~~~~====~c-~.~====~~~JULY 4,2007 Gone 'round Funeral the roundabout Lacking an agreement between all of the property honors stakeholders, and with the support of a number of town officials past and present, the town board accepted amend­ fallen ed drawings for Vista Tech­ nology Park Mixed Economic Development See story on Page 3. Marine Shawn Martin, longtime local firefighter, lived a life of service By JESSICA HARDING [email protected] c =-'" =.,.- -".- ~-'--_-~';> He was a man who lived to serve others and a man who died in fulfillment of his dreams. Friends and relatives gath­ ered at St Thomas the Apostle­ church in Delmar Thursday, June 28, to mourn and remem­ ber the life of Sgt. Shawn Martin of the U.S. Marine Corps, who Bard and was killed June 20 by a roadside bomb in Iraq. beyond Friends called Martin a serv­ Children of children who er, a protector and someone who came to Shakespeare & Co. was proud to wear his uniform are now enjoying the shows every day. put on in the Lenox, Mass., Joe Feller, a family friend; theater. called Martin a man of integ­ See story on Page 24. rity who demonstrated respect, thoughtfulness, love and caring for those around him. "He was the first to step up to o Marine Page 10 Tax rolls are online System provides values, sales and tax bill [IJC8mF~ [om information with a click The of the mouse cowboy way You would think a man ~mrn~ By WILLIAM R. DEVOE who has coached the Okla­ [email protected] homa State wrestling team to ill11ID rtaB ([ffiffi[l~ -==-'---'-=---::'=-"-=~-----~-=--'" four national titles and won Town of Bethlehem residents four world championships on ~01JJ~~ now have assessment statistics The Dairy Haus in Saratoga Springs offers cold treats at the tips of their fingers with his own would be stately or By CARl SCRIBNER and a cool place to eat. curmudgeonly. the new Online Assessment Roll [email protected] Cari Scribner/Spotlight System, known as OARS. Not so with John Smith. The system will allow resi­ See story on Page 40. You know you want it through a straw, scooped, twirled, fie vendor who rolled his waffles into cones. Voila. The first ice dents to directly access real It's worth the risk of brain blended, low in fat, high in fat, property data, view sales and freeze, hands down. smooth, chunky, gooey. cream cone was born. c ~- tax bill information, and perform Hungry yet? We can all thank Throw a sugar cone in any You can have it with rainbow comparable property and sales sprinkles, whipped cream, but­ an ice cream vendor at the 1904 . direction and you're liable to al­ World's Fair in St Louis whose most hit a local ice cream stand. searches. terscotch dip, nuts or no nuts, "Bethlehem's new Online As­ brilliance led to our summer pas­ They're typically roadside, I11111I11 hot fudge, marshmallow, Reese's sessment Roll System is a perfect 6 Pieces, Oreo chunks, in a dish, on sion: When he ran out of paper serve food as well as ice cream, THE SPOTlIGHTS.7S a waffle cone, on a stick, slurped dishes, he teamed up with a waf- o Scoop Page 21 o Info Page 10 Page 2 • July 4, 2007 THE SPOTLIGHT .~. Police Blotter Crash leads to OWl arrest Holiday crackdown continues A 19-year-old Glenmont teen DWI, failure to keep right and Police agencies James May, president of the At a recent news conference, faces driving while intoxicated driving with more than .08 STOP-DWI Association said, law enforcement agencies noted charges after a one-car accident on percent blood alcohol content. to enforce STOP·OWI efforts until July 8 "The New York State STOP­ they will be stepping up their Feura Bush Road. According to police, Melius DWI Association is pleased to enforcement efforts throughout was stopped Local law enforcement Bethlehem police charged on Route 9W after officials are continuing join forces with the New York the year, especially during the AaronArditi of21 Henderson Road they observed her vehicle against their STOP-DWI efforts State Police, County Sheriffs week of Fourth of July. Last driving than a guardrail. Melius was charged with DWI, with more statewide. The crackdown is and municipal police agencies year during the period of June .08 percent blood alcohol content, after allegedly failing field sobriety from across New York for 30 to July 4, there' were six and aggravated DWI. A Chrysler aimed at making sure people tests. Police said she admitted to are celebrating wisely and the 4th of July STOP-DWI alcohol-related crashes that PT Cruiser with extensive damage having some beers with friends safely this holiday week. crackdown campaign. Highly resulted in six deaths, down was spotted by police off the road earlier in the evening. Melius will visible, highly publicized efforts from the eight fatalities during on Feura Bush, Tuesday, June 26. appear in courtJuly 17. S'IDP-DWIstandsfor"Special like the 4th of July STOP-DWI the same period in 2005. Acheckofthevehic1eregistration Traffic Options Program for crackdown serve to remind • A Selkirk man faces DWI Driving While Intoxicated". A While these crackdown broughtpoliceto 21 Henderson Road charges after being pulled everyone to driver sober. We STOP-DWI enforcement effort periods produce positive whereArditi lives. over along Manor Drive in hope this special effort by law results, it is important to keep to crackdown on drunk driving enforcement helps make our According to police, Arditi told Glenmont during the July 4th holiday in mind that every 30 minutes, them he had an accident in his Rozila J akhra, 34, of 8 roadways safe during the 4th someone in this country dies period is under way until July of July holiday week." aunt's vehicle on Feura Bush near Dorchester Ave. was charged 8. Law enforcement agencies in an alcohol-related crash. Elsmere Avenue and he said he with felony aggravated unlicensed throughout the state are out in New York State Police Acting Last year alone, more than one was driving from his friends' home operation of a motor vehicle force to reduce the incidence Superintendent Preston L. million people nationwide were when he fell asleep at the wheel and and driving with more than .08 of drunk driving and to ensure Felton said, "The New York injured in automobile crashes drove off the road. Arditi then ran percent blood alcohol content. our roadways are safe. State Police proudly join the in which alcohol was a factor. home following the crash and was According to police, he was Governor's Traffic Safety "STOP-DWI efforts have The STOP-DWI program planning to return to the scene of stopped on Monday, June 25 and Committee and the STOP­ was enacted for the purpose the accident with his mother when led to significant reductions DWI campaign in the continued will appear in courtJuly 10. in the number of alcohol of coordinating local efforts police arrived at the residence, • A 27-year-old Albany woman effort to discourage, detect, to re~uce alcohol and other police said. related fatalities, but still and apprehend impaired faced felony forgery charges too many lives are being lost drug-related crashes in a Police also said Arditi admitted after turning herself in to police drivers. 'Scores of senseless comprehensive and financially because of crashes caused by deaths occur on our highways to drinking a glass of wine earlier in following an investigation. drunk or impaired drivers," self-sustaining highway safety because of ~rinking and the night He was placed in custody Carol Ann Ruppert, 60, of said Commissioner David J. program. and will return to Bethlehem Town driving, speeding, aggressive The STOP-DWI program 27 South St. was also charged Swarts of the Department driving, and improper use of Court, July 17. with felony criminal possession of Motor Vehicles and chair permits each of the state's of stolen property and petit safety restraints. State Police counties to establish a of the Governor's Traffic enforcement, combined with larceny. Ruppert was charged Safety Committee (GTSC). "I STOP-DWI Program which Other arrests after an incident at the Hannaford safe and responsible driving qualifies for the return of all commend law enforcement behaviors by motorists, will give • Bethlehem police charged shopping center in Delmar. She for their efforts to ensure the fines c'ollected for alcohol a 27-year-old Troy woman with way to safer roadways for all was arraigned and is out on bail safety of all motorists in New and other drug-related traffic DWI. Valerie Melius, of 450 to appear in Bethlehem Town New Yorkers this Independence offenses occurring within its_ York State." Day holiday." -Fourth Ave., was charged with CourtJuly 17. jurisdiction. From brushes to Baba Ghanoush, you'll find the best things at Delaware Plaza. At Delaware Plaza, we have what you need to paint your porch and to please your palate, too. And don't forget our 24·hour Hannaford supermarket and more than 30 other shops & restaurants! THE HEART OF IT ALL ....... A collection of shops & restaurants for your _d_a~ly life. 180 Delaware Avenue. Delmar, New York. THE SPOTLlGH~ July 4, 2007 • Page 3 Holiday memories are part of the mix St. Thomas cookbook Council and is on the PTO's' folds together executive board. reminisces and recipes Debbie Knight, president of the PTO, said that Collura was the perfect person to edit the By J. JUDE HAZARD cookbook. [email protected] "She's put a tremendous amount of work and research Every year, on the Saturday into it already," Knight said.