Archive » March 2023 » News

Déjà vu: Third March storm brought most snow

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

ALBANY COUNTY — After a mild winter while on the cusp of spring, the county has been walloped with three wet snowstorms in quick succession.

The first of the three March storms began on Friday, March 3, and continued into Saturday.

State, county, and town prepare for heavy snow, high winds on Tuesday

Saturday’s snow created a winter wonderland — here on Brandle Road in Guilderland.

But the snow predicted to fall Monday night through Tuesday is expected to be more of a Nor'easter nightmare.

National Grid will install shields on LED streetlights that disrupt some residents

by Noah Zweifel

The Berne Town Board promised to contact National Grid about residents’ complaints that the new LED streetlights being installed are too bright and emit at too broad an angle, allowing the light to get into their homes at night. 

Guilderland spends $100K on new water-monitoring system

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“The need is urgent and this unexpected situation creates a risk for health, public safety, and the conservation of public resources,” said a Feb. 21 memo, outlining the immediate need for a new Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition system.

Albany Community Action Partnership offering free heating oil to qualifying county residents

by Noah Zweifel

The not-for-profit organization will work with low-income residents to determine their energy needs and then help coordinate the delivery with any of the major oil companies in the county. 

More than 100 families who live or work in Guilderland are waiting for subsidized rent

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“The next person we’re going to reach on the waiting list applied in 2019,” said James Mastrianni whose company administers the federal program for the town.

DEC: Burning brush nixed till May 14

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The annual statewide ban prohibiting residential brush burning begins March 16 and runs through May 14.

Since 2009, the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation has enforced the annual brush-burning ban to prevent wildfires and protect communities during heightened conditions for wildfires.

Lack of board apology spurs Crosier's suit

by Noah Zweifel

The law, which would have allowed ATVs and other recreational vehicles to use town roadways, prompted overwhelming criticism of the board and the law at a public hearing on Feb. 20, at which Supervisor Dennis Palow had a resident removed by police despite that resident not violating any rules. The resident’s attorney has since demanded an apology from the board and threatened a lawsuit if it’s not received. 

Gibson to be sentenced 10 to 30 years in plea deal, Sperry family says

by Noah Zweifel

Laura Ingleston, whose sister was killed by Westerlo resident Andrew Gibson in a drunk-driving crash in 2021, said that her family opposes the plea deal because it drastically reduces his sentencing potential.

Albany County receives $6M emergency communications grant

The New York State-administered grant is intended to “enhance public safety through improving and modernizing infrastructure, addressing communications deficiencies, implementing national interoperability channels, and boosting regional connectivity between counties and systems.”

Guilderland criticized for sidewalk cleanup; town proud of response efforts

by Sean Mulkerrin

The Guilderland Coalition for Responsible Growth in an email sent to town board members around 2 p.m., on Sunday, March 5, wrote, “This is a formal notice to the town of Guilderland that a dangerous situation exists because of negligence in maintaining the sidewalks in the town.”

BKW superintendent sees fair skies going into budget season

by Noah Zweifel

Although the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District is dealing with the same economic burdens as schools across the country as well as its own cost increases in areas like insurance, Superintendent Timothy Mundell said that the district is in a good financial position due to its foresight in earlier budget cycles. 

Week CLVI: Federal pandemic help ends, leaving local food pantries in the lurch

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“Inflation is not only driving increased service to community members in need,” said Natasha Pernicka, director of The Food Pantries for the Capital District, “but is also impacting food pantry operations to keep shelves stocked. Our fuel expense to distribute food nearly doubled in 2022.”

Reman writes books by listening to the characters he has created

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

WESTERLO — Lloyd Reman says he has traveled the globe during his career in finance, working with people in 50 different countries.

So many people in the United States, he says, don’t know this world of ours.

Kaitlin Wilson

No opposition in village elections; no candidates for Altamont’s justice court

by Sean Mulkerrin

The incumbent trustees seeking re-election in Altamont and Voorheesville, all of whom were initially appointed to their respective boards, face no opposition for the seats. The position of Altamont village justice will go unfilled as the current justice, Rebecca Morse-Hout, who has served for nearly three decades, declined to seek re-election and no candidate filed a petition to replace her on the bench. 

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