All Over Albany

Home demolished after fatal fire, Hoosick Falls PFOA documents headed to Congress, another horse dies at Saratoga, a gift of tartan granite

Schenectady home razed
The remains of a Mont Pleasant home destroyed in a deadly fire this week were demolished on Wednesday. Family and neighbors mourned the loss of a six-year-old girl and a man with disabilities who lived in the house. [Gazette]

Delay on Crude oil heating plant approval
A State Supreme Court Ruling gives the DEC an indefinite extension on whether to approve a crude oil heating plant at the Port of Albany.[TU]

PFOA
New test results show seven of 20 wells in Petersburgh tested positive for PFOA contamination. Meanwhile, New York is set to begin sending documents on PFOA contamination in the area to Congress.[TU][TU]

Downtown dorm for RPI
RPI is considering a downtown Troy dorm to help manage an enrollment surge -- more than 1,700 incoming freshman, as opposed to around 1,300 in years past. [TU]

Saint Peter's fires beloved doctor
An Altamont doctor and her patients are trying to figure out why she was let go by Saint Peter's Health Partners. [TU]

Brown's Beach still closed
Browns Beach will remain closed while the Department of Health determines what is causing the EColi problem in the water. Officials say a recent sewage spill was too far away to cause the contamination and say it could be caused by animal wast, a failed septic system at a private residence or dumping of waste from boats. [TU][Gazette]

Zombie properties
Eric Schneiderman has announced $13 million in new grant money available to help local governments battle zombie properties. [TU]

Two horses dead at Saratoga
The racing season has yet to officially begin, but two horses have died since May at the Saratoga Racecourse. [WNYT]

Stolen public utility truck
Police are looking for the person who stole a Troy public utilities truck on Wednesday, took it for a joy ride and left it in Watervliet. [Record]

State Street closed in Schenectady
State Street between Nott Terrace and Erie Boulevard inSchenectady will be closed to westbound traffic through Friday. [Gazette]

The Fitz
A huge DEC vessel called The Fitz, that can detect radiation and chemical threats, docked in Albany on Wednesday.[WNYT]

A gift of tartan granite
A California stone carver has brought NY a gift -- a carved tartan stone made of the same granite as the NYS Capitol. [TU]

License plates you're not allowed to have
The Times Union published the DMV's list of license plates you're not allowed to have in New York State.[TU]

Happening today

Saratoga County Fair
The Saratoga County Fair continues at the fairgrounds in Ballston Spa. This is the 175th year for the fair. Admission is $12 / season ticket is $40 / shorter than 52 inches is free / active military free with ID card / unlimited ride wristband is $20

A Night with Janis Joplin
Today-Sunday: Capital Rep continues its production of A Night with Janis Joplin. Blurbage: "A Night with Janis Joplin is a musical journey celebrating Janis and her biggest musical influences - trailblazers like Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Odetta, Nina Simone and Bessie Smith - who inspired one of Rock 'n' Roll's greatest legends." Tuesday-Sunday various times - $25 and up

Williamstown Theatre Festival
Today-Sunday: The Williamstown Theatre Festival's season continues with The Chinese Room on the Nikos Stage (it runs through July 23). And the new comedy Romance Novels for Dummies started on the main stage Wednesday (it runs through July 31). various times -- $40 and up

Park Playhouse
Today-Saturday: The Park Playhouse in Albany's Washington Park continues its production of Chicago. (It runs through July 30). Tuesday-Saturday 8 pm -- free on the lawn / reserve tickets $16 and up

Bright Forest at Ten Broeck Mansion
Thursday: Bright Forest Storytelling will be at the Ten Broeck Mansion in Albany for a night of family-friendly stories in the mansion's gardens (it'll be inside if there's rain). Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Thursday 7 pm -- free

NYC Ballet
The NYC Ballet returns to SPAC, where it will be performing through July 30. This week's performances include George Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream and the annual ballet gala this coming Saturday. Wednesday-Saturday various times -- $35 and up

NYS Writers Institute at Skidmore
The public reading series at Skidmore continues: Novelist Russell Banks (Cloudsplitter, Rule Of The Bone, The Sweet Hereafter) and poet Chase Twichell (Horses Where The Answers Should Have Been). 8 pm in the Davis Auditorium of Skidmore's Palamountain Hall -- free

Alive at Five
Bloc Party at Alive at Five
Alt rock. With: Titanics. 5 pm -- free

More Music

Kele Okereke at The Hollow
Bloc Party frontman in a solo after-Alive at Five show. Part of the Art Funds Art series, which raises money for local LGBTQ artist of color. With: bell's roar. 9 pm -- $12 ahead / $15 at the door

The Struts at Upstate Concert Hall
Rock. With: Dorothy. 8 pm -- $10.27 ahead / $12 day of

Norah Jones at Brewery Ommegang
With: The Preservation Hall Jazz Band. 7 pm -- $55 ahead / $65 day of

Freakwater at The Low Beat
Alt-country. With: Drunken Prayer. 8 pm -- $12