Over 100 vehicles from local businesses, civic organizations and emergency services agencies will participate in the 12th Annual Convoy for Tots this Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. 

The event begins at 9:30 a.m. at the Ballston Spa Middle/High School where a drive-thru drop-off of new, unwrapped toys will take place. At 10:30 a.m. the convoy will travel north on state Route 50 to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. 

Donations of new, unwrapped toys will also be accepted at SPAC until 12:00 p.m. Members of the public who wish to donate at either site are encouraged to participate. 

Sheriff Michael H. Zurlo welcomes 93-year-old Korean War veteran Paul O’Keefe as grand marshal this year. O’Keefe will ride with Zurlo for the convoy’s duration.

Radio personalities Quinn and Cantara will be on site to greet and thank donors. Spectators are invited to view the convoy along state Route 50.

Coordinated by the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office and supported mainly by Saratoga County first responders, the Convoy for Tots is held annually to assist Capital Region Toys for Tots, which serves over 160,000 children annually. The 10 previous convoys have collectively yielded toys valued at over $1,000,000 for distribution in the area.

Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that $97.4 million in new funding is available for active transportation-related projects and programs that support the advancement of healthy lifestyles across New York State. 

Projects selected under this solicitation will support the Department of Transportation’s commitment to community-centered transportation by providing safe, reliable and resilient transportation systems. Selected projects, which include multi-use paths for pedestrians and bicyclists, will also connect communities, enhance the quality of life, protect the environment and support the economic well-being of New York State.

“By prioritizing community-centered transportation projects across the state, New York is setting a national example for transportation that is not just greener and healthier, but also boosts local economies,” Governor Hochul said. “These smart investments underscore our commitment to affordable transportation alternatives and enhanced quality of life for all New Yorkers, while protecting the environment in communities across the Empire State.”

Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) funding is made available to the State through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and administered by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT).

 “Through sensible policies that put a premium on all forms of transportation, Governor Hochul is providing New Yorkers with safe, community-centered ways to travel for work and everyday life, in the process enhancing the character and accessibility of localities,” New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said.  “These are direct investments in affordable transportation solutions that allow communities to invest in projects that enhance transportation mobility and safety.”

The following entities are eligible for funding:

• Local Governments (Counties, Towns, Cities and Villages)

• Transit Agencies

• Natural Resource or Public Land Agencies (NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, local fish and game or wildlife agencies)

• Tribal Governments

• Local or Regional Governmental Transportation or Recreational Trail Entity

The following entities may be eligible in partnership with entities listed above:

• School Districts

• Metropolitan Planning Organizations (serves an urbanized area with population of 200,000 or fewer)

• Regional Transportation Authorities

• Non-Governmental Organizations

Projects will be selected through a competitive solicitation process and rated based on established criteria that include public benefit, project type, eligible funding source, significance, cost-effectiveness, geographic balance and alignment with New York’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act. Projects must be related to the surface transportation system and provide full access to the public. The TAP project award shall be no less than $500,000 and no greater than $7.0 million for any single project.

NYSDOT will provide up to 80 percent of the total eligible project costs with a minimum 20 percent match provided by the project sponsor. Eligible project costs may include planning, design/engineering services, right-of-way acquisition, construction and construction inspection.

TAP funds a variety of transportation-related projects which increase options for non-vehicular transportation, including:

• Planning, design and construction of infrastructure-related projects to improve non-driver safety and access to public transportation and enhanced mobility.

• Construction of turnouts, overlooks and viewing areas

• Safe routes to school (enables and encourages children to walk or bike to school)

• Planning, design and construction of on-road and off-road facilities for pedestrians, bicyclists and non-motorized transportation users

• Conversion and use of abandoned railroad corridors for trails for pedestrians, bicyclists and non-motorized transportation users

• Planning, design and construction of boulevards and other roadways largely in the right-of-way of former divided highways

• Community improvement activities (inventory, control or removal of outdoor advertising, preservation of historic transportation facilities, vegetation management practices and archeological activities)

• Environmental mitigation activities

The New York State Department of Transportation will be accepting applications for this funding opportunity through March 12, 2026. The application, program guidance and workshop schedules are located at https://www.dot.ny.gov/tap-cmaq.

A Northumberland man is facing a slew of charges stemming from a robbery in the town. 

Pedro Correa Rodriguez, 36 of Northumberland was charged with 11 different counts ranging from drug possession to robbery after an incident that occurred the morning of Nov. 3. 

According to New York State Police, Correa Rodriguez struck another person, stole their cell phone, and pointed a handgun at them before fleeing the scene. 

A short time later, he was found walking in the area and taken into custody where Troopers found a loaded handgun, the victim’s damaged cell phone, a glass smoking device and drugs. 

Correa Rodriguez was arraigned in Northumberland Court and is currently being held without bail at the Saratoga County Correctional Facility. 

He was arrested on the following charges: Possession of a Weapon in the second degree, Robbery in the third degree, Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the third degree, Criminal Mischief in the third degree, Criminal Possession of a Firearm, Assault in the third degree, Four counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance in the seventh degree, Menacing in the second degree, Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia in the second degree and Criminal Mischief in the fourth degree. 

A Corinth Woman has been arrested after she broke a Saratoga County Sheriff’s Deputy’s thumb. 

Jozzelynn Slimmer, 22, was arrested on Oct. 29 for 2nd degree assault stemming from an incident that occurred Oct. 20 in the village of Corinth. 

According to Deputies, Slimmer was being taken into custody on a separate incident when she resisted arrest which resulted in the Deputy breaking their thumb. 

Slimmer was arraigned in Corinth Town Court and is currently in custody awaiting further legal proceedings. 

One of the victims who was hit by a vehicle at the Wilton Walmart has died. 

Michael Bushey, 69 of Saratoga Springs died Nov. 3 while receiving treatment at Albany Medical Center. Bushey was struck by Timothy W. Besaw, 34 of Gansevoort in October after an incident at the Wilton Walmart. 

According to State Police, Besaw had attempted to leave the store with items he hadn’t paid for before being stopped by an employee. He then left the store with some of the items but got into an altercation with an employee. After this he got in his vehicle and intentionally drove it into two employees. 

At the time, Troopers listed their condition as serious but not life threatening. 

After fleeing the scene, Besaw crashed his vehicle on Perry Road and was taken into custody. After initially refusing a breathalyzer, Besaw later received a blood test at Glenns Falls Hospital. 

Besaw was initially charged with vehicular assault in the first and second degrees, driving while intoxicated, and leaving the scene of an accident. As of time of publication, Besaw has not been charged with any additional crimes related to the incident. 

Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) announced the schedule and artist line up for the 2025 Holiday Train, a festive celebration combining musical performances and holiday cheer kicking off with its first show on Nov. 19 in Montreal, Que. Now in its 27th year, the Holiday Train raises money and collects food across CPKC’s extensive network in Canada and the United States supporting community food banks and making a real difference for families in need.  

 “Every year, our railroaders take great pride in bringing the Holiday Train across our network, this year reaching even more communities for the first time,” said Keith Creel, CPKC President and CEO. “We are thrilled to send this beautiful train filled with lights and music to spread the joy of the season and proud to support the giving spirit of the holidays assisting people experiencing food insecurity. It’s incredible to see communities come together every year to celebrate the holidays while supporting local food banks.”  

 Holiday Train Highlights

• 196 live music shows in six provinces and 13 U.S. states. Thirteen communities will be visited by the Holiday Train for the first time, with new stops in Maine (1), Louisiana (6), Oklahoma (1), Texas (4) and Ontario (1). 

• Performers include Barenaked Ladies, Smash Mouth, Tyler Shaw, Brittany Kennell, Jade Eagleson, JJ Wilde, American Authors, Pynk Beard, Teigen Gayse, Lanco, Tiera Kennedy and Dylan Marlowe. 

• Since 1999, more than $26 million and over 5.4 million pounds of food for community food banks have been collected in Canada and the U.S.

“At East Side Neighborhood Services, our Food Programs are dedicated to providing consistent and dignified food access, especially for older adults and families in our community,” said Mary Ostapenko Anstett, President, East Side Neighborhood Services in Minneapolis, Minn. “The Holiday Train brings more than donations — it brings hope, awareness and critical support at a time when it’s needed most. With the help of our community partners such as CPKC, we remain committed to ensuring that access to food doesn’t become an added burden for our neighbors.” 

 Ed Robertson with the Barenaked Ladies, performing on the Holiday Train with stops in Alberta and British Columbia, adds, “I can’t imagine a better way to visit some of Canada’s beautiful mountain towns than by riding the CPKC Holiday Train. It’s going to be a great time for a great cause!”

 The festive atmosphere created by the brightly decorated Holiday Train and engaging musical performances embody the spirit of the holidays. Each event is free, with CPKC encouraging attendees to make a monetary or heart-healthy food donation as local food banks will be accepting donations at each stop.

 This year’s Holiday Train in the United States will feature a new light display honouring the legacy of ‘Rudy’ and the recently retired Kansas City Southern Holiday Express train that operated across the U.S. South for nearly a quarter century. 

 A full schedule and details of this year’s Holiday Train are available at cpkcr.com/holidaytrain. 

 The Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on Oct. 29 at 11 Liberty Street in the village of Corinth after a lengthy investigation into illicit drug possession and sales. 

As a result of the investigation, Laurent S. Murphy, 39, of Corinth; Trevor J. Thompson, 26, of Porter Corners; Arthur E. Brust Jr., 27, of Corinth; and Kathryn E. Tooker, 38, of Corinth, were arrested.

 Murphy was charged with criminal sale of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the 3rd degree (class B felonies) and criminal nuisance in the 1st degree (class E felony). He is accused of knowingly and unlawfully selling a narcotic drug and of knowingly and unlawfully possessing a narcotic drug with intent to sell it. 

Murphy is also accused of knowingly conducting or maintaining a premise where persons gathered for the purpose of engaging in the unlawful sale of controlled substances and of deriving a benefit from it. He was arraigned before the Honorable Michael T. Woodcock in the Corinth Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail pending further proceedings.

 Thompson, Brust Jr., and Tooker were charged with criminal nuisance in the 1st degree and arraigned before Woodcock as well. They were released to pretrial services pending further proceedings. The residence at 11 Liberty Street was condemned by Corinth Code Enforcement.