Archive » December 2024 » News

Town board pauses on letting Foundry Square proposal proceed

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

While one board member said it feels like the Foundry Square developer is holding a gun to the town’s head, the town planner said there was no threat and the developer has made compromises and will do heavy lifting to solve longstanding pollution and traffic problems.

GHS junior aims to make Diwali a school holiday

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Sarecha has enlisted two of his Hindu friends to help him gather signatures for a petition to recognize Diwali as an academic holiday, a day off from school so they can pray and celebrate with their families.

Altamont examines water options

by Sean Mulkerrin

Rich Straut, the village’s engineer, said Altamont has for the last year been exploring the treatability of the manganese at the Brandle Road wells.

‘Game-changer’: City mushroom farm moves to the country

NEW SCOTLAND — Collar City Mushrooms has moved from Troy to Indian Ladder Farms.

It will sell mushrooms at the Farm Store, which is to reopen on March 15 after being closed because of a fire last September.

Parents call for SRO to quell bullying, antisemitism and for penalty for post

by Sean Mulkerrin

Public comment during the Dec. 9 meeting largely centered on two issues: calls for accountability regarding board member Matthew Bergeron's post-election social media comments and renewed demands, driven in part by bullying allegations, for a school resource officer

GCSD board considers compromise on tax breaks for seniors and people with disabilities

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“We have a high level of [residents] below the poverty line in this district …,” said Meredith Brière. “We have a high number of renters and we have to remember, when giving exemptions, those tax implications end up on the entire population including renters because rents will go up.” Bringing the ceiling up to $50,000, she said, “just seemed really high” while at the same time $29,000 “is really a difficult number to live on.” She went on, “So we came to a compromise of $35,000.”

GCSD faces $3M gap in $130M rollover budget for next year

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“The historical anomaly here is the health-insurance increase,” said AndrewVan Alstyne. “We’re projecting a $2.2 million increase in health insurance. That is unusually large.”

The search is on for new GCSD super, community encouraged to participate

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The goal is to announce the new superintendent by July 1.

Another sex offender moves into Guilderland school district

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

GUILDERLAND — Marie Wiles, superintendent of the Guilderland schools, sent a notice on Dec. 11 to parents and guardians of students, letting them know that a Level 3 sex offender has moved into the district.

Level 3 sex offenders are those, on a three-level scale, deemed most dangerous and most likely to reoffend. 

GCSD panelists explore worth of cell-phone ban

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Guilderland’s forum, billed as a panel on a “distraction-free school environment,” was held the same day that New York State United teachers held a press conference at the capitol in Albany, calling on the governor and legislature to ban cell-phone use during the school day statewide.

Zoners decry flat roof on proposed self-storage building

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The proposal looks to improve stormwater drainage, which currently runs to Route 20. The town’s engineer, Jesse Fraine, said he was still in the midst of reviewing the proposal but told the board, “From what I’ve seen, everything is meeting or at least reasonably meeting" requirements from the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation.

Guilderland Food Mart set to expand

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Consulting engineer Bill Hennessy told the board that the current building is approximately 1,775 square feet and an additional 550 feet will be added.

ZBA raises concerns over Thomas proposal for village center

by Sean Mulkerrin

In 2018, Jeff Thomas sought permission to build three stand-alone buildings containing 26 apartments at 120 Park Street. Six years later, he was back before the village with a different development, but heard many of the same concerns he had years earlier.

Route 85 to be repaved with $1.1M in federal funds

BETHLEHEM — Route 85 between the Cherry Avenue and Blessing Road roundabouts will be resurfaced thanks to $1.1 million in federal funds disbursed by the state.

Paving is to begin next spring.

Historic Altamont aims to preserve a ‘green belt’ around the Victorian village

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“Westmere is lost and McKownville was lost long ago,” said David Bourque, who has lived in Guilderland for 50 years, the last 30 in Altamont. “Voorheesville is on the cusp of being lost to suburbia …. We want to protect Altamont’s unique character.”

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