Archive » December 2021 » News

Atria Guilderland senior living facility sold, name changed

It was just one of four local sales made by Chicago-based Ventas, a real-estate investment trust, to Peregrine Senior Living of Syracuse, according to paperwork filed with the Albany County Clerk’s Office.

Quiet Zone project appears to be back on track

by Sean Mulkerrin

Voorheesville Mayor Rich Straut said on Dec. 21 the Quiet Zone and CSX-Norfolk Southern deal are “kind of attached at this point.”

Masks and rapid tests for COVID distributed throughout Albany County

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple said that both the masks and the tests will be distributed to county municipalities based on population.

Voorheesville just says, ‘No’ on marijuana

by Sean Mulkerrin

Voorheesville trustees said marijuana had been the most contentious issue in the village since the failed proposal to build 40 apartments at St. Matthew’s Church five years ago.

Knox to allow pot parlors and dispensaries

by Noah Zweifel

KNOX — The Knox Town Board has decided not to opt out of New York State’s marijuana law. That means pot shops and parlors can come to town.

The Brunks build their air castles of gingerbread

Jessyka and Keven Brunk are perfectly matched — both as a couple and as creators of fantasy gingerbread marvels.

“Jessyka went to school for painting and art, and so she’s always been very involved with that,” says Keven in this week’s Enterprise podcast.

Leaders say: If you are vaxed and boosted, you can gather for Christmas

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

None of these leaders, from the local, state, and federal levels, minimized the risks of the latest variant of concern, the highly contagious Omicron variant. On Monday, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the Omicron variant now accounts for about 70 percent of new cases in the United States. Rather, they stressed the importance of getting vaccinated and boosted as well as wearing masks.

County gets $350K to expand mental-health crisis-response program

by Noah Zweifel

Two mental-health response teams have assisted over 100 people with roughly 240 incidents as of this month, which serves both those who are experiencing mental-health crises and traditional first responders who are not always necessary to handle those types of emergency calls.

State makes $65M available to counties for new COVID protocols

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The state is making $65 million available to counties to cover costs associated with state protocols — at least $1 million will be available to small counties and up to $2 million for larger counties, Hochul said. The money can be used for purchasing masks, or putting up signs, or setting up call centers for people to make complaints.

Old Songs gets $10K for pandemic recovery

The COVID-19 pandemic has derailed New York’s arts and cultural sector, which before 2020 had accounted for nearly half-a-million jobs and generated around $120 billion for the state. A 2020 study conducted by the Brookings Institution estimates that more than 280,000 creative industry jobs and $26.8 billion in sales have been lost in New York, second behind California, which leads the nation in estimated job loss.

Testing regrid

by Sean Mulkerin

Old Stewart’s Shop reduced to rubble, making way for new restaurant

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The property at 42 South Main St. in the village has been bought, along with surrounding properties, by various limited-liability companies associated with Ed Mitzen.

Governor Kathy Hochul tours the state vaccination center at Crossgates Mall

Hochul visits Crossgates vax site to praise workers, urge boosters

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“We want people to reconnect with their families, so critically important emotionally, particularly for our older residents, people who’ve been suffering from isolation during most of this, we need those connections and there is a very, very, very safe way to do it … which is simply getting people boosted and continuing to wear the mask,” said Governor Kathy Hochul on Saturday.