All Over Albany

It snowed, pharmacy held up with a grenade, man stewed before bank heist, Paterson in Iraq, hope for ESP skating rink?

It snowed. The National Weather Service estimates the Capital Region got between 14-20 inches over the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday. A snow emergency is in effect in Albany until 8 pm Tuesday -- and in Troy, you can park free in downtown city lots and garages until Monday at 8 pm. [Daily Gazette] [City of Albany] [City of Troy]

After the recent ice storm and power outages, the state Public Service Commission says it will be watching how well utilities keep trees trimmed around power lines. One potential culprit for some of the downed trees: the white pine weevil, a beetle that weakens otherwise ice-resistant pine trees. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

Police say a man robbed an uptown Albany CVS of narcotics Friday night using the threat of a grenade. [Daily Gazette]

Police say yet another pizza delivery guy was robbed in Albany in apparent setup. This is the third time that's happened in the last few weeks. In this most recent robbery, it seems the muggers only got away with pizza and chicken wings. [CBS6] [CapNews9] [TU]

According to federal documents, the trio of men recently busted in Watervliet for growing pot and making bombs (large firecrackers, it turns out), were led to make more sophisticated devices by an informant working for the feds. [TU]

Police say the man accused of robbing a bank in Latham last week while wearing a (bad) fake beard is a career criminal from outside the area with a record of bank of jobs. Police say the man also told them he ate beef stew at the Latham '76 Diner before the job. [Daily Gazette] [TU]

David Paterson was in Iraq this weekend to visit with troops. (Obligatory Paterson in a flak jacket picture.) [AP/TU] [NYT]

Jerry Jennings is apparently trying to turn up the $150,000 necessary to open the skating rink at the ESP. David Paterson says if the mayor can come up with the money, the rink will open. [NYT]

An Albany man recently announced his plans to run for common council president -- in an attempt to eliminate the job. Also: the City of Rensselaer has one council member for every 792 residents. [TU]

Greener Cleaners -- the former KEM Cleaners -- has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (that's the reorganization kind).

Pretty much every local college is turning down the heat and lights over winter break to save energy. Some have even lengthened the break. [Daily Gazette]

The world record for continuous dodgeball play might have been set in Halfmoon this weekend. [Daily Gazette]