The Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library opens its new coffee shop at the library next week. Photo provided.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library will cut the ribbon on its new Coffee Shop at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12.
The Coffee Shop is on the first floor of the Saratoga Springs Public Library, located at 49 Henry St.
The Grand Opening celebration will run from noon to 5 p.m. and will feature a raffle and giveaways.
The Friends Coffee Shop will sell hot and cold beverages and a variety of snacks, as well as baked goods from The Bread Basket, a Saratoga-based member of the Business For Good family of companies, that donates all profits to charities fighting food insecurity and hunger.
The Coffee Shop is the newest retail establishment run by The Friends of the Saratoga Springs Public Library. The Friends Book Shop also is located on the library’s first floor. The Friends have supported the programs, staff, and facilities of the library since 1976 and fund such programs as Saratoga Reads and Summer Reads, helped secure a new van, funded a 3-D printer, and defrayed the costs of staff development and facility upgrades during the pandemic.
Community support is primarily generated through Friends membership and the Friends Book Shop, which was founded in 1994 to generate income while providing the community with affordable reading material and a convenient, meaningful way to upcycle used books.
Saratoga County Deputy Milligan (left) and Warren County Sergeant Girard. Photo: Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.
CORINTH — A Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office deputy and an off-duty Warren County Sheriff’s Office sergeant collaborated on a water rescue to help bring two people in distress in the river to safety.
Saratoga County Deputy Milligan was patrolling in the village of Corinth at 5:42 p.m. June 28 when he was advised by a passerby that there were two people in the river who were in distress. As he made his way toward the river, Milligan observed two people beyond the safety wire, in obvious distress in the fast-moving current and heading toward the dam.
Milligan made contact with off-duty Warren County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Girard who was in the area. Both quickly entered the water and safely brought to shore both victims, who were evaluated at the scene by EMS and are reported to be in good health.
CHARLTON — A 62-year-old Galway man suffered fatal injuries after the vehicle he was operating struck a tree in the town of Charlton on June 28.
Anthony J. Giglio was travelling southbound on State Route 147 when his vehicle crossed over the northbound lane, left the roadway and struck a tree, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation indicates that unsafe speed was a contributing factor in the accident. Giglio was the only occupant of the vehicle.
Saratoga Springs City Police Parade, 1917. Photo: saratoga-springs.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS —New city police chief Tyler McIntosh took the oath of office during a 75-minute ceremony at Saratoga Music Hall June 27. The event included a swearing-in of three new officers, multiple promotions of current department members and a variety of citations and recognitions formally commending officers for their recent actions in the line of duty.
“Last year in November, three of our officers lived up to all the training they had undergone and ran in the direction of gunfire,” said Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino. “They protected the lives of others and quieted a tumultuous situation. We are here to thank all our men and women in SSPD and we’re here to commit ourselves to support them here and out there to the best of our ability.”
Retiring Police Chief Shane Crooks recognized members of the current department and offered advice to new department hires Kelsey Lawlor, Vinay Rathore and Sean Carey.
“Law enforcement is more than just a job, it’s a calling,” Crooks said. “Never forget why you took this job…You will see people at their worst, but also have the ability to be the difference that the world needs.”
Saratoga Springs Police Lt. Tyler McIntosh told those assembled at the music hall that he is both humbled and honored in being named city police chief.
“I’ve had a true desire to serve and put others before myself since I was a kid,” said McIntosh, whose military service during the past 17 years included two deployments into combat zones.
“That (military) experience really made it clear to me the importance and power of people working together toward a common objective. That same concept of collaboration and cooperation holds true in ensuring the continued safety of Saratoga Springs,” McIntosh said. “Collaboration between the police and the community is essential.”
McIntosh, a graduate of Plattsburgh State University, joined the Saratoga Springs Police Department in 2012 and rose through the ranks from Patrol Officer to Patrol Sergeant and Patrol Lieutenant before being assigned the duties of Accreditation Lieutenant upon the retirement of Lt. Robert Jillson. Continuing his education after joining the city police department, McIntosh earned a master’s degree in Public Administration from Marist College in 2019, a Graduate Certificate in Criminal Justice Education from the University of Virginia, and earlier this month graduated in the FBI National Academy.
Saratoga Springs has had 21 previous police chiefs and acting police chiefs dating back to 1887.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The following agenda items are currently under consideration by the Saratoga Springs Planning Board.
Public meetings are held at City Hall. For times and dates, go to: saratoga-springs.org.
• The Board is considering a proposed amendment, for which the City Council requested an opinion, that would place a 1,000-foot buffer minimum distance between any future city-based homeless shelter and any primary or secondary educational facility.
• 182 Excelsior Area Apartments. Coordinated SEQR review. The project would involve the subdivision of a parcel, relocating an existing main house apartment with 6 units and a carriage house with 4 units and redeveloping them into a total of 8 condominium units.
The separate parcel would see the construction of 4, three-story apartments with 9 units each – resulting in 36 total units.
• Station Lane, northwest corner of West Avenue & Station Lane. The site encompasses approximately 2 acres. Site plan review of a proposed mixed-use project including 9,500 square feet of non-residential space and 68 multi-family residential units.
Proposed construction of 1 four-story building that will provide 60 indoor parking spaces (basement level), retail space, restaurant, and some apartments (first floor), and all-apartments on floors 2,3 and 4. The L-shape building will front along West Avenue and Station Lane.
Former city Mayor Joanne Yepsen, current Mayor Ron Kim, and current commissioners Jason Golub and Minita Sanghvi celebrating Kim’s Primary election victory on June 27, 2023. Photo: Ron Kim For Mayor Facebook page.
SARATOGA COUNTY — Incumbent city Mayor Ron Kim defeated challenger Chris Mathiesen in the June 27 Democrat Primary Election in Saratoga Springs.
Approximately 1,432 of the 8,330 registered Democrats in Saratoga Springs voted in the primary. Kim secured approximately 60.34% of the votes to Mathiesen’s 39.53%, unofficially.
Notably, Kim and Mathiesen were each also endorsed by other parties, so both – along with Republican candidate John Safford – are anticipated to be on the November Election ballot.
Registered city Democrats hold a 41.5% to 29.1% lead over registered city Republicans among all registered city voters, but it will be interesting to see if that lead varies given the potential of votes being split among Kim and Mathiesen supporters.
Voters registered to vote but unaffiliated with any party (No Party) represent 27.5% of the city vote. The 1.9% balance is made up of voters registered with the Conservative, WF, and other parties.
Primary Election races took place in six municipalities in Saratoga County June 27.
In Clifton Park, Robert A. Rybak bested Vida Sheehan on both the Republican and Conservative lines for Clifton Park Town Justice, and Murray A. Eitzmann (40%) and Craig M. Warner (38.67%) emerged victoriously over Timothy F. Dunn (21.33%) in the town of Malta’s Vote For Two councilmembers race in the Conservative Party.
For a comprehensive list of all county primaries, go to: saratogacountyny.gov. All unofficial Primary Election results sourced from the Saratoga County Board of Elections.
SARATOGA COUNTY — Three businesses were highlighted by New York State Police for allegedly not being in compliance under the New York Beverage Control Law Section 65 – Prohibited Sale to Person Under the Age of 21 – during an initiative last week when six Saratoga County businesses were checked for compliance.
Those businesses – all located in Malta, are: CVS, 2535 State Route 9; Stewart’s Shops, 2951 State Route 9, and Wine & Liquor Shop of Malta, 5 Kendall Way.
Three people were charged with unlawfully dealing with a child in the first-degree, a misdemeanor, after allegedly selling alcohol to persons under the age of 21.
During these investigations, Businesses are checked utilizing a Trooper in plainclothes, and one or several underage operatives who cannot lie about their age or provide a false date of birth.
State Police also recognized the following establishments for their compliance: XtraMart, 2954 State Route 9, Malta, Runway Express, 1402 Saratoga Rd, Ballston Spa, and Valero, 1324 Saratoga Rd, Ballston Spa.
BALLSTON SPA — Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr. today announced the County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution for a new contract with the United Public Service Employees Union (UPSEU) at its Board Meeting on June 20. The Union represents 131 Sheriff’s Office employees who work in the County Correctional Facility and 911 Communications Center.
“This contract with the Saratoga County United Public Services Employees Union, provides a fair and balanced contract that is beneficial for not only our employees, but also the taxpayers of Saratoga County,” Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chair Theodore T. Kusnierz, Jr. said, in a statement. “Equally as important, the agreement incorporates measures that will help our Sheriff’s Office recruit and retain qualified employees dedicated to serving our residents at both our County Jail and our Communications Center.”
The three-year agreement provides union members a one year $4,000 wage increase retroactive to January 1, 2023, and incorporates a 2.95% wage increase in both 2024 and 2025. This will help the county attract and retain both corrections officers and 911 Dispatchers, for which the County has a critical fulfillment need.
As part of the agreement, all affected employees will increase their health care contribution and will pay increased copays for health insurance services.
MALTA — Ellsworth Commons, the popular retail and residential community in downtown Malta, this week announced a renaming of the property to feature two unique identities: the boutique apartment complex now known as The Ellsworth and its accompanying retail and office marketplace, Malta Center.
Developed more than a decade ago to support the Luther Forest Tech Park, today the community incorporates a four-building configuration that houses 312 apartments and 60,000 square feet of ground-floor commercial, retail and office space at 2545 Route 9 in Malta.
Located along the Route 9 Corridor just north of the traffic circle at Route 67, The Ellsworth and Malta Center offer apartments, eateries, retail storefronts and a variety of services.
Forthcoming improvements to Malta Center include enhanced landscaping and visibility along Route 9; paving and parking upgrades; uniform awnings along the building exterior; and new signage throughout the property.
SARATOGA COUNTY — On June 26 Saratoga County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to Hans Creek Road in the Town of Providence shortly before 8 p.m. for a report of a one-car, rollover crash with serious injuries and entrapment.
The involved vehicle was occupied only by its driver, 17-year-old Tyler Scocca of Galway. Scocca suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene by Deputy Saratoga County Coroner Anthony Perniciaro, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation indicated that Scocca was heading west on Hans Creek Road, west of Fayville Road, when he lost control, left the south side of the roadway and rolled over striking a tree. Unsafe speed appears to be a contributing factor in the crash, according to authorities.
