All Over Albany

Second round of PFOA hearings, plea deal for alleged driver in Porreca killing, Halfmoon travel agent allegedly stole from clients

PFOA Hearing
The second round of legislative hearings on the Hoosick Falls PFOA contamination crisis ran for about 12 hours on Wednesday, and most of the Hoosick Falls residents that attended were not able to speak. The hearings were marked by heated exchanges and state officials continued to blame the EPA for confusion on how to handle the contamination crisis. The former DOH head of Environmental Health testified on Wednesday that the department had a tendency to downplay health risks. [TU][WNYT]pTWCN][NYT][TU]

Meanwhile the EPA has nominated Hoosick Falls as a Superfund site
and Andrew Cuomo is calling on the EPA to institute new water quality protection regulations and eliminate a loophole that doesn't require the testing of public water systems for contaminants. [TU][TWCN][

Plea deal in Porecca case
Sean Moreland, the alleged getaway driver in the murder of Jacquelyn Porreca agreed to a plea deal on Thursday morning that comes with a 2 to 6 year sentence. [TU]

Schenectady shooting
Schenectady police are investigating a shooting on Emmett Street overnight that sent one victim to Ellis Hospital. [WNYT]

Travel agent allegedly defrauded clients
A Halfmoon travel agent has been arrested for allegedly defrauding more than 40 clients of thousands of dollars. [Saratogian]

Albany trash fees
An Albany Common Councilman is suggesting that single family homes should be subjected to the same trash fee as small apartment buildings. [TU+]

Saratoga Car Break-ins
Police believe a recent rash of car break-ins in Saratoga Springs is connected to an organized group known as the Felony Lane Gang, who steal from the cars and then use cards and id to make bank withdrawals and commit identity theft. [WNYT]

Nelson Ave Bridge
After public outcry over its possible closing, the DOT has announced that the Nelson Avenue Bridge in Saratoga Springs will remain open.

South end traffic study
The Port of Albany will hire an outside firm to do a traffic study in Albany's South End, in an effort to begin to address some of the concerns of South End residents. [TU]

Officers won't be charged in woodchuck killing
The DEC has decided to drop the probe of two Rensselaer police officers with the July killing of a woodchuck at Frear Park Golf Course, but the pair face a disciplinary hearing next week. The pair are alleged to have chased the animal through the golf course, running it over. [TU]

Route 2 crashes
A local couple's up close look at the accidents on Route 2 in Latham. [TU+]

Help for ITT students
A handful of local colleges are working to try to help about 150 local students who were displaced but the abrupt closure of ITT Technical Institute earlier this week. [TU+]

SCCC
Schenectady County Community college is seeking to boost its dropping enrollment with a mentorship program and a a five year plan.[Gazette]

Spa City parking deck
The Saratoga Springs City Council is considering building allowing another parking deck
as a way to entice a firm with offices in the city to boost jobs there. [Gazette]

Shopping plaza set for demolition
The former Curry Road Plaza in Rotterdam will come down today to make way for a residential complex.[TU]

Victoria pool
The Victoria Pool in Saratoga Spa State Park will be open for the next two weekends. [Gazette]

Figs
What it takes to grow a good fig in Upstate NY (and the happiest picture ever). [Gazette]

Boy meets Pope
Landon LaChance, a local boy battling a degenerative disease, met Pope Francis this weekend. [TWCN]

Happening today

Siona Benjamin
Artist Siona Benjamin will be at the Opalka Gallery on the Sage Albany campus for a talk about her work. An exhibit of Benjamin's work, Beyond Borders, is currently on display there through October 9. "Inspired by traditions as diverse as Indian miniature painting, Byzantine icons, illuminated manuscripts, and American Pop Art, she combines the imagery of her past with the role she plays in America today, making a mosaic that includes cultural, religious, and feminist narratives." Thursday 5 pm -- free

The Albany Aid Campaign for Nijmegen 1947
The Albany Institute is hosting a screening of a "long-lost" 11-minute film about the efforts of people in Albany to aid the Dutch city of Nijmegen following WWII. Anja Adriaans, founder and chair the Albany-Nijmegen Friendship, will be there to present the film. Thursday 6 pm -- free

Up, outside
The Deja View series of outdoor movies in downtown Albany's Tricentennial Park will be showing Up. Bring chairs or a blanket. Thursday 7:45 pm -- free

Spock
The Madison will be showing For the Love of Spock, a new documentary about Leonard Nimoy. 7 pm -- $10 / students and seniors $8

Josephine Baker
The Murder, Music and Morals series at The Madison will be showing the 1934 film Zou-Zou, starring Josephine Baker. Thursday 7 pm -- $10

Heart + Joan Jett + Cheap Trick at SPAC
Triple bill. 6:30 pm -- $25.25 and up