Archive » February 2020 » News

Knox passes hog-farming law and will vote next week on home occupation

At its abbreviated Feb. 11 town meeting, the Knox Town Board passed a law that will allow hog farming in the town’s agricultural districts and nearly passed an update to its home occupation laws, but had to table the matter on account of technical difficulties.

Committee wants public’s views on Westerlo’s future

by Noah Zweifel

Westerlo is in the process of developing a comprehensive land-use plan and its Comprehensive Plan Committee hopes to make the process as transparent and as open to the public as possible, said chairman David Lendrum.

Fraterrigo is new VP of Guilderland’s school board, and five seats at play in May

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

Retired Guilderland teacher Timothy Horan had been elected vice president of the board last July.

Buceys lead at furniture manufacturer Inova

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

GUILDERLAND — Sarah and Guy Bucey, a husband-and-wife team, have been promoted to leadership roles at Inova, located in the Northeastern Industrial Park in Guilderland Center. Founded in 2001, Inova manufactures multifunctional, space-saving furniture like modern Murphy beds that pull down from vertical storage.

Guilderland district hopes to avoid cuts as it drafts next year’s budget

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

With an increase of half of a percent in state Foundation Aid for next year and a limit of $1.6 million more to be raised from taxes, the Guilderland schools are hoping to be able to maintain the programs and staff they have with this year’s $102 million budget.

Pyramid’s plans for future growth revealed

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

Pyramid has agreed to convey to the Rapp Road Historical District five properties that it has bought within the district; the properties could be used, it says, to build a cultural center. The district denotes a rare intact neighborhood of homes built by African-Americans who came north from Mississippi during the Great Migration.

Libraries and local government will play important role in 2020 census

by Noah Zweifel

With the U.S. Census Bureau requesting that citizens complete the 2020 census online, small towns and villages are preparing to help residents who don’t have easy access to computers or don’t have the necessary skills to complete a form online so that every town can be counted as accurately as possible, assuring that each gets the federal, state and county aid it needs.

Bassist, teacher Herchenroder mourned

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

“Jeff was a superior musician who gave everything he had to his students. He was a truly unique man who was passionate about so many things, including his family, students, music, and the world around us,” said Shannon Woodley, band teacher at Lynnwood and Pine Bush elementary schools.

Jury finds Bonilla guilty of attempted kidnapping, sex abuse

by Elizabeth Floyd Mair

GUILDERLAND — On Feb. 6, a jury found Harry Bonilla guilty of two felonies — second-degree attempted kidnapping as a sexually motivated felony and first-degree sex abuse — and a misdemeanor, third-degree assault.

The case was heard before Judge Roger D. McDonough in Albany County Supreme Court.

Voorheesville: Stewart's Shops proceeded with ‘eyes wide shut’

by Sean Mulkerrin

In back-to-back court filings, Stewart’s Shops states that its lawsuit against the village of Voorheesville should not be dismissed because the village’s adoption of a new zoning code was “far from an ordinary municipal comprehensive planning and zoning enactment process.” Voorheesville responded, again, that the case should be dismissed because Stewart’s latest argument does nothing to alter “the conclusion that the Village lawfully changed its zoning code for the district in which the subject property is located.”

Berne Planning Board publicly advocates for Vincent’s reinstatement as Vincent challenges town and Spargo in court

by Noah Zwiefel

Tensions rose but manners prevailed as the Berne Planning Board submitted a letter to its newly appointed chairman, Thomas Spargo, announcing its desire to see a member reinstated who was effectively fired in the middle of her term to make room for Spargo. The planning board cited a recently-filed lawsuit against the town and Spargo as one aspect of the fallout Berne is experiencing after the controversial decision.