All Over Albany

Albany City Court judge resigns, sentencing in Schenectady basement burial case, question about votes necessary for Palace sale

Albany City Court judge resigning after misconduct investigation
Albany City Court judge Thomas Keefe will resign his judgeship at the end of September as part of stipulation with the state Commission of Judicial Conduct. (His term was to run through 2022.) Keefe had been under investigation since 2013 after a string of complaints against him. In his resignation letter, Keefe acknowledged misconduct in four of the allegations. [SCJC] [TU] [News10]

Sentencing in Schenectady basement burial case
Harold Ortiz -- who pleaded guilty to killing one person, and attacking another with a shovel, and then buried them both beneath rubble in Union Street basement -- was sentenced to 30 years to life in prison. Said Vanessa Washington -- the sister of Valerie Washington, who was killed -- at the sentencing: "The murder of my sister has left a deep hole in our souls..." [TU] [Daily Gazette]

Sentencing in Schenectady shooting death
The man convicted of shooting LaSean Gause last summer on Albany Street while firing into a crowd -- prosecutors say Gause was a bystander in a dispute that didn't involve him -- was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. [Daily Gazette]

Heimroth case
The jury is now deliberating in the trial of Jacob Heimroth for his alleged involvement in the beating death of Allen and Maria Lockrow in Lansingburgh in 2014. The jury started deliberating Monday afternoon after closing arguments and had several questions. [TU] [Troy Record] [TWCN]

Former Watervliet assistant police chief sentenced
Mark Fiet, a former Watervliet assistant police chief, was sentenced to six months in jail for stealing more than $50k from a funeral home in the city where he worked. The judge in the case said Fiet got a reduced sentence because of a heart condition. [TU] [WNYT]

Halfmoon GE settlement
Halfmoon has reached a $5.6 million settlement with GE in the fight over costs the town incurred for arranging an alternate drinking water supply because of PCB contamination of the Hudson River. [Daily Gazette]

Next SUNY chancellor
SUNY has hired an executive search firm on a contract worth up to $207,500 to help in the search for the next SUNY chancellor. [Biz Review]

Potential Palace sale
A memo from Albany's corporation counsel has called into question whether a 3/4 majority of the Common Council is needed to approve a sale of the Palace Theatre to the non-profit that runs the venue. [TU+]

1 Monument Square
One of the ideas circulating for 1 Monument Square in Troy: The city selling the site to a developer for less money in return for a new city hall being built there. [Troy Record]

Saratoga Arms Fair
The organizer of the Saratoga Arms Fair has enlisted the help of Kathy Marchione in his effort to continue the gun show at the Saratoga City Center. [Saratogian]

Stealing signs
Robert Marini says he's had five Trump signs stolen from his Colonie lawn this year -- so the latest version has been encircled with barbed wire. [TU]

Moo Plans
Two UAlbany grads have started an alternate meal plan service for college students that purchases food from local restaurants. [TU+]

Grace Claxton
UAlbany's Grace Claxton advanced to the semifinals of the 400m hurdles at the Olympics after finishing third in her heat. [TU] [America East]

Overpass as can opener
What happened when a tractor trailer was too tall for the Crane Street overpass in Schenectady. [Daily Gazette]

Nice people
They're out there. [TU]

Stuff going on today

Altamont Fair
Tuesday-Sunday: The Altamont Fair -- the county fair Albany, Schenectady, and Greene counties -- is at the fairgrounds in Altamont. This is its 123rd year. The one-price admission includes "admission, parking, music, circus and unlimited rides shows." Tuesday-Sunday -- $15 (Tuesday and Wednesday) and $17 (Thursday thru Sunday)

Park Playhouse
Tuesday: The Park Playhouse in Albany's Washington Park continues its production of The Little Mermaid, adapted from the Disney film. (It runs through August 27.) Tuesday-Saturday 7:30 pm -- free on the lawn / reserve tickets $16 and up

Williamstown Theatre Festival
Tuesday-Sunday: The Williamstown Theatre Festival's production of Wendy Wasserstein's An American Daughter continues on the main stage. (It runs through August 21.) And WTF's production of And No More Shall We Part, starring Jane Kaczmarek and Alfred Molina, continues on the Nikos Stage. (It runs through August 21.) various times -- $40 and up

Nitty Gritty
The Nitty Gritty Poetry Slam is back at The Low Beat. Tuesday 7 pm -- free admission