Displaying items by tag: saratoga

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced that portions of the state may be able to reopen on May 15 when the New York on PAUSE order expires. 

The potential reopenings will occur in phases by "regions," and only if regions meet a series of benchmarks. 

The measures that need to be in place refer to the monitoring capabilities of new infections,  securing there is adequate capacity in the health care system to deal with potential new illnesses and hospitalizations, increased diagnostic testing, and having contact tracing in place to lessen the spread of the disease.      

Saratoga County is incoporated into the Capital Region - an eight-county area also consisting of Warren, Washington, Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Columbia, and Greene counties.

The criteria to reopen is comprised of seven headings. The Capital Region currently meets five of those. Those five include: a 14-day decrease in hospital deaths or fewer than five deaths over a three-day average; less than 2 per 100,000 new hospitalizations over a three-day rolling average; having ample hospital beds available – 41 % of total beds and 44 % of ICU beds where a minimum of 30% is required for each, and exceeding the metric requirements for the number of contact tracers needed.

The regional shortcomings, as depicted in a slide presentation by the governor on Monday, are in two categories. Those are: showing a 14-day decline in hospitalizations or under 15 new hospitalizations, and having a minimum of 30 per 1,000 residents tested monthly. Both the categories are taken as a three-day average.

Using Saratoga County specifically as a reference point, the number of hospitalizations has remained below the 15 person threshold since mid-April, although the county falls short in the testing criteria -  which would require approximately 700 Saratoga County residents be tested every three days. Recently the average number of residents being tested has been just under 500.

Still, it is important to note that Saratoga comprises just one of the eight counties in the Capital "Region" directive. Numbers from all counties must be collected an analyed, and the governor said Monday that regions believing they can start to reopen May 15 must first conduct their own analysis and ensure they meet the approriate criteria. "These are the facts they have to have in place to do it," Cuomo said. "Start now with the analysis; don’t wait until May 15."   

The  reopening would happen in stages.

Phase 1:  Construction, Manufacturing and wholesale supply chain, Select Retail - curbside pickup. 
Phase 2: Professional services, Finance and Insurance, Retail, Administrative Support, Real Estate/ Rental Leasing.
Phase 3: Restaurants/ Food Services, Hotels/Accomodations.
Phase 4: Arts/ Entertainment/ Recreation, Education. 

The regional approach would require input from, and the coordination of a variety of people - elected officials and hospital officials, among them. Details regarding the formation of a regional group, or the composition of its members is not immediately known.     

Darrick D. Conners, age 46, Saratoga Springs, was charged April 27 with assault first degree: intent to cause serious injury with a weapon - felony; assault second degree: intent to cause physical injury with weapon/instrument- felony, and trespass. According to police, at about 12:30 am on Saturday, April 25, , officers were called to the Market 32 on Ballston Avenue for a stabbing victim who was seeking assistance. The victim, a 44-year-old male, had suffered stab wounds to his neck and upper chest. The Saratoga Springs Fire Department responded, administered treatment at the scene, and transported the victim to Albany Medical Center. Conners was identified at the alleged offender and was soon located. Conners was charged and sent to the Saratoga County Jail on $20,000 cash bail upon arraignment. The victim was admitted to Albany Med and was last known to be in stable condition. Investigation shows this was a verbal argument between the men which escalated.

Cited for trespassing in Saratoga Springs this week:
Brian Wood, 39, of Ballston Spa, Jason Rector, 39, of Saratoga Springs, Kevin Kelly, 39, Saratoga Springs, Victor Maffetone, 33, Saratoga Springs, Shawn Johnson, 37, Saratoga Springs, Emeline Weir, 33,  Saratoga Springs. 

Andrew Rocco, 29, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 24 with criminal mischief, and assault in the third-degree, criminal obstruction of breathing, and aggravated family offense, a felony. 

Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office

SARATOGA COUNTY —The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office has recently received several complaints wherein the victims report being telephonically contacted by members of this agency directing them to acquire “bond vouchers” in various amounts under threat of arrest. 

The public should know that the Sheriff’s Office will never call anyone and direct them to provide money orders, pre-paid credit cards, vouchers, or similar.  Anyone receiving a call of this nature is asked to report it immediately to the Sheriff’s Office. The cases are currently under investigation. 

POLICE

Yesenia Luna, 32, oof Amsterdam, was charged April 16 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, aggravated DWI, and leaving the scene of a property damage accident.

Izaqueu Souza de Andrade, 38, of Granville, was charged April 19 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, passing a red light, and having no motor vehicle license.  

Albert Ramsey, 59, of Schuylerville, was cited April 16 in Saratoga Springs for petit larceny, a misdemeanor. 

Dylan K. Vella, 26, of Corinth, was charged with two felony counts assault in the first-degree, and two felony counts attempted assault in the first degree as the result of  county Sheriff’s Department  investigation into a motor vehicle crash which occurred on April 7 in the village of Corinth. Vella is accused of intentionally striking three motorcycles with his Ford Escape SUV while on Main Street. Initially, the three motorcycle drivers and one passenger were injured, two severely. On April 16, one of the motorcycle operators, 53-year-old Paul Hollenbeck of Corinth, died as a result of the injuries he suffered. Vella has since been additionally charged with one count of murder in the second-degree. As of April 22, one motorcyclist is still hospitalized. Vella was sent to Saratoga County Jail without bail. 

COURT

Tyler S. Moon, 34, of South Glens Falls was charged April 6 with criminal possession of stolen property, a felony, tampering with physical evidence, a felony, and the misdemeanors: criminal possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest, and use of a vehicle without an interlock device. The incident occurred after State Police in Saratoga attempted to stop Moon on the I-87 northbound off ramp, after the car that he was operating was reported stolen. The victim of the theft had reported that an unknown person had stolen his 2009 Saturn from the parking lot of the Stewart’s Shop on Route 9 in Ballston Spa. Moon allegedly stopped on the exit ramp and fled on foot. He was taken into custody a short time later and was also allegedly found to be in possession of multiple dosage units of Suboxone, some of which he attempted to consume in order to conceal the evidence, according to authorities. Moon was issued an appearance ticket for Saratoga City Court on May 21.

Joshua A. Pullar, 20, of Corinth, was charged April 7 with menacing in the second-degree and criminal possession of a weapon in the fourth-degree, both misdemeanors. The incident occurred after State Police in Wilton located Pullar pumping gas at the Mobil gas station on Ballard Road after receiving a complaint that he had pointed what appeared to be a handgun at another vehicle. Further investigation revealed Pullar was allegedly in possession of a pistol-like BB gun, which was located in his vehicle by patrols. Pullar is accused of pointing the BB gun at another vehicle he was having a dispute with, while traveling on the Northway in the Town of Malta. He was issued an appearance ticket for Malta Town Court on May 21.

Juan A. Vasquez, 46, of South Glens Falls, was charged April 11 with second degree murder, and tampering with physical evidence.  Vasquez was charged in the stabbing death of 30-year-old Kenny J. Shipski Jr., also of South Glens Falls, whose body was located in a room at the Clear View Motel, according to police. Preliminary investigation determined the victim was stabbed multiple times. Vasquez was arraigned in Moreau Town Court and sent to Saratoga County Jail without bail.

Todd A. Buchas, age 41, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 13 with three felonies and one misdemeanor in connection with an investigation that involved a female victim under the age of 13. Police said they were called to a house in Saratoga Springs om April 9 in reference to a sex offense complaint. The suspect in the incident, Todd Buchas, had left the scene prior to officers arriving. State Police subsequently located Buchas outside the city a short time later and took him into custody. The victim was known to Buchas, police said. Buchas was charged with one misdemeanor - acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17, and three felonies: predatory sex assault against child, rape in the first-degree degree, and sexual abuse in the first-degree. He was arraigned and sent to Saratoga County Jail without bail.

POLICE

Joshua Usher, 27, of Clifton Park, was charged April 6 with criminal contempt in the second-degree, a misdemeanor. 

David Burke, 51, of Galway, was charged April 7 in Saratoga Springs with unauthorized use of a vehicle in the third-degree, a misdemeanor. 

Darrick Conners, 46, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 5 with misdemeanor petit larceny. 

Tammy Clark, 52, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 12 with criminal contempt, a misdemeanor. 

Larry Stalbum, 56, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 12 with criminal mischief, criminal obstruction of breathing, and assault in the third- degree. All charges are misdemeanors. 

POLICE

Anthony Deschaine, 27, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 3 with criminal possession of a weapon, robbery, and aggravated family offense – all felonies; menacing, and two counts of criminal mischief – misdemeanors. 

Anthony Annese, 56, of Saratoga Springs, was charged April 4 with unlawful imprisonment, a misdemeanor. 

Joseph Cavallo, 32, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 30 with criminal contempt, a misdemeanor. 

Valerie Bennett, 49, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 30 with obstruct governmental administration,a misdemeanor. 

Angela Natalie, 35, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 30 with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. 

Cody Ogden, 25, of Fort Edward, was charged April 2 in Saratoga Springs with felony grand larceny, and the misdemeanors: petit larceny, and falsely reporting an offense. 

Kellie Baker, 31, of Ballston Lake, was charged April 3 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, aggravated misdemeanor DWI, and failing to use designated lane. 

Shawn M. VanVeghten, 39, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 25 by State Police in Wilton with grand larceny felony, and issuing a bad check, a misdemeanor. VanVeghten is accused of issuing a $6,900 business check to pay expenses, knowing that there were insufficient funds in the account to cover the check. He was issued an appearance ticket for May 12. 

POLICE

Michael Lewis, 39, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 29 with criminal mischief, trespassing, and arson on the fourth-degree. The latter charge is a felony.

Nathan Suprenant, 33, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 29 with trespassing in the third-degree, a misdemeanor. 

Troy Morace, 44, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 29 with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. 

Steven Harris, 49, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 28 with public lewdness in the first-degree, a misdemeanor. 

Kevin Kelly, 39, of Saratoga Springs, was cited March 28 with trespassing, and five days earlier with criminal mischief in the third-degree, a felony. 

Adam Hill, 34, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 24 with aggravated family offense – a felony, acting in a manner to injure a child – a misdemeanor, and criminal obstruction of breathing – a misdemeanor. 

Tamaryn Bennett, 21, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 24 with harassment in the second-degree, assault in the third-degree – both misdemeanors, and criminal possession of a weapon – a felony. 

Robert Button, 33, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 26 with assault in the third-degree, unlawful imprisonment in the second-degree, Criminal obstruction of breathing, and criminal mischief – all are misdemeanors. 

Erica Babson, 24, of Fort Edward, was charged March 26 in Saratoga Springs with criminal mischief in the third-degree – a felony, and assault in the third-degree, a misdemeanor. 

COURT

William Thibedeau, 25, of Ballston Spa was charged on March 20 by State Police in Saratoga with criminal possession of a controlled substance in the fifth-degree, a felony, and reckless endangerment in the second-degree, a misdemeanor, after State Police responded to a dispute involving the operators of two vehicles in the area of Brookline Road and Middleline Road in the Town of Ballston. Thibedeau is accused of making multiple attempts to run the victim off the road. Thibedeau and the victim were previously known to one another. When troopers arrived, Thibedeau was taken into custody. A subsequent search revealed that he was also allegedly in possession of a quantity of cocaine. Thibedeau was released on his own recognizance and is due back in court on May 21.

Mikhael W. Shaw, of Daytona Beach, FL, was charged on March 17 by State Police in Wilton with grand larceny in the third-degree, a felony. Shaw is accused of engaging in a phone scam in which a South Glens Falls resident provided her bank account information. Shaw is suspected of drawing over $36,000 from her account. Through investigation, Shaw was located in Florida and an arrest warrant was obtained. Shaw was located by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department and on March 17 and was extradited back to New York State. He was processed and transported to Saratoga County Jail to await arraignment.

Haywood W. Mitchell III, 47, of Wyandanch, and James A. Tyson, 35 of West Babylon, was charged on March 19 by State Police in Wilton with possession/transport of more than 30,000 unstamped cigarettes, a felony. State Police stopped a vehicle operated by Tyson after he committed multiple traffic infractions while traveling on I-87 in the Town of Moreau. After establishing probable cause to search the vehicle, troopers located approximately 100,000 untaxed cigarettes within it. Both men were issued appearance tickets and are due in Moreau Town Court on May 13. 

POLICE

Christopher Decker, 37, of Ballston Spa, was charged March 21 in Saratoga Springs with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor. 

Darrick Conners, 46, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 22 with criminal trespass, a misdemeanor. 

Michael Lewis, 39, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 20 with criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. 

Nathaniel Steinbiss, of Ballston Lake, was charged March 18 in Saratoga Springs with assault in the third-degree with intent to cause physical injury – a misdemeanor. 

Samuel Hogan, 19, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 13 with operating a motor vehicle without signal devices/reflectors, possession or use of a forged/fictitious/illegally obtained license, unlawful possession of marijuana, criminal possession of a controlled substance in the seventh-degree, and possession of a controlled substance in non-original container. 

Jeffrey Favreau, 43, of Cohoes, was charged March 14 in Saratoga Springs with criminal trespass in the second-degree, a misdemeanor. 

Jacob Dilson, 29, of Bayside, was charged March 14 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle in the third-degree, a misdemeanor. 

Shawn Johnson, 37, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 14 with criminal trespass in the third-degree, a misdemeanor. 

Brian Raymond, 49, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 14 with trespassing, and public lewdness – a misdemeanor. 

Khylan Hunt, 33, of Ballston Spa, was charged March 14 in Saratoga Springs with two felony counts and one misdemeanor count of criminal possession of a controlled substance, and criminal possession of marijuana in the fourth-degree. 

Kaitlyn Flint, 29, of Fort Edward, was charged March 14 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor petit larceny. 

Meaghan Barnett, 21, of Simsbury, CT, was charged March 15 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, and a vehicle equipment violation. 

Kim Brigman, 52, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 15 with criminal trespass in the third-degree, a misdemeanor. 

COURT

Jake B. Sweeney, 32, of Clermont, New Hampshire, pleaded March 12 to criminal possession of a weapon, a felony, in Malta. Sentencing May 13. 

Kelly A. Leonardi, of Saratoga Springs, pleaded March 11 to one felony count of vehicular manslaughter in the second-degree, and two misdemeanor counts of assault, in connection with an incident that occurred on State Route 9 in Malta on July 14, 2019. The incident involved a head-on collision during which Leonardi was driving. Leonardi’s fiancé John Stevens was a passenger in the vehicle and was killed. Injuries were suffered by Michael DeFile and Mario Gonzalez. According to Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen, Leonardi had morphine, fentanyl and alprazolam in her blood stream at the time of the crash. Sentencing is June 3. 

Jarred M. Elston, 26, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced March 11 to 10 years in jail, to be followed by 3 years of post-release supervision after pleading to two counts of felony assault. The incident involved Elston striking and causing injury to his fiancé and his brother. 

Andrew M. Acabbo, 79, of Saratoga, was sentenced to five years of probation, after pleading to felony DWI, in Saratoga Springs. 

POLICE

Marshall Vanburen, 26, of Halfmoon, was charged March 7 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and two vehicle equipment violations. 

Edward Przydatek, 44, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 7 with misdemeanor petit larceny. 

Christopher Keniry, 53, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 7 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, having no motor vehicle registration and no license, and two vehicle equipment violations.

Simon Stephen, 47, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 8 with criminal obstruction of breathing. 

Courtney Smisloff, 30, of Malta, was charged March 9 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle. 

Adrienne Jackson, 36, of Clifton Park, was charged March 10 ion Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor petit larceny. 

Craig Canty, 56, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 11 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and failure to stop at a stop sign. 

Dana Goossens, 29, of Schenectady, was charged March 11 in Saratoga Springs with two misdemeanor counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance. 

Robin Mattison, 41, of Milton, was charged March 12 in Saratoga Springs with felony grand larceny.

COURT 

Kenneth S. Thomas, 30, of Schenectady, was sentenced March 9 to 1 year in jail, after pleading to felony grand larceny, in Ballston. 

James J. Forgett, 49, of Ballston Lake, was sentenced March 9 to 4 months in jail and 5 years of probation, after pleading to disseminating indecent materials to minors in the first-degree, a felony. 

Trisha M. Stimpson, 37, of South Glens Falls, was sentenced to 6 months in jail and 5 years of probation, after pleading to felony DWI, in Moreau. 

Gregory K. Apkarian, 58, of Arlington, Vermont, was sentenced March 4 to five years of probation, after pleading to criminal possession of a firearm, a felony, regarding an incident that occurred in Saratoga Springs. 

Diego Torres, 25, of Amsterdam, was sentenced March 4 to 60 days in jail and five years of probation, after pleading to felony assault, regarding an incident that occurred in Saratoga Springs. 

Ronnie L. Gardner, 27, of Saratoga Springs, was sentenced March 4 to 2-1/3 to 7 years in state prison, after pleading to felony grand larceny and misdemeanor criminal tax fraud, in connection with incidents that took place in 2016, 2018, and 2019 in Wilton. 

Matthew C. Cosgrove, 27, of Ballston Lake, pleaded March 3 to felony DWI, in Saratoga Springs. Sentencing May 5. 

POLICE

Meredith Nacoda, 23, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 2 with criminal contempt, a felony. 

Jiraldo Ramirez, 19, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 3 with felony burglary and felony criminal mischief. 

Gina Freeman, 31, of Amsterdam, was charged March 3 in Saratoga Springs with identity theft- a misdemeanor, and grand larceny in the fourth-degree, a felony. 

Ashley Jubrey, 32, of Cohoes, was charged March 3 in Saratoga Springs with two counts
of criminal possession of stolen property. 

Kevin Leno, 35, of Ballston Spa, was charged March 3 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor petit larceny and the felonies: aggravated family offense, and criminal contempt. 

Kevin Kelly, 39, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 4 with petit larceny, and criminal tampering – both misdemeanors. 

Brandon Winchell, 24, of Clifton Park, was charged March 5 in Saratoga Springs with second degree harassment. 

Danielle Stevens, 37, of Porter Corners, was charged March 5 in Saratoga Springs with felony DWI, aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and drinking alcohol in a motor vehicle on a highway. 

Dominic Minor, 19, of Hudson Falls, was charged March 5 in Saratoga Springs with criminal mischief, a felony. 

Holly Turcotte, 43, of Corinth, was charged March 6 in Saratoga Springs with aggravated family offense, and criminal contempt. 

Dominick Holmes, 24, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 6 with criminal trespass in the third-degree, a misdemeanor. 

Adam Gerling, 28, of Albany, was charged Feb. 29 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, unlawful possession of marijuana, leaving the scene of a property damage accident, a vehicle equipment violation and unsafe backing of a motor vehicle. 

Lester Lolley, 37, was charged Feb. 29 with misdemeanor DWI, and driving the wrong direction on a one-way street.

Colleen Apholz, 36, of Ballston Spa, was charged Feb. 29 in Saratoga Springs with misdemeanor DWI, criminal possession of a controlled substance, and two driving-related violations.

Jeremy Zepf, 40, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Feb. 29 with criminal mischief misdemeanor. 

Trenton Hall, 32, of Gansevoort, was charged March 1 in Saratoga Springs with criminal mischief, and criminal trespass. Both charges are misdemeanors. 

Michael Lewis, 39, of Saratoga Springs, was charged March 1 with criminal mischief.

Sean Donohue. 37, of Saratoga Springs, was charged Feb. 28 with aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and a vehicle equipment violation. 

Brieanne R. Clothier, Age 31, of Corinth, was charged March 7 assault, criminal mischief, Criminal Obstruction of breathing, and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. She is alleged to have assaulted a family member with a bottle, obstructed a family member’s breathing and caused damage to a family member’s vehicle in the presence of children, according to the Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office.

SARATOGA SPRINGS – What once was an eyesore and is currently a vacant lot will soon boast a grass landscape with elderberry and perennials, a pair of picnic tables, Black Cherry and Japanese Dogwood, if Jason Letts gets his way.

The owner of the .31-acre site that stands opposite the Saratoga Springs Public Library has submitted to the city Planning Board a proposal for a pocket park on Putnam Street.

“We want to make it a place people can go to and have lunch or hangout, where they can walk straight out of the library and have a place to read,” Letts said.

The location had sited a commercial use concrete block building on-site the past several years. It was eventually revealed to be contaminated from its earlier use as a dry cleaning facility, as well as sustaining oil contamination from an offsite source.  That contamination determined the existing structure could not be salvaged for re-use and the building ultimately demolished.  

The land has been a focus for a variety of suggested uses, dating back several years. Proposals have ranged from a six-level robotic parking garage and banquet facility with 189 vehicle spaces and street-level retail in 2004, to a performance venue with a food service component in 2013. In late 2018, plans were on the table for the development of a six-story, 40-unit condominium complex called “Five-Three” – named for its location at 53 Putnam St. - to feature one-bedroom and two-bedroom units at a price range of $400,00 to $800,000, and a rooftop green space with a lounge area for residents. That mixed-use building proposal carried a price tag of approximately $30 million.

Currently, the 13,500 square foot site depicts a fenced-in lot marred by post-demolition sand and gravel. Ultimately, Letts says, he realized any large-scale development would require a long-term project, and decided a better current use for the lands would be something the entire community could use.

“We got into this – ‘we’ being my sons and my family – to find a way to make this site useable as soon as possible. The idea of having to wait however-many-years to finally get a building, and to have it just sit there wasn’t appealing to us,” Letts says. “Right now, we’re looking to get the site into a useable position, something that looks nice. An aesthetic transformation.”

The proposed pocket park - titled the Rory & Blake Park – is named after Letts’ sons. “Although it is an expense, this is an opportunity to get more involved in the community where we live. And especially because we use the library so much, we decided we had to do something about it - so we hope this is something everybody will be able to enjoy.”

Letts said there are partnerships being formed with local places like Caffe Lena in the hope of staging organized activities in the park. A general timeline points to implementation by late summer. 

“It’s been a long road with the DEC clean-up, which will be taking place this year,” Letts said.

The lot is currently regulated by DEC as a Brownfield Site. A Brownfield site is a property where a contaminant is present at levels exceeding the soil cleanup objectives, or other health-based or environmental standards. The goal of the Brownfield Cleanup Program is to encourage private-sector cleanups of brownfields and to promote their redevelopment.

The location may in the future site a housing or mixed-use complex, but that prospect appears to be several years away. 

“Getting the resources together for a building (in the future) is going to take some time and will be long-term. We’re not so sure it will be condos - in fact that’s probably the least possible thing at this point given things like the market. But, whether it will be straightforward apartments, or some sort of affordable housing - that’s more what we’re looking at for that space,” Letts said. “That’ll be some time away. We just didn’t want to have it sit as it is.”