'Warmth of Wine' helps keep seniors warm
With the cost of home heating oil rising, especially during winter, it can be a struggle to pay heating bills. For seniors without steady income, that burden can be even greater.
Caution: houses crossing
“Caution: houses crossing” isn’t a traffic warning you see very often but on Thursday, Feb. 9, that’s exactly what members of Colonie police and firefighter were telling motorists on their morning commutes.
McCoy's appointments confirmed
Despite being sent to the Albany County Legislature without a recommendation by the personnel committee in January, the body confirmed County Executive Dan McCoy’s appointment for county attorney Thomas Marcelle by a vote of 27-10 at the Monday, Feb. 13, meeting.
Area has no shortage of sweet treats
Valentine’s Day drums up visions of red heart-shaped boxes, tied with a gold ribbon and filled to the brim with decadent chocolate candies. But for some candy shops across the Capital District, there’s another Valentine’s Day treat in higher demand.
A year of renovations, improvements planned for airport
By the end of 2012, more than $15 million will have been spent on improvements to Albany International Airport after a year of construction projects.
A sentimental journey
Family Players of Northeastern New York is known for its big summer musical each year, but this time, it could be the USO tribute show, “A Sentimental Journey,” on Feb. 18 that everyone’s talking about.
The years on the bus go round and round
Half a century in any job is a rarity, maybe even unheard of in some circles, but John Smith breaks the mold.
Filling bellies, one pantry at a time
At the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, “consistent” is always the word of the day.
Crash claims life of Loudonville man
A Loudonville man died in a car accident on Saturday, Feb. 4, according to Colonie police.
A style all her own
When Patti Mollica paints, she uses big brushes and lots of thick paint so her artwork is “fast, loose and bold,” just like the popular workshop she teaches.
A supermarket mecca
The Capital District’s supermarket scene is heating up.
Redistricting maps elicit mixed reaction
Redistricting maps released by the state Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment (LATFOR) on Thursday, Jan. 26, detail proposed changes to New York State Senate and Assembly districts and have some legislators crying foul.
County committee grills exec's attorney pick
The personnel committee of the Albany County Legislature on Wednesday, Jan. 25, approved two of County Executive Dan McCoy’s nominations and sent one to the legislative body with no recommendation.
DA hopefuls trade barbs over cash
Despite raking in $58,000 in contributions over the past six months, Albany County District Attorney David Soares’ war chest is eclipsed by Lee Kindlon, his announced opponent.
Roadmap to success
There’s no “silver bullet” to dealing with learning disabilities, but Kathy Johnson thinks she’s found a pretty good process, the “Pyramid of Potential,” that helps.
Former Siena Saint returns to the area as a Globetrotter
As a star of the Siena Saints he was known to fans as Tay Fisher, the player who shot 44.4 percent from three-point range and helped the team drive to regular and postseason MAAC titles.
Mahan reveals the 'state of the town'
Colonie Supervisor Paula Mahan gave the 2012 State of the Town address before a Town Board meeting on Thursday, Jan. 19. Mahan traditionally gives the address at an early-morning Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce event but in 2010 started sharing it a second time before the night meeting to give the public a chance to listen in.
A new elegance
Scrimshaw Restaurant at The Desmond gets a new menu
Scrimshaw Restaurant at The Desmond Hotel got a summer make over that was 30 years in the making and, according to new Dining Room Manager Frank Rivera, diners seem to approve.
Sheriff's office takes over hotline answering duties
Albany County is on track to save more than $3,000 a year with a new cooperative agreement between the sheriff’s department and the Albany County Crime Victim and Sexual Abuse Center.
Storyteller passes the torch
Helen Fitzgerald was “an ordinary girl living an extraordinary life,” as her niece Ellen Mnich likes to say. She visited every country except for two, plus all 50 U.S. states, and filled her Cohoes home with souvenirs from her 60 years of travels.
Get in the 'pink zone'
Siena basketball game to benefit breast cancer org, CRAAB!
Siena College is “going pink” on Friday, Jan. 20, for the women’s basketball team’s 12th Pink Zone game to support breast cancer awareness.
Simple work for Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's representatives won't say how long the grocery chain with a cult-like following has been eyeing a Capital District location, but now that it's been officially announced that 79 Wolf Road will be the store's local home, it should be a fairly fluid process to open by mid-2012.
Road to recovery
As executive director of the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society, Brad Shear has seen his share of grim sights, but the white pit bull that was brought in missing half a leg just before Christmas was particularly heartbreaking.
Meet the candidates
N.Col to hold event prior to BOE special election
Preserving the “high standards of education” in the North Colonie School District is the driving force behind two men’s pursuit of a vacant Board of Education seat, which will be decided in a special election on Jan. 31.
Coming full circle
When Shaker High School alum and Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Kim Nazarian takes to the stage in the high school auditorium on Feb. 2, it will be just as powerful for her as for the group of choir students who will be performing alongside her.
New teletheater a good bet
Capital OTB gets a new and improved home
Capital OTB’s new Clubhouse Race Book on Central Avenue only opened on New Year’s Day, but it’s already a hit.
Confirmation of McCoy appointments postponed
The Albany County Legislature was supposed to vote to confirm County Executive Dan McCoy’s appointments to his administration at a Monday, Jan. 9, meeting, but that agenda item will be tabled because the legislative committees are not yet set, namely the personnel committee which reviews the appointments ahead of time.
Colonie in 2012
Event takes a look at upcoming year
Where is the Town of Colonie headed in 2012? That’s the question a panel of local officials tried to answer at “Colonie in 2012,” held at Colonie Center on Friday, Jan. 6, by the Colonie Chamber of Commerce and sponsored by NBT Bank.
Art of The Crossings
Rosemary Loveland has spent the past two years painting The Crossings of Colonie. She’s accumulated 93 pieces of art — oil paintings and “painterly” photographs — and they’re on display at the William K. Sanford Library from Jan. 3 to 30 in an art exhibit she put together for the residents of Colonie.
Timeless tapping
There’s a group of seniors in Colonie who like sequins, fishnets and dancing. And twice a month, they strut their stuff around the Capital District as the Timeless Tappers.
Honor Guard performs record number of military funerals
n 2011, the New York Military Forces Honor Guard performed more military funerals than ever before.
Colonie officials sworn in
There was standing room only in Colonie Town Hall for the swearing-in ceremony on New Year’s Day Sunday, Jan. 1, when Supervisor Paula Mahan, three Town Board members, a town justice and the town clerk were sworn into office.
A car for Christmas
When Otto Cadillac asked the community to help find a Colonie family that deserved to win a car, Mike Keane knew exactly who to nominate.
The nursing home 'Santa'
Maria Oeffler is a bargain hunter, and for the past five years she’s put those skills to good use — and for a good cause — during the holiday season.
Playing for food
Piano students raise thousands with their talents
At the end of October, 100 piano students raised more than $6,500 for the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York and on Wednesday, Dec. 14, teachers from the New York State Music Teachers Association presented a check to food bank reps.
'The voice' of North Colonie
When Sally Newton graduated Shaker High School in 1967, she had no way of knowing she’d spend nearly 40 years working for the school district she grew up in.
Mahan reflects on 2011
If she had just one word to describe the Town of Colonie’s 2011, Supervisor Paula Mahan knows exactly what it would be.
Airport unveils $45.6M budget
Officials 'optimistic' about coming year
Doug Meyers is “cautiously optimistic” that Albany International Airport’s 2012 will be better than its 2011, and the Albany County Airport Authority felt similarly when it approved a $45.6 million 2012 budget on Friday, Dec. 16. The budget is a 1.6 percent increase over the 2011 adopted budget.
Icing on the cake
National Guardsmen sworn in on Guard's 375th birthday
“I … do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the State of New York against all enemies …”
Traffic stop leads to felony drug arrest
A traffic stop in Menands led to a felony drug arrest on Thursday, Dec. 15, according to State Police reports.
Legislature overrides Breslin's veto
On Monday, Dec. 5, the Albany County Legislature adopted a $598 million budget with an 8 percent tax hike. Exactly one week later on Monday, Dec. 12, County Executive Michael Breslin exercised his veto power. And on Wednesday, Dec. 14, the 2012 Albany County budget showdown came to a close when the legislature voted 27-7 to override Breslin’s veto, keeping the 2012 legislative budget intact.
Weighing in on tax reform
“The economy has taken another turn for the worse,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a video address on Wednesday, Dec. 7.
Quick arrest following morning robbery
A Schenectady man was arrested after robbing a woman in the parking lot of Northway Mall at 1440 Central Ave. on Monday, Dec. 12, according to the Colonie Police Department.
Breslin vetoes Albany County budget
Albany County Executive Michael Breslin has vetoed the $598 million dollar budget approved by lawmakers for 2012.
Searching for families in need
Businessman seeks to donate $5,000
Kris Roglieri, president and founder of Prime Commercial Lending in Albany, has been feeling pretty lucky these days and he wants five needy families to feel just as fortunate this holiday season.
Remembering Pearl Harbor
Seventy years ago, Dec. 7 was a Sunday that dawned sunny and calm in Hawaii. Joe Ryan, then 24, had just finished breakfast and was standing by the rail of the USS Argonne, gazing across Pearl Harbor to Battleship Row.
Keeping the mind fresh
Man remembers action-packed life
In 1985, Tom Norton tried his hardest to get on a space shuttle in hopes of playing his violin in space.
A slice of the South
Pine Bush neighborhood remembers its roots
Rapp Road in Albany’s Pine Bush once had more in common with the Big Muddy than the Big Apple.
Legislature adopts budget
Tax cap struck down, tax hike at 8 percent
The Albany County Legislature voted to override Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s 2 percent tax cap and adopted a 2012 budget, both by votes of 29-10, at the Monday, Dec. 5, meeting.