Our town board members need the time that a moratorium will give them to unpack our current toolbox — taking a close, hard look at the town’s zoning laws, to see what new or updated tools are needed to carry forth the vision the comprehensive planners recommend.

 “We want voters to know that we’ve heard community feedback, that they think that training for our staff is really important. And so we’ve made it a priority to do that, to make sure we can meet community needs and do what we need to do ….,” said Interim director Nathaniel Heyer. “This budget allows us to continue to provide a really high level of service … that folks expect and enjoy here.”

GUILDERLAND — After investigating a Feb. 11 crash where a car leaving the Northway on the ramp to Crossgates Mall careened through the guide rail and off the overpass, landing on the Thruway beneath, the state police arrested the driver on April 25.

Among the sheaf of documents, largely made up of emails, the only one that might be interpreted as involving racism was written by Melanie Diaz Partak on Jan. 29, 2024, about a month before the café’s closure, asking if there was “any word on whether or not the woman who came in and verbally attacked me has been identified or banned?”

GUILDERLAND — The Albany Dutchmen will not play at all this season.

The team, made up of college players hoping to be recruited by Major League teams, was unable to renew its lease with the town of Guilderland to use Dutchmen Field at Keenholts Park.

The program has brought in a little over $410,000 since September. “We don’t want your money,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy. “But we want to make sure your kids get to school safe, day in and day out.”

GUILDERLAND — McKownville will have a new $9.6 million firehouse, built in the footprint of its current 57-year-old station.

On Tuesday, fire-district residents passed the measure in a landslide — with 80 percent of the vote, according to Michael Costabile, the chief of the all-volunteer department.

They had assembled for a plaque unveiling but, in addition to the plaque on the back, stone wall of the center, draped in festive scarlet, they were also greeted with three posters displayed on easels. Each pictured improvements totaling $3.9 million in state funds: a solar array, a warming hut, and upgrades to the park’s iconic Indian Ladder Trail.

Albany Dutchmen, Guilderland Supervisor Peter Barber said, is a semi-pro, for-profit entity and its use of the field takes away from youth programs.

“This is the first time since the implementation of the tax cap there has been uncertainty about what we expect for state aid in the budget,” said Andrew Van Alstyne, Guilderland’s assistant superintendent for business.