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CLIFTON PARK — A 27-year-old Mechanicville man was killed after the garbage truck he was driving was involved in a crash. 

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a garbage truck rollover crash on Hubbs Road in Clifton Park Nov. 6. The truck went off onto the shoulder, struck a utility pole, a tree and a wood-chipper truck before rolling over. 

The garbage truck involved was owned by County Waste. The driver of the garbage truck was identified as Tyrek J. Brace. He was pronounced dead at the scene.   

Matthew B. Freihofer, age 41, of Ballston Spa, was clearing brush in the area of the crash suffered minor injuries. 

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services, State Police, Jonesville Fire, Round Lake Fire, Malta Fire and Clifton Park Halfmoon EMS.  The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Drugs or alcohol are not suspected at this time. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Five-term city Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan announced this week she will not seek a sixth term when Saratoga Springs elect their next City Council in November 2021.

“In the past nine years, the Finance Department has accomplished much for the city we all love, and we have much to be proud of,” Madigan said, in a prepared statement. “It is time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life.”   

The finance commissioner is charged with presenting the annual city budget, which this year is seeking to adjust to a near $7 million shortfall, due to what councilmembers have referred to as “this COVID economy.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — With the swift shearing of a green ceremonial ribbon, the long awaited City Center parking facility – and the 600-plus parking spaces it brings to downtown Saratoga Springs – was unveiled this week and announced itself open for business. 

Through the end of this calendar year, the first four hours of parking is free of charge. Parking rates for 2021 will be free for the first hour of parking, and $1 per hour after that first free hour, with a $15 cap charge in the 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. period. 

The $16 million multi-floor structure features secure covered parking for over 620 vehicles, four electric car charging stations, two green spaces, a pair of elevators and an open, flat, roof top area that can be used for parking and for convention related events.

A glass-enclosed pedestrian walkway extends over Maple Avenue, connecting the parking structure with the City Center complex. 

The structure was unveiled Nov. 10 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by regional business and economic leaders and city officials. Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly city councilmember Anthony “Skip” Scirocco addressed the crowd.

“It is so exciting to bring this needed project to fruition, and to be part of the City Center’s continued growth, but the credit for this project also belongs to many current and former city council members, City Center Authority members, City Center employees, and members of the business community,” said Ryan McMahon, executive director of the Saratoga Springs City Center. 

The City Center, located at the north end of Broadway, opened in 1984 and has served as host to corporations, New York State Associations, trade groups and northeast regional organizations, gate shows, fundraising galas and social events. The conference complex offers a total of 58,000 square feet of conference space when partnered with the adjoining 242 room Saratoga Hilton Hotel. 

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The development of an adjoining parking structure has been debated, often vehemently, for more than a decade and the project has undergone a multitude of suggested variations. 

Community concerns targeted the facility’s size, its design, and its location atop prime city-owned land. Conversely, a large contingent of business owners have long advocated for its creation, reasoning that the additional parking spaces would increase the economic vitality for downtown retail shops and restaurant. And City Center officials have discussed the need of easy parking for potential clients to compete in a marketplace with other regional centers vying for convention business. 

“You always want to improve your game,” Tom Roohan, chairman of the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority, told reporters at Tuesday’s ceremony. “In December 2013 we started this process, and I think we ended up with a great project with more than 600 parking spots, a well-lit, safe and secure parking facility that will help encourage companies to come into town.” During evening hours, a security guard will be on premise to offer an added layer of safety.  A limited number of yearly parking passes are available for purchase from the Saratoga Springs City Center.

The structure, which stands one block east of Broadway, was developed atop a surface lot that saw the elimination of 188 previously free parking spaces. For the time being, parking continues to be free of charge in most of the other existing public parking areas downtown, as well as on city streets. 

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Earlier this week, Jill Chouinard orchestrated a surprise 90th birthday celebration for her father —  and one of Ballston Spa’s favorite sons, Gaylord Brunell. The ninety year-young Brunell was given a day to remember led by dignitaries from State and County level elected officials.

The Maple Avenue Fire Department was the scene of the event. State Senator Jim Tedisco and County Sheriff Michael Zullo made speeches crediting Gaylord for his years of service in his adopted home town and county.

Prior to the festivities, a parade led by police cars and fire trucks slowly made its way past Gaylord’s home on Rowland Street, attracting the many family members, friends, work associates and well wishers who braved the chilly weather to honor this American Original.

The day after Gaylords birthday bash this reporter was given the opportunity to sit down with him and learn of the journey that he took as a member of America’s Greatest Generation.

He spoke of his family moving From Altona, New York to this area when he was nine years-old. A decade later he found himself in war torn Korea.

Gaylord served with the 25th Division as a military policeman. The unit saw it’s share of action. Gaylord remembers the extreme cold that the soldiers faced. It was not uncommon to brave temperatures reaching twenty- five below zero Fahrenheit for extended periods of time.

When his tour was up Gaylord made the seven thousand mile trip back to Ballston Spa. His training as an MP would soon come in handy in a law enforcement career that would span four decades.

Not sure of his future, he headed out to California to visit his brother.

Gaylord decided to stay and took a job with AT&T. After a short stint with that company he decided  to head back home.

This move would lead to his first job as a police officer. In the late fifties he was appointed to the Ballston Spa Police Department. To his surprise he was informed that he had to purchase his own sidearm. Otherwise he would have to go on the job without one.

This was a stepping stone to his landing a position with the Saratoga County Sheriffs Department in 1962. He married his high school sweetheart shortly thereafter.

For the next twenty-five years Gaylord plied his trade on the county roads. In the early years only two sheriff’s deputies patrolled the entire county on the night shift. It was not uncommon to ride the roads on nearly bald tires.The department did not have the funding as it does today. Gaylord presented his case on needing new tires for his vehicle. After bartering back and forth with hire ups he settled for two new tires. It’s hard to fathom in todays world. Yet that was the state of affairs in a bygone era.

Gaylord reached the rank of Sargent during his tenure. After twenty-five years of Service he retired from the Sheriff’s Department in 1986.

Not one to sit on his laurels he started a new career as a construction worker. Then Gaylord was on to a fourteen year tenure with Pompas Brothers. There he specialized in commercial black topping jobs.

After that it was time for a well deserved retirement. His wife of fifty-five years passed away a short time ago. Gaylord stays active. He tends to a garden in his back yard during the Summer months. He still drives a car and fends for himself. He also keeps his property in pristine condition. This nonagenarian still has the get up and go of people half his age.

Gaylord’s biggest fan is his daughter Jill. They have a strong bond that is easily recognizable.

On a final note an interesting thing happened to Gaylord during the birthday festivities. County employees were able to locate his badge that was turned in when he retired many years ago. It was presented to him as a gift from his peers. Among the many gifts that he received this one had a special meaning to this law and order advocate.

Hopefully Gaylord will hit the century mark ten years from now. That should be a birthday party for the ages.

ALBANY — New guidelines will allow out-of-state travelers to New York to “test out” of the mandatory 14-day quarantine, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week. 

For any traveler to New York State from out of state, exempting the contiguous states, the new guidelines for travelers to test-out of the mandatory 14-day quarantine are below:

For travelers who were in another state for more than 24 hours: Travelers must obtain a test within three days of departure from that state; The traveler must, upon arrival in New York, quarantine for three days. On day 4 of their quarantine, the traveler must obtain seek another COVID test. If both tests come back negative, the traveler may exit quarantine early upon receipt of the second negative diagnostic test.

For travelers who were in another state for less than 24 hours: The traveler does not need a test prior to their departure from the other state, and does not need to quarantine upon arrival in New York State. However, the traveler must fill out the traveler information form upon entry into New York State, and take a COVID diagnostic test 4 days after their arrival in New York.

Local health departments will validate tests, if necessary, and if a test comes back positive, will issue isolation orders and initiate contact tracing. The local health department must make contact with the state the traveler came from, to ensure contact tracing proceeds there as well. All travelers must continue to fill out the traveler information form upon arrival into New York State to contribute to New York State’s robust contact tracing program.

“Travel has become an issue – the rest of the states pose a threat. We’re going to a new plan given the changing facts, and the experts suggest we shift to a testing policy,” Gov. Cuomo said. “Tthere will be no quarantine list; there will be one rule that applies across the country. We bent the curve of this virus by following the data and the science, and we are continuing that approach with these new guidelines.”

The new protocol went into effect Nov. 4. Travelers from states that are contiguous with New York will continue to be exempt from the travel advisory; however, covered travelers must continue to fill out the Traveler Health Form. Essential workers will continue to be exempt as well.