A lifetime of service
After half-century volunteering with EMS and fire, Colonie resident stepping off call
Bill Teator, 72, has been working with several different emergency medical services within the Town of Colonie for more than 50 years and will officially retire from it all on May 31.
Shaker student’s photo wired in
Spur-of-moment snapshot to be displayed in halls of U.S. Capitol
For the next year, Shaker High School senior Mitchell Aragona's photo will be on display at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., after being chosen as the winner of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition for the 20th District of New York through Congressman Paul Tonko.
South Colonie's tax cap challenge succeeds
66.2 percent of voters approve of budget in excess of state tax cap
What was continuously called a challenging budgeting year for the South Colonie Central School District was capped with residents approving a 2013-14 school budget that exceeds the state tax cap.
North Colonie school budget passed
Budget stays within the state tax cap
Residents of the North Colonie Central School District approved of the 2013-14 budget that stays within the state tax cap on Tuesday, May 21.
S. Colonie teachers offer concessions
Couple with changes to administrator health care, unpaid day will save $332k
South Colonie Central School District teachers and administrators have approved contract givebacks for the second year in a row, and they will save the district more than $300,000 in the 2013-14 school year.
McCoy makes move to keep funding nursing home
Contingency funds targeted to make payroll for July
Three days after the Albany County Legislature tabled a vote on privatizing the county nursing home vote, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy has sent out a request to move $2.2 million from the county’s contingency fund in the budget to meet the facility’s July payroll.
Candidates emerging in local races
A few new faces join familiar ones as parties gear up to make endorsements
As campaign season inches closers, those seeking spots in Town of Colonie elected offices are beginning to announce their plans to run.
Tournament stocks community chest
SEFCU’s Monopoly tournament nets $20k for Center for Disability Services
This year, on Tuesday, May 7, 305 players took on the challenge at The Albany Marriot on Wolf Road for the 21st Annual SEFCU Monopoly Tournament and helped raise $20,000 for the center.
Project approved over protests
Planning Board OKs two buildings in split vote after neighbors raise concerns
The Colonie Planning Board gave the green light on Tuesday, May 8, for construction of two retail and office buildings on Albany-Shaker Road over protests of neighbors.
Nursing home deal tabled
County comptroller urges legislature to turn over control
The Albany County Legislature tabled a deal to give control of the county-run nursing home to a private company at a Monday, May 13, meeting, after hearing a presentation from County Comptroller Mike Conners urging action.
Cooking her way to the top
Colonie Central student makes waves with her love of the kitchen and dining room
There is nothing Colonie Central High School senior Rachel Gauthier doesn’t like to cook. Meats, vegetables, cakes, soups. You name it, she’ll make it.
60 years strong, 80 years young
Albany Memorial honors longtime nurse Esther Rappold for decades of service
Friends, family and coworkers gathered at Albany Memorial Hospital to celebrate 80-year-old Esther Rappold's 60 years of service at the facility.
Reading the greens
After 42 years working on the links, Colonie resident looks back on career
After almost 50 years of working in the golf maintenance business and 42 years on the greens at Albany’s Wolferts Roost Country Club, Bill Stevens stepped off the grass to retire this past April.
Disciplined mind opens doors
Shaker High School teacher went from dropout to academic achiever
Alex Finsel got what he needed in the ranks of the Marine Corps, and now, more than 15 years after becoming a college dropout, he’s being recognized for his academic achievement as the 2013 recipient of the Jean Edgecumbe Groff ’39 Graduate Scholarship in Education in the School of Education at the University at Albany. And he’s also bringing the ideals that shaped his life for the better to a new generation as a teacher at Shaker High School.
Part of the pack
Colonie prepares successor in one-dog canine unit
Two months ago, the Town of Colonie purchased Vader, and once training is completed, he’ll be the 11th dog in the history of the Colonie Police Department to join the K-9 Unit Patrol Division.
Of loss and young love
Shaker High grad Dana Lee Hom releasing first album, “Almost Gone”
It took love, heartbreak and a bout of emotional numbness for Dana Lee Hom to put together her first full-length album. Now that she’s ready to release those songs to the public, she feels like the burden of some of her troubles is disappearing.
Walkers step up in heart disease fight
Annual Capital Region Heart Walk this Saturday at Crossings
The 2013 Capital Region Heart Walk at The Crossings of Colonie will begin with breakfast and last-minute registration at 9 a.m. on Saturday, May 4 and walkers will take either a 1- or 3-mile stroll. Participants raise money for the American Heart Association, and the donations go directly to funding research and education to fight heart disease and stroke. This year, the goal is set for $570,000.
Colonie teams up with Albany FBI
Town to send manpower to help Child Exploitation Task Force
The Town of Colonie will once again be working with the FBI’s Albany offices and Child Exploitation Task Force targeting Internet predators in the Capital District.
Nursing home set for May 13 vote
Much discussed operating agreement moves ahead, as some lawmakers push other options
A vote on the future of the Albany County Nursing Home has been set for May 13, even as some lawmakers lobby for other options.
Town signs off on CAP COM HQ
New offices and bank branch targeted for a summer 2014 completion
CAP COM Federal Credit Union has the green light to start construction on its new headquarters in Colonie.
Menands searches for new superintendent
District narrows down list to three to succeed Kathy Meany
The search for a new Menands School District superintendent has been narrowed down to three candidates.
Artwork connects the dead and the living
St. Agnes Cemetery’s ‘Living Room’ dedicated to hosting work of local artists
St. Agnes Cemetery isn’t a place just for remembering the dead anymore. With a remodeled old chapel now a room lined with local art, it’s also become a place to calm the living.
Full court press for compressions
Colonie boys affected by CPR part of effort to teach method in schools
Two Colonie boys learned about the power of CPR the hard way, and now they’re advocating that it becomes mandatory for their peers to learn the life-saving method.
Afghan officials look to Colonie
Town part of U.S. tour meant to help forge future of Afghanistan
The Town of Colonie might not have the same culture, landscape or problems that the country of Afghanistan faces, but officials from that faraway land hope they can learn something here all the same.
Who let the dogs in?
County teams up with humane society on program that sees inmates training dogs
For five weeks, a dog’s best friend will be an inmate at the Albany County Correctional Facility.
Colonie native’s courage goes viral
Jimmy Plourde captured on camera carrying wounded from Boston Marathon
Growing up with two firefighters and EMS volunteers as parents, it came as no shock to Peter and Janet Plourde that their son Jimmy would become a firefighter himself.
N. Colonie adopts school budget
Tax levy hike of 4.25 percent is at the state tax cap limit
The North Colonie Board of Education adopted a 2013-14 budget on Monday, April 22, that carries a 4.32 percent increase to the tax levy, which is within the state tax cap.
Educator leaves a lasting legacy
Blue Creek teacher Jean Bassett inspired students, even during her fight with cancer
During her first stages of chemotherapy, Blue Creek Elementary teacher Jean Bassett knew she was going to start losing her hair. Nervous her students might become afraid of the changes, Bassett cut her long, curly hair short and walked into the classroom one day with her hair dyed blue. Another day, it was red.
Planning Board tackles multiple projects
Expansions, office space and apartments on the agenda at April 9 meeting
Two projects got their time in front of the Colonie Planning Board underway Tuesday, April 9, with concept approvals. The applicants will have to come back to the board with more detailed plans.
Contamination found at Troy Industrial Solutions
Plans for expansion put on hold as DEC gets involved in brownfield cleanup
The Department of Environmental Conservation is investigating contamination at Troy Industrial Solutions in Colonie.
Pruyn House celebrates 30 years
Town and volunteer effort turned dilapidated home into historic treasure
On Wednesday, April 24, the Friends of Pruyn House will celebrate the home’s 30th anniversary at their annual dinner meeting at the Century House Inn in Latham, where they will show a 15-minute movie about the historic site.
Colonie Center changes hands
Investment firm vows new investments and new tennants
Colonie Center has been purchased by an investment firm.
Colonie changes developer notification rules
Resident concerns result in amendment to town code, effects will be monitored
After several weeks of discussion, the Colonie Town Board voted unanimously on Thursday, April 11, to amended the town code and expand neighbor notifications requirements for developers.
A mission for music
Shaker student playing own music at MOVE Music Festival
Even before she knew how to walk, Bridgette Guerrette knew she wanted to be a musician.
BOCES takes to cyberspace
Blog aims to inform and engage community on education issues
When it comes to conversations about public education, the Internet has taken up a place along with the coffeehouse and PTA meetings as a preferred forum. And the educational services group BOCES is getting in on the action.
South Col. budget would exceed tax cap
Savings use trimmed back while tax levy would grow 5.4 percent
The current 2013-14 budget proposal for the South Colonie Central School District would hold expenses to a 0.74 percent increase, but hike the tax levy by 5.4 percent, a full percentage point above the district’s limit under the state tax cap.
Local officials react to state budget
Budget roundtable in Cohoes reveals satisfaction, hope for future
While many New Yorkers are expressing disbelief that this year’s state budget was passed not only on time, but early, Albany County Executive Dan McCoy is most excited with the fact the county will see no new unfunded mandates.
Another nursing home vote tabled
Legislator calls lease a ‘sweetheart deal on steroids’
A vote on the future of the Albany County Nursing Home has been tabled despite earlier signs legislators were narrowing in on a vote.
18th century, meet 21st century
Shaker history comes alive through virtual reality project in Watervliet
The Shaker Heritage Society is sharing the Shakers with the modern world by creating Virtual Watervliet (VWV), a digital reconstruction of their historic settlement.
Dementia care pitched for Colonie
64-bed facility would focus on creating home-like setting for patients
Peregrine Assisted Living, based out of Syracuse, is looking to build an assisted adult home with a focus on dementia care at 5 South Family Drive in Colonie. Representatives from the Hershberg & Hershberg engineering firm described a sketch plan to the Colonie Planning Board Tuesday, March 26, for a 35,000-square-foot, one-story memory enhancement facility.
Menands looks to stick to tax cap
Public hearing approaches on budget that would hike taxes 2.5 percent
The Menands Board of Trustees voted Monday, April 1, to authorize the village to exceed the state tax cap, but officials hope it won’t come to that.
Another hearing for notifications
At public hearing, support given for even larger neighbor notification radius
Colonie residents alternately expressed concern and support at a public hearing held Thursday, March 28, for an amendment to the town code that would require expanded neighbor notification requirements for developers.
Play’s set is something special
Loudonville actor takes over production of ‘Drums Along the Mohawk’
This summer, Loudonville actor/producer Steven O’Connor will be the director of Drums Along the Mohawk Outdoor Drama. Emphasizing New York State’s relevance to the American Revolution, for the second year in a row DAMOD will showcase a historical fiction play before a live audience directly on the soil where the action took place hundreds of years ago.
Cartography takes center stage
Rare historical maps on display at two historical Colonie locations
Running through May 5, the Historical Society of the Town of Colonie and the Albany County Historical Association are sponsoring the “Rare Historic Colonial Maps Exhibit” at the Pruyn House in Latham and King’s Place in Albany. More than 70 pieces are hanging in the two historic buildings, including maps ranging from the 1750s and 1760s depicting early colonies and drawings from the Revolutionary War, French and Indian War and Fort Ticonderoga.
Colonie music gets national recognition
North and South Colonie districts selected among best communities for music education
Both North and South Colonie school districts have been recognized as two of the best districts at which to receive a music education nationwide.
Dick’s confirmed for Shoppes
Sporting good retailer first new business to join Latham Circle revitalization project
As the old Latham Circle Mall is destroyed, the first new tenant for the shopping center that will replace it has come forward: Dick’s Sporting Goods.
'They don't make them like that anymore'
Former Republican chair remembered for his love of town, family, life
For those who knew him well, Harry D’Agostino was more than a longtime Colonie Republican party leader. He was a father figure.
Steakhouse sets its sights on Wolf Road
Planning Board sees no problems with LongHorn’s initial presentation
Sketch plans for a LongHorn Steakhouse were presented to the Colonie Planning Board on Tuesday, March 12. The 6,266-square-foot restaurant would be the first of its chain to make its way to the Capital District – the nearest franchise is in Newburgh – and it would settle in at 206-208 Wolf Road, next to the Best Western Hotel.
Students show love for NOLA
Group from St. Rose spends spring break in Big Easy repairing homes
Though the world’s attention was fixated on New Orleans in 2005, in the years that followed the spotlight shifted elsewhere. But for Ashley Hartman, a sophomore studying communication sciences and disorders at The College of St. Rose, out of sight does not necessarily mean out of mind.
Colonie grad lays down voice for school system
Rapper B. Martin’s ‘SUNY Anthem’ racks up views on YouTube
Brendan Martin turned his words into positive messages and not too long after graduating UAlbany 2010, and he showed off his skills to the entire SUNY system by writing “The SUNY Anthem,” released on YouTube on Feb. 27.
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