Archive » February 2021 » News

McCoy: Homebound will be vaccinated

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The county’s executive, Daniel McCoy, announced on Sunday that the sheriff’s office will be receiving COVID-19 vaccine doses from the state to inoculate residents who are homebound.

Uptick follows steep COVID-19 descent

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

A New York variant of the virus, known as B.1.526, has been increasing in recent weeks. 

Pilot court to offer treatment instead of prison to offenders with mental-health issues

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The Albany Alternative Treatment Court will be the first mental health court in the 3rd Judicial District, one of 31 such courts across the state with four more being planned. It was the “missing piece” in a continuum of services Albany County offers to mentally ill residents.

Medical corps keeps rolling on, giving over 5,000 shots

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Over 25,000 people have signed up on the county’s online pre-registration tool for COVID-19 vaccination appointments; 19,000 are Albany County residents. “It overwhelmed us,” said Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy. “It was a lot more people pre-registering than I imagined … It really shows the need.”

Photos: Celebrating Gerry Cross

Gerry Cross was honored this week for 60 years of volunteer work.

The Bull & Basil Wood Fired Pizza

New pizza place coming to Guilderland Center

by Sean Mulkerrin

Craig Turnbull, the owner of Bull & Basil Wood Fired Pizza, moved to Voorheesville about a year ago, and has been cooking at various farmers’ markets and breweries in the area ever since. He is now considering the opportunity to turn Bull & Basil into a brick-and-mortar business, he told the Guilderland Planning Board this week.

BKW eyeing $24 million budget and slight tax decrease for 2021-22

by Noah Zweifel

Superintendent Timothy Mundell stated at the Feb. 22 Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board meeting that the proposed tax decrease is a result of strategic planning regarding the district’s now-complete $19.8 million capital project.

Biden calls on governors to unify in fighting COVID

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

On Thursday, President Joe Biden addressed, remotely, the National Governors Association, which Andrew Cuomo chairs. Biden stressed his theme of uniting Americans and urged support of the American Rescue Plan.

Lansing Farm conserved: Keeping local food accessible and space in suburbia open

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

ALBANY COUNTY — The 20-acre Lansing Farm on Lisha Kill Road — all that remains of the original 1,000-acre farm — in suburban Colonie has been conserved.

Week L: Nursing homes to allow visitors, schools relax rules on quarantine, and B.1.1.7 comes to Albany County

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Falling COVID-19 infection rates have led to the relaxing of rules for quarantining at schools in the county and for the state opening up a variety of economic sectors and allowing visitors in nursing homes.

No contest: Whalen retires as Altamont trustee

by Sean Mulkerrin

All four elected village positions face no opposition in the March 16 Altamont election.

Another county resident dies of COVID-19, more variants in NYS

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that 18 new cases of B.1.1.7 — the highly transmissible COVID-19 variant first identified in the United Kingdom — have been identified in New York State. This brings the state’s total of known B.1.1.7 cases to 154.

GPD reform would have social workers, EMS answer some police calls

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The Guilderland committee for police reform assembled arrest records according to race and found that a much higher percentage of Blacks than there are Black residents in town were charged. This is largely due to arrests of out-of-town suspects made at Crossgates Mall, according to Police Chief Daniel McNally. The public is encouraged to read the draft and respond.

County planning board disapproves of proposed Thompsons Lake Road solar facility

by Noah Zweifel

The disapproval relates to a new regulation passed by the county legislature that requires the county planning board to consider the Helderberg viewshed when reviewing projects, though County Legislator William Reinhardt, who helped develop the regulation, says it may not apply in this case. 

Public hearing set for Altamont Corners expansion

by Sean Mulkerrin

Since the plaza is owned by Jeff Thomas the addition would be an amendment to his existing special-use permit on Altamont Corners, not to the owner of Curry Patta, Nadia Raza.

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