September 29, 2013

Congressman Chris Gibson

I voted "no" tonight on attaching a one-year delay of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to the latest version of a “Continuing Resolution (CR)” because I don’t agree with this approach.

I believe the Senate will reject this CR and we'll be back to square one on Monday, increasing the likelihood of a government shutdown – which I oppose.

From my perspective, the desired end state remains the same - a delay of the Affordable Care Act / Obamacare and a temporary lifting of the sequester - both to January 2015. However, we need a successful strategy to get that implemented and this approach will not do it.

What we should do instead is take the Senate CR and add a simple amendment - overturning the Obama Administration's recent rule providing health care insurance subsidies for Members of Congress and their staff.

The Administration made an exception for Congress to permit these benefits. “Fixing” this problem for Congress before the American people are protected from adverse impacts of the law is wrong.

September 26, 2013

Community Fair Information

Posted on FB 9/26/13

The Castleton Elementary School PTO

Community Fair

Saturday, September 28th, 2013
From 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

The Fair will go on rain or shine at Castleton Elementary School.  Many special events are scheduled through the day, including:
  • Ø  Adrenaline rush obstacle course
  • Ø  Wrecking ball inflatable
  • Ø  18ft Super Slide
  • Ø  Bounce House
  • Ø  Photo Booth with lots of props for fun pics
  1. Ø  Dunking Booth
  2. Ø  Carnival games and prizes
  3. Ø  Pie eating contest
  4. Ø  Face painting
  5. Ø  Pumpkin painting
  6. Ø  Pizza, burgers, dogs
  7. Ø  Cotton Candy, Popcorn, and desserts
  8. Ø  Silent Auction
  9. Ø  Pony rides

WTEN Breaking news. Arrests in Stephentown Party

#BREAKING: Police say the first six - out of what are expected to be hundreds of arrests - are being brought to court now facing charges for being ‘key players’ in the large party that took place at former NFL player Brian Holloway's Stephentown home. The Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office says they expect to arrest between 100 and 200 young people in connection to the party - a record for one case in the county.

Anya Tucker - WTEN is at court where the arrests are taking place & will have more on NEWS10 ABC tonight.

FULL STORY: http://www.news10.com/story/23538163/record-number-of-arrests-to-be-made-in-break-in-party-at-former-nfl-players-home

September 25, 2013

Stock up on Forever Stamps


The U.S. Postal Service has requested to raise the price of stamps by three cents - that would make the price of a first-class stamp 49 cents. 

STORY: http://www.news10.com/story/23525964/cash-strapped-usps-considers-emergency-rate-hike

Many consumers won't feel the increase immediately. Forever stamps bought before an increase still would cover first-class postage. The price of new forever stamps would be at the higher rate, if approved.
The U.S. Postal Service has requested to raise the price of stamps by three cents - that would make the price of a first-class stamp 49 cents. 

STORY: http://www.news10.com/story/23525964/cash-strapped-usps-considers-emergency-rate-hike

Pakistan's Earthquake Was So Powerful It Created a New Island

Twitter: @Senator_Baloch





A major earthquake struck southwestern Pakistan earlier 


today killing over 100 people; injuring thousands more; 


collapsing building and houses; and, incredibly, causing a 


small island to form in the sea off Pakistan's coastline.


September 22, 2013

Brian Holloway hosts picnic after party creates headlines Updated:

Saturday, September 21 2013, 11:26 PM EDT

STEPHENTOWN -- It's the party gone viral, that has left a community outraged. Hundreds of teens broke into former NFL player Brian Hollaway's Stephentown home, leaving behind thousands of dollars in damages, and a line of evidence on social media. And it's that exposure that has parents of the teens threatening to sue Holloway for outing their kids. "I don't see how that makes sense to sue someone when you destroyed their property," Holloway's son Brian
tells us.

Read more...

Mobbed

       
Schodack Valley Pizza Night - Huge crowds of people packed the firehouse for the first Pizza Night of the season. With this month's special- Shrimp & Garlic or Hawaiian- mozzarella sticks, freshly prepared salads and of course-the  wings! 


Next Pizza Night is October 19!


September 19, 2013

East Greenbush man reported missing

Posted: Sep 19, 2013 2:19 PM EDT

EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y. - The East Greenbush Police Department is asking for the public's help finding a man reported missing from his home.
63-year-old John A. Paige, Jr. is a local building contractor with offices located on Columbia Turnpike in Schodack Center, and residence on Ponderosa Blvd. in East Greenbush.
Paige was last accounted for Tuesday around 4 p.m. but has not been seen or heard from since. His family is greatly concerned for his well-being.
Paige is described as a white male, 6'02", 250 pounds, brown eyes, black hair. He was in possession of a company truck which is also missing; a black, 2007 GMC Sierra pick-up truck with New York commercial registration 93800JH. The truck has ladder racks and high-board side tool boxes bearing the company name in white lettering, "PAIGE CONSTRUCTION".
Anyone with information is asked to call 479-2525.



September 17, 2013

CASTLETON'S VILLAGE-WIDE GARAGE SALE

VILLAGE-WIDE GARAGE SALE – our annual village wide garage sale will be held Saturday, September 21st. Applications to be on the map are available at Village Hall. 

Check out photos from previous years.



September 15, 2013

East Greenbush man dies in climbing accident

Posted at: 09/13/2013 9:48 AM | Updated at: 09/13/2013 5:55 PM
By: Dan Bazile

NEW SCOTLAND -- Ronald Czajkowski, 44, of East Greenbush, fell 120 feet to his death early Friday morning at Thatcher Park, according to police.
The Indian Ladder trail at Thacher State Park.
 
File

"He had a harness rope with him. It appears it was human error as far as attaching it to the anchor point on top of the cliff," said Captain John Layton, from the Albany County Sheriff's Department.

Layton said Czajkowski, who had very little experience climbing, came to the park just around sunrise. He said it appears the victim did not have the proper knot on the rope as he was trying to rappel off the cliff.


"He's only been climbing a few times. It's a new thing for him. It's only been over the last few weeks," Layton said.

September 13, 2013

India Gang Rape Case: 4 Men Sentenced To Death

By SHIVANI RAWAT and KATY DAIGLE 09/13/13 11:33 AM ET EDT AP



NEW DELHI -- An Indian court Friday sentenced to death
four men for the gang rape and murder of a young New Delhi woman, ordering them to the gallows for a brutal attack that riveted India, where it became a symbol of the widespread mistreatment of women and the government's inability to deal with crime.


Fire devastates Jersey shore

AP PHOTOS: Fire devastates Jersey shore towns hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy


Furious efforts to restore a Jersey shore boardwalk hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy last year were undone Thursday by a wind-whipped fire that wiped out more than 50 businesses in Seaside Park and Seaside Heights. Firefighters worked for hours to bring the 6-alarm blaze that began in a frozen custard stand under control.

U.S. consulate in Afghanistan attacked

BREAKING NEWS: 

U.S. consulate in Afghanistan attacked

Updated: Friday, September 13 2013, 04:44 AM EDT  

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) -- The State Department says all U.S. personnel are safe after Taliban militants attacked a U.S. consulate in western Afghanistan Friday morning.   The attackers used a car bomb and guns to battle security forces just outside the compound in the city of Herat. It was not entirely clear whether any attackers managed to breach the facility, but at least two Afghans were killed along with five alleged militants.   The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack.   Insurgent strikes have shifted in recent months. Once concentrated in the country's south and east, they now frequently occur in the north and west, which had been the more peaceful areas in years past.   Herat, the site of Friday's attack, lies near Afghanistan's border with Iran and is considered one of the better developed cities in the country, with a strong Iranian influence. 

Read More at: http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/features/top-story/stories/breaking-news-us-consulate-afghanistan-attacked-10862.shtml#

September 12, 2013

Oil spill disrupts traffic near ICC









Written by Emilia Teasdale  
Thursday, 12 September 2013 12:40

KINDERHOOK--State Police are investigating a fuel oil spill at the intersection of Route 9 and Route 9H where a tanker apparently rolled over at about 12:30 p.m. today (September 12).

The traffic circle will be closed until further notice. Police advise motorists to seek alternate routes. A State of Emergency has been declared for a two mile area around the accident site.

Read more...

See more coverage:

http://www.news10.com/story/23415401/tanker-rolls-over-spilling-oil-in-valatie
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10101669800623030

September 9, 2013

Former NFL star's area home damaged after party of 300 teens

Posted: Sep 09, 2013 4:00 PM EDT
STEPHENTOWN, N.Y. - A vacant Rensselaer County home belonging to a former NFL star was trashed after police allege 300 teens broke in, converting the old farmhouse into a wild party house.
Former New England Patriots player Brian Holloway tells NEWS10 ABC he was in Florida on August 31st when he received word that his vacant Stephentown farmhouse was the scene of a large party.
Holloway says he received word of the party from his son, who saw notifications about the party on Twitter, getting tweets that a break-in was going on at the home including drugs, alcohol, and destruction of property. 
The police were called to the scene, where they allegedly found the yard full of cars and around 300 teenaged people running from the home and barns on the property.
Investigators with the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office documented the damage finding walls spray painted, windows broken, floors scuffed by beer kegs and soaked with urine. 
But Holloway says that isn't even the worst of it. He says someone stole an eagle statue that was part of a memorial for his stillborn grandson and very important to his family.

September 8, 2013

Arkansas SWAT officers kill man, 107, in standoff


Posted: Sep 08, 2013 10:53 AM EDTUpdated: Sep 08, 2013 4:03 PM EDT
PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AP) - A 107-year-old man was killed after SWAT officers shot back at him during a standoff at a home, police in the southeastern Arkansas city of Pine Bluff said Sunday.
Police were called to the home Saturday afternoon about a disturbance and say officers arrived to find Monroe Isadore had threatened two people by pointing a weapon at them.

September 7, 2013

Obama Rejects G20 Pressure To Abandon Syria Air Strike Plan

By Matt Spetalnick and Alexei Anishchuk

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, Sept 6 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama resisted pressure on Friday to abandon plans for air strikes against Syria and enlisted the support of 10 fellow leaders for a "strong" response to a chemical weapons attack.

Obama refused to blink after Russian President Vladimir Putin led a campaign to talk him out of military intervention at a two-day summit of the Group of Twenty developed and developing economies in St. Petersburg.

He persuaded nine other G20 nations plus Spain to join the United States in signing a statement calling for a strong international response, although it fell short of supporting military strikes, underscoring the deep disagreements that dominated the summit.

A senior U.S. official said German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the only European leader at the summit who did not sign the statement, held off because she wanted to let the European Union have a chance to weigh in first.
Washington's ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power, made clear on Thursday that the United States had given up trying to work with the Security Council on the issue, and accused Russia of holding it hostage.

September 6, 2013

Two startups find a home in a Schodack middle school basement

Reporter- The Business Review

The Schodack Central School Districtmoved in its first twostartup companies this fall, and Bob Horan is expanding the reciprocal arrangement.
Horan, Schodack’s superintendent, sees dual benefits to giving free space to the two fledgling energy companies, MICROrganic Technologies and Tumalow.
In exchange for the free space (both companies are miles away from generating revenue yet), the owners will give their time to students, and their expertise to faculty members who will develop curricula and experiments based on the companies’ technologies.
Horan said both companies’ technologies fit well with Schodack’s biotech, semiconductor and energy programs.
“It’s a great trade-off,” said Horan, who is preparing to sign on a third startup. The companies’ first introduction to the school community drew 50 faculty members.

Wrecks stop Route 7 traffic

GREEN ISLAND — A two-car accident involving a school bus full of football players halted rush-hour traffic leaving Troy on Route 7 westbound Friday evening, officials and a witness said.
Tom Nastars, who drove by the accident just before the exit for Interstate 787, said it appeared that an East Greenbush Central School District bus had been involved in an accident with a car that "looked like it was completely smashed and had spun around" before coming to rest in the middle of the westbound lanes.
The bus was full of Columbia High Schoolfootball players and coaches heading to a game against Shenendehowa, and Nastars said no one appeared to be injured in the accident. A Colonie Emergency Services dispatcher said one minor injury had been reported shortly after the accident.
The bus reportedly arrived at the field shortly before 6:30 p.m., pushing back the start time by one hour.
The Department of Transportation shut down Route 7 westbound shortly after the accident. The road was reopened at 6:40 p.m., with continued delays, according to the DOT.
Nastars said when he passed the accident just before 6 p.m., traffic had come to a standstill.
Meanwhile, Nastars said a fender-bender on the eastbound side of Route 7 across from the westbound accident had slowed traffic to a crawl. The DOT announced at 5:45 p.m. that the eastbound lanes were closed and motorists should expect long delays.


The exhaust pipe of the bus went right through the car!" said one witness.

Word is everyone is fine.  The team made it to the game, just a little late! 

September 4, 2013

Ariel Castro found dead in prison cell

Tribune staff and wire reports

Ariel Castro, sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping, rape and beatings of three Cleveland women he held captive for years in his house, was found hanged in his prison cell Tuesday night, a state corrections official said.
The former school bus driver, who was under protective custody and isolated from other inmates at the Correctional Reception Center in Orient, Ohio, was found dead at about 9:20 p.m. when prison staff were making their rounds, Rehabilitation and Correction Department spokeswoman JoEllen Smith said.
After prison medical personnel tried to resuscitate him, Castro, 53, was transferred to an area hospital and pronounced dead about 90 minutes later, she said.
Castro was sentenced on Aug. 1 to life plus 1,000 years in prison without the possibility of parole for abducting his three victims and keeping them imprisoned in the dungeon-like confines of his house, where they were starved, beaten and sexually assaulted for about a decade.

Read more... 


CLEVELAND, Ohio — It's been just four months since Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus and Michelle Knight were found in the Seymour Avenue home of Ariel Castro.
Now, the swift-moving story that caught the attention of the world has taken another staggering turn. Castro, 53, was found dead in his prison cell Tuesday night at theCorrectional Reception Center in Orient, Ohio, south of Columbus.