SARATOGA SPRINGS —At approximately 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 10, a local citizen contacted police via Emergency 911 to report a burglary in progress at Lola on Broadway in Saratoga Springs. The citizen reported that he observed two individuals leaving the area of the burglary and entering a black sedan.

The vehicle fled down Phila Street without lights and was seen getting on Interstate 87 at Union Avenue, according to police. The vehicle continued southbound to Exit 11, where it left the interstate and began driving on residential streets. A perimeter was set up in the area of Greensboro Drive in Clifton Park. Several minutes later a ride share vehicle was stopped in the area and three suspects were taken into custody from that vehicle. The suspect’s vehicle, a black Toyota Camry registered in Washington, D.C., was located in a driveway with the doors open and running, police said. The vehicle was seized pending processing for evidence. 

Christopher L. Tyler, 23., Mustafa Lewis-Hamilton, 22, and Jowan A. Plummer, 23 all of Washington, D.C. were each charged with four felonies and two misdemeanors. Those charges are: Burglary in the third-degree, Criminal Mischief in the second-degree, Grand Larceny in the third-degree, Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the third-degree, Tampering with Physical Evidence, Conspiracy in the fifth-degree, and Possession of Burglar Tools. 

The individuals were arraigned in City Court of Saratoga Springs and released without bail with a future court appearance date of Aug. 15 in City Court. 

ALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County Board of Elections on July 24, 2024, hosted an Election Security Workshop and Tabletop Exercise coordinated by the New York State Board of Elections. The day-long event was one of four training sessions for all County Boards of Elections to ensure readiness by all entities as the General Election approaches. 

Event partners included the Cyber & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the New York State Executive Chamber, the New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (DHSES), the New York State Police (NYSP), and the New York State Office of Information Technology Services (ITS). 

Saratoga County was one of four counties across the state chosen to host this exercise between July 23 – July 26, offering collaborative opportunities for government entities, election administrators, law enforcement, and information technology experts alike. In addition to representatives from the County Boards of Elections, county information technology professionals, emergency managers, and communications directors participated. 

Presentations featured information about election security best practices, incident response processes, cybersecurity regulations, voting equipment and software, and combatting mis- and disinformation about elections. The tabletop exercises examined coordination and response capabilities during a variety of hypothetical cyber and physical security incidents impacting elections.

The 2024 General Election is Nov. 5, 2024. Early Voting will occur from Oct.  26 through Nov. 3. 

To ensure you are registered to vote, go to https://voterlookup.elections.ny.gov/. Entering your county, name, date of birth and zip code will return your registration status, as well as the district races in which  you are eligible to vote, and your voting location. 

One note on regional congressional districts this year: in the ever-wiggling geographical line across Saratoga County separating the 20th Congressional District (current rep. Democrat Paul Tonko), and 21st Congressional District (current rep. Republican Elise Stefanik), the current boundaries place much of Saratoga County  – city of Saratoga Springs, Milton, Malta and points west and south in the 20th District, while the Town of Saratoga, portions of Wilton, Greenfield and points north sit in the 21st.    

MILTON — A 44-year-old bicyclist was killed after being struck by a vehicle shortly before midnight on July 29. 

The crash occurred on New York State Route 29 in the area of the Saratoga Winery in the town of Milton, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.  last evening at 

Investigation into the incident revealed that a 2014 Jeep Compass operated by Nicholas J. Coutant (age 57) of Galway, had been traveling eastbound on Route 29 when it struck two bicyclists that had also been traveling eastbound on Route 29. 

One of the bicycles was operated by Nathan J. Shreve (age 44) of Saratoga Springs. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The other bicycle was operated by Joshua A. Ferrucci (age 32) of Milton. He was transported to Saratoga Hospital by EMS for evaluation and treatment of apparently non-life-threatening injuries. The driver of the vehicle was not injured. The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Sheriff’s Collision Reconstruction Unit.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — A temporary lease agreement granting Rise Housing and Support Services use of city-owned property on Williams Street was approved by the City Council this week.  

The 7,800 square-foot building at 5 Williams St. previously housed the Saratoga Senior Center and will be used by RISE administration and staff while the organization’s permanent office space is being rehabilitated. 

The not-for-profit organization operates a human service agency to provides safe, healthy housing and support services to people with mental health concerns, substance use, and other life challenges. 

Leading up to this week’s discussion and vote, RISE officials offered assurances that the space will be used for administration purposes, and specific language in the agreement prohibits its use for any type of housing or as a shelter. 

Still, the proposal resulted in some push-back, particularly from parents of students at Saratoga Central Catholic School – located in close proximity of the Williams Street building – and from some who expressed fear that sex offenders may be served as a part of services.    

 “We will not be providing services there,” Lindsey Connors, Associate Executive Director at RISE said during the Aug. 6 City Council meeting. “We do not serve sex offenders. I’ll say it again: We do not serve sex offenders. And we screen. Please stop repeating this.” 

Last October, RISE was awarded their bid to operate the building on Williams Street via a public bidding process to non-profits for a short-term lease. The lease will be for a term of six months, with optional renewals at the city’s discretion. 

RISE will pay the city $500 per monthly rent as well as all utilities and costs of day-to-day maintenance of the building. The amount “constitutes fair and adequate compensation,” according to the agreement, adding that the benefits derived from the lease agreement with RISE as equal to or greater than the benefits to be derived from any reasonable market rental of the property. 

“It is unfortunate that something as simple as temporarily relocating administrative offices for a human service agency is the subject of such abject scrutiny and misinformation distribution to the greater community by the few and the loud,” said Connors, prior to the council’s vote.  

RISE was originally founded in the late 1970s and located near downtown Saratoga Springs. The not-for-profit housing agency provides trauma informed care and support to people with mental health diagnoses and substance use disorders through a number of residential, supportive, and care management programs. 

“Despite what media coverage might suggest, RISE’s services for those experiencing homelessness in our community are the newest and smallest part of what we do. We’ve been in this community since 1979 ensuring that those living with mental illness are supported in whatever way they need to live safely and happily in the community,” Conners said. 

The agreement was approved by a 4-1 council with Mayor John Safford casting the lone vote against. “I don’t think that it should be in that location,” Safford said.  

STILLWATER —Saratoga National Historical continues its special events season in August with the following offerings: 

Stars Over Saratoga – Saturday, August 10, 9:30 pm to 10:30 pm. Visitor Center Lawn. Saratoga National Historical Park is hosting a Night Sky Viewing Party on the Visitor Center Lawn during the Perseid Meteor Shower. Ranger Kristin will give a short presentation. After the presentation, attendees will have time to watch the night sky for possible meteors. 

Songs of the Sea and Shore – Tuesday, August 13, noon. Visitor Center Lawn. You’ll hear rousing chanteys, soulful ballads and laments, the traditions of the sea and shore, with lots of opportunity to sing along. 

History Caravan – Saturday, August 17, 9:30 am. Meet in the Visitor Center. Looking for a more in-depth, hands-on experience during your visit? Join a Park Volunteer for a caravan-style tour of the Battlefield.  Tours will last 2.5-3 hours. 

Tinsmithing Demonstrations – Saturday, August 17, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Visitor Center Lawn. A live tinsmith demonstration. At the time of the Battles of Saratoga, the tinsmith was an important part of both community and military life. Tinsmiths created dozens of useful items like cups, bowls, candle molds, lanterns, tea canisters, and other containers. They also provided armies with needed items such as oil flasks, canteens, document cases, cooking kettles, and even canister shot for artillery. Learn about the process and see a sampling of the many civilian and military wares a tinsmith could make.

Mindfullness Nature Hike – Monday, August 19, 9:00 am to 11:00 am. Meet at the Visitor Center Biological Technician Linda White leads a leisurely hike focused on mindfulness and  connecting with nature.

Motherhood in the 18th Century -Saturday, August 24, 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Neilson House, Tour Stop 2 Living Historian Anne Clothier joins us to explore motherhood in the 18th century.

Visit go.nps.gov/saraevents for a complete and updated list. 

BALLSTON SPA — The Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum offers the following events this month:

Wilton New York: Goodbye Old 1910 – Thursday, August 15, 7:00pm, Brookside Museum. Hamilton Craig, a doctoral student at CUNY researching farmers movement in the United States, and a native of Shushan, Washington County, will present a vivid portrayal of farm life in Wilton, New York based on the 1910 diary of Wilton resident Mary Brainard. The diary reveals an intimate picture of a rural world in transition, caught between the subsistence and barter economy of early America and the capitalist economy of modern America. Analyzing this diary offers an opportunity to reflect on what was gained in this transition and what was lost. 

 2024 Village Walking Tour – Village of Stillwater – Thursday, August 22 10-11:30am. Stillwater Library parking lot adjacent to Blockhouse Park on Rt 4 Hudson Avenue. Enjoy a walking tour of Stillwater led by Sara Kipp, director of the Stillwater Public Library. The tour will begin at the Library parking on Rt 4 Hudson Avenue, the former location of many mills and factories in the late 1800s. 

Discover the Three Sisters – Saturday, August 24th, 1-4:00 pm. Brookside Museum. Discover the Three Sisters, Corn, Beans, & Squash. Join Brookside Museum in a celebration of Indigenous culture. Come enjoy an exhibit on Native Americans, activities for all ages including storytelling and crafts, tour of the gardens, bake & plant sale and more.

The Saratoga County History Center at Brookside Museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing the diverse histories of Saratoga County. Brookside Museum is located at 21 Fairground Avenue in Ballston Spa at the intersection of Front Street, Fairground Avenue, and Charlton Street. For more information, event registration and more, go to: www.brooksidemuseum.org.

SCHUYLERVILLE — The Schuylerville 2024 Turning Point Festival will take place at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10 with local food vendors, live music performances, and a fireworks display after dusk. 

The day will begin Hudson Crossing Park’s Cardboard boat race in the early afternoon, and the Friends of Fort Hardy Park Dog Days of summer festivals held at the park earlier in the day. 

For more information on the 2024 Turning Point Parade and Festival, visit https://turningpointparade.com.