Author Archives: Express Weekly

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Where There is Love – By Sandy McBride

With this heartfelt theme, the All Saints on the Hudson Youth Council has once again put on a successful benefit basketball night to raise funds to assist two families in the Mechanicville and Stillwater communities who have been in the fight of their lives.

The love was apparent on Saturday night, April 20 as a near-capacity crowd gathered in the Mechanicville High School gym to cheer on teams from Mechanicville and Stillwater, to purchase tickets on a fantastic array of raffle baskets donated by local businesses, school groups, organizations and families, to enjoy good food and good company, and to show their shoulder to shoulder support for these two families.

Michelle Sorell DePasquale is battling cancer. The wife of John DePasquale and mother of Michalena and Angelia, Michelle is well-known throughout the community, involved for years in not just community events but also in children’s activities with her two young daughters. Michelle is a symbol of courage and commitment.

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Hoosic Valley Clarifies Alleged Football Merger – By Christine Barton

“The intention was just to look into options with good intentions,” says Jeff Keller, Athletic Director at Hoosic Valley Central High School.  Talks of a possible merger between Hoosic Valley and Stillwater football programs took the community by surprise when an article in the Troy Record was published on April 10th, 2013. Reading this article was the first time that many in the district had heard of any type of football merger. One community member was “astonished at the article in the Troy record.”  These discussions should have involved the community, he said. “These were just discussions that were not had with any malintent,” said Keller. There were plans to discuss this at the Superintendents forum that was scheduled for early April, however this was cancelled.

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Joseph R. Lupo – 69

GANSEVOORT – Joseph R. Lupo, 69, of Pettis Road, died Saturday, April 27th, at Glens Falls Hospital, after being stricken at home.

Born in Troy, April 3, 1944, son of the late Joseph and Mary Lupo McLaren, Joe grew up and was educated in Stillwater.  A veteran of the US Navy Seabees, serving with USN MCB-4, Joe saw duty at Guantanamo and was a part of the Cuban Missile Crisis blockade in the early 1960’s.  After military service, Joe was a truck driver for 33 years, for ABF Freight Systems and earlier for Friehoffer Baking Co.

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George W. Arnold, Sr. – 91

Born on August 30, 1921 in Mechanicville to Herbert Patrick and Bertha (Bolton) Arnold. He married the love of his life, Josephine (Palmer) Arnold on April 27, 1952.

George attended Mechanicville High School where he was an athlete in basketball, football and track. He worked at Westvaco Paper Mill and after the devastating events of Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy at age 20 in 1941, serving in the South Pacific.

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Darrin Wesley LaBrake – 46

Born on December 12, 1966 in Schenectady, son of the late Jerald and Joan (Genter) LaBrake.

Darrin is a graduate of Mechanicville High School. He was a Certified Pipe Installer and employed by Hawk Drilling in Saratoga Springs. Darrin is a former volunteer for the Hillcrest Fire Department and enjoyed coaching in the Mechanicville-Stillwater Little League. Above all he was a family man and lived for his children.

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Arthur F. Baker – 88

Arthur F. Baker of Hudson Road passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at his residence with his loving family at his side. He was 88.

Born on May 15, 1924 in Stillwater, son of the late Frank and Daisy (Crandall) Baker. He was born and raised in Bemis Heights. He is the husband of Helen (Sadowski) Baker whom he married on September 6, 1948.  Arthur served in the US Army from 1943-1945 in the European Theater. Following his service he was employed as a welder for the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Co. in Mechanicville until their closing in 1971. He was also employed at 656 th  Radar Squadron USAF Radar Station at Ketchum's Corners, Stillwater. Art retired in 1986 from the Veterans Administration Hospital in Albany where he worked for several years as a pipefitter leader.

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Jury returns verdict of guilty after 4 days of deliberations in Saratoga County Court on Daniel P. Taylor

Saratoga County District Attorney James A. Murphy III announced today that a jury returned a verdict of guilty on a violent felony of Assault 2nd and Criminal Possession of a Weapon, misdemeanor, after deliberating since last Friday on the case against Daniel P. Taylor (d.o.b. 10-10-83) of 500 South Shore Road, East Caroga Lake, NY for stabbing a man in the parking lot of the former Northern Lights, (now known as Upstate Concert Hall)  a dance club/bar and music venue in Clifton Park, New York.  The 2 day music event was called "Rat-atat-tat" where there was music, tattoo artists and tarot card readers.  The featured band was "Sick of It".

The trial was before the Hon. Jerry J. Scarano, County Court Judge.

The stabbing occurred on November 26, 2011.  Assistant District Attorneys Debra Kaelin and Michele Schettino tried the case which lasted for more than two weeks in which the prosecution called more than 25 witnesses and entered more than 100 pieces of physical evidence including photographs, the victim's clothing, video of the defendant, surveillance video from surrounding businesses, and forensic evidence.  The knife was never recovered.

In speaking to the jury after the trial, which is an unusual yet sought after opportunity, the jurors indicated that they had a tough time in understanding  the "self-defense" charge.  Further they said that because the defendant only stabbed the victim once, they questioned the defendant's intent to cause serious physical injury.

The People maintained that the intent was shown in a number of deliberate actions the defendant took.  These actions resulted in only one stab wound, but a substantial 16 inch slice, from one side of the rib cage to the other, and a laceration to the  liver of approximately 7 inches across and nearly 2 inches deep into that organ.

The conviction stems from an incident where Taylor attacked an unarmed man in the parking lot who he believed was following his girlfriend. After the brutal stabbing, he walked away from the victim, then discarded the knife he had brought  with him in an effort to hide it from authorities and caught up with the girlfriend.

Assistant DA Kaelin said "the jury listened very carefully, reviewed the  evidence and made the appropriate decision as to who was telling the truth.  They did not 'buy into' the baseless self-defense claim."

District Attorney Murphy said "ADA Kaelin had an uphill battle with the tale the defendant told on the witness stand.  I believe in the jury system and I'm thankful for the work of the jurors.  Without their efforts this man would not face the consequences for stabbing an innocent unarmed victim."

The prosecutors praised the work of the New York State Police, the Forensic Investigation Unit, as well at the Saratoga County Sheriff's Department for their work in investigating the case.

The defendant faces up to 7 years in prison and up to 3 years of post-release supervision.  Sentencing is scheduled for June 27, 2013 before Judge Scarano in Ballston Spa, NY.

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Anthony Luciano Retires from City Service – By Harold Wessell

"There's a little error there," quipped Luciano, bringing laughter after Sylvester read and presented the official proclamation: "– 38 years, seven months."

The mayor got out his pen and offered to make the correction on the spot..

"Thirty eight years and seven months," repeated Luciano with a smile. "There isn't much else to say that's left over. I just want to  appreciate you guys coming.... I never knew this was going to happen," he told  officials and a group of friends and relatives... This is probably my fifth retirement party. People ask me ‘How come you don't get another job?'  The reason is, I don't want another retirement party!"

He never knew they were planning it. "I was very surprised. So I'll probably see you all at the End Zone?"

But for that reason, not expecting anything very special, he admitted, "I have to apologize to my wife... I never knew she was supposed to come."  When he first arrived,  someone "asked ‘Where's your wife?' ‘I left her home.' I apologize, honey -- I'll make it up to you!"

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Dominic DePaul Saluted – By Harold Wessell

BALLSTON SPA, April 16 – Saratoga County's monthly recognition of deceased veterans "came home" to Mechanicville on this day. The honoree was World War II veteran Dominick A.  De Paul.

De Paul was born March 27, 1916.  Employed by the D&H RR as a freight handler, With his wife Theresa, now also deceased, he raised two children.

Dominic served in the US Army in World War II from 1941-1944, achieving the rank of Corporal with the 62nd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Gun Battalion; and serving in Southern France, Algeria, French Morocco, and Tunisia. He was an instructor, and operator in fire control.

Seriously wounded in August 1944 in battle of St. Lo, France, he was honorably discharged on July 22, 1947 at the Tilton General Hospital, Fort Dix, NJ. Although he recovered from life-threatening injuries after extended hospitalization, the injuries, including a bullet never removed from his hip, plagued him for the rest of his life.

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