The Recorder, Amsterdam, N.Y.
LOCAL
Tuesday, November 4, 2014 / 5
POLICE REPORTS
Amsterdam Police Department
• Jonathan Gomez-Ruiz, 32, of 44 James St., was arrested
Oct. 24 and charged with criminal possession of stolen property, a Class E felony. Police said they saw Gomez-Ruiz riding
a bike and pushing a shopping cart along the road. They said
he allegedly had 125 stolen items from Price Chopper, totaling
more than $1,000. He was held for arraignment.
• Edwin Cabrera, 21, of 2505 University Ave., Bronx, was
arrested Oct. 25 during a police vehicle stop on Market Street.
He was charged with operating a vehicle with a suspended
registration and was issued a city court appearance ticket.
• Wilfredo Torres, 28, of 51 Pulaski St., was arrested Oct. 25
and charged with second-degree menacing, and seconddegree criminal contempt, both misdemeanors. Torres’ charges
stem back to a domestic dispute on Hibbard Street where he
allegedly menaced a victim with a knife when he had a court
issued order of protection. He was held for arraignment.
• Jan Pierre Colon, 21, of 9 Glen Ave., was arrested Oct. 25
on two active arrest warrants for allegedly violating probation
and failing to appear in city court on an outstanding bench
warrant. He was held for arraignment.
• Britlyn Downes, 25, of 7 S. Chase St., Johnstown, was
arrested Oct. 25 after two-car motor vehicle accident where
she allegedly struck a parked car. She was charged with thirddegree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle
and was released on $150 bail.
• Marquis Powell, 23, of 269 Division St., was arrested Oct.
25 and charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief, a misdemeanor, and harassment, a violation. His charges stem back
to an alleged domestic dispute on Division Street. He was
released on a city court appearance ticket.
• Guillermo Andino, 36, of 49 Pulaski St., was arrested Oct.
27 on an active arrest warrant from the Montgomery County
Sheriff’s Department for an unknown charge. He was released
to the sheriff’s department.
• Daniel Ocasio, 39, of 50 Gorski St., was arrested Oct. 27
during a police vehicle stop on Route 5. He was charged with
third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, and operating a vehicle with a suspended registration,
both misdemeanors. Ocasio was issued a city court appearance ticket.
• Casey Hecker, 24, of 60 James St., was arrested Oct. 27
during a police vehicle stop on Church Street. She was charged
with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation a motor vehicle and was released on a city court appearance ticket.
• Michael Fitzpatrick, 20, of 20 Garden St., was arrested Oct.
28 during a police vehicle stop on East Main Street. He was
charged with third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of
a motor vehicle and was issued a city court appearance ticket.
• Tyler Koubek, 22, of 459 Ridge Road, Broadalbin, was
arrested Oct. 28 and charged with three counts of failing to
appear in city court on three outstanding bench warrants. He
was held for arraignment.
• Brooke Benjamin, 22, of 59 Miner St., Canton, was arrested Oct. 28 and charged with criminal possession of a forged
instrument, attempted criminal possession of a forged instrument and petit larceny, all misdemeanors. Police said
Benjamin allegedly stole checks July 2013 that passed at local
banks. She was held for arraignment.
• Lisandro Garcia, 32, of 57 Bunn St., was arrested Oct. 28
and charged with failure to appear in Glen town court on an
outstanding bench warrant. He was turned over to the
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department.
• Ricardo Quiles-Alicea, 36, of 200 Guy Park Ave., was
arrested Oct. 28 on an active arrest warrant for petit larceny.
Police said Quiles-Alicea allegedly stole from Riverfront
Center in September. He was held for arraignment.
• Jose Castro, 34, of 52 Milton Ave., was arrested Oct. 28 and
charged with four counts of failure to appear in city court on
four outstanding bench warrants. He was held for arraignment.
• Richard Bedell, 25, of 311 Vrooman Ave., was arrested Oct.
29 on an arrest warrant for criminal obstruction of breathing
and harassment, both misdemeanors that allegedly occurred
in August. He was held for arraignment.
State Police
• Austin M. Foote, 16, of Amsterdam, was charged with criminal mischief following a domestic dispute in the town of
Mohawk, police said. Foote is to reappear in Mohawk town
court at a later date.
• Brian E. Marvel, 35, of Broadalbin, was charged with possession of marijuana following a traffic stop in the town of
Johnstown. He is to reappear in town court at a later date.
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
• Stephanie M. Leduc, 19, of 414 S. Main St., Gloversville,
was charged with petit larceny and arrested on an active
arrest warrant from Mohawk town court for third-degree menacing. Leduc was arraigned in court and then released.
Caroline Murray/Recorder staff
Owners James and Bob Palmateer at the bar of the Top Notch Tavern.
History repeats itself as the Top Notch
reopens its doors to the dining public
By CAROLINE MURRAY
Recorder News Staff
PERTH — Upon entering the
Top Notch Tavern at the corner of
Route 132 and West Galway
Road, you can almost picture the
historic building as it was 160
years ago.
Rows of horse-drawn carriages
would have been lined up outside
as cloaked men escorted rosycheeked women through the
grand entryway, while soldiers
paced the wrap-around porch in
hopes of securing a bed to sleep
in after a warm meal.
Built in the 1860s, the Victorian
building has been known as the
West Galway Hotel and The
Galway House. It served as a
stagecoach stop, a hotel, and a
place for cavalry to rest during
the Civil War, or so the new
menu boasts.
The menu, which was designed
by executive chef Bob Palmateer,
is one of the additions to the
recently reopened landmark.
Palmateer, along with his son
James and wife Carla, purchased
the building in 2011 to preserve
its rich history and restore their
family roots.
The Top Notch reopened a few
weeks ago, and the owners hope
to bring it back to its glory days.
“It’s a family thing. This was
my grandparents’ place,” James
Palmateer said. “My grandmother had a great thing here, and her
legacy is kind of lost.”
The restaurant has passed
through the family’s hands several times. Bob Palmateer said his
mother Doreen and father David
purchased it as the former
Broski’s Grill from Mike Broski
in the 1960s, and they transformed it into the Top Notch
Tavern.
Doreen owned the business
from 1968 until 1978, but sold it
soon after her husband passed
away. Bob and his siblings lived
in the upstairs apartment at the
time.
Growing up in a restaurant
inspired Bob to dive into the family business. He was vested in
several other restaurants in
Amsterdam before purchasing
the Top Notch.
When the tavern went on the
market three years ago, Bob
Palmateer said he, James and
Carla jumped at the opportunity
to make it a family-owned business again.
Palmateer said it was important
to James, who owns a construc-
tion business, that he restore the
building to its original design.
The crown molding seen
throughout the bar area and other
rooms in the restaurant was
found in the cellar and restored.
Additionally, while walking
around the wrap-around porch
leading to the main entrance,
Please see DINING, Page 9