WSSV News

From now until Labor Day, 300 horseshoes from retired racehorses are being hidden in Saratoga Springs as part of a new treasure hunt to foster excitement and community engagment. WTEN reports the group, Saratoga Hidden Horseshoes, teamed up with Saratoga-based artist Frankie Flores to give away a special artist-inspired golden horseshoe on Wednesday evening.

A Saratoga County couple pleaded guilty to fraud involving Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans. WTEN reports
53 year old Adesh Budhraj and his wife, 52 year old Deborah Budhraj of Ballston Lake, sold a business they owned in Schenectady and still filed for $558,000 in PPP loans after the sale, say authorities.

The New York City Ballet (NYCB) made its return to the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, July 18. The Saratogian reports the five-day residency will be filled with a mix of traditional and more modern ballet dances with seven performances spread out from July 18 through July 22. The annual load-in, to transport the costumes, set dressings, equipment and other vital objects to ensure the success of the shows, took place on Monday, July 17 at SPAC.

The Saratoga County Fair is underway, up and running on Prospect Street in Ballston Spa. It was first held in 1841.
The fair will be open through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., except 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Saratoga Springs Professional Firefighters Association President Joseph Brimhall has been named “2023 Union Man of the Year.” WNYT reports it’s an honor bestowed by the New York State Professional Firefighters Association. The group says Brimhall has dedicated more than 20 years of his life to the department, and fighting successfully on behalf of his union.

On Monday, Michael J. Smith, 62, of Saratoga, was sentenced to five years of probation for conspiring to launder money. Smith is ordered to pay $208,263.22 in restitution to defrauded government entities. WTEN reports Smith admitted to conspiring with a woman he met online and her purported attorney to launder over $200,000 in fraudulently obtained government benefits that mostly came from COVID-19 relief programs. The funds were obtained through fraudulent unemployment insurance applications and business loan applications.

A manager has been charged with manslaughter, after an accident last year at the R.J. Valente gravel quarry. According to WNYT, the Oct. 1, 2022 accident killed Darren Miller, 35, of Poestenkill, when a nearly-300-pound rigging hook fell on him.
Anthony Valente, 44, was arraigned in Rensselaer County Court, where an indictment alleged he was recklessly operating a crane while attempting to replace an engine with Miller, when the piece of equipment hit and killed him.

More than one closure at the Saratoga National Historical Park caused by flooding. WNYT reports
It’s caused a lot of damage to the park’s entrance on Route 4 and along the park’s hiking trails – so at this time, this entrance and the hiking trails are closed indefinitely.
Access to the park is also currently available through the western entrance from Route 32.

As the murder trial of Justin Rodriguez continues in Saratoga County Court, friends and family of the victim, Alex Bleickhardt, are not allowed to wear shirts bearing his name. WNYT reports Rodriguez is being tried on murder charges in the September death of Bleickhardt on the Northway in Wilton. Prosecutors accuse Rodriguez of driving drunk and crashing into and killing Bleickardt – a tow truck driver – who was helping a disabled truck driver.

State officials have announced an air quality health advisory for the entirety of New York, for Monday, July 17.
The pollutants of concern are fine particulate matter for the area with the advisory in effect through 11:59 p.m. The ozone advisory is in effect from 11 a.m. until 11 p.m.