Archive » April 2020 » News

County COVID-19 count climbs to 309, most new cases are first responders

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Peter Barber, Guilderland’s supervisor, announced on Tuesday afternoon, that two paramedics in the town’s EMS had tested positive for the disease. “Both medics are asymptomatic and resting well at home under quarantine,” Barber said.

Coronavirus forces a lenten desert

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“Words are only 15 percent of communication. This virus has stolen from us some of the most important things it means to be human — to be together, to gather for a meal and eat, to hold the hand of a dying person,” says Christopher DeGiovine, the priest at St. Matthew’s Church in Voorheesville.

State to speed up renewable projects; more control relinquished to municipalities

by Sean Mulkerrin

A new state law governing renewable-energy projects was adopted as part of this year’s budget. 

A bit of positive news

by Sean Mulkerrin

Commander Brian Wood, who runs the Albany County Office of Emergency Management, said social distancing in the western part of the county has been a success. 

State’s ‘pause’ continues, fines doubled

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“We are hopeful we will not be as hard hit as some of the downstate counties but we don’t know that yet,” said Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen on Monday as community testing starts again.

Abuse in the time of coronavirus

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Karen Ziegler, the director of the county’s Victim and Sexual Violence Center, tells people who may be suffering abuse as they are isolated in their households, “We want you to know we are available for you 24/7.” The center’s hotline phone number is 518-447-7716. 

County death toll at 8, worse expected ahead

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

McCoy said the outbreak in the county, now in its fourth week, is not expected to peak for another 18 days, naming April 23 as a potential apex for the outbreaks. “It’s going to get worse … We’re going to get to the top and then we’ll go down,” he said.

County’s death toll climbs to six, community testing to resume

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“By the end of the week, our numbers will probably double,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy as community testing resumes on Monday.

Grocery workers serve on the frontlines

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Price Chopper has followed ever-changing CDC guidelines as it works with local, state, and federal officials, she said. 

Feeling afraid is normal, says county’s mental-health director

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Albany County has a free mental-health helpline — 518-269-6634  — open every day.

County DOH will accept homemade masks

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Homemade masks will be accepted by the county’s health department for agencies that don’t have enough of what they need.

Testing center to open Monday at UAlbany

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced today that the state will open a new COVID-19 mobile testing site for the Capital District in partnership with Albany Medical Center, St. Peter’s Health Partners, and the University at Albany. The drive-through site requires an appointment — call 888-364-3065 — and will open Monday at UAlbany.

GCSD mulls pared-down $103M budget for next year

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Governor Andrew Cuomo has postponed the state-set date for voting on school budgets until June 1 or later. The Guilderland School Board is looking at cuts to maintain a substantial fund balance while staying within the levy limit.

The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy says: Take the Earth Day Challenge

by Sean Mulkerrin 

With 18 preserves and 36 miles of trails, there’s plenty of room to spread out.

Facing at least another month, supers look to remote meeting options

by Noah Zweifel

Supervisors in the Hilltowns are exploring the options for holding meetings remotely, as recently allowed by Governor Andrew Cuomo’s executive order amending the state’s Open Meeting Law. Knox held its first remote meeting via conference call on Friday, March 27, and Supervisor Vasilios Lefkaditis said it went “extremely well.” 

Pages