Archive » June 2017 » News

Public weighs in on library’s future

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

The Guilderland Public Library is working with architectural firm Butler Rowland Mays to come up with a long-range plan for improvements that can be implemented little by little over time.

New camp gathers STEAM at BKW

by H. Rose Schneider

Two new programs were presented to the Berne-Knox Westerlo Board of Education on June 19. Teachers at a summer STEAM (science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math) camp discussed plans involving nature walks and robots, while students from a recently formed peer-mediation team discussed what they had learned from it.

New barn on Dunnsville Road to house lacrosse showroom

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

GUILDERLAND —The zoning board here approved, 5 to 0, an application by Paul Gait of 6899 Dunnsville Rd.

Rensselaerville ambulance makes its last run

by H. Rose Schneider

A special Rensselaerville Town Board meeting to discuss the closure of the town’s volunteer ambulance was met with a solemn acknowledgement of the end of the 45-year-old organization.

Knox nixes solar array

by H. Rose Schneider

The Knox Planning Board ruled to deny an application for the construction of a solar array on property owned by Peter Young Housing last Thursday. Board members cited an inability to gather information for the board and neighbors of the property to review, as well as objections by neighbors to its construction.

Berne to host county services hub, despite plans for Clarksville school moving forward

by H. Rose Schneider

In Berne, the Albany County executive announced that the town’s senior center would become a weekly satellite office for various county services. Meanwhile the county sheriff’s office is one step closer to obtaining the Clarksville Elementary School building, which the sheriff has had the same vision for.

Inspection reports for Knox building permits nowhere to be found

by H. Rose Schneider

A Freedom of Information Law request has revealed missing records of building-inspection reports for 2016 in the town of Knox. Despite this, permits were issued during that year. The town is now formulating policies to record these inspections.

GHS students push board to eliminate rank

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

Forty-seven percent of Guilderland high-school students now have averages of 90 or above. Saying that the system of ranking students harms those who have high grades but not necessarily a high rank, students have called for ranking to be eliminated altogether, and the board of education is listening.

Memorial removed after complaints about drag racing and burnouts

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

Often, a memorial grows up at the site of a fatal car crash, as it did at the tree in Bethlehem where Thomas Brown died last November. What’s unusual this time is that town officials have taken it down.

Johnson sentenced in Leandra’s Law felony

Charles Johnson of Troy was sentenced on June 23 in Albany County Court for driving while intoxicated with two young children in the car. He had pleaded guilty in April.

Maeweather sentenced to 3-½ to 7 for reckless endangerment

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

GUILDERLAND — Tasheem Maeweather, 21, was sentenced in Albany County Court Friday for his role in the firing of a gun last November in Guilderland’s Crossgates Mall. Judge Roger D. McDonough sentenced Maeweather to 3-½ to seven years for reckless endangerment, a felony.  Maeweather’s lawyer plans to appeal.

A new land-use plan is coming to New Scotland, but will it have teeth?

by Saranac Hale Spencer

New Scotland is updating its comprehensive plan, which was last done in 1994, and considering clustered, mixed-use development.

Wagner faces hurdles in opening gravel mine

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

Fred Wagner’s proposal for a five-acre gravel mine has been mired in conflict so far.

BKW bids farewell to staff, faculty, board members — and biz manager

by H. Rose Schneider

Although graduation is not until Saturday, many goodbyes were said at Berne-Knox-Westerlo’s campus on Monday night. 

Former legislator found guilty in rare violation trial

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

In former Albany County Legislator Brian Scavo’s trial in Guilderland for harassment, the judge heard that he had repeatedly approached a young woman who was a stranger to him in Crossgates Mall, asking for her phone number, offering her chocolates and candy, and inviting her to dinner, and following her when she tried to walk away.

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