ALBANY — Effective March 27, New York’s expanded Move Over Law stipulates that drivers will be required to take precautions, including slowing down and moving over, to avoid a crash with ALL vehicles stopped along the roadway.

In 2010, New York State implemented the Move Over Law to prevent collisions with emergency vehicles that were stopped on the roadway.  The law has since been expanded several times to also cover hazard vehicles, highway worker vehicles, and tow trucks. In 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill to further strengthen the law by including this protection for all vehicles stopped on the roadway. 

“If you see that you are approaching a disabled vehicle, slow down and move over as best you can to give them some space,” Hochul said in a statement. 

From 2016 to 2020, 37 individuals were killed outside disabled vehicles in New York. Nationally, nearly 300 drivers are struck and killed roadside every year. The Move Over Law was enacted to prevent those tragedies and make New York’s roadways safer for all.

Under the law, when a driver is approaching a vehicle stopped along either shoulder of the road, they should: change into a lane not immediately adjacent to the vehicle, or slow down to a reasonable speed if unable to safely make a lane change.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, all 50 states have “Move Over” laws to protect law enforcement officers and other first responders, yet one-third of Americans are not aware of these laws.

ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul this week launched a statewide effort to protect New Yorkers ahead of the Total Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8. The effort includes statewide distribution of limited-edition I LOVE NY eclipse glasses at 30 locations throughout the state – including New York State Welcome Centers and select service areas along the NYS Thruway.

A limited quantity of the I LOVE NY eclipse glasses became available March 18 at New York State Welcome Centers, select Thruway Rest Stops, and other locations.  

Regional locations distributing the glasses include: I-87 Northbound between Exit 17 and 18/ Glens Falls, Capital Region Welcome Center – NYS Thruway (I-87), Northbound between Exits 21B and 21A, Milepost 127/ Hannacroix.

“The total solar eclipse will be a once-in-a-generation experience for our state, and it’s critical that New Yorkers have the tools and information to enjoy it safely,” Gov. Hochul said, in a statement. “From heightening awareness of scams to providing thousands of New Yorkers with eclipse glasses, I’m focused on giving everyone the resources they need to safely experience this extraordinary event.”

On April 8, a total solar eclipse will encompass the western and northern parts of New York State with the roughly 100-mile wide path of totality entering in the southwestern part of the state at just after 3:15 p.m. and departing northern New York just before 3:30 p.m. 

Cities and towns within this path include Jamestown, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Watertown, Old Forge, Lake Placid and Plattsburgh. The entire event will last for up to 2 ½ hours, marking the time the sun is first obstructed to the last moments when the moon’s shadow is cast.

The partial phases of the solar eclipse can only be safely observed directly with specialized eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer ­– regular sunglasses are not a safe replacement.

Glasses will be limited to two pairs per person, while supplies last, with a limited amount distributed daily. The glasses were approved by the New York State Department of Health and carry an ISO certification.

For a complete list of locations distributing the glasses, go to: www.iloveny.com/events/eclipse-2024/glasses/

BALLSTON SPA —The Saratoga County Board of Supervisors staged its monthly meeting at the county complex in Ballston Spa on March 19. 

Among the items approved:

• Proclaimed April as “Donate Life Month” In Saratoga County. The Board reported that approximately 8,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant across the state, with more than 1,000 waiting for more than five years. An estimated 400 New Yorkers die every year while waiting for an organ transplant. The Board’s resolution encourages county departments and agencies involved in providing information on organ and tissue donations to engage in activities in April that promote awareness of the need for organ and tissue donations in Saratoga County. Anyone 16 years of age or older can register with the NYS Donate Life Registry. In 2023, 3,580 transplants were performed in the state.  

• Authorized the execution of an agreement with McFarland Johnson, Inc. of Binghamton, to provide professional services related to property acquisition within Saratoga County Airport’s Runway Protection Zone, at a cost up to $60,540. 

• Authorized a $15,000 contract be increased to a cost of up to $35,000 with Hugh G. Burke, Esq. for professional legal services related to FOIL (Freedom Of Information Law) requests involving the District Attorney’s Office.  According to the resolution, the District Attorney’s office has a backlog of FOIL requests due to unfilled positions and outside legal assistance is required to timely review, compile and respond to the FOIL requests pending in that office. 

• The Board of Supervisors approved the acceptance of $56,377.69 in funding from the New York State Board of Elections for the reimbursement of expenses related to the expansion of early voting. The grant period runs from July 1, 2022 through March 31, 2024. 

Due to the anticipated high volume of requests for absentee ballots and early voting ballots, the Saratoga County Board of Elections Department recommended an outside vendor to print the massive number of absentee ballots expected during the 2024 Presidential Election Year. 

Phoenix Graphics, Inc. was awarded the competitive bid for Ballot Preparation and Mailing Services by the Saratoga County Department of Central Services on Jan. 29, 2024, after proposing in their winning bid a charge of $1.95 per package for Absentee Mail Packages and Early Voting Mail Packages – not to exceed the amount of $56,377.69 for 2024. 

• Authorized the execution of documents and agreements with New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services’ Office of Probation and Correctional Alternatives, for the acceptance of the County Pretrial Services grant in the amount of $415,738. The grant is for the period of April 1, 2023 through March 31, 2024. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Let the record show: on a late weekday afternoon of an Election Year, when the American tradition of campaign mudslinging will surely rise to present itself once again, decency prevailed in a century-old brick building on Lake Avenue where fifth-grade students assembled in the elementary school library to dialogue with Congressman Paul Tonko.  

“Words matter,” the congressman said to the students, arriving on Lake Avenue in a white Jeep SUV to deliver more than three dozen books to the school library, their pages filled with the words carefully selected by authors, he explained. 

“Our exercise every day is to choose words that help, and not hurt. Words that lift and don’t pull down,  that bring us together and unite, rather than divide. These authors had to painfully work on every word,” Tonko said. “They’re teaching us by their work that words matter, that they’re important and we should choose them deliberately in a kind expression of who we are.” 

Lake Avenue Elementary School serves about 400 students, grade K through 5. More than 60 of them gathered upstairs in the library, joined by school Principal Elizabeth Carroll, District Superintendent of Schools Michael Patton, School Resource Officer Aaron Moore and school educators and staff. 

“We all have gifts, and your teachers are great friends to you because they allow you to discover what your own gifts are,” Tonko said. “We all have different gifts and the exercise in the classroom is to have you discover, through education, who you are and what gifts you’ve been granted.”  

The 40 books delivered are among a stock of duplicate titles that arrived at the Library of Congress which are offered to members of Congress to bring to educational institutions or organizations that focus on reading. 

The Library of Congress, located in Washington, D.C., holds 164 million items on 840 miles of bookshelves that count as the single most comprehensive accumulation of human expression ever assembled, as well as the largest library in the world.  

This month’s transport of titles marks Tonko’s 78th delivery of surplus books through the program, with more than 2,500 books valued at over $50,000 delivered to local schools and organizations since 2017. 

“What’s your favorite book?” asked one student, whose name is McKinley. 

“’Silent Spring,’ by Rachel Parsons, because she ignited the spirit of taking care of the earth,” answered Tonko. 

“Who are your inspirations?” asked another. 

“JFK, MLK, RFK.” 

A student named Olivia asked Tonko to name his favorite thing about being in the House of Representatives. 

“I’m able to make changes or develop laws that affect people I may never meet – making life better for everyone,” he replied.  

The students were provided a 25-minute Q & A session with the congressman. Their questions ranged from “How did you get started on your career path?” to “What are your greatest accomplishments?” 

Successfully passing mental health parity was named by Tonko among his accomplishments, as well as dealing with the issues of mental health and addiction affecting people. “Trying to do legislation that will help people, enable them to survive that struggle to come out of it stronger and to have a good life,” he said.  

“How do you manage the most stressful parts of your job?” one student wanted to know.

“Probably by eating ice cream, and enjoying the outdoors. My favorite flavor ice cream? Coffee.”

Tonko thanked the staff for inviting him to the school and the students for paying him their attention. “I also hope you saw me paying attention to you. Paying attention is showing respect. And we need a whole lot of respect. It’s the way to maintain a civil society. We can disagree but we need to be civil,” he said. “If there is any message I can leave with you today, it’s to promote love, kindness and compassion, and don’t use the words that divide and hurt or put down and divide.” 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce President Todd Shimkus told attendees of an Industry Influencers event on Wednesday morning that Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran’s proposed short-term rental regulations, which have been the source of controversy, will be “dramatically changed.”

“The fee is coming way down,” Shimkus said, referring to the $1,000 biennial registration fee. “The rules are going to be different for folks that rent for three weeks over the summer or a couple days versus somebody that is an absentee landlord investing from outside the area.”

Shimkus said he had spoken to Moran on “multiple occasions” about the proposed regulations. “The impact that it likely has going forward is going to be, I think, dramatically different from what the original proposal was looking at,” Shimkus said. 

In response to Shimkus’ remarks, the Saratoga Springs Rental Rights Alliance, an advocacy group formed in opposition to the proposed regulations, said via spokesperson Anna Smith that “though Moran has hinted at substantial revisions in the upcoming draft, we eagerly anticipate reviewing the new proposal and remain eager to voice any additional concerns.” 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The 23-room, 120-acre Cady Hill property owned by the late Marylou Whitney, and her husband John Hendrickson is up for sale. 

The mansion measures 6,218 square-feet and was built in 1851. It houses 7 bedrooms, 7 full baths, 2 half-baths, 3 covered porches, a wine cellar, five fireplaces, a pool house with a heated pool and gym, as well as a chapel, tennis courts and rose gardens, among other amenities. 

Also included are an office building, maintenance building, and two single-family ranch homes.

The property is located at 40 Geyser Road and was listed March 15 by Julie & Co. Realty. The price is $16 million.

In 1926 Cady Hill was purchased by Harry Payne and Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney. Upon the death of Harry Payne in 1936, Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney purchased the property and Marylou joined him in 1958 as his new bride, according to Julie & Co. Realty. 

Marylou Whitney, the Queen of Saratoga, died in 2019 at the age of 93.  

For more information about the property, go online to: juliecorealty.com/property/40-geyser-road.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Temple Sinai will host its annual fun-filled Community Purim Carnival from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Sunday, March 24 at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 50 Pine Road.

Purim is a holiday celebrating a biblical story about overcoming racism and oppression. It is traditionally celebrated with costume and revelry and has been called “the Jewish Mardi Gras.” It’s the biggest party of the Jewish year. Families and children from the community are welcome to join this program for youngsters of all faiths.

The event will feature more than 15 interactive games and activities, dance parties, a photo-booth, crafts, snacks and carnival games with prizes. A central feature of the Purim holiday is a retelling of the story from a special Hebrew scroll called a megillah- this year’s telling runs from 9:45-10:15 a.m. The story will be told in English, and will also include many of Temple Sinai’s religious school students reading from the scroll in Hebrew.

Wristbands for unlimited games and activities are $10 each. Popcorn, cotton candy, and beverages will be available for purchase.

For further information on Temple Sinai’s Purim Carnival, contact Sylvia Bloom, Temple Sinai’s Director of Education: educator@saratogasinai.org, cell: 518-409-1800