UPDATE: Escapee David Sweat's Condition Upgraded from Serious to Fair

UPDATE (6/30/15): Statement on David Sweat's Condition from Albany Medical Center Medical Director Dennis P. McKenna, MD:

David Sweat, the individual who recently escaped from Clinton Correctional Facility, remains under the care of physicians at Albany Medical Center.  As of Tuesday, June 30, his condition has been upgraded to fair, an improvement from his condition on Monday (June 29), which was serious.  David Sweat will remain at Albany Medical Center for at least a few days.  Updates on his condition will be provided as appropriate. Security measures continue to be implemented to ensure the safety and security of our patients and their families, our employees, and the public.

From 6/29/15:
Statement on David Sweat's condition from Albany Medical Center Medical Director Dennis P. McKenna, MD

David Sweat underwent diagnostic evaluations at Albany Medical Center Sunday night to further define the extent of his injuries.  Following examination, it was determined by our trauma team that he did not require any surgeries at that time.  The trauma team includes a trauma surgeon, an intensive care doctor, and other specialists.  He was observed and treated for his injuries overnight.  As of Monday morning (June 29), his condition has been upgraded to serious, reflecting an improvement from his condition Sunday night.  David Sweat will remain at Albany Medical Center for at least a few days while his condition stabilizes and updates on his condition will be provided as appropriate.  The New York State Police, working in coordination with the Albany Police, the Department of Corrections and the Albany Medical Center security staff are taking all appropriate measures to ensure the safety and security of our patients and their families, our employees, and the public. 

Here's a bit more on this story.

Julyy 11 ride the rails, riverboat from Albany to Hudson and back

"Rail, River, Hudson!" Returns After Sold-Out Trip. Tickets Going Fast.

ALBANY>> One of the Capital Region's most adventurous backyard expeditions returns to the Hudson River after last summer's sold out trip.

On Saturday, July 11, the publishers of AllOverAlbany.com will lead a full day excursion called "Rail, River, Hudson!" The journey begins with a 25-minute train ride by Amtrak® from Rensselaer to the City of Hudson, and ends with a 2.5-hour sunset cruise from Hudson back to Albany onboard the Dutch Apple II riverboat.

"Taking a day trip down the Hudson Valley by train or riverboat was the Saturday thing to do in Albany until the 1940s," said Mary Darcy, co-publisher of All Over Albany. "We're making it possible for people today to experience what that was like. And it's a lot of fun."

Once in Hudson, the group will be free to explore Hudson on foot, to shop, browse, take in the architecture, and have lunch before catching the boat for a return trip. Trip goers will receive a "Hudson Passport" filled with discounts at shops and restaurants throughout downtown, including The Spotty Dog Books and Ale, Red Dot and Cafe Le Perche. The passport will be valid from July 11 through Labor Day, to encourage return visits to Hudson to claim discounts.

ITINERARY & DETAILS

Rail, River, Hudson!
Saturday, July 11, 2015
10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Cost: $65

10:30 a.m. -- Meet in Downtown Albany on Broadway at the footbridge to the Corning Preserve/Jennings Landing (parking is available in the city garage and costs $5 all-day, not included in ticket price)

11 a.m. - CDTA Special Shuttle to Albany-Rensselaer Rail Station

12:05 p.m. - Amtrak® train to Hudson.

12:30 p.m. - Arrive at Hudson, train station.

12:45 p.m. – Free welcome party with a tasting by Chatham Brewing.

1 p.m. Tripgoers receive their "Hudson Passport." The passport is good from July 11 through Labor Day, to encourage repeat visits to Hudson. Adventurers have time to shop, browse, admire the historic architecture, and have lunch.

4: 00 p.m. - Gather at Helsinki Hudson just off Warren Street for hors d'oeuvres and a tasting of beers by C. H. Evans Brewing Company.

6: 00 p.m. – Meet at the Hudson riverfront and board the Dutch Apple II for a sunset cruise home to Albany, beginning with a close up view of the stunning Hudson-Athens Lighthouse. The cruise includes light dinner fare and dessert treats by Sweet Sue's of downtown Troy, N.Y. Also included are local cheeses and fruits by Honest Weight Co-op.

10:30 p.m. (approximately) - Arrive in downtown Albany by riverboat and de-board at pedestrian bridge to the parking garage.

+ More swag and surprises to be announced.

TICKETS

Cost: Tickets are $65 per person and include all travel costs (bus, train & riverboat), a light dinner during the cruise, complimentary beer and liquor tastings, the cocktail party at Helsinki Hudson, and a "Hudson Passport" book of discounts for food and shopping in Hudson. Passengers can pack lunch or use the passport for a discount at a variety of Hudson eateries. Parking is available through the City of Albany for an additional $5.

Purchase tickets online at AllOverAlbany.com

****
Direct Ticket link: http://alloveralbany.com/archive/2015/06/03/rail-river-hudson-ii )
****

Tickets went on sale Wednesday, June 3. As of today, more than 50 out of 100 tickets have sold. Interested passengers are encouraged to purchase tickets now as the event sold out in advance last year.

For information (for public), contact: Mary Darcy mary@alloveralbany.com

Note: This is a rain or shine event. Tickets are non-refundable. Passengers are strongly encouraged to wear walking shoes. Most of the shopping and restaurants are about a mile from the train station and it's all walking. The return cruise is about 3 hours long, depending on wind and tide.



HERITAGE TOURISM WITH A TWIST (OF LIME)
Making Mirth and Profit With a Light-hearted Take on Local History

"Rail, River, Hudson!" is the latest of several heritage-themed events hosted by All Over Albany in collaboration with local culture promoter Duncan Crary.

During the past four years, the collaboration has created three sold-out immersive heritage tour concepts involving amphibious vehicles, bus-trolleys, party busses, city busses, trains, riverboats and several participating business venues.

+ In 2012, Crary squared off with local tour guide and history buff Maeve McEneny in AOA's "Troy > Albany Aquaduck Tour." The raucous tour travelled between the two cities, with each guide advocating the merits of both places using bits of local history and present-day facts (and opinions) to make their case. The event sold out at 35 tickets for $25. It was one of the final trips onboard the Albany aqua duck vehicle.

+ In 2013, AOA presented "Bad Boys, Broads and Bootleggers" a trolley-bus tour of Albany, Troy and Cohoes highlighting the lore and locations of local gangsters, bosses, gamblers and red light district characters. Also included were three stops a local pubs, restaurants and speakeasies with seedy pasts. The 62-passenger tour sold out twice, with tickets selling at $25.

+ Last summer, AOA's "Rail, River Hudson!" event sold out at more than 106 passengers with ticket prices at $60. (Note: The price of this year's trip is $65).

In 2009, Crary had organized a similarly themed event that brought commuters to and from work, between Albany and Troy, also on the Dutch Apple II riverboat. For "Rail, River, Hudson!" he and AOA envisioned and pulled off a much grander river travel experience.

"All of these events incorporate a celebration of local history, but these tours are not your average school field trip," Crary said. "This is local heritage with a twist... of lime. We make plenty of stops for local beer and treats along the way."

Crary notes that unlike the previous AOA summer tours, this event does not include a narratoin by guide. Instead, the experience is immersive: tourgoers get to experience what it was like to travel between Hudson River cities by train and riverboat.

Darcy says the special brand of AOA events caters to a "psychographic," rather than a demographic --"interesting and interested people who want to have fun and learn more, and who delight in surprises," she said.

Although some critics find the Capital Region lacking in culture or amenities, Darcy said the region already has many of the things people think it still needs, but it does take work to find certain opportunities.

"The Capital Region rewards effort," Darcy said. "We go out and find the cool stories and the cool places. We package that in a certain way, and we bring our people along for a ride we know they'll like."

AOA has built a reliable brand. Yet, getting Capital Region resident to pay full price for entertainment remains a challenge, Darcy said. All AOA events are priced far below their true cost and require partial advertising trades from tour vendors in order to hit the region's perceived price point. For now, that's working out.

Cohoes Public Library to Close Saturdays Starting July 4

From a press statement:

"The Cohoes Public Library will be closed Saturdays beginning July 4th.  “Due to reduced staffing levels, the library is unable to continue its six day per week schedule” explained Library Director Matthew Graff.   

 

Saturdays in the summer are statistically the least used days of the week.  Since the rest of the building is closed for the weekend, this should also result in energy savings.

 

The Library Board of Trustees took this action at its meeting on Monday, June 22.  The board agreed to evaluate the Saturday closures at the end of the summer and possibly switch to eliminating hours on a weekday to permit access to the Library on Saturday by students during the school year.  

 

Effective July 4, the Cohoes Public Library will be open Monday and Wednesday from 10 am until 8 pm, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10 am until 5 pm.  Fines are not charged for days the library is not open."

 

The Library is committed to providing a Summer Read program for the children of Cohoes. Beginning on Thursday, July 9 with "What's the Scoop?" with the cool chemistry of ice cream and continuing on successive Thursdays with Jim Snack, Magical Medieval Machines, the Cohoes Fire and Police Departments, an opportunity to turn everyday items into a computer keyboard and with a an awards ceremony. More details at the Library.

4th Annual Race Events raise $19,000 for 2 Local Organizations, Student Scholarship

The 4th Annual Mastodon Challenge Races were held May 9th, 2015. The 15K USATF Certified Race, 5K Walk Run & Kid's Fun Run brought runners from all over the state as well as Massachusetts, Vermont & New Jersey and as far away as Virginia.

The events' Gold Sponsor, N.H Kelman Scrap Recycling in Cohoes, as well as 2 Gold Media Sponsors, 16 Silver Sponsors, over 30 Bronze sponsors, The Cohoes City School District, and Cohoes Mayor George Primeau & his staff, supported the races in their efforts to promote the City of Cohoes and benefit 2 local organizations - The Cohoes Multi Service Senior Center (CMSSC) and the Cohoes Universal Pre-K (UPK) program.

With the help of generous sponsors and the participation of almost 400 runners, The Mastodon Challenge Races are presenting the CMSSC with $8,000 and the Cohoes UPK Program with $10,000. The check presentation for the UPK program will be held June 22 at Abram Lansing Elementary School at the UPK graduation ceremony at 9:30am. Check presentation for the CMSSC TBA. In addition to their friends at the Senior Center and The UPK program, the organization officials said they would like to announce the addition of a scholarship of $500 to be awarded to a Cohoes High School Senior Athlete involved in Community Service.

Retired Truck Driver Wins $635,000 Verdict Against Manager of Fulton Speedway and Race Car Driver

 An Onondaga County jury awarded the sum of $635,000 to Frederick Knight Thursday for serious injuries he suffered in September of 2009 at Fulton Speedway. Knight, of DeWitt, is a 75-year-old retired truck driver. At the time of the accident, Knight was in the “pit area” behind the race track, waiting to watch his son race later that evening, when he was struck by a race car moving in reverse. Knight’s lawsuit named Circle L LLC, the corporate manager of Fulton Speedway, and the driver of the car that struck him as defendants. He claimed that the race track owners were negligent for not having a designated traffic pattern in an area known to have pedestrians walking through it, and that the driver was negligent for driving too fast in reverse.

Knight’s attorney, Timothy Murphy of the law firm of Hancock Estabrook, said, “Mr. Knight was forced to endure seven different surgical procedures and was in the hospital for almost three months as a result of the accident. He suffered a broken right hip that required surgery and, as a result of multiple subsequent infections, is now confined to a wheelchair.” 

“Fred is thrilled about the outcome of the trial,” said Murphy. “The jury did an excellent job of determining the facts in this case and we are very pleased that they found in favor of Fred after all that he has been through."

Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market at Riverfront Park in Troy This Saturday

 The Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market will be moving from River Street—but just for one day.

On Saturday June 20^th, The Market will be held at Riverfront Park, while the Troy River Fest will take place at The Market’s usual River Street location.

“We are happy to collaborate in order for people to be able to participate in all of the exciting activities happening in the City of Troy,” said Audrey Parker, Assistant Manager of Promotions for the Troy Waterfront Farmers' Market. “It will give our customers and vendors a great opportunity to shop and enjoy the Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market right by the river this Saturday, and we expect a large turnout as usual.”

During the outdoor season, The Troy Waterfront Farmer’s Market attracts between 6,000 and 8,000 people to Downtown Troy each week.

The Market has set a record this year, with 83 producer-only vendors participating in the 2015 outdoor season – 81 from New York and one from both Vermont and Massachusetts. Vendor offerings range from fresh produce, meats, dairy, baked goods and other foodstuffs, to prepared foods, artisan wares, flowers, plants and household items.

The Troy Waterfront Farmers’ Market is open each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine. The Market will continue to accept debit and EBT cards, and tokens will be available at the Market Table. There will be free parking in the Uncle Sam, State Street & 5th Avenue parking garages.

Cohoes Mayoral Candidate Dianne Nolin Calls For Tax Cap Extension

From a press release Tuesday:

Dianne Rigney Nolin, Cohoes Council Member and Mayoral Candidate has called on the New York State Legislature and Governor Cuomo to pass legislation this week to extend the Tax Cap which was instituted in 2012.

“Since 2007 I have served as a council member including serving as Vice President and President of the Cohoes Common Council. I am pleased to state that Cohoes has stayed below the Tax Cap even prior to its establishment, and I firmly believe that taxpayers in Cohoes and in many other communities throughout New York State are in need of real property tax relief.”

In spite of the lack of meaningful mandate relief, Cohoes is meeting its responsibility to taxpayers by utilizing efforts such as shared services with our 911 system and working off a simple philosophy – you can’t spend what you don’t have.   This is a simple but often lost philosophy and one that I will continue to work under if elected this fall with the support of the residents of the City of Cohoes. I firmly believe that we can expand our shared services agreements with other local governments, many of which have been held up by others under the fear of downsizing government and maintaining jobs.  What is not realized is that we can downsize government working together, and allowing for natural attrition to provide opportunities to reduce spending and continuing or enhancing services.   This is a focal point of the Nolin Administration and one that I am committed to once in office.

Now though we need the Governor and the NYS Legislature to extend the tax cap for the next three years.  With two days remaining in the legislative session, now is the time to act.

NYS Museum Announces $14M Gallery Renovation Project

Monday, State Museum Director Mark Schaming presented a master plan for the renovation of the Museum's galleries to the New York State Board of Regents. The master plan calls for 35,000 square feet of new exhibitions, a changeable wall system and new interactive technology and media. Click here to read the master plan, which includes artist renderings and floor plans. 

There has not been a major renovation of the galleries since the Museum moved to its current space in the Cultural Education Center in 1976. A chief goal of the Museum's mission is to serve the educational needs of New Yorkers - the renovated galleries and new exhibitions will offer a more integrated, updated and memorable educational experience for all visitors.

"We are excited to create new galleries and exhibitions for visitors to experience. However, while there will be new exhibitions, we are keeping the best of our current exhibitions, including the World Trade Center exhibition, the A-Train, Sesame Street, the Cohoes Mastodon, Native Peoples of New York Hall, and Discovery Place," according to a statement from the museum.
 

The renovation is funded through a $14 million New York State capital bond item. With the master plan complete, the next stage is the exhibition design process. The renovation is expected to occur over a four-year timeline and will be completed in multiple phases. The Museum will remain open throughout the project, although certain gallery spaces will be closed temporarily while undergoing renovation. 

The Museum encourages the public to participate in the renovation project by submitting their suggestions and feedback to museuminfo@nysed.gov. In addition, the Museum will provide regular project updates through the Museum's website, social media accounts, and email newsletter. 

Check the Museum renovation webpage for the latest information on this project!

Latham's Sonic Drive-In Hosts Job Fair This Weekend

SONIC Drive-In Hosts Three-Day Job Fair for Latham Location Staffing

Microtel Hotel, 7 Rensselaer Ave., Latham, NY 12110

WHO	Latham SONIC Drive-In Management On-Site Contact: Kurt Doolittle (321) 604-5271
WHAT	SONIC Drive-In is seeking qualified full and part-time employees for Latham’s first SONIC Drive-In for the following open positions: ·         Assistant Managers ·         Cooks ·         Crew Members ·         Skating Carhops Interested applicants should bring a driver’s license, social security card and resume, and should be prepared for an immediate interview. All applicants are encouraged to complete an online application in advance atwww.sonicdrivein.com/jobs/drivein. Latham SONIC representatives will be onsite to conduct interviews and discuss benefits, salary, hours, and any other matters of interest with potential employees.
WHEN	Friday, June 12 through Sunday, June 14 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
WHERE	Microtel Hotel – 7 Rensselaer Ave, Latham, NY 12110 Just off Northway at Exit #7 behind the Mobil gas station on Troy Schenectady Road
WHY	Latham’s first SONIC Drive-In is scheduled to open in late June, and management is seeking friendly and enthusiastic employees to help bring a new dining experience to the Latham community. Staff training will begin around June 15. Latham’s first Drive-In will be located at 701 Troy Schenectady Rd., Latham, NY 12110. This and other Albany area drive-ins will be operated by Kurt Doolittle and Frank Fata, who will be on-site to oversee the job fair and meet with candidates.

Albany Public Library Honored with Program of the Year Award for “Albany History Race”

ALBANY, NY—Albany Public Library (APL) received the 2014 Upper Hudson Library System Adult Program of the Year Award for the “Albany History Race” program at a ceremony on June 10. APL is the largest library in the system that includes 29 public libraries in Albany and Rensselaer counties.

“Albany History Race” was a one-day team competition involving quick visits to many historic buildings and sites in the city of Albany that took place last November. The goal of the program was to introduce people to the library’s local history collection in a fun and social way, by joining a scavenger hunt with the popular television show “The Amazing Race.”

“Local History Librarian Jim Davies combined an old-fashioned scavenger hunt with intriguing pieces of history into an entertaining and immersive program for adults,” said APL Executive Director Scott Jarzombek. “The ‘Albany History Race’ not only led participants to many noteworthy sites around Albany, but it also utilized dozens of historic photographs, maps, and books from the library’s collection. The very modern addition of live event coverage on the library’s social media platforms, provided by eLibrarian Deanna DiCarlo, brought the program into the hands of those watching from the sidelines.”

The program was recognized for strengthening APL’s reputation as a curator of local history, forging relationships with local businesses, delighting passionate history buffs, and engaging library followers. During the race, teams used mission clues, based on items from the library’s collection, to identify and drive to 12 spots around Albany, including the old YMCA building on North Pearl Street, former Cataract Brewery on Park Avenue, and a trolley pole that still stands on Quail Street. The teams documented their visits to the clue locations with digital photos. Once all clues were deciphered, and locations visited, teams raced to McGeary’s Pub to determine the winners. The top three teams received bragging rights and prizes, which were procured from local businesses, including the Albany Heritage Area Visitors Center. Armchair racers followed the teams’ progress via the library’s Twitter and Instagram feeds.

The second annual "Albany History Race" is set for Saturday, Sept. 26, and will feature a dozen new historic locations. For more information, please email localhistory@albanypubliclibrary.org. Team registration will begin Sept. 1 through the library’s events calendar onwww.albanypubliclibrary.org or by visiting http://tinyurl.com/p94q2uu.  

Troy Woman Sentenced for Animal Cruelty

District Attorney P. David Soares announced Thursday that RACHEL FASNACHT, 24, of Troy, was sentenced to 60 days in Albany County Correctional Facility, in addition to a 3 year term of probation, before the Honorable Judge Kretser in Albany City Court this morning. A primary condition of the probation term is that FASNACHT not possess or reside with animals. FASNACHT also forfeited rights to any animals that were seized and will be ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution to the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society for housing and care of the surviving animals. She will be required to register on the Albany County Animal Abuser Registry. 

On April 2, 2015, FASNACHT pleaded guilty to violating (1) Count of Torturing or Injuring Animals by Failure to Provide Proper Sustenance, a misdemeanor under NYS Agriculture and Markets Law 353, after intentionally depriving and failing to provide proper sustenance to four dogs and nine cats. 

On June 19, 2014, members of the Albany Police Department responded to a residence on South Pine Street in the City of Albany, to find unfit and unsanitary living conditions deemed unsafe for human and domestic animal habitation.  Police found four dogs and nine cats at the residence and transferred them to the Hudson Mohawk Humane Society for care.  One of the animals was so badly malnourished that he had to be euthanized.

After an investigation, police were able to identify FASNACHT as one of the persons responsible for care of the animals.  

On March 27, 2015, co-defendant DERIC PETERSON, 31, of Troy, was sentenced to 60 days in Albany County Correctional Facility, in addition to a 3 year term of probation, before the Honorable Judge Kretser in Albany City Court, after previously pleading guilty to the same charges as FASNACHT.  PETERSON also faces the same conditions of probation to not possess or reside with animals and forfeited rights to any animals that were seized from the home. 

Assistant District Attorney Jennifer McCanney of the Special Victims Unit prosecuted both of these cases.          

Emergency Work to Start on Water Main in Cohoes Tonight

Mayor Primeau is advising residents that the Department of Public Works crew will begin emergency work starting at 10pm tonight (June 11th) on a 24" main water feed line that has been compromised around the intersection of Mohawk and North Mohawk Streets. Crews will continue to work throughout the night until repaired.

The water supply will be shut off from the downtown area through the North section of the city (approximately Remsen Street to Manor Avenue) until the crews can fix the break. Although this is deemed an emergency, there is NO need for a 'Boil Water Advisory.'

City officials apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and thank you for your patience during this emergency situation.

Cohoes Library Tax District Defeated

By Danielle Sanzone
dsanzone@digitalfirstmedia.com
@DanielleSanzone on Twitter

COHOES >> The Cohoes Public Library will continue to be funded directly by the city of Cohoes and indirectly through taxpayer funding following a vote Tuesday night in which the proposal to create a tax district for the library was defeated with 68.9 percent of the votes.
“We are disappointed in the result but are happy that we significantly raised awareness of the library in the City of Cohoes. We thank all who voted and will continue to serve the Cohoes Community,” said library director Matthew Graff in a statement Tuesday night.
With a larger turnout than the recent school budget vote in May, the vote was 876 against and 394 in favor. Last month, a total of 638 voted in the Cohoes school budget vote.
With the vote, it is expected that the library will close Saturdays, further cut new materials, cut summer reading to 2 programs, increase fines/fees, stop technology upgrades, reduce public access to computers, and cut staff, officials said prior to the vote.
If it had been approved, the library would have been authorized to have a $514,000 budget with $490,000 from community-based funds. This would have meant an average homeowner would have paid an estimated $97 for the year.
“It’s not just about the new tax issue,” said Erin Vohs, a Cohoes resident for 23 years. “Enough is enough.”

(Vohs in front of Van Schaick Elementary School, her polling site)

She and many other residents voiced their disapproval of an additional tax and of the plan for financing the library. Instead of a school district public library tax district, some residents said the library should consider non-profit status or downsizing.
“I cannot support this idea,” said Steve, a 26-year resident of Cohoes. He was one of several who wished to not use his last name. “I used to use the library and it was quite nice, but they need to broaden their catalogue by joining a larger library association. And the electronic age is catching up on the print medium.”
The Cohoes Public Library, which was founded in 1880 as the Cohoes District School Library in the  present-day Cohoes Music Hall, is part of the Upper Hudson Library System. It has access to about 65,000 print and digital resources with books in the collection along with e-books and movies, library officials said.
The library, located on Mohawk Street since the 1970s in the former St. John’s Episcopal Church, was housed in the city hall for a time and it has been funded through the city budget for decades. It has lost five morning hours per week and cut programs due to funding issues. In 2008, there were 43 programs for babies to 5-year-olds, and, in 2014, there were none. In 2008, there were 28 summer reading programs with 338 kids. In 2014, there were 7 programs with 108 fewer children, library officials added.
A 17-year Cohoes resident named Donald, who also did not want to give his last name, said he usually does not vote on these types of referendums but he wanted to help the library.
“I voted in favor of the new district,” he said. “I think the idea of a new tax got people excited but I think the fear that the library might close brought a lot of people out, too. It was a hard vote - I really thought about it. If the library was gone, we’d be at a loss.”
Graff noted in a prior interview, though, that the library is not in danger of closing.

(A sign against the library district, across the parking lot of the Van Schaick school)

Some at the polls Tuesday felt that there were miscommunications about the vote and felt that the library could have done a better job of getting out information.
Library officials stated that multiple public meetings were held and information was posted on the library website.
City comptroller Mike Durocher said the current 2015 library budget is about $245,000. Both he and Graff pointed out, however, that what is budgeted and what is allocated fluctuates.
Prior to the results being known, some speculated that the budget would not pass due to the process being made political including how some people’s names and photos were used after they had signed a petition circulated by the Friends of the Cohoes Public Library which stated “I support stable funding for the Cohoes Public Library”. Under that heading and above where people could sign, a paragraph said: “By signing below, you are saying you support the upcoming district vote for the Cohoes Public Library, agree to have your name listed with ‘Cohoes Taxpayers for a Stronger Library’, and give the campaign committee permission to use your name in materials supporting the vote.”
The library then received complaints from multiple people whose names were used in a flyer prior to the vote since they were not directly contacted about using their names and/or photos.
“They signed the petition and maybe then changed their mind in the meantime,” said Carol Clingan, the library board president.
Graff added: “It was not in fine print. It was not hidden.”
The library leadership has also already been looking at moving to a new location but an ideal site has not yet been found, Graff said in a prior interview.
Regarding the future of the library, a statement Tuesday said: “We are stretched for staff and resources and will do our best to continue to serve the people of Cohoes to the best of our ability. The Board will now regroup and review our options.”

Danielle Sanzone may be reached at 290-8362.

Related link:
http://www.troyrecord.com/general-news/20150608/spindle-city-residents-to-vote-on-creating-tax-district-for-cohoes-public-library
http://www.cohoespubliclibrary.org/index.php/about/history/

Cohoes Mayoral Candidate Says Library Vote Plan is not "Clear-Cut"

COHOES, N.Y. (June 6, 2015) — Shawn Morse, Democratic candidate for Mayor of Cohoes, has released the following statement ahead of the June 9 vote to create a tax district for the Cohoes Public Library.

“The Cohoes Public Library provides us with important resources for educating our youth, and fostering creativity and intellectual growth in our community. The quality of our library services are key to maintaining an integrated and informed community dedicated to progress and development. By investing in our Library, we are investing in our future, and taking strides toward bringing in new jobs and making Cohoes a better city for families.”

“Although the Library has operated with less funding in recent years, it still continues to provide our community with an array of robust programs and services that give patrons free opportunities for education and enrichment. In order for our library to be capable of providing us with the classes, services, and materials we rely on it for, we must come up with a plan to create a stable, sustainable source of funding. In addition, there must be a clear purpose and attainable set of goals for spending that money.”

“The Library’s Board of Trustees has put forth a voter initiative that would enable the Library to set its own taxes in order to meet the needs of its employees and patrons. While I understand the Library’s desire for independence and expansion of its programs, appropriating additional taxpayer money without a clear-cut, comprehensive plan to implement the funds would be inadvisable. In addition to my lack of confidence in the Library’s plan for appropriating said new fees, I do not see the Library’s current location as sustainable. The building is in need of various repairs, and is inefficient to maintain and heat during the winter months. I would like to explore opportunities to provide the Library with a more appropriate building.”

“Providing Cohoes with the best public services available will always be of my utmost concern, and that includes ensuring that our Library is properly funded and maintained. The Library opened many doors to knowledge and learning for me when I was growing up in Cohoes, and today it is giving the residents of Cohoes brand new windows of opportunity. As Mayor, I look forward to restoring a sustainable, fully equipped Library for the entire City of Cohoes to enjoy.”

Winning TAKE 5 Ticket Sold in Schenectady Cumberland Farms

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. -- The New York Lottery Monday announced a top prize winning ticket for the June 5 TAKE 5 drawing was sold at Cumberland Farms at 1269 Highbridge Road in Schenectady. The winning ticket is worth $84,909.50. In addition to the $84,909.50 top prize for the June 5 TAKE 5 drawing, which was won by matching five out of five numbers, 211 players each purchased winning tickets worth $603.50 by matching four out of five numbers for the drawing.  In total, there were 109,494 TAKE 5 winners for the June 5 drawing. The winning numbers for the June 5 TAKE 5 drawing were 05-06-28-32-36. The Lottery encourages everyone who bought a New York Lottery draw game ticket, to check their tickets again, as they could be holding a winner. Tickets expire one year after the game’s drawing. The winners may claim their tickets at any one of the Lottery’s Customer Service Centers statewide, including the Schenectady office at One Broadway Center, Schenectady, NY 12305. To learn more about how to redeem a prize, click here. The five winning numbers for TAKE 5 are drawn from the set of 39 available numbers every day at 11:21 p.m.  To download the free winning numbers app, click here.

New York State Breweries Team Up for Unprecedented Fundraising Effort

From a press release:

Now brewing exclusively in Clifton Park, NY -- Monday, June 8, 2015 -- The craft brewing industry continues to boom with astonishing growth across the country. Regionally, unprecedented brewery collaborations are proving that strength in numbers is a recipe for success. For the first time in the state's history, New York now has an official state beer (Statewide Pale Ale) handcrafted by the hardworking brewmasters of 10 premier NYS breweries, including Shmaltz, Community Beer Works, Empire Brewing, Lake Placid Brewing, Crossroads, CH Evans, Mad Jack Brewing, Browns, Rare Form Brewing and others.

On May 27 at Shmaltz Brewing Company (Clifton Park, NY), brewers united for the special brew day and teamed up to raise funds for the New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA). A projected $20,000 will be donated from state draught sales from local brewpubs, the breweries' tasting rooms, and select bars. Statewide Pale Ale will be available starting on June 11, 2015.

Statewide Pale Ale is a bright and crisp pale ale brewed with all NYS 2-row malt sponsored by Pioneer Malting, Inc., as well as other American malt favorites, hopped with a burst of warrior, simcoe and mosaic and dry hopped with NYS cascade donated by Country Malt Group. 

"What a fun day we all had for this first ever NYSBA fundraiser collaboration," says Jeremy Cowan, Founder of Shmaltz Brewing. "10 NYS breweries hanging out with our brewers and production staff all for a great cause -- more beer! Shmaltz has always loved to work with other breweries and this was such a treat -- and a great success. Beer enthusiasts will be able to enjoy Statewide Pale Ale all across New York from small brewpubs and nanos to regional powerhouses and everyone in between. Brewing more to raise awareness and funds to support the wider growth of the local small businesses -- cheers to that!"

Paul Leone, Executive Director of the New York State Brewers Guild, adds, "Statewide Pale Ale is the first fundraising beer ever made for the NYSBA and we are so happy that Shmaltz took the lead on starting this program. This amazing Pale Ale showcases a unique flavor profile brought together by the collaborative effort of a very talented group of brewers from all over the state. I hope everyone gets a chance to buy a pint of this exceptional beer."

On June 9, over 30 NYSBA members will descend on the state capital for the annual Albany Hill Climb to discuss current issues and policy initiatives with their elected representatives. Following the day-long activities will be a reception at the Legislative Office Building Well featuring craft beers from each brewery. Statewide Pale Ale debuts at the mini beer fest followed by its official public launch on June 11 between 4pm - 6pm at the Shmaltz Brewing Company Tasting Room at 6 Fairchild Square in Clifton Park.
Please join the celebration of this milestone partnership in New York's brewing history, and toast a Statewide Pale Ale at a brewery or bar near you!

About New York State Brewers AssociationThe New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA) is a 501 (c)6 and was co-founded in 2003 by David Katleski of Empire Brewing Company to serve as a promotional and legislative proponent for New York State breweries, microbreweries, farm breweries, brewpubs and brewing affiliated businesses. The growth of the Craft Beer segment continues to be strong and New York State's share of that growth has exceeded that of breweries on the national level.

Several statistics of note:
*The number of New York State breweries grew from 95 in 2012 to 207 in 2014.
*New York State craft beer is currently 3rd in the country with an Economic Impact of $3.5 Billion dollars.
*In 2012, New York State was the 6th largest beer producing state behind California, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Ohio and Oregon.
*New York State craft breweries increased production by 26% from 557,436 in 2011 to 859,536 barrels in 2012.
*Nationally, the craft beer segment grew by 15% in the same period.

The outlook for breweries in New York State remains strong with more breweries-in-planning than ever, continued barrelage increases and growth in distribution in and out of state. In addition, with tremendous support from Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislators throughout the State, breweries in New York are enjoying great success and are poised to continue making great beer, increase market share, and create more jobs.

In a measure to ensure continued growth, the NYSBA has appointed Paul Leone as its first ever Executive Director as well as a new Board of Directors with revitalized energy and expertise. With this added level of managerial experience, the NYSBA is working diligently to rival other State's associations and guilds and bring self-sustainability, and profitability to an already strong and vital organization.

About Shmaltz Brewing CompanyRanked in 2013 as one of the "Top 100 Brewers in the World" by RateBeer.com, Shmaltz won 9 Gold and 5 Silver Medals in the World Beer Championships in 2012. A recipient of the "Distinguished Business Award" by the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, Shmaltz was also included in the "Top 50 Fastest Growing Bay Area Companies" by San Francisco Business Times.

Founder and owner Jeremy Cowan established the company in San Francisco in 1996 with the first 100 cases of He'brew Beer® hand bottled and delivered throughout the Bay Area in his Grandmother's Volvo. He'brew® now sells across 37 states, through 40 wholesalers and nearly 5,000 retailers. In 2007, Shmaltz released a new line of craft brewed lagers under the Coney Island® banner. In August of 2013, the Coney Island brand was acquired by Alchemy and Science, a craft beer incubator, owned by Boston Beer (Sam Adams).

After 17 years of being an outspoken cheerleader for contract brewing, Shmaltz recently broke with tradition and opened its own New York State production brewery in Clifton Park, NY, 10 minutes north of Albany's capital district. Shmaltz's new home boasts a 50-barrel brewhouse with 20,000 barrels of annual capacity. The new brewery packages 12 and 22 ounce bottles and kegs of their diverse core and seasonal favorites, and hosts fans and beer tourists in their new tasting room for tours, barrel-aged previews, and special releases.

In 2010/11, Cowan published his small business memoir, Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah: How It Took 13 Years, Extreme Jewish Brewing, and Circus Sideshow Freaks to Make Shmaltz Brewing Company an International Success. A free sampling of Chapter One and suggested beer pairings, can be viewed atwww.craftbeerbarmitzvah.com. In 2012, Cowan spearheaded the creation of the non-profit New York City Brewers Guild (which manages NYC Beer Week) and served as its Founding President.

Cowan also has presented at the 2013 Craft Brewers Conference, as well as previous Great American Beer Festivals, BevNet's Brewbound conference, Beer Advocate's Extreme Beer Festival, the Atlanta and the St. Louis Jewish Book Fairs, and the San Francisco and New York Jewish Museums.

Shmaltz Brewing beers have appeared in such distinguished media outlets as The New York Times, CNN Headline News, Beer Advocate Magazine, NPR's "Weekend Edition," Fox Business News, Men's Health, San Francisco Chronicle, The Jerusalem Report, New York Jewish Week, and Washington Post.

Spring Avenue Bridge in Troy Reopens

Rosamilia: Spring Avenue Bridge reopens

TROY, NY – City officials have announced the reopening of the Spring Avenue Bridge to pedestrian and vehicle traffic on Friday, June 5, effective immediately.

“Thank you to the people of the City of Troy for their patience and cooperation during construction and repair operations” said Mayor Lou Rosamilia. “I look forward to the formal dedication ceremony to PFC Robert C. Felter this summer.”

Details for the dedication will be announced at a later date.