All Over Albany

Suspicious package scares prompt concern, Skelos sentenced, Faso happy with Trump endorsement, $1 million East Greenbush Powerball winner

Suspicious packages
+A suspicious package sent to Andrew Cuomo turned out to be just a thumb drive with material from the alt-right group, the Proud Boys. The package raised suspicion early on because of pipe bombs sent in recent days to George Soros, the Clintons, Barack Obama and today, Joe Biden. [TU]

+A suspicious package found on Wednesday at the Albany JCC on Wednesday was later determined to be a practical joke, but Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple says the events of recent days have him concerned about copycat crimes. [TU][WNYT]

Skelos sentence
Former Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos was sentenced on Wednesday to four years and three months in prison for
bribery, extortion and conspiracy. Skelos' Son, Adam Skelos, was sentenced to four years in prison. Prior to sentencing, the elder Skelos told the court "I truly am remorseful, your honor," he said. "I have disappointed so many, and that's what troubles me. I'll never get over that."[Gazette][Spectrum][TU][NYT]

Upstate issues
Critics are concerned that the gubernatorial debate this week was very light on Upstate issues. [Spectrum]

Faso
+Congressman John Faso, who received an endorsement this week via Twitter by Donald Trump, said he is happy to have the presidents support.[Daily Freeman]

+Faso was the only New York legislator at the White House for the signing of an anti-opioid bill last week.[TU]

Missing woman found dead
The Niskayuna woman missing since October 12 was found dead in her car on Wednesday, behind a vacant Colonie business. [Gazette][TU]

Distraction robberies investigated
Police are investigating a pair of North Greenbush robberies in which burglars distracted the homeowners by telling them they may be affected by a broken pipe in the neighborhood. [Spectrum]

Colonie fire
An overnight fire destroyed a single family home on Island View Road in Colonie. [WNYT]

Clifton Park hit and run
State police are asking for the public's help in the search for a red Kia they believe was involved in a hit and run crash on Moe Road on Wednesday afternoon. [TU]

Schoharie limo crash
A family coping with the loss of two brothers.[TU]

Lobbying $
According to records released by New York State's Joint Commission on Public Ethics, nearly $130 million was spent lobbying state and local government in New York during the first six months of the year.[TU]

Opioids
Nine Capital Region hospitals are joining a group of 17 New York State hospitals in a pilot program to reduce the use of opioids in emergency departments. [TU]

Putting your money where your values are
Chris Churchill on George Soros, the Dinosaur Barbecue, and the hard choices that come with aligning our spending and our values. [TU]

Neal Estano
"We get caught up in so many little things during the day that frustrate us anger us and in the end they really aren't that important," WNYT meteorologist Neal Estano expressing gratitude for a second chance at life after being seriously injured in a car accident earlier this week. [Neal Estano, FB][TU]

$1 million
An East Greenbush Stewart's sold a $1 million winning Powerball ticket[News 10]
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Stuff going on today

Spooky

Capitol Hauntings
Today-Saturday: The popular Capitol Hauntings tours have started up for the season at the state Capitol. "The tour lasts about an hour, but the chilling, ghostly tales might haunt you forever." The tours have been extended through November 2. Monday-Friday 1 pm and 5:30 pm / Saturday 1 pm -- free (but you must make a reservation and they fill up)

Historic Haunted Pub Crawl
Thursday: Historic Albany Foundation, Ten Broeck Mansion, and The Original Albany Ghost Tour have joined up for a series of historic haunted pub crawls. It starts with a ghost tour of the Ten Broeck Mansion and then heads to a trio of downtown pubs with stories along the way. Tuesday and Thursday 5:30 pm, 6:15 pm, 7 pm -- $25

Murder at Cherry Hill
Today-Saturday: Historic Cherry Hill in Albany is hosting "A Titillatingly Creepy Tour" based on the story of the infamous 1827 murder there. Wednesday-Saturday various times -- $18 (advance ticket required)

Film

Revealing Shorts
Thursday: Proctors is hosting the Revealing Shorts Film Festival. "Revealing Shorts is a celebration of the short movie form with an emphasis on experimental, wild and perhaps a little bit weird films - and by association - filmmakers. Come out to play and let your freaky film flag fly." It's organized by Adam Van Buren, creator Empire State Queens. Thursday 6:30 pm -- $9 / $6 students and seniors

A Bronx Tale

Today-Sunday: A production of A Bronx Tale is at Proctors. The musical is based on the one-man show by Chazz Palminteri. Tuesday-Sunday various times -- $25 and up

Arts and sciences

Stephen Lang
Thursday: Actor Stephen Lang will be receiving the 2018 Empire State Archives and History Award from the New York State Archives Partnership Trust at the State Education Building. "The public is invited to hear Lang speak about his career as an actor and history enthusiast, interviewed by friend and nationally prominent Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer." Thursday 7:30 pm -- $25 / $15 students and veterans

Sound cancelation
Thursday: Artist Ghislaine Leung will be at EMPAC talk about her work. "During her EMPAC production residency, artist Ghislaine Leung is experimenting with spatial audio for her upcoming exhibition at London's Chisenhale Gallery. For this talk, Leung is joined by EMPAC's lead audio engineer Todd Vos to discuss the technical and aesthetic considerations of 'sound cancelation.' The method of 'active sound cancellation' is common in the design of noise-cancelling headphones in order to eliminate unwanted environmental sounds. Leung is translating this technology into an architectural installation to experiment with its potential to produce an as yet unknown reality of sound." Thursday 7 pm -- free

Stuart Milk
Thursday: Stuart Milk -- nephew of Harvey Milk -- will be at UAlbany for a talk. He's the co-founder and executive chair of the Harvey Milk Foundation. "As a passionate advocate of civil rights Stuart has supported local, regional and national human rights in over sixty nations on six continents." Thursday 6 pm -- free (registration required)

Music

Thursday: Vusi Mahlasela at The Egg
"Known simply as 'The Voice' in his home country of South Africa, singer, songwriter, guitarist, and poet Vusi Mahlasela and his band will perform 'Township'-an uplifting special tribute to the music of Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Dorothy Masuka, and Brenda Fassie-and celebrating the 100th birthday of global peacemaker Nelson Mandela and nearly 25 years of freedom from apartheid." A fundraiser for the radio station WOOC. Thursday 7:30 pm -- $29.50

Thursday: Ottmar Liebert & Luna Negra at Cohoes Music Hall
Spanish-influenced guitar. 8 pm -- $35 and up

Thursday:
Fred Eaglesmith & Tif Ginn at Caffe Lena
Alt-country. 7 pm -- $22

Thursday: A Hip Hop Halloween at Lucky Strike Jupiter Hall
Hosted by Craig Earle (DJ TGIF). 7 pm -- $15 ahead / $20 day of

Thursday: Girl Blue + Jimi Woodul at Savoy Taproom
Indie pop rock soul. With: Stephen Chopek. 9:30 pm -- no cover