All Over Albany

50 Hudson demolition begins, EPA/DEC hear Ezra Prentice pollution concerns, Cuomo supports privatizing NYRA with regulations, Schenectady smiles

50 Hudson Ave
The building at 50 Hudson Ave began to collapse on Thursday morning as crews prepared to demolish it. It appears that 48 Hudson was not damaged. Demolition continues today. [TU][News 10]

Ezra Prentice pollution
Representatives from the EPA and DEC met with residents from Albany's Ezra Prentice housing complex -- which is located in a heavy industrial area -- to listen to their concerns about mounting health problems stemming from exposure to train and diesel emissions. Earlier this week the EPA sent a notice of violation to the nearby Global Partnersfor exceeding emissions standards at the Port of Albany crude oil terminal. The DEC says it plans to make $500,000 available for air monitoring and diesel emissions in the area of the Ezra Prentice apartment complex.
[TU][TU][TWCN]

Probation for priest in peeping case
An Episcopal priest from Delmar was sentenced Wednesday to three years probation and ordered to pay $255 in fines for trying to film a woman who was changing clothes in a Salvation Army store last year. [TU][News 10]

Cuomo on privatizing NYRA
Andrew Cuomo said Wednesday that he supports re-pritization of NYRA, but only with some state regulation. Meanwhile, Cuomo's office has reportedly contacted the activist group pushing privatization, asking them to "lighten up." [TWCN][TU][Saratogian]

APD officer arrested
The Albany police officer accused of using excessive force on a teen girl at Saint Anne's Institute has been arrested after video showed him grabbing the girl by the jaw and pushing her to the ground. [TWCN]

Lake George boating trial moved
The trial of Alexander West, the man charged with driving the boat in the crash that killed an 8 year old girl on Lake George last month, has been transferred from Lake George Town Court to Warren County Court -- a step toward involving a grand jury. [Gazette]

(518) 457-5181 and (518) 457-0578
Phone scammers claiming to be from the NYS Tax Department are masking their phone numbers with numbers of the department's fraud hotline. [TU]

Missing adults found
A pair of elderly people with demential who wandered away from a group home setting in Moreau on Wednesday were found by police near the Canadian border early Thursday morning. [WNYT]

Electric City pep rally
Schenectady smiled on Wednesday.[Gazette[

Happening today

Deja View
Thursday: A new outdoor movie series -- Deja View -- starts in downtown Albany's Tricentennial Park. (It was scheduled to start last week, but the start was pushed back because of weather.) It will be showing movies there each Thursday through September 8. "Patrons are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets to view the movie..." This week's film: Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Thursday 7:45 pm -- free

Altamont Fair

Today-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
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.) Today-Saturday 7:30 pm -- free on the lawn / reserve tickets $16 and up

Williamstown Theatre Festival
Today-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

Philadelphia Orchestra
This is the last week of the Philadelphia Orchestra's summer stay at SPAC.
Thursday: Superstar opera singer Renee Fleming
$40 and up

The Track
It's the fourth full week of the season at the Saratoga Race Course. Monday is a gate-giveaway day: a Saratoga Race Course beach towel.