Archive » September 2025 » News

Rallying for truth, Romero secures $30K to prepare teens for museum work

by H. Rose Schneider and Melissa Hale-Spencer

Dorcey Applyrs, Albany’s chief city auditor and the Democratic candidate for mayor, said, “Showing up for causes like this means becoming a target.”

‘Shining star’: Altamont celebrates itself as kiosk is unveiled

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The kiosk, Jeff Perlee said, is “just the first step in a much larger effort to use public-access green space to protect Altamont’s natural and historic character and to make our village the hub of regional hiking and heritage conservation.”

County gets $1.6M to upgrade 911 system

ALBANY COUNTY — Albany County has received $1,639,396 in state funds — part of $85 million in grants awarded to 57 counties across New York — to prepare for implementing Next Generation 911.

BESS failures in decline

by Sean Mulkerrin

On Oct. 7, the New Scotland Planning Board will hear comments on RIC Energy’s request to place an approximately 11,300-square-foot, five-megawatt storage system on seven secluded acres of the 137-acre New Scotland Beagle Club.

County confirms case of typhoid fever at Guilderland Elementary School

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Before antibiotics, 10 to 20 percent of people infected with typhoid fever died of the disease; now, with prompt treatment, the case fatality rate is less than 1 percent.

GCSD super says tennis courts are not unsafe

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The district has not requested an estimate on the cost of replacing the courts, Mayberry said, because it is significant enough that it would have to be part of a capital project, approved by voters.

On cell-phone ban: ‘You kind of have to talk to people now’

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Paarth Sarecha, the student ex-officio board member, raised an issue with the cell-phone ban that had been brought to his attention by art students. “The way these students kind of go through their classes is they take pictures of their art all throughout the process,” he said, adding, “Multiple students came up to me, asking for help.”

NYS stays the course on COVID vaccination

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

Despite changes in federal guidance, the state recommends COVID vaccination for children (6 months to 18 years old), all adults, and individuals at higher risk, including those who are pregnant, lactating, or immunocompromised.

GSCD board grapples with concerns over tennis-court safety

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

“We’ve been notified it’s an issue,” said a school board member. “And so, if we continue to allow usage of these tennis courts, are we leaving ourselves vulnerable?”

“We open the doors every day,” responded the superintendent. “We’re vulnerable every day. So, to a certain degree, the answer is ‘yes’ to that question.”

Inmates claiming abuse during jail ‘shakedown’ seek documents as proof

by Sean Mulkerrin

The Article 78, filed Sept. 12 with the Albany County state Supreme Court by civil-rights law firm Roth and Roth, claims the county unlawfully withheld records related to a “shakedown” incident on Aug. 20, 2024, at Oneida County’s jail, where members of the Albany County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Emergency Response Team (CERT) allegedly inflicted severe beatings on eight incarcerated individuals.

Motorcycle crash fatal for driver

GUILDERLAND — A Ravena man was killed in a motorcycle crash on Thursday afternoon, Sept. 18.

Police responded to a report of the crash at Relyea and Grant Hill Road at about 12:50 p.m. and found the diver, John E. Michaels, 47, on the ground, unconscious and unresponsive, according to a release from the Guilderland Police.

Guilderland comprehensive plan to have major Pine Bush component

by Sean Mulkerrin

On Sept. 16, Supervisor Peter Barber told his fellow board members that he felt it was important “to pull the Pine Bush out for special attention.”

Guilderland’s $48M tentative budget for next year up 4.4 percent

by Sean Mulkerrin

The town-wide tax (its town and highway taxes together) would increase from about $1.38 per $1,000 of assessed value to $1.40 per $1,000, up 1.93 percent.

West Nile virus case confirmed in Albany County

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

About one in five people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhea, or rash. Most people with febrile illness due to West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months.

Town aims to replace leaky water lines, complete Hilton barn

by Sean Mulkerrin

“As everybody is quite aware over the last few years,” Supervisor Douglas LaGrange said during the town board’s Sept. 10 meeting, the 40-year-old Swift Road Water District system has “had a tremendous amount of leaks.”

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