Items tagged with 'troy'
Something stinks on the backstretch, workers overcome by fumes, schools big into bilingual, scholarship participation yanked over scuffling football coach, paying more at the dollar store
As if shoveling horse manure all day wasn't bad enough, the New York State Department of Labor says many backstretch workers at The Track are not only not getting paid overtime, they're not even making minimum wage. The labor department says horse trainers, who employ the backstretch workers, are engaged in "widespread violations labor law." [TU]
Two workers for Precision Industrial Maintenance in Schenectady were overcome by toxic fumes yesterday when they stepped inside a tanker truck used to collect raw sewage. Both were taken to the hospital in critical condition. Precision was cited for violating workplace safety rules on a different project earlier this year. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
A plan to turn an apartment building in Troy's Little Italy neighborhood into housing for homeless people with mental illnesses is catching flak from residents of the area. They say they're worried the building could hold back the neighborhood's revitalization. [TU]
Two crime reports from locations you don't normally see them from: a stabbing in Niskayuna and shots fired in Glenmont. [CBS6] [TU]
Checking out the Chicago-style dogs at Nipper's
There's a hot dog in there somewhere.
We'd heard about the Chicago-style hot dogs at Nipper's in Troy. But, a hot dog's a hot dog, right?
Well, we've never had a hot dog like this before.
Colonel John wins Travers, Democratic candidates for McNulty's nod heads, local sewer systems need help, California produce shipments to start soon, Round Lake protects its organ
Colonel John won the Travers this past weekend, beating out Mambo in Seattle by a nose. The canoe in the infield pond has already been painted the colors of Colonel John's silks, green and white. Almost 41,000 people showed up for the Travers this year, and bet almost $8.3 million (the total with off-track betting $37 million). [TU] [Saratogian] [CBS6]
The Saratoga PD had double the normal number of cops on the street Saturday night to handle the post-Travers crowd, in fine form after 12 hours of drinking. One guy pushed a police horse several times before being arrested for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. [Daily Gazette]
The Democratic candidates for the 21st Congressional District (McNulty's seat) agreed on many topics last night at a debate: opposition to off-shore drilling, investment in renewable energy, sign stealing is bad. They disagreed on: a carbon tax, whether Tonko supported energy deregulation, whether Tracey Brooks was a lobbyist. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
The US Olympic synchronized swimming team, co-captained by Troy's Kim Probst, finished fifth in Beijing. [Troy Record]
Troy prostitution sting, local synchro swimmer competing today at the Olympics, on the trail of a campaign sign thief, Mr. Subb goes upscale
The Troy police busted 16 men this week during what they've described as an undercover prostitution "reverse-sting." As you might expect, there were some complaints from the busted. One guy says he didn't actually ask the undercover policewoman for, um, service (police say the same guy was arrested on the same charges last year). And another says he had a stick stuck up his nose during the arrest. [TU] [Troy Record]
After having their Schenectady store broken into eight times over three years, the owners of Funn Electronics and Keys World say they're moving back to Brooklyn, where they didn't have any trouble. They say they might stay if the city would allow them to install a metal gate that could be pulled down over the business while it's closed -- but the city doesn't allow them. [Daily Gazette]
Troy native Kim Probst is competing in synchronized swimming today at the Olympics. She's co-captain of the US team. [Troy Record]
Final tally on budget cuts, Troy City Hall moving, Schenectady HS pegged as dangerous, cemetery ordered to bury woman in five days, visiting frat brothers may or may not have peed on couch
The final tally on the state budget cuts made by the Legislature for this year: $427 million. Combined with the $630 million already cut by David Paterson, the state budget is now $120.9 billion -- that's about $1 billion from where it started. [TU]
The Troy City Council has approved the plan to lease the Verizon Building as a replacement city hall (the current city hall is slated to be torn down for a waterfront park). Troy could be moving its offices by the end of the year, pending a study of how its new digs should be arranged. [TU] [Troy Record]
The state Ed Department has tagged Schenectady High School as "persistently dangerous." The Schenectady school school president called the label "an outrage" and said the methodology used is flawed. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
Legislature cuts $1 billion, many in Rensselaer didn't have flood insurance, rider dies at The Track, Troy official's ability to spell questioned, adults argue over basketball hoop, OMG! Brian Stratton loves texting
The state legislature has agreed to cut about $1 billion from the state budget over the next two years, including a little more than $400 million from this year's budget. That falls short of David Paterson's $600 million goal. The cuts include $50 million in member items (that would be pork). [TU]
Paterson will be speaking at the Democratic National Convention next week in Denver. [NYT]
FEMA maps indicate that most of the City of Rensselaer is in a flood zone, but only six of the 60 homes and business affected by the recent flooding have flood insurance. One resident says no one told them they were in a flood zone. [WNYT]
An exercise rider at The Track died yesterday after being thrown from a horse Monday. [Saratogian]
Local colleges and universities are facing a housing crunch. Students are being forced to live in lounges and tripled up in rooms intended for doubles. [TU]
Legislature back for special session, Clifton Park residents want dog park to themselves, charter high school opens, woman wins $1 million from scratch-off, Crazy Legs buffaloed in hot dog eating contest
The State Legislature is back today for its special "holy moly, the state is going broke" session. There isn't a whole lot of consensus about how to make cuts, though. [TU]
The Route 9P bridge that goes over Saratoga Lake has been narrowed to one lane after inspectors found that two of the bridge's floor beams had been falling apart. Repairs are expected to take two weeks. [TU]
Judging from the comments made at a public hearing last night, it sounds like Clifton Park residents aren't so keen about sharing their dog park with people not from Clifton Park. [Daily Gazette]
The City of Troy would like turn the site of the Rensselaer Iron Works, which burned down earlier this year, into a park. It would use pieces of the old iron works in the landscape and call the place Artifact Park. The city needs about $300,000 from the state to make it happen. [TU]
The Green Tech Charter School opened this week in Albany. Green Tech is an all-boys, college prep school. It's only the nation's third all-boys charter school. [TU]
Soares says DWIs should lead to Alive at Five re-evaluation, charity shipments ripped off, CDTA has big plans for Schenectady, more people deciding pet care too expensive, Knicks going to Skidmore, how Marylou exercises
David Soares says Albany should "re-evaluate" the Alive at Five events after a bunch of people were arrested for DWI following last week's event. Thirty-two people were arrested during a four hour sweep following the Thursday night concert. A state police deputy says that's the highest number of arrests he can remember in such a short period of time. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
The CEO of Ellis Hospital says his org wasn't prepared for St. Clare's to be shut down two months ago. The lack of readiness has led to long waits in Ellis' emergency department. [Daily Gazette]
Three men have been charged with ripping off charity shipments from the Target in Wilton that were intended for volunteer fire companies and charitable organizations. [Daily Gazette]
CDTA says it has a plan to revamp service in Schenectady pretty much all ready to go, but it needs about $3 million from the state to make it happen. The transit org figures the expanded service will increase ridership about 40 percent. [TU]
Indigo organic salon
No harsh chemicals or smelly stuff allowed.
So last weekend at the Farmer's Market in Troy, we met a woman who was sporting a chic new hairstyle. Always curious, we asked where she'd gotten her new look.
"An organic salon called Indigo."
A what? Organic salon? What is that ?
We had to know more. So we dropped in on Kathe Anzola, the owner of Indigo. It's a peaceful, airy little place on River Street.
She cleared things up for us.
Sewer system overloaded, trans-fat ban detailed, two kids use knife to rob Crossgates kiosk, light rail for Capital Region?
The flooding in Albany last week was just a matter of the city's sewer system running out of capacity. Parts of the system date back to the Civil War. Also: the flooding on South Pearl was a secondary effect of the Hackett Blvd back-up. [TU]
Albany County officials have announced that all restaurant food in the county will have to be trans-fat free starting January 1. And by June 2009 all desserts and baked goods will have to be, as well. The ban has some critics calling it an expansion of the "nanny" state. The trans-fat ban was approved in 2007, but the rules were only announced last Friday. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
The state Senate has passed a four percent cap on yearly property taxes increases. David Paterson supports the cap, but Democrats in the Assembly aren't fans. [TU]
A foundation says New York State has the nation's second-highest tax burden. [Biz Review]
Harry Tutunjian has called a special meeting of the Troy City Council to discuss a plan to lease the Verizon Building for use as city hall. (The current city hall is slated to be knocked down.) One city councilman says the mayor's moving way too fast. [TU] [Troy Record]
Albany under water in two different ways, who knows how much mercury, AMC gets money for merging computers and humans, it's like Trenton
Jerry Jennings says the City of Albany may have to lay off people now that it won't be getting that $5.5 million state aid payment (and $11 million in years after). Richard Conti, the Common Council president pro temp, says big tax increase may also be necessary. The city's projected budget deficit for 2009 is more than $14 million. [TU]
Albany's projected budget shortfall won't make infrastructure improvements easy -- no matter how badly they might be needed. See yesterday's flooding, which turned the lower end of Hackett Blvd into a lake. "Too much rain -- in too short a time. It's an older system. This is what happens," said a water department employee to the TU. There were also reports of raw sewage backing up into yards. [AOA] [TU] [CapNew9]
A state Supreme Court judge has ruled that Saratoga Springs -- and former public works commissioner Tom McTygue -- violated the constitutional rights of two developers by blocking access to their land with a dump truck. Both compensatory and punitive damages could be awarded. The original building permit had been issued in 1997. The developers sold the land earlier this year and the new owners have started construction. [TU] [Saratogian]
Officials from the Lafarge Cement plant in Ravena said at a public forum last night that they don't know exactly how much mercury their plant is currently releasing into the environment. A 2004 review reported that the plant was New York State's single largest emitter of mercury. [TU]
New York State has the nation's highest closing costs for home sales. [Daily Gazette]
Carmen's without Carmen
Now we're hungry for sauteed plantains.
We stopped by Carmen's in South Troy the other day for a cubano and found out that Carmen Gonzalez has stepped back from the business. Randy Mellentine, who had been working with Carmen, has taken over operation of the restaurant.
Fall election picture coming into focus, Schenectady hopes to turn gas into savings, Saratoga cops take on hulk, Walgreen's not getting a warm welcome, million dollar horses
It looks like Albany County DA might face opposition in the November election, after all. County Republicans are working to have attorney Roger Cusick -- who ran against Soares in 2004 -- run on the Integrity Party line. The what? Republicans waited too long to put someone on their own line, so they had to create a new one, thus Integrity. [TU]
The field of Republican candidates for the 20th Congressional District (Kirsten Gillibrand's seat) has thinned. The petitions for Mike Rocque and John Wallace were tossed, leaving Sandy Treadwell as the sole Republican. [Daily Gazette]
Schenectady is looking to generate power from methane at its sewage treatment plant. It figures the generator could cover 30 percent of the plant's power needs and save the city $282,000 on its yearly electricity bill. The city's also looking to build a $20 million dollar Department of Services (plowing, etc.) building -- the old one is literally falling down. [Daily Gazette]
ALB says a decline in flights and passengers has put the airport more than a million dollars in the hole so far this year. [TU]
Three men from downstate have been charged with ripping off 45 catalytic converters from an auto dealership in Colonie. The converters contain expensive metals such as platinum. [TU]
It took eight Saratoga cops and a tasering to subdue a guy on Caroline Street early Sunday morning. An officer's hand was broken during the scuffle. [TU]
Walgreen's is looking to expand in the Capital Region, but it's facing some opposition. Its plan for a new store at Brandywine and State in Schenectady has been criticized as too "suburban" by city officials. And after hearing about the pharmacy giant's plan to open a new store in Lansigburgh, one resident there said "Tell Walgreens to shove it." [Daily Gazette] [Troy Record]
Boscov's has filed for Chapter 11 -- it doesn't look like either of the two local stores will be closing. [TU]
Two horses went for more than a million dollars last night at the Fasig Tiption Selected Yearling Sale. [Saratogian]
Who's buried where?, biz owners circle wagons over roundabout, food pantry demand up, first local Persian restaurant planned
A woman has sued the Albany Catholic Diocese because, she says, someone else was buried in the plot intended for her mother at St. Agnes Cemetery. Just last week, a different local cemetery was found negligent for burying six people in the wrong spot. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
A group of 30 business owners in Schenectady has gotten together to fight the roundabout planned for Erie Boulevard. They're worried the roundabout will make it hard people to reach their businesses. This is the same roundabout plan that an adult bookstore owner claimed was intended to kill of his store. [Daily Gazette]
A Schenectady food bank reports that more people are visiting the pantry in need of food. It says the increase in demand seems to be related to rising prices and the slowing economy. [CBS6]
A developer is planning a roof-top Persian restaurant on the top of a 5-story building at 1 State St. in Schenectady. The developer says it will be the Capital Region's first Persian restaurant. [Daily Gazette]
The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall's main chandelier is getting an overhaul. In addition to cleaning and rewiring, workers are also installing a motorized winch to raise and lower the 800-pound lighting fixture -- it previously had to be lowered by hand every time it was cleaned. [Troy Record]
Marylou Whitney's annual ball is tonight at the Canfield Casino in Saratoga. This year's theme is "A Night in Old Hong Kong." And, you guessed it, Whitney will be arriving in a rickshaw. [Saratogian]
No consensus on how to fix budget gap, NY officially in a recession, Amedore to run again, Guilderland principal put on leave, plastic bag ban proposed, parking harder to find in Saratoga
While most public officials seemed to applaud David Paterson for emphasizing the state's fiscal problems, there isn't consensus about how to cover the budget gap. [TU]
Lunching state workers don't seem too worried about the threat of layoffs. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
And one more thing about the state fiscal situation: Paterson's budget director says the state is officially in a recession. [Biz Review]
The chairman of the SUNY Board of Trustees says the state's financial problems are an opportunity for the university system to "secure a rational tuition policy." And by "rational tuition policy," he means being able to raise tuition regularly. [TU]
George Amedore has officially announced he's running for re-election in the 105th state Assembly District (the city of Schenectady and surrounding areas). The Extreme Makeover home builder, a Republican, replaced Paul Tonko, a Democrat, last year in a special election after Tonko left to head up NYSERDA. [TU]
The woman who accused Albany police of conducting a cavity search on her during a traffic stop earlier this year has been charged with lying about the incident. The woman's friends and family say the APD's story doesn't match up. [TU]
What's going on at Guilderland High School? First the "culture climate inquiry" that led to two popular teachers being re-assigned. And now the school's principal has been put on administrative leave after he allegedly made racist and homophobic comments. [TU]
An Albany Common Councilman has proposed a ban on plastic shopping bags in the city. [TU]
Security cameras recently installed at a soup kitchen in Troy have made some of the regulars nervous. The org that runs the kitchen says the cameras became necessary after attendees were seen passing something other than the salt at meals. [Troy Record]
The number of parking spaces in downtown Saratoga is decreasing -- and it doesn't look like a trend that's going to stop anytime soon. [Daily Gazette]
Three guys were arrested in Cohoes for trying to sell stolen manhole covers and sewer grids for "a lousy $54" at a scrap yard. [Troy Record]
Earthly Delights Natural Foods on Jay Street in Schenectady is closing. The store has been open since 1974. The owners say they can't compete with larger food stores. [Daily Gazette]
Spitzer aides accused of breaking ethics laws, gun buyback in Troy, Colonie EMTs upset about being grounded, lower gas prices if you pay cash
A report from the State Commission on Public Integrity says four former Eliot Spitzer aides violated state ethics laws while taking part in the "Let's get Joe Bruno by using the State Police to track his travel on state aircraft" plot. The report left the former governor off the hook, a move that some are calling a "whitewash." [NYT] [TU]
Dean Skelos, the new State Senate leader, was at The Track yesterday and said he gives his "commitment" that he would continue Joe Bruno's upstate economic development projects, including the proposed AMD chip fab at Luther Forest. [Daily Gazette]
The Albany gun buyback program is being expanded to Troy. (Earlier on AOA: The Albany gun buyback: buyer's remorse?) [TU]
The Troy police chief is in the running to head up the police force in Marco Island, Florida. [TU]
Colonie EMTs are protesting the town's decision to discontinue the medics' participation with State Police rescue flights around the region. Paula Mahan, the town supervisor, says Colonie needs the resources focused on the town. [WNYT]
Gas stations around the region are starting to offer lower prices to people who pay with cash. The stations says credit card transaction fees are taking a big bite out of their revenue. [Daily Gazette]
The head of the Metroplex Development Authority in Schenectady says the Big House night club project is back on track. [Daily Gazette]
Flooding from all the recent rain damaged the wood floor at the HVCC sports complex, probably closing the facility for the rest of the summer. HVCC is hoping it can save the floor -- a replacement would cost about $200,000. [Troy Record]
Wall Street trouble could lead to state shortfall, Schenectady to buy back guns, UAlbany student held in Iran, express train to NYC could be arriving soon
David Paterson issued another warning that the state will be facing a significant financial shortfall this year because of the slowing economy. Problems in the financial sector, and thus Wall Street, are expected to take a big bite out of state revenues. [TU]
Schenectady will use state money to fund a gun buyback program that will also offer reward money for tips leading the seizure of illegal guns. The buyback program will give people $100 for every illegal gun turned in. [Daily Gazette]
NYRA is still in bankruptcy and it sounds like it won't be emerging any time soon. The org was just granted its sixth temporary racing extension by the state. [Daily Gazette]
A UAlbany public health student and his brother -- both doctors -- have been detained in Iran. The brothers had been working on HIV/AIDS prevention programs in their home country. [TU]
An express train from the Rensselaer station to New York City could begin service this fall. [TU]
The rewards for info leading to the arrest of the people involved in two brutal cat killings in Troy are growing -- they're now at $4,500 and $2,000. [Troy Record]
According to a state report, second home buyers and "suburban gentrification" are pushing up home prices in Saratoga, Washington, Warren and Greene counties. The report also says the biggest real estate issue facing Troy, Schenectady and Albany are the cities' abandoned buildings. [TU]
An energy expert has told the City of Schenectady that it should dump its Crown Victoria police cruisers for more fuel-efficient cars. The Crown Vics currently in use get just 8 miles per gallon. [Daily Gazette]
What your neighbors are watching tonight
According to Netflix, here are the DVDs that people in the Capital Region are currently renting "much more than other Netflix members."
Albany
The 'Burbs
We were surprised, too. Tom Hanks and suburban hijinks from 1989.
Schenectady
24: Season 3
Jack Bauer kicks a heroin habit in, like, three hours.
Troy
Ghost Rider
Nicholas Cage is on fire. And he rides a motorcycle.
Saratoga Springs
The Ringer
Johnny Knoxville tries to rig the Special Olympics.
The top five for each city after the jump...
The 400 block
Check out this great entry into the TU's Best of the Capital Region video contest. It's kind of like a mini-documentary about the 400 block of River Street in Troy.
And did you see the winner of that TU contest? It's pretty funny.
Troy City Hall to be knocked down, Bruno says Spitzer was "nuts," something may be rotten at Colonie's dump, local unemployment rate up
A $6 million slab of Bruno bacon, probably the last of his pork, will be put towards a project that includes the demolition of Troy City Hall. A riverfront park and underground parking garage are slated for its place. There doesn't appear to be a solid plan for where the new city hall will go, but Harry Tutunjian and the city council -- who have been fighting over this for months -- are vowing to work together on the relocation. [TU] [Troy Record]
Joe Bruno will officially resign from his state Senate seat at midnight tonight. In an exit interview of sorts with the Troy Record, Bruno says he'll miss the power that comes with being one of the The Three Men in the Room. He also says that he "knew there was something wrong with" Eliot Spitzer after their first meeting, describing the former gov as "certifiably nuts." [Troy Record]
The Town of Colonie, the state DEC and the AG's office are investigating whether a trash hauler defrauded the town landfill of $15 million in revenue. The company has been accused of working with landfill employees to systematically underreport the amount of garbage it's been dumping. In May, a former employee reportedly complained that they had been fired for not going along with the alleged scheme. [Daily Gazette] [Troy Record]
The candidates for the 21st Congressional District (McNulty's seat) got together last night to talk about their positions on a range of topics. "Change" was apparently a popular topic. [Daily Gazette] [Daily Gazette]
The head of AMD, the company talking about building a massive chip fab plant at Luther Forest, stepped down yesterday. Hector Ruiz had been under pressure after the company reported losing more than $1 billion last quarter. The new CEO is reportedly a star engineer who's respected on Wall Street. AMD has still not officially committed to the Luther Forest project. [TU] [NYT]
The Capital Region unemployment rate hit 4.9 percent last month, that's a full point higher than the same period last year. [TU]
Don't you just hate it when your star artist neighbor won't quit bugging you about that 90 acre parcel of land in Rensselaerville until you sell it to him? [TU]
Campaign cash totals, cat abuse investigation, Thruway traffic down, Saratoga convention center expansion
The campaign fundraising filings are in for the last quarter. In the 21st Congressional District race (to replace Mike McNulty), Democrat Tracey Brooks was way out in front with more than $200,000 raised -- that's about $75k more than fellow Dem Paul Tonko's second-place total (though Tonko only recently officially jumped in the pool). In the race for the 20th (Kirsten Gillibrand's seat), Republican Sandy Treadwell raised $1 million -- about $900k of which he donated to his own campaign -- far outpacing the other Republicans running for the nomination. Gillibrand already has $2.8 million in the bank. [TU] [TU]
Troy police are looking into whether two grisly cat killings over the last month are connected. In the most recent incident, it appears that someone shot the cat with a nail gun. [CBS6] [Troy Record]
The Thruway Authority reports that traffic levels have taken historic drops over the first half of this year. The resulting drop in revenue could affect maintenance projects. [TU]
A $6 million slice of Bruno bacon will be put towards expanding the Saratoga Springs City Center. The expansion plan includes moving the front wall of the convention center closer to Broadway and then using the new space for conference rooms that will overlook the street. [Daily Gazette] [Saratogian]
The Albany County legislature is considering a voluntary four-day work week for non-essential county employees. [TU]
The guy who ran across the stage in a penis costume at the Saratoga Springs High School graduation has been sentenced to offering three apologies: to the students, to the principal, and to the public in the Saratogian. The paper's editor says she's willing to print the letter. [TU] [Saratogian]
The price of a ticket
Don't let this happen to you.
So you're having a great time at lunch or you're stuck in a meeting, but the time is almost up on that parking meter you popped your last quarter into. You're tempted to leave it to chance but if the parking gods aren't with you, what will it cost? A parking violation in the Capital Region can run you anywhere from $10 to around $200.
A few weeks ago we learned that an alternate parking violation in A-Town carries a $65 fine, even if you're caught switching sides a few minutes early. Most folks learn the price of a ticket the hard way. So we thought we'd try and save you a couple of bucks and a whole lot of trouble by posting the fines from Albany, Schenectady, Troy and Saratoga. Here's what we found:
Troy's Prospect Park
You're never too old to play in the park.
Here's to feeling like a kid again on merry-go-rounds, swings and slides, and then having a grown-up picnic underneath a lazy tree (bring Kool-Aid and leave the wine at home). If it's still not worth playing hooky for, maybe the view--watching everyone hustle about their normal harried lives--might sway you to freedom.
McDonald officially in, Lyme disease settling in here, financial trouble ahead for SPAC?, here she is -- Mrs. New York America
Republican Roy McDonald, currently an state assemblyman from Wilton, has officially jumped into the pool for Joe Bruno's state Senate seat -- with Bruno's support. And it looks like Tony Jordan, an attorney from Washington County, will be the Republican candidate for the seat McDonald's vacating. That race already has a Democrat -- Wilton councilman Ian McGaughey. [Daily Gazette] [TU]
A federal court rejected an appeal by Yassin Aref and Mohammed Hossain, the two members of an Albany mosque caught in the federal sting involving a fake plot to buy a shoulder-fired missile. [TU]
A state review of the Albany Police Department has concluded that there is "no evidence of systemic abuse of citizens' rights" by department. The review had come at the request of six Common Council members. [TU]
Lyme disease appears to be establishing itself in the Capital Region and north. [Daily Gazette]
SPAC officials are worried that financial troubles for Live Nation, the company that produces all the pop music concerts there, will end up hurting the venue. SPAC currently gets $1 million a year from Live Nation, but that contract is up next year and officials seem to think renewing the deal for the same amount will be tough. [Saratogian]
The Peerless Pool at Spa State Park still isn't ready to open. Wet weather has kept the pool's new surface from curing properly. Officials hope the pool will be able to open in a week or so. [Daily Gazette]
The new Troy Orchestra debuts tonight with a concert behind city hall. [Troy Record]
The new Mrs. New York America is Kerry Lyn Boettcher, a teacher from Schenectady. She'll go on to compete for Mrs. America in September. [Daily Gazette]
Where cardboard cutouts of Barack Obama drink
Yes, that is a likeness of the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee. (Click for a better a look.)
We spotted this yesterday outside Burkes Blue Collar on Congress St in Troy. Burkes is a self-described "working class bar" with "cheap booze, nasty staff, and pretty good food."
Who says Obama has a problem with blue collar voters?
Frankfurters from the Troy Pork Store
Sizzle. Snap. Yummm.
Perhaps it was the happy little pigs beckoning to us from the window of The Troy Pork Store that brought us into the 85 year old shop at 4th and Ferry streets (someone clearly hasn't told those pigs what goes on there), but it's the frankfurters inside that will bring us back.
Field for Bruno's seat coming together, Pataki snubbed, local bankruptcies up, dude - where's her car?
Mike Russo, who works for Kirsten Gillibrand, has officially announced that he will seek the Democratic nomination in the race for Joe Bruno's state Senate seat. He joins Brian Premo and Saratoga Springs supervisor Joanne Yepsen. The Republicans still don't have any official candidates, but that should change tomorrow when Wilton assemblyman Roy McDonald is expected to officially announce. Ray Seney, a councilman from the town of Nassau, is also circulating petitions in a bid to run. [TU] [Daily Gazette]
George Pataki will not be a delegate at the Republican National Convention later this year, even though the former governor was on John McCain's list of preferred delegates. The dis is apparently payback from state Republican committee chair Joseph Mondello after Pataki pushed to replace him. [AP] [NYDN]
Bankruptcy filings in the Capital Region are up from the same period last year and local bankruptcy lawyers report they're swamped with cases. [TU]
Three weeks ago, Kerri-Ann Vincent drove a stabbing victim to the hospital in Troy. And she hasn't seen her car since. Troy police are holding the vehicle as evidence. Vincent says she can't get to work without her car. The TPD has basically told her to deal. [CBS6]
Two apparently popular Guilderland High School teachers have been relegated to the middle school after a "culture climate inquiry" inquiry. The two teachers, one of whom is out on maternity leave, are accused of contributing to a "locker room" and "boys' club" atmosphere within the school's social studies department. [TU]
The stock of Feldman Mall Properties, one of the co-owners of Colonie Center, has been delisted from the NYSE. The company lost $17 million last year. [Daily Gazette]
Pay up or EMPAC gets it?
EMPAC
So there was that story the other day about how Troy wants to charge RPI a "safety fee" of $100 per student per semester. The city says it spends a bunch of money on services for the school and it's looking to recoup some of the expenses. OK, this sounds like a discussion that reasonable people can have.
But then toward the end of the TU story, there was this:
The discussions about a public safety fee come as EMPAC is nearing its October opening and RPI must obtain a certificate of occupancy to use the arts center.
"RPI is noted for saying we're having a grand opening and inviting everyone before they have a CO," [Deputy Mayor Dan] Crawley said. "If the invitations go out for October and their place is not completed, they're not going to get a CO."
And that sounded a lot like, what's the word... oh, right: a shakedown. But, no, that couldn't be right. The City of Troy wouldn't hold the opening of EMPAC ransom over this safety fee, would it? This is a municipality and an institution with 180 years of shared history. That would just be... tacky.
So we made a few calls. Here's what we found.
Parmesan cookies from Spill'n the Beans
Cheesy, salty, savory.
Dear Dish and Dirt:
Thank you very much for pointing us in the direction of the parmesan cookies at Spill'n the Beans in Troy. They are, in a word, delightful.
Sincerely,
AOA
Wellington work to start, cops can make a lot of cash, Troy looks for RPI to chip in, more hybrid buses, stack of pancake panned at SPAC
Work to demolish, renovate and rebuild at the site of the Wellington Hotel on State Street in Albany is scheduled to start today. The development company behind the $65 million project says it will be taking apart the historic facade "stone by stone," so that it can be preserved and used on the new building. The project is scheduled to be finished by 2011. [Daily Gazette] [Business Review]
Thanks to overtime, you can make a lot of money as cop in the Capital Region. Example: a Schenectady officer made $115,359 last year. [TU]
The City of Troy is looking to get RPI to pay $200 per student per school year to help fund public safety coverage of the campus and surrounding neighborhood. And it almost sounds like the city's making a veiled "pay up or else" threat related to EMPAC. [TU]
There's a plan in the works for a downtown business improvement district in Troy. [Troy Record]
Ninety percent of graduating seniors from Albany and Troy high schools are headed to some kind of college, junior college or university next year. [TU]
CDTA is buying 21 more hybrid buses, which get an extra 1 mpg (total fuel efficiency: 4.8 mpg). [TU]
The new facade proposed for SPAC could be changed after public complaints that it looked like a stack of pancakes. [TU]
One of the Sculpture in the Streets pieces was moved from the HSBC bank building on Pearl after people noticed that the sculpture was both anatomically correct and not shy about it. The offending statue is now in front of Capital Rep. [TU]
Big rigs roll at capitol, gun buyback to expand, stop that bat, Schenectady decides downtown is electrifying
More than 100 big rigs made a loop around the capitol as part of a protest against high taxes, tolls and diesel prices yesterday. And this being Albany, the event featured its fair share of political name calling and finger pointing. And Joe Bruno drove a big rig. [TU] [Saratogian]
The church running the Albany gun buyback says it's collected 17 guns. And now it looks like Albany County DA's office will start a similar program. [CapNews9] (Earlier on AOA: The Albany gun buyback: buyer's remorse?)
The state Department of Health is urging people to capture any bats that may have come in contact with people or pets. There's a nationwide shortage of human rabies vaccines and public health officials want to make sure it's only used for people who have come in contact with a rabid animal. [Daily Gazette]
The CEO of NYRA says the racing association will be profitable by 2010. It lost $34.4 million last year. And its franchise agreement with the state still isn't finalized. [Saratogian]
Troy has approved an installment plan for Rensselaer to pay off the rest of its $2.1 million water debt. [TU]
Schenectady leaders have decided to call the city's downtown entertainment and arts district around State and Jay ElectriCity. [Business Review]
There won't be a bobblehead giveaway this year at The Track. [Saratogian]
Lots of illegal guns, corroded wires caused manhole cover explosions, water stays on for Rennselaer, damaged apples, a really big wind turbine
According to federal stats from last year, the number of seized illegal guns per resident in Albany and Schenectady was higher than that of New York City. There are two ways to look at this. Half-full: police here are getting better at finding illegal guns. Half-empty: there are a lot of illegal guns on the streets. [TU]
Prosecutors say Jermayne Timmons, the 15-year-old accused of firing the shot that killed Kathina Thomas, wrote an apology letter to Thomas' mother. From the letter Timmons allegedly wrote: "I am so sorry that the gun I shot is the gun that could have takeing your baby girl away from you." [Daily Gazette]
An aide at a state facility in Schenectady has been charged with a misdemeanor for allegedly punching a blind autistic woman after the woman spilled the aide's salad. [Daily Gazette]
The Troy city engineer says the manhole-cover-popping explosions earlier this year were caused by arcing underground cables that had been corroded by road salt and water. [TU]
The City of Rennselaer has paid Troy for its water use over the last two years, and Troy Mayor Harry Tutunjian is no longer threatening to cut off Rennselaer's water supply. Still at issue: years of unpaid water bills from before 2006. [TU] [Troy Record]
Saratoga Springs is renovating its jails cells and needs someplace to put prisoners while the work is being done. The current solution: handcuffing the arrested to hooks in the booking area. [Daily Gazette]
Thomas D'Ambra, the CEO of Albany Molecular Research Inc, was the Capital Region's highest paid CEO last year. [TU]
The hail storm this week damaged apple crops. One farm in Columbia County says it suffered $1 million in damage. [Fox23]
GE wants to build a 400-foot-tall wind turbine just of I-890 in Rotterdam. [Daily Gazette]
It looks like Saratoga Springs will not be getting its first roundabout just yet. [Saratogian]
Sidewalk art on River Street
Renata and Regina scored $300 with this panel.
A bunch of artists got together this past weekend at the Troy River Street Festival to compete in a sidewalk painting (or chalking) contest sponsored by the Arts Center of the Capital Region. The judge's winner, chalked by Renata and Regina Memole, is above. The people's choice winner and a few other pieces are after the jump.
Soares wants to hunt for guns, New Yorkers say state is on wrong track, St. Clare's officially gone, last Hall of Fame game.
Albany County DA David Soares wants the landlords of vacant buildings to give law enforcement the OK to search their properties for stashed guns. Soares' plan was prompted by the claim that the stray bullet that killed Kathina Thomas came from a "community gun." The alleged shooter, a 15-year-old, was indicted Friday. He could get 15 years to life. [TU] [TU]
A New York Times poll reports that 60 percent of respondents think New York State is on the wrong track. Even so, people seemed to have a generally favorably view of David Paterson (if they have an opinion on him... a third didn't). And Barack Obama is heavily favored against John McCain. [NYT]
National Grid says it's finished its investigation into what caused the explosions that sent manhole covers shooting into the air in Troy. But the final report won't be ready until July. [TU]
St. Clare's Hospital has been officially merged into Ellis Hospital. Its new name: Ellis Hospital McClellan Campus. [Daily Gazette]
Based on the quadrupling of calls to the state smokers' quit line, it seems that New York's now highest-in-the-nation cigarette taxes are prompting people to think about quitting. [AP]
It appears that more people are looking to carpool in the Capital Region. CDTA says it's working on a new web site that will make it easier to find people headed your way. [Saratogian]
Today is the last Hall of Fame game involving major leaguers in Cooperstown. MLB says the travel involved in getting two teams to the middle of upstate New York during the season is too much trouble. [TU]
Hundreds mourn Kathina Thomas, skydive suicide pilot didn't have correct license, families could get boot for not doing community service, step right up to tour cramped police station
Hundreds of people showed up for the funeral of Kathina Thomas. The APD says it's making progress on finding who fired the stray bullet that killed her, though it hasn't released any additional new details. [TU]
The FAA says the pilot who flew the plane from which Sloan Carafello jumped didn't have the right kind of license to be taking skydivers up in the air, though an agency spokeman says that probably had nothing to do with Carafello being able to make it out of the aircraft without a parachute. Carafello's twin brother says the family doesn't blame the pilot. [TU]
Four aides at a state care facility in Niskayuna for people with development disabilities have been put on leave after accusations that one of their clients was assaulted in the parking lot of a McDonald's. Spilled food seems to have set off the alleged assault. [Daily Gazette]
The Troy Housing Authority says it has plans to evict families from it public housing if the residents don't complete eight hours of community service by next month, as required by federal law. Almost 100 families are on the list. [Troy Record]
The New York Civil Liberties Union has formally filed a notice of claim against the City of Troy over the code enforcement at the Sanctuary for Independent Media. The notice is the first step toward suing the city over claims it closed the arts space because it displayed Wafaa Bilal's "Virtual Jihadi" exhibit. The space has since re-opened. [Troy Record]
The parent company of WTEN/Channel 10 is on the verge of being delisted by Nasdaq. [Business Review]
If you'd like to see for yourself why Saratoga Springs needs a new police station, the cops will be happy to show you. [Saratogian]
A Colonie five-year-old's lemonade stand helped raise $10,000 for a neighbor's cancer treatment. [TU]
Spectres of Liberty: what it looked like
Spooky--but cool.
What does a giant inflatable ghost church look like? Thanks to our buddy Renée at Almost Foodies, we know. She made it to Friday night's Spectres of Liberty event at Troy Night Out. Looks like it was pretty cool. More pictures after the jump.
Spectres of Liberty
If you're heading to Troy Night Out, check out the inflatable ghost church. Yes, we said inflatable-ghost-church. The site specific exhibit called Spectres of Liberty recreates a church that burned down in 1941 with the use of inflatable sculpture and video.
State agencies told to recognize same-sex marriages, college campus goes completely smoke-free, more development in Troy, trolley tours for Schenectady
David Paterson has directed state agencies to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. The directive is said to be an indication that the governor will at some point push for legalization of the marriages here in New York. [NYT]
Five years ago a safe with thousands in cash, rare gold coins and $2 million in bearer bonds was stolen from an office building near the Port of Albany. An arrest in the case was finally made last week just before the statute of limitations kicked in. Police picked up one person, though they believe three more are at large. A guy who reportedly helped open the safe says it -- and the millions in bonds -- ended up at the bottom of the Hudson. [TU]
Maria College is going to a totally smoke-free campus. It will be the first college or university in the region to do so. [Daily Gazette]
That huge building across the street (444 River St) from the outdoor farmers' market site in Troy is being developed into apartments, live/work spaces and retail spots. [TU]
SCCC wants to take over the castle-like Schenectady Armory after it's vacated by the New York National Guard. The school would use the space for athletic facilities. [Daily Gazette]
The Capital Region's carbon footprint p