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Revelers turned out Thursday night to offically kick off the holiday season in Saratoga Springs! The Victorian Streetwalk kicked off on Thursday, December 1st with a tree lighting and concert. The holiday event continues through the weekend. Events will be happening downtown from 5-8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, as well as from noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

The Victorian Streetwalk returns this holiday season for its 37th year. The Saratogian reports it starts with closing Broadway from Spring Street to Lake Avenue from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday evening for a traditional Victorian Streetwalk evening featuring a live musical performance, and a special appearance from Santa and Mrs. Claus at the tree lighting ceremony.
The main stage, Santa’s cottage and a 27-foot holiday tree will all be located near Putnam Market, located at 431 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

The Saratoga Springs City Council unanimously approved the proposed 2023 budget at a special city council meeting earlier this week. According to the Saratogian, Council voted 5-0 to approve the proposed budget of $57 million. The 2023 General Fund Budget expanded by 5.19% from 2022 and includes support for the operation of the city’s third fire/EMS station, anticipated to open next spring.

WRGB reports Thruway Authority head Matthew Driscoll is planning to step down December 20th. His retirement comes as a proposal to increase tolls is on the agenda for a Monday meeting. It includes a 5-percent increase for those with New York EZ pass tags and a steep 75-percent hike for those who don’t. If the board of directors votes to move forward with the proposal, this would formally launch a public process that will include meetings to gather community input and a final report before a final decision is made.

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a rash of stolen packages in Malta along Thimbleberry Road. Police say they found the packages empty and suspect the robberies happened between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Monday. Anyone with doorbell video or other footage is asked to reach out to detectives.

A Saratoga Springs City Council proposal to change the closing time for bars has been pushed to the Dec. 6 agenda. WNYT reports the proposal comes after an officer-involved shooting last week on Broadway near the corner of Caroline Street. It would mandate all bars close at 2 a.m., instead of the current 4 a.m.

The man accused of killing two people in Schenectady County faced a judge Monday evening. After hearing several testimonies the judge ruled that there is enough reasonable and probable against cause Nicholas Fiebka to move the case forward to a grand jury. WNYT reports Fiebka shot and killed his mother Alesia Wadsworth, 60, and her long-term boyfriend William Horwedel, 61, last Tuesday.

A potential drug ring, taken down in Saratoga County and seven people now facing charges. WNYT reports it started with Caitlin Pruess from South Glens Falls, accused of selling cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, and crystal meth. The Saratoga County sheriffs then executed a search warrant, and police arrested six more people.

On November 28, 2022, State Police of Clifton Park arrested Michael L. Pajak, 77, of Halfmoon, NY, for Sexual Abuse and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. On November 2, 2022, State Police received information from the Albany County Department for Children, Youth, and Families concerning a past incident in Halfmoon, NY. The investigation determined Pajak had inappropriate sexual contact with a child under the age of 13. He was arrainged and remanded to the Saratoga County Correctional Facility.

A special vigil was held Sunday evening in Saratoga Springs in memory of the victims of the Colorado Springs Club Q shooting. WNYT reports Saratoga Pride helped organize the vigil to remember the victims and provide the community a place to gather, grieve and show support.