Archive » June 2025 » News

Lack of resources restricts special-needs care

by Noah Zweifel

ALBANY COUNTY — Lack of staff has constrained special-needs organizations’ ability to offer care to Albany County residents, particularly those in remote areas, forcing one mother to consider leaving her home for the sake of her children.  

Guilderland IDA to change procedure for records requests

by Sean Mulkerrin

Donald Csaposs, the chief executive officer of Guilderland’s IDA, had been both its FOIL officer, receiving requests for information, and its FOIL appeals officer, deciding if a records denial should be upheld or overturned. Going forward, the board’s lawyer will serve as the appeals officer.

County gets national award for ‘changing lives and saving lives’

ALBANY COUNTY — Albany County is expanding a program that this week got a national award for preventing drug overdose deaths.

The county’s Mobile Outreach Treatment and Overdose Response, known as MOTOR, program, launched in 2020, has received a National Association of Counties 2025 Achievement Award.

‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ is ‘a love letter to our neighbors’

RENSSELAERVILLE — Last year, Tara McCormick-Hostash had an inspiration.

After directing “It’s a Wonderful Life” at the Guggenheim Theater, she looked out over the lawn of the Hilltown Commons and thought, “This beautiful green slope would be perfect to stage ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream.’”

Ingraining ‘the Earth Care ethic’

NEW SCOTLAND — The Presbyterian Church here has been certified by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) through February 2026 as an Earth Care congregation.

Westerlo woman arrested after dozens of animals rescued from her home

by Noah Zweifel

Tanja Morse, 71, faces 41 charges related to animal cruelty after authorities seized 22 dogs, 15 horses, one cow, and several varieties of birds, all of which were kept without proper nourishment in “deplorable conditions,” according to Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple.

Gebe beats Schanz in Conservative primary

KNOX — Only 21 people voted in the Conservative primary for Knox highway superintendent but Joshua Gebe beat incumbent Matthew Schanz with 57 percent of the vote.

‘Worn but extremely resilient’: Wey envisions a statue of a hiker in Altamont, at the end of the Long Path

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“Our hiking friend,” said David Bourque of the planned statue, “will provide an Instagram moment” for walkers completing the Long Path. He also said, “It’s going to cost three times what the kiosk cost.”

GPD: Neighbor restrains intruder till police arrive

GUILDERLAND — An Albany man entered a Dutch Hill Terrace home, police say, attacking the resident when asked to leave.

A neighbor intervened and restrained the man on the ground until police arrived at about 4:37 p.m. on Monday, June 23, according to a release from the Guilderland Police.

Officials urge caution as region hunkers down during heat wave

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The “feels like” reading is supposed to decrease slightly on Tuesday to 107 degrees in Albany, which is still in the “danger” zone where heat cramps or heat exhaustion is likely and heat stroke is possible with physical activity, according to the Weather Service.

Long-gone Berne building still captivates

by Noah Zweifel

At his home near Warners Lake in Berne, Tom Nagengast built a scaled-down replica of the old Lobdell Mill, where he and many other residents spent time as children. 

City and country kids will explore the Altamont Fair compliments of a $25K state grant

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“People need to see baby animals and have empathy for animals and a knowledge of where their food comes from,” said Pat Canaday of the Altamont Fair. “It’s an ongoing educational project.”

New Scotland is holding out hope for high-speed internet

by Sean Mulkerrin

“Not to sound like the broken record, but I have to bring it up. When, if ever, will we be getting high-speed internet for the six people in the middle of New Scotland South Road,” resident Sharon Boehlke asked the town board during its June 11 meeting.

Lack of changes to Black Creek Run proposal irks some town board members

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

After 50 minutes of questioning the developer’s agents and the town’s engineer, the board scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. at Guilderland Town Hall. The last hearing on the proposal, in November 2023, lasted two hours. All of the citizens who spoke, many of them neighbors of the proposal, were against it.

Planning board balks at Wolanin’s revisions to decade-old proposal

by Sean Mulkerrin

A 2015 approval from the Guilderland Town Board allows Wolanin Companies to construct nine apartment buildings, a mixed-use office and retail building, and a clubhouse with a swimming pool. To date, two of 11 proposed buildings have been built while 64 of 210 apartments have gone up. Wolanin this week attributed the delays and proposed changes to, among other things, financial hardships due to “skyrocketing prices,” as well crew loss, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

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