All Over Albany

Woz fest around the Capital Region, candidates trying to differeniate themselves in crowded fields, police: teens burned down historic house, man killed by falling tree

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak was in town yesterday, making appearances at multiple events. He toured Tech Valley High School -- "I wish I were a high school student today. I would have given anything to get into a school like this." -- and talked about his philanthropy, "I'd prefer being the nice guy to people, and being thought of that way, much more than starting Apple." And he appeared on a panel at GlobalFoundries about the future of this region, "There's something really big going on here in Tech Valley." One of the current obstacles to growing the tech scene here, as identified by members of that panel discussion at GloFo: lack of a presence from large venture capital firms. Said Peter Schultz, one of the co-inventors of fiber optics: "I'm going to tell you this is just the beginning. It is not time to pat yourself on the back. There are a lot more things that have to be built to be able to make this thing really go." [Troy Record] [News10] [Daily Gazette] [Daily Gazette] [TU] [YNN]

Andrew Cuomo delivered a "stemwinder" to a crowd in Charlotte for the Democratic National Convention, and "sounded unmistakably like a man with ambitions well beyond Albany." The governor was at the convention for just one day, and otherwise kept a low profile -- a move that's parsed for potential presidential run implications. [NYT] [State of Politics] [TU]

Among the ways candidates tried to differentiate themselves in the field of eight for the 109th Assembly seat (to succeed Jack McEneny) at last night's forum: calling for an Albany/Lake Placid Olympic bid, calling for an outright ban on fracking, not supporting Sheldon Silver. With the crowded field, the candidates only got to answer a few questions. [TU] [WNYT]

Among the ways the four Democratic candidates for the 110th Assembly are trying to differentiate themselves: state legislature experience, lack of legislature experience, support for MMA, playing baseball with Mookie Wilson. [TU]

"People with knowledge" say the state ethics panel -- JCOPE -- has narrowed it focus on the Vito Lopez situation to the alleged sexual harassment by Lopez, and will not look into the actions of Sheldon Silver and the settlement reached with Lopez's accusers. [NYT]

Mathew Tully -- co-founder of the Tully Rinckey law firm in Troy -- was awarded a Purple Heart for being wounded during an attack in Afghanistan. Tully is serving with National Guard as a lieutenant colonel. [Troy Record] [Spotlight]

Among the cost-cutting measures floated for the Albany County DAs office by challenger Lee Kindlon: less travel, more Subway meal deals. Also: Kindlon and Soares and touting dueling labor endorsements. [TU] [TU]

Prominent topic at a candidate forum for the 43rd state Senate seat (currently held by Roy McDonald): the economy and taxes. Not there: McDonald's challenger for the Republican nomination, Kathy Marchione, though the two will meet at debate in Troy next Tuesday. [Saratogian] [Troy Record]

Rensselaer's police chief says he's moving to fire the officer arrested for alleged DWI after a wreck in Troy Wednesday night. [Troy Record] [Fox23]

Four teens have been charged with burning down a historic farmhouse in East Greenbush. Police say they fire was started as a prank. EGPD says neighbors identified the teens. The house may have dated to the 18th century. [Troy Record] [YNN] [WNYT] [TU]

Troy's city council approved measure that requires property owners to remove or cover up graffiti within seven days of being notified of its existence by the city. [Fox23]

Dispute in Troy: whether the city should for pay for the repair of car hit by a police vehicle responding to a call. (Question: where's the insurance in this situation?) [Troy Record]

At issue in Glenville: whether you can drive on a bike path that exists as a road on paper. [Daily Gazette]

The long running contract fight between the Desmond and the union that reps many of its employees could be close to an end (unless it's not). [TU]

A group of town supervisors in the Southern Tier sent a letter to Andrew Cuomo urging him to push the DEC toward starting permitting process for fracking. [TU]

Coeymans police say a man was killed Thursday when a tree fell on him. [TU]

The Capital Region's Catholic school have an enrollment equivalent to seventh largest school district in the area. [TU]

The director of Skidmore's Tang Museum has taken a job at UC-Santa Cruz, according to a press release from the California school. [Saratogian]