News Staff

The statewide crackdown against impaired driving will run through New Year’s Day with an increased number of patrol officers and sobriety checkpoints.New York State Police said the number of crashes, especially deadly ones related to drunk driving, increase during this time of year. If you plan to drink, make a plan for a sober ride home with Uber or a reliable friend.

Celebrate New Year’s in Lake George with parties, cruises, fireworks and hikes. Lots of partying at The Lagoon, Lake George Beach Club, Lake George Lanes & Games, Duffy’s Tavern and check out the elegant menu at the New Year’s Eve Dinner buffet at TR’s at the Holiday Inn. The fireworks show will shoot off over the lake at midnight and may be viewed anywhere along the Lakefront Walkway.

A fire at the Fox Run Apartments on Christmas morning displaced around 30 residents, prompting the Town of Clifton Park to set up a fund to support affected families. Vischer Ferry Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tim Kimball praised one resident whose quick action prevented further harm. Twenty-two apartments were evacuated and firefighters had the fire contained to a few rooms and was fully extinguished by 5 a.m.

Saratoga New Year’s Eve is set for December 31 and January 1.The celebration is set to kick off with a free outdoor concert on Ellsworth Jones Place and a fireworks display from the top of the Saratoga Springs City Center from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Those with Saratoga New Year’s Eve tickets can enjoy more live music at several downtown venues afterward. For information, visit discoversaratoga.org.

Students at Saratoga Central Catholic School took a trip to New York City and found out that Earl Albert, the donor of this year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, had a stroke the night the tree was cut down. Students decided to raise his spirits and began writing cards to him. At last count it was over 100 and Earl and the Albert family were just blown away

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office received a burglary call at the Enclave 50 apartment complex in Ballston on December 21 at 4 PM, eventually leading to the arrest of Brian J. Richmond, 42, of Saratoga Springs, who was charged with second-degree burglary and misdemeanor petit larceny. Richmond was arraigned in Milton Town Court and remanded to the Saratoga County Jail in lieu of bail.

Stewart’s Shops is slowly reintroducing the tap-to-pay option to stores, per Stewart’s Shops spokesperson Robin Cooper. WTEN reports the stores halted the tap-to-pay option back in October due to fraudulent credit card payments, first noticing the fraudulent activity on Oct. 19th.

Residents of 22 apartments damaged by a Christmas morning fire at the Fox Run Apartments on Huntridge Drive in Clifton Park will be spending at least one more night in a hotel while repairs are made. WNYT reports if repairs require more time than expected, the Solomon Organization will relocate the displaced residents within the community.

It was just after midnight Monday heading into Tuesday when Angela Mondella, still about two weeks shy of her due date, began having contractions. She and her husband contacted 911 and were told
to head directly to the Warrensburg EMS headquarters, but when they got there, no one else had arrived yet.
Just in the nick of time, three EMTs showed up, Angela was helped into an ambulance, and the trip down the Northway began. Turns out the new addition was born in the ambulance.

The Democratic Committee-backed candidate for Saratoga Springs public works commissioner will not wage a write-in campaign after party officials failed to get her name on the ballot for a special election in January. The Daily Gazette reports Sarah Burger, a private-practice lawyer who was endorsed by Democrats in August, said in a recent text exchange that she will not be running a write-in campaign in the highly controversial special election set to take place Jan. 28.