch of EXPRESS NY (Expediting Processes and Regulations to Enable Streamlined Services), a new statewide effort to make government work better by tackling outdated and burdensome regulations, policies, and practices that stand in the way of delivering for New Yorkers. EXPRESS NY is the next phase in the governor’s 2026 State of the State commitment to cut excessive red tape to speed up government and make it easier, faster, and more affordable to deliver the critical projects and services that New Yorkers need.

“While Washington Republicans seek to gut government at every opportunity they get, we’re strengthening government in New York through real efficiencies and reforms,” Governor Hochul said. “New Yorkers navigate regulations in ways big and small, from small businesses trying to get off the ground to local leaders trying to build needed housing and infrastructure; today, it is clear that it is often too hard and takes too long to navigate red tape and get approvals. I’ve charged my team to slash excessive red tape, and by asking the people who interact with bureaucracy every day for their ideas, we can deliver a more responsive and effective government that supports the dreams and ambitions of New Yorkers and takes this state to the next level.”

In October, Governor Hochul directed state agencies to identify outdated or obsolete regulations and policies. In this initial phase, agencies identified nearly 100 potential regulations and practices in need of reform, modernization or elimination. Opportunities to cut red tape that state agencies have identified include: removing unnecessary fees for small businesses, expediting occupational licensing renewals for workers, digitizing paper-based processes, rescinding unenforced and out of date regulations, and reducing burdensome and unnecessary reporting requirements.

Now, Governor Hochul wants to hear from New Yorkers directly to seek their ideas on cutting red tape and making government work better. The State has launched a new portal for New Yorkers to identify regulations, policies, and practices that add unnecessary process, undue burden, or are simply out of date. Specific areas of focus include recommendations that will:

• Speed up housing & infrastructure development by addressing obstacles that slow down our ability to build affordable housing and other infrastructure New Yorkers depend on: transportation, child care centers, water infrastructure, parks, community centers, and more.

• Support small businesses by tackling burdensome requirements and fees that make it difficult for businesses to launch, serve customers, or grow.

• Streamline access to services by simplifying complicated processes or removing unnecessary hurdles that prevent families from accessing benefits and services that New York State supports or oversees (e.g., healthcare, child care, nutrition, mental health).

New Yorkers should submit ideas in a new portal that the State has launched. The call for ideas will be open until April 3.

Governor Hochul has also appointed a new Associate Director of Regulatory Reform in the Executive Chamber to help oversee this effort. Over the coming weeks, Chamber officials will be meeting with small business owners, community leaders, localities, industry experts, and other key stakeholders to hear from them about burdensome regulations.

After a successful debut last fall, the Malta Repair Café is back—ready to give broken household items a second life and bring neighbors together in the process. 

The first Malta Repair Café, held in October 2025 at the Innovation Center at Saratoga, welcomed 45 community members and repaired an impressive 36 everyday items, all thanks to the skill and generosity of volunteer repair coaches.

Based on that enthusiastic response, the Malta Repair Café will return on Saturday, February 21, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Innovation Center at Saratoga, 16 Old Stonebreak Road, Malta, NY. The event is free and open to the public.

Repair Cafés are hands-on, community-powered events where knowledgeable volunteers help attendees diagnose and fix broken items— while sharing skills and confidence along the way. Participants are invited to bring items from home such as small furniture, toys, lamps, kitchen appliances, vacuums, clothing and textiles, jewelry, books, ceramics, and more. If you can carry it in, the Repair Café team will do their best to fix it. Sustainable Saratoga Programs Manager Caroline Rothaug is one of the organizers: What could be better than a day of people who love to fix things working with the owners of broken items to put them back in working order? Six Days! Sustainable Saratoga is doubling the number of Repair Cafés we co-host to six in 2026.

The Innovation Center is proud to host the Malta Repair Café and support an event that brings people together to share skills, reduce waste, and strengthen our community, said Beth Moeller from The Innovation Center at Saratoga. Seeing neighbors help one another while giving everyday items a second life is exactly the kind of innovation we love to foster.

More than just a fix-it event, the Repair Café is about reducing waste, saving money, and rediscovering the value of repair. By extending the life of everyday objects and keeping them out of landfills, Repair Cafés help build a more sustainable community—one repair at a time.

More info at https://sustainablesaratoga.org/projects/zero-waste/repair-cafe-saratoga-springs/

Paul D. Tonko (D-NY) announced that he has secured a total of $14,093,000 in federal funding for a slate of 15 community development and improvement projects across New York’s 20th Congressional District. Tonko secured this critical funding as part of the Fiscal Year 2026 government appropriations packages, which were signed into law.

“I’m proud to have secured federal funding for this incredible slate of community projects in our Capital Region, each of which brings great promise for our communities,” Congressman Tonko said. “With key federal investments, these projects will help drive economic growth across our district and deliver support to those in our communities who need it most. For two years, my team and I have pushed hard to ensure these worthy projects were included in the federal spending package. Now, after a long and arduous process, I’m delighted to announce that determined effort has been successful. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated local leaders who proposed and developed these initiatives, and I am eager to see how these federal dollars will help unleash our Capital Region’s untapped potential.”

Tonko championed funding for 15 local projects that will bring direct benefits to Capital Region residents. In alphabetical order, these include:

• $250,000 for ADA-accessible sidewalks in Ballston Spa

• $1,015,000 for a Community Corner creation in Mechanicville

• $500,000 for Community Park improvements in Scotia

• $1,000,000 for the Crossroads Center for Children in Schenectady for renovations and expansion

• $1,000,000 for Glenville Hill Fire District No. 8 for essential building repairs and updates

• $850,000 for Hudson Valley Community College in Troy for an Autonomous and Electric Vehicle Lab

• $850,000 for Lincoln Park Southwest Gateway improvements in Albany

• $1,031,000 for Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy for equipment and technology to support quantum innovation

• $500,000 for the Town of Milton’s Town Hall expansion

• $1,092,000 for the Town of Stillwater’s water main replacements

• $2,000,000 for the Troy Public Library’s indoor air quality system improvements

• $1,521,000 for the University at Albany’s CNSE 200mm Wafer Cleanroom equipment upgrade

• $1,092,000 for the Village of Altamont’s wastewater treatment plant upgrades

• $1,092,000 for the Village of Menands for water system improvements

• $300,000 for Voorheesville sewage infrastructure improvements

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park held its annual meeting on Monday, February 2. Staff and board members gave presentations on 2025’s educational programs, recreational offerings, public outreach, conservation, and the successful completion of Phase I of the Larry Gordon Outdoor Education Center with the opening of the Welcome Cabin. For more information on the status of the Larry Gordon Outdoor Education Center, please visit wiltonpreserve.org.

At the meeting, the 70 volunteers who donated their time in 2025 were honored for contributing 2,964 hours in trail work, program support, office tasks, conservation efforts, public outreach efforts, and other tasks to further the mission of Wilton Wildlife. 

Special recognition was given to the volunteers who have collected lifetime volunteering hours between 250 and 1,500 hours, with their names added to the volunteer plaques, which are on display at the Welcome Cabin. The following individuals were added to the plaque with 250 hours: Dave Matteson, Thomas McNamara, Steve Wilcox, and Rowan McKinney. Howard Lester moved up to 500 lifetime hours, and Jeff DeJesus was added at 500.

At the meeting, elections took place with Bradley Birge elected as Treasurer and Larry Dana elected as Vice Chair. Steve Wilcox is continuing in his role as Board Chair, with Marne Onderdonk and Nina Russo continuing for another term as co-Secretaries. Two new community members were elected to serve on the board: Maisie Wright and Karen Kellogg.

Maisie has a 20-year career in education, where she has worn many hats–from teacher to administrator–and currently serves as Chief Academic Officer for KIPP Capital Public Schools. In her role, she oversees academic strategy and impact, so she will bring a wealth of experience in governance and community-centered leadership to Wilton Wildlife’s Board. A native of southern Vermont, Maisie grew up exploring the Green Mountains every season in hiking boots or on skis.

Since moving to Wilton in 2021, Wilton Wildlife has been an anchor for her family; she especially loves bringing her two young toddlers out to investigate the lupine, lady slippers, and horsemint. Maisie believes that early education and exposure are the keys to future conservation. She holds a BA in Anthropology and Africana Studies from Cornell University and her master’s in education administration from National Louis Academy. She joined the Board to champion the intersection of conservation and education, ensuring it remains a vibrant resource for local families and future generations.

Karen Kellogg is the David H. Porter Chair & Professor of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Skidmore College. During her 26 years at Skidmore College, she has taught courses focused on sustainability, renewable energy, and environmental engineering. Karen works with Skidmore students on research topics such as the barriers to renewable energy deployment, bioremediation, and campus sustainability. She also helps them engage in research and internships in the broader community, including many over the years with Wilton Wildlife.

Karen has a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. in Ecology from the Pennsylvania State University. She has seen Wilton Wildlife grow from a small parcel to the multifaceted conservation organization it is today, and as a Wilton resident, she is excited to spend more time on the trails of this incredible treasure.

For up-to-date trail conditions or program information, please visit the Wilton Wildlife website at wiltonpreserve.org or follow on Facebook or Instagram @wiltonpreserve. 

A Waterford man has been arrested for falsely billing Saratoga County over accusations he falsely billed Saratoga County for services he never provided. 

Jason Wellington, 48, was arrested on Feb. 12 by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and charged with two counts of felony third degree grand larceny and 11 counts of felony 1st degree offering a false instrument for filing. 

According to the Sheriff’s Office, Wellington is alleged to have billed Saratoga County for childcare services in the Town of Waterford despite never providing these services. Because of these false records, Wellington is alleged to have stolen over $3,000 on two separate occasions in 2025. 

Wellington was arraigned in Ballston Spa Village Court and released on his recognizance. The investigation was conducted by both the Sheriff’s Office and the  Special Investigations Unit of the Saratoga County Department of Social Services.