Latham landmark goes up in flames

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 5:40pm

LATHAM - A Latham landmark is likely a complete loss after an afternoon fire.

The Handy Andy Plaza on 155 went up in flames after an electrical fire started on the roof.

The plaza is also home to vintage pizza but it's unclear if the restaurant is gone, too.

Fire investigators don't yet know what caused the fire but contractors were recently working in the building.

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Salon & Spa holds ribbon cutting, grand opening

Submitted by Anna Didio on Thursday, May 16th, 3:00 pm

COLONIE - A year after opening, and with double the staff, Evo Salon & Spa in Colonie is finally ready to celebrate their hard earned success by holding a grand opening ceremony on Thursday, May 16.

“Yes – It’s one year delayed, but this is our opportunity to show the residents of Colonie, N.Y. that we’re here to stay!” explains Dillion.

An official ribbon cutting will take place at 2:30 p.m.

For more information about the salon & spa, click here.

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Tractor trailer accident causes power outages, road closures

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Thursday, May 16th, 2013, 12:27pm

LATHAM - A tractor trailer knocked down four utility poles this morning.

Police say the accident happened on Kunker Avenue, near the Latham Circle.

No one was injured.

Several road closures are in effect for the most of the day.

Kunker Avenue from Route 9 to Old Loudon Road as well as Old Loudon Road from Troy-Schenectady Road to Park Avenue.

No word yet on the cause of the accident.

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Downtown Schenectady holds Merchant Mash Up

Submitted by Anna Didio on Wednesday, May 15th, 3:43 pm

SCHENECTADY – There will be a Merchant Mash Up held in Schenectady on May 16.

Residents can stroll around beautiful Downtown Schenectady as our restaurants and shops join forces for a fun-filled night on the town. Enjoy food tastings, shopping specials, live music & other activities!

New features of the event will be "Try" and "Buy" food tasting options, spend "Mash Cash" at downtown businesses and claim movie tickets, central voting stations...and more!

The mash-up will be held throughout downtown Schenectady from 5-8 p.m.

For event details, click here.

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NTSB: drop BAC threshold from .08 to .05

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013, 11:53pm

ALBANY - The National Transportation Safety Board said on Tuesday they intend to get tougher on drunk driving. With an ultimate goal of reaching zero alcohol related highway deaths, the NTSB proposed lowering the blood alcohol content to determine a drunk driver from .08 to .05.

More than 100 countries around the world have already adopted .05 as the legal standard. European nations that have done that have seen alcohol related fatalities more than cut in half.

Drunk driving kills 10,000 Americans every year. The NTSB thinks this country needs to do better.

"Alcohol impaired crashes are not accidents," says Deborah Hersman, chairman of the NTSB, "They are crimes."

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South Colonie teachers, administrators agree to contract concessions

Submitted by WNYT Staff

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013, 4:22pm

COLONIE - In South Colonie, administrators and teachers have agreed to make contract concessions for the second year in a row.

That includes taking an unpaid school day next year school.

The move will save the district roughly $230,000.

Other staffers have agreed to health insurance and compensation changes totaling $102,000.

The teachers hope the changes will help restore one full section of universal Pre-k and restore additional speech and guidance services.

The district will vote on a school budget May 21.

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Grant Received by Colonie, Bethlehem, and Guilderland Chambers

Submitted by Anna Didio on Tuesday, May 14th, 3:16 pm

COLONIE – The Colonie, Bethlehem and Guilderland Chambers have all received a special grant. Following is more information:

After a highly competitive procurement process, the Community Service Society of New York (CSS) has awarded close to a million dollars in grant awards to 16 business-serving groups to help small businesses in their communities with health care and health insurance problems.
CSS received bids from 36 groups seeking to join its Small Business Assistance Program (SBAP).
SBAP’s statewide expansion is made possible through generous funding from the New York State Health Foundation.

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