Archive » October 2024 » News

To the rescue: Guilderland opens third EMS station

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The demand for emergency response is growing, with a record 6,717 calls answered last year. “We’ve got an aging population,” Guilderland Supervisor Peter Barber said at the ceremony, “and the key was how do we do it right,” he said of establishing a town-run service.

What’s on your ballot?

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Early voting started on Oct. 26 and runs through Nov. 3. Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and from noon to 8 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. Local early polling places include the Guilderland Public Library, the East Berne firehouse, and the Lynnwood Reformed Church are early polling places.

‘Awesome effort’: Regional Food Bank plans to share Thanksgiving bounty with 30,000 people across six counties

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

In the six counties served by the food bank — Albany, Columbia, Greene, Rensselaer, Saratoga, and Schenectady — 100,000 people are experiencing food insecurity; the Regional food Bank plans to give 55 pounds of food to 30,000 of them for Thanksgiving.

Comments sought on bat conservation plan

The federal Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public response to a plan it has drafted to protect three species of bats in three states: New York, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

Written comments will be accepted for 30 days, from Oct. 29 to Nov. 29.

Lipps stresses safety as Guilderland buses travel over a million miles each school year

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

In another month or so, Lipps said, parents will receive notifications on when a school bus is coming to a bus stop and when the bus has left the stop.

Berne supervisor proposes 19-percent tax increase

by Noah Zweifel

After raising taxes more than 750 percent for this year’s budget, Berne Supervisor Dennis Palow — who lacks a town board after a majority of members resigned over financial and other concerns — is proposing raising taxes 19 percent to roughly $5.49 per $1,000 in assessed value, which would be the highest tax rate in more than a decade.

More red lights will have cameras

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Since the program’s inception in New York City, Hochul said, “Red light running at intersections with cameras has dropped 73 percent. I don’t know what more you need than that data point. The T-bone crashes at intersections with cameras dropped 65 percent.” She also said that last year, in New York City alone, “red light runners killed 29 of our friends, neighbors, and family members. All 29 incidents occurred at intersections without red light cameras.”

County legislature poised to renew Genoa Healthcare contract

by Noah Zweifel

Genoa first partnered with Albany County in 2019 to provide on-site pharmacy services for the county’s Department of Mental Health, causing an uproar among area pharmacies who felt the partnership was impacting their business, and had been forged in a way that was, at the very least, uncouth.  

Romero and Purdy vie for open 109th Assembly seat

by Sean Mulkerrin

Democrat Gabriella Romero faces Republican Alicia Purdy for a seat in the state’s 109th Assembly District made open by Pat Fahy’s decision to run for the State Senate.

Romero first won elected office in November 2021, when she was chosen by residents of Albany’s Sixth Ward to represent them on the city’s Common Council. 

Berne still doesn’t have a town board

by Noah Zweifel

It’s been two-and-a-half months since three of the Berne Town Board’s five members resigned suddenly over concerns about the town’s supervisor, Dennis Palow, yet there’s been no meaningful updates about when the board will resume functioning, even as time runs out on the year’s budget cycle. 

A century of ‘stick-to-itiveness’ as American Legion Helderberg Post 977 helps vets and people in need

by Sean Mulkerrin

“There was considerable enthusiasm shown,” The Enterprise reported the day after the charter meeting, “and the boys all enjoyed the excellent talks given by” a group of local dignitaries. “Considerable enthusiasm” is expected once again as Helderberg Post 977 is due to celebrate its centennial with a formal dinner on Nov. 3. 

‘Agent for change’ Superintendent Wiles to retire in June

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“Even the hardest days,” Wiles told The Enterprise this week, “have the priceless payoff of knowing you’re playing a part in changing the trajectory of lives. In a district this size, that’s close to 5,000 lives. I just feel it is honorable, rewarding, good work to do.”

Holiday lights show coming to Altamont fairgrounds, but not with PAL

by Noah Zweifel

The Altamont Fair will have a holiday lights show put on by Magic of Lights, a private company that produces light shows around the country. Plans to have the event organized by the Police Athletic League, which had put on a holiday lights show for more than two decades and uses the money for charity, fell through.  

Planned Parenthood offers menopause services

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood has launched Menopause Care Services.

Westerlo highway superintendent: Brush challenges Pecylak

by Noah Zweifel

Westerlo Acting Highway Superintendent Dave Pecylak, on the Republican and Conservative lines, is seeking voters’ approval to finish out former superintendent Jody Ostrander’s term, but is being challenged by James Brush on the Democratic line.

Pages