After residents who live close to the site of a proposed cell tower in Altamont said that they had not received proper notification of a “balloon float” test, a second test is planned for Tuesday, Jan. 15.

GUILDERLAND — Principal Alicia Rizzo of Lynnwood has started an unforeseen medical leave of absence that will last at least several weeks, Superintendent Marie Wiles informed parents this week in a letter.

After just three years of waiting, Stewart’s Shops got the village board it wanted, and was able to have the property it owns at  107-109 Helderberg Ave., in Altamont, rezoned so that a new store may be built on the site.

GUILDERLAND — Federal grant applications for improvements to Route 155, Watervliet Shaker Road, and Albany Shaker Road that have been completed recently by Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy and Colonie Supervisor Paula Mahan would improve the portion of Route 155 that is within or close to Guilderland.

ALBANY COUNTY — Building permits for multifamily housing outpaced those for single-family homes in the Capital Region in 2016 for the first time in recent memory, said Mark Castiglione, executive director of the Capital District Regional Planning Commission.

The same trend continued in 2017, he said, but to a lesser extent.

Tod Mell received his $91,290 annual salary from the Guilderland School District from the time that he was placed on administrative leave in April 2018 until Dec. 27. His letter of resignation was accepted by the school board at its Dec. 18 meeting.

GUILDERLAND — Seven police agencies responded when a large group of young men and women were fighting inside the ThinkGeek Store at Crossgates Mall on Friday evening, Dec. 28.

The Guilderland Police responded at 8:20 p.m. and, according to a release from the department, arrested three teens for disorderly conduct:

Don Rittner believes that the Altamont Fair, with its many museums and long-standing traditions, can fill the gap left by schools that no longer teach civics or history. He’s writing a book on the fair’s 125-year history.