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Pulling For History

img 7714-webThe Enterprise — Michael Koff
Just like the old days: The restored grader is put to work during a demonstration at the Altamont Fair. It was made by Climax Road Machine in Marathon, N.Y., north of Binghamton, a factory that ran from 1887 to 1890. Andrew Tinning plans to display the horse-drawn grader in June at the Gas-Up in Gallupville, and in August again at the Altamont Fair.

img 7717-webThe Enterprise — Michael Koff
Period piece: “Little Winner,” the antique road grader restored to its former glory by Andrew Tinning, looks right at home in front of the also restored village train station, now home to the Altamont Free Library. The grader will be at the station at least through April 9 when, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Judith Wines will give a presentation called “Tours and Trains in Altamont.”

img 7712-webThe Enterprise — Michael Koff
Rallying round the antique grader restored by Andrew Tinning, second from left, holding a whip, are, two grandsons of Casper Wagner, the grader’s original owner — Merlin E. Wagner at far left, and Bernard H. Wagner, at far right. The grader, which Tinning discovered, forgotten and neglected, on property behind his house on Dunnsville Road, was originally used to groom Guilderland’s roads before it was used for ditching at the Wagner farm. At center, is Steve Oliver, Guilderland’s current highway superintendent. Next to him is Judith Wines, the director of the Altamont Free Library, now housed in the village’s historic train station. The grader originally arrived in Altamont by train.

DOH fines nursing home

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Published on Friday, 21 December 2012 15:25

By Anne Hayden

GUILDERLAND — The State Department of Health as found serious violations at the Guilderland Center Nursing Home and ordered the facility to pay federal fines of nearly $76,000 along with state fines of $250 per day.

The DOH was conducting a regular recertification survey, which occurs every 18 months, according to spokesman Peter Constantakes, when it found several “immediate jeopardy” violations, as well as other, smaller infractions.

Immediate jeopardy violations are the most serious citations the DOH gives and mean that the home has issues that could cause serious harm, injury, or death to a resident.

The Guilderland Center Nursing Home did not respond to calls seeking comment. Constantakes said the Guilderland Center Nursing Home was fined $5,050 per day, for 15 days, for the immediate jeopardy violations, which are considered federal civil penalties. Those violations had to be remedied immediately.

The DOH also instituted a fine of $250 per day for the other infractions, beginning on Nov. 21, and that fine will remain in place until the facility has submitted a plan of correction and had it approved.

“The plan of action requires a set date that all the problems will be fixed by, and a step-by-step guide of how it will happen,” said Constantakes. The DOH will complete an inspection of the home after the agreed-upon date.

The Guilderland Center Nursing Home, he said, has submitted its plan of correction, and it is under review. After the plan is approved and the issues resolved, the DOH will make the details of the violations available to the public.

The company that previously owned the nursing home — Guilderland LTC Management — filed for bankruptcy in 2008 and was threatened with closure earlier this year when it fell behind in taxes, but the new owners — Guilderland Realty Holdings Corp — settled with Albany County and agreed to pay $1 million in back property taxes.

“We’re not trying to be punitive, but sometimes, with nursing homes, we have to be,” said Constantakes. “Our main concern is getting the safety violations resolved.”