House Passes Keystone Bill, Sending It To Obama For Veto

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives passed the Senate version of legislation approving construction of the Keystone XL pipeline on Wednesday, sending the bill to President Barack Obama's desk for an anticipated veto. 

The bill passed by a vote of 270-152.

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Old Glory

Vets speak at BOE meeting about improperly placed flag

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DUANESBURG, N.Y. (NEWS10) – After the American flag was seen tossed in a bin on the floor of a local elementary school, some area veterans were outraged.

Veterans gathered at the Duanesburg Board of Education meeting on Tuesday to ask district leaders to take action after a picture shared online showed an American flag carelessly tossed in a bin.

Solar employs more people per megawatt-hour of electricity than any other energy source

US solar industry employed 173,807 people, up 21.8 percent from a year before
That's 10 times faster than job growth in the overall US economy, which was just 2 percent over the same time period, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Solar jobs now outnumber coal mining jobs two-to-one and are quickly catching up to jobs in oil and gas extraction, as well.

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"His comedic brilliance is second to none."

The iconic Comedy Central host will depart later this year

Jon Stewart, the comedian-turned-faux newsman who transformed The Daily Showinto a cultural powerhouse over the course of 16 years at the anchor desk, is leaving the show later this year.

Stewart announced his coming departure during the taping of Tuesday night’s show, and Comedy Central president Michele Ganeless confirmed it in a statement. It wasn’t immediately clear what Stewart’s next move will be, nor was it clear who would replace him or whether the show will continue.
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Between a rock and a tractor trailor!

 Update:


Man jumps of bridge to avoid traffic!
ALBANY -- Police activity shut down the westbound lanes of I-90 on the Patroon Island Bridge after a man jumped off the bridge to avoid getting hit by oncoming traffic. Officials say the man's car slid into the guardrail on the bridge. When he got out of the vehicle to make his way to the rear of the car, he apparently realized he would be pinned by oncoming traffic, and jumped over the side of the bridge in an attempt to escape. Albany Fire Chief Warren Abriel says witnesses working on the bridge saw the man jump and land on a snow bank more than 50 feet below. They say despite the fall, the man was able to walk up the side of the hill and back onto the bridge, where he was then struck by a tractor trailer going about 25 miles per hour. According to authorities, the man was taken to Albany Medical Center with broken bones in his arms, road rash and lacerations. His condition is unknown at this time.

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Advertise locally - Visitors to the Schodack SCENE could very well be your next customers!

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Snow Emergencies

SCHODACK: The Town of Schodack has declared a snow emergency in anticipation of forecasted weather effective from Noon Sunday, February 8 until Noon, Tuesday, February 10, 2015. No on street parking during this period.  Please place trash and recyclable containers on driveways and not on streets during this period as well.  Thank you for your cooperation.

EAST GREENBUSH: The town of East Greenbush has declared that a snow emergency will be in effect from February 7, 2015 at 6 p.m. to February 10, 2015 at 11 p.m. Local residents are reminded that all vehicles are prohibited from parking on any public streets for the duration of the snow emergency. Also, all garbage cans/ recyclable containers are to be confined to resident’s driveways.

RENSSELAER: The City of Rensselaer has declared that a “SNOW EMERGENCY” will be in effect beginning SUNDAY February 08, 2015 at 8:00pm. No Parking will start on the ODD side of the streets for a 24 hour period. After 24 hours, there will be NO PARKING on the EVEN side of the street. Vehicles in violation of this Local Law will be subject to ticketing and/or towing. The “SNOW EMERGENCY” will be continued until such time that the City of Rensselaer calls off the snow emergency. The City website will have all up to date notifications and cancelations concerning this emergency.
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CANCELLED!

A pipeline through Schodack?  
There is a public information session coming up, hosted by the company Kinder Morgan, on Monday, February 9, from 6 - 8 pm at Green Meadow Elementary.  

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9&20 Diner to re-open under new management!

After some minor renovations 

Christakts Mikilliats will re-open the 9&20 Diner  at  1842 Columbia Turnpike at the end of March or Early April!

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Day after day, after day!

Boston, Albany, N.Y. and Worcester, Mass. are among the cities where a foot or more of snow could pile up.

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Severe weather...really? Come ON!

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Murder!

Updated: Friday, February 6 2015, 10:26 PM EST 

Tiffany Van Alstyne indicted for murder of Kenneth White ALBANY -- Albany District Attorney David Soares announced on Friday that Tiffany Van Alstyne, 20, had been indicted for the murder of 5-year-old Kenneth White. Van Alstyne was indicted by a grand jury on two counts of second degree murder and one count of first degree manslaughter. She's accused of killing her cousin Kenneth on December 18th near the home on Thacher Park Road in Knox where the boy was living with his aunt, Van Alstyne's mother. Van Alstyne is expected to be arraigned in county court sometime next week.

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High Traffic areas chosen for red light cameras

Updated: Friday, February 6 2015, 05:54 PM EST

ALBANY -- After months of debate and review, Albany has selected the locations where 20 red light cameras will be installed. The intersections were announced at a meeting with the Albany Police Department on Friday. 

According to authorities, the locations selected are: 

Second Avenue and Frisbee Avenue 

Central Avenue and Colvin Avenue 

Central Avenue and Henry Johnson Blvd. 

Central Avenue and King Street 

Central Avenue and Quail Street 

Delaware Avenue and Holland Avenue 

Everett Road and Watervliet Avenue Extension 

Henry Johnson and Clinton Avenue 

Lark Street and Madison Avenue 

Madison Avenue and North Main Avenue 

Madison Avenue and New Scotland Avenue 

Madison Avenue and Quail Street 

Madison Avenue and South Pearl Street 

New Scotland Avenue and Ontario Street 

New Scotland Avenue and Manning Blvd.

 Northern Blvd. and Shaker Road 

Russell Road and Western Avenue 

Washington Avenue and North Main Avenue 

Washington Avenue and Quail Street 

Western Avenue and Brevator Street

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Pipeline Opponents Form Multi-state Alliance

Concerned citizens from three states and over two dozen organizations have joined forces to fight the proposed Kinder Morgan Tennessee Gas Pipeline Northeast Energy Direct (NED) project. The group’s current members hail from New York, Massachusetts and New Hampshire and call themselves The StopNED Coalition to reflect the regional scope of their mission.  “NED is a massive pipeline, extending over 350 miles from Pennsylvania to eastern Massachusetts, and the impacts to homeowners,

Schodack Island State Park

Cindy Schultz / Times Union) 

Winterfest was held on Saturday at Schodack Island State Park in Schodack Landing. Events included ice skating, snow shoeing and a scavenger hunt.

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A pipeline through Schodack?

There is a public information session coming up, hosted by the company Kinder Morgan, on Monday, February 9, from 6 - 8 pm at Green Meadow Elementary.  The original plan for expansion was along the existing pipeline route, and that crosses through Schodack from west to east.  Now the company wants to lay the new pipe along a power line right-of-way, and with this alternative plan they are planning to build a new compression station in Rensselaer County, quite possibly in Schodack.  The same company has a compression station along Route 66 in Chatham already. The company's filed plans show that the compresssion station could be in the area between Routes 9 and 20 (south of the split) kind of near Shufelt Rd.

Watch this video for more information.

MONDAY — FEBRUARY 9, 2015 — Castleton-On-Hudson, NY
NEW LOCATION (formerly Nassau, NY)
February 9: Schodack, NY
Green Meadow Elementary School Cafeteria
234 Schuurman Road, Castleton-On-Hudson, NY 12033

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A pipeline through Schodack?

There is a public information session coming up, hosted by the company Kinder Morgan, on Monday, February 9, from 6 - 8 pm at Green Meadow Elementary.  

The original plan for expansion was along the existing pipeline route, and that crosses through Schodack from west to east.  Now the company wants to lay the new pipe along a power line right-of-way, and with this alternative plan they are planning to build a new compression station in Rensselaer County, quite possibly in Schodack.  

The same company has a compression station along Route 66 in Chatham already.

The company's filed plans show that the compression station could be in the area between Routes 9 and 20 (south of the split) near Shufelt Rd.

Watch this video for more information.

MONDAY — FEBRUARY 9, 2015 — Castleton-On-Hudson, NY
NEW LOCATION (formerly Nassau, NY)
February 9: Schodack, NY
Green Meadow Elementary School Cafeteria
234 Schuurman Road, Castleton-On-Hudson, NY 12033

What could possibly go wrong?  Read more...

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Elderly Schodack man assaulted and robbed

Wednesday, January 28 2015, 06:22 PM EST UPDATED SCHODACK -- Schodack Police are still at the scene of a home invasion in Schodack. It happened Wednesday afternoon at 2639 Reno Road near Miller Road. According to Schodack Police, the victim was an elderly man who was attacked by another man. The attacker took off with a wallet before police arrived. It is unknown if the victim knew his attacker. No description is available for the suspect. The victim was "hurt pretty bad" according to police and was hospitalized for his injuries.

Update: Police are searching for the suspect involved in a robbery that left one person seriously injured.
The robbery happened at 2639 Reno Road, late Wednesday afternoon.
Police say an older man was robbed and assaulted while working on the property. He was taken to the hospital.
Police do not believe the suspect is still in the area. He’s was last seen wearing a bright orange ski mask.

Anyone with information can call Schodack Police at (518) 477-7973.

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Schodack Island to Host Winterfest

 Frozen Dog Days of Winter:

Schodack Island to Host Winterfest

Who: Schodack Island State Park, 
What: Winterfest 2015
When: January 31, 2015 from 11:00am to 4:00pm
Where: Schodack Island State Park, located on Route 9J, between Castleton-on-the-Hudson and Schodack Landing

Details: Schodack Island State Park, in conjunction with the 

Friends of Schodack Island, will host Winterfest 2015 on Saturday, January 31 from 11:00am to 4:00pm. This event is free and open to the public. 

ICC seasoned teacher speaks against the Common Core

Teacher emotionally asks to opt out of Common Core testing

Updated: 01/21/2015 9:49 AM  Created: 01/20/2015 11:44 PM WNYT.com By: Anna Meiler

VALATIE - A new Siena Poll shows 49 percent of New Yorker voters want the Common Core stopped.
On Tuesday, the fight against the curriculum became emotional at the Ichabon Crane Middle School.

Annual Superbowl Drive-through Sub Sale

Castleton Volunteer Ambulance
Sub Sandwich Sale

 For many football fans in the area, the Superbowl just wouldn't be the same with a stop by The Castleton Volunteer Ambulance Superbowl Sub Sale.

The Ambulance company will again be having their sub sandwich sale - Super Bowl Sunday, February 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The 12 inch subs are $7.00 each, and are available with ham, turkey, roast beef, or Italian mixed. Call or text  Jan Dikant at 944-3165. to pre-order. Drive through the ambulance garage, to pick up your order before you head to the game!

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Money and influence shape public policy for the benefit of private agendas

The speaker of the New York State Assembly, Sheldon Silver, was arrested on federal corruption charges on Thursday and accused of using the power of his office for more than a decade to secure millions of dollars in bribes and kickbacks and then covering up his schemes, according to court documents.

Albany Medical Center receives $130,000 donation

Updated: 01/20/2015 8:34 PM  Created: 01/20/2015 6:53 PM WNYT.com  By: WNYT Staff

ALBANY - The Children's Hospital at Albany Medical Center received a big show of support on Tuesday.

The family of Tyler DeMarco presented a check for $130,000 to hospital staff.

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The race between battery electric vehicle development and hydrogen fuel cell vehicle development is in high gear.

Toyota chose the bully pulpit of the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas to announce that they are making thousands of patents relating to hydrogen fuel cells available on a royalty-free basis.

Apple's praise elevates an app

Ex-Capital Region resident's invention is trendy, instructive

By Larry Rulison Published 8:17 pm, Friday, January 16, 2015

The Capital Region may yearn for success to put it on a par with Silicon Valley. But in 2014, one of the best mobile device app developers in the world was one of us.

Jesse Pickard, who grew up in East Greenbush and attended the Robert C. Parker School and Columbia High School, founded a San Francisco company called Elevate Labs that Apple says made the best free iPhone app in 2014.

Just a reminder from the Anchor

Did you know that The Anchor Food Pantry is also a Thrift store. We have gently used clothes, houseware items, boots/shoes, blankets,sheets and many knick-knacks and assorted goods. 

All proceeds benefit the food pantry.

Odyssey of the Mind needs judges

On March 7, the Rensselaer City School District will host the 2015 Region 4 Odyssey of the Mind Tournament.  This year is set to be a record year for participation, with 108 teams from 36 school districts in Rensselaer, Columbia, and Greene counties registered to take part.  Students from grades K-12 are put into divisions based on grade level, and are given a problem to solve on their own, without assistance from parents or teachers.

MHHS Drama Club to Perform "Cut Loose"

The Maple Hill High School Drama Club is spending much of their holiday break rehearsing for their musical performance on Friday, Jan. 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the High School auditorium. 

Distance Learning Turns Study Hall into a Lesson From a Museum

A group of 6th and 7th graders spent their study hall and time afters school on Dec. 3 learning about biofuels from an educator at the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

As the educator led the lesson, teacher Ed Finney helped students in the classroom. He explained students have participated in a number of similar Distance Learning opportunities, talking to individuals from the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a Smithsonian museum and other organizations.

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East Greenbush Man arrested for Sexual Abuse

On January 14, 2015 the New York State Police arrested GEOFFREY C. HAINES of 8 Celeste Dr., East Greenbush for Sexual Abuse 1st degree and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. The investigation began after a 4 year old child disclosed to her parent that she was touched inappropriately by HAINES.

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Snowmobile crash kills father of 3, coach

East Greenbush resident thrown from snowmobile

By Keshia Clukey

Updated 8:30 pm, Thursday, January 15, 2015

A local softball coach, civil servant and father of three, Robert "Bob" Burns, 45, of East Greenbush, died in a Lewis County snowmobile crash on Wednesday.

"He was just a great guy," said Matt Hayes, a friend who co-managed the fastpitch softball organization East Coast Impact with Burns. "Every single day was about the girls and the family."

Once a year Burns, who lived for his family and teams, took a day for himself to snowmobile, Hayes said. "The one day he gives himself, a quarter of a day, is when the accident happened."

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New Lebanon Junior-Senior High School Advance to Nationals

Updated: Saturday, January 10 2015, 11:32 PM EST 

A look to the Future competition

SCHENECTADY – 26 teams of sixth, seventh and eighth graders are giving us a look into the future. 

Teams competed at Proctors in Schenectady, creating future cities from recycled materials. 

This year’s theme was “Develop a futuristic solution to growing crops within the city.” This year’s winner is the New Lebanon Junior-Senior high School; they advance to the National competition in February in Washington D.C.

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Sheriff hopes laws that hindered Kenneth White investigation will be amended

Updated: 01/08/2015 3:12 PM
Created: 01/07/2015 11:23 PM WNYT.com
By: Anna Meile

ALBANY - The new legislative session at the Capitol comes with new hopes for a lot of people.

The Albany County Sheriff investigating the murder of Kenneth White in Knox hopes the legislature uses this new session to make changes to laws that complicated their investigation.

Sheriff Craig Apple says during those crucial hours when they were trying to find the five year old, they were faced with a huge roadblock from Child Protective Services and now he's calling on the legislature to make sure that never happens again.

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Tech Valley teacher wins Fulbright Award

Leah Penniman 

Updated: 04/24/2014 4:20 PM Created: 04/24/2014 10:44 AM WNYT.com 
By: Jessica Riley

A Tech Valley High School teacher has won a Fulbright Distinguished Award in teaching.

Leah Penniman is a science teacher who will spend six months in Mexico writing curriculum and helping craft projects for use in schools there.

She’ll travel to Mexico City in January 2015. Once she returns in June 2015, Penniman will lead accompanying professional development for aspiring facilitators of the curriculum.

The Tech Valley teacher is one of 43 teachers across the country to receive a Fulbright award to travel abroad.

Penniman was profiled in NewsChannel 13's Today's Women feature in November.

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For birth control, what's old is new again

(CNN)"I can't afford to get pregnant," says 25-year-old Aisha Mukooza.

So every morning, for the past two and a half years, Aisha's been strict about taking her temperature as soon as her alarm goes off at 6 a.m.

"I have my thermometer under my pillow. I take it, and then take the reading and put it in Kindara," Mukooza says.

Public Forum

Public Forum  on Proposed Fracked Gas Pipeline

   Through Rensselaer County, NY

Saturday, January 10, 2015

2 p.m. St. Mary’s Church, Route 20 Nassau, NY

Becky Meier a co-founder of “Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline” will narrate a Power Point Presentation about a proposed high-pressure fracked gas pipeline/compressor station in Rensselaer County to be routed along the powerlines.The environmental impact, health concerns, and the rights of communities will be discussed. The proposed pipeline and compressor station would affect the towns of Schodack, Nassau, and Stephentown, NY, and continue into Hancock, Massachusetts. Both parking and event itself are free of charge.

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/stopnyfrackedgaspipeline
Contact: John Serio: seriojj@gmail.com or

 Sandy Nathan: snathanwrites@gmail.com  Sponsored by: Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline

Robert Connors

Canaan, NY 12029

raconnors@yahoo.com
Stop NY Fracked Gas Pipeline

https://www.facebook.com/stopnyfrackedgaspipeline

http://www.nofrackedgasinmass.org/columbia-county-news/

Don't forget to sign our Anti-Pipeline Petition:

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/stop-new-york-fracked.fb48?source=c.fb&r_by=2156007

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Special Bus Procedures for Thursday, Jan. 8 Due to Extreme Cold

Superintendent Bob Horan would like to let our community know that due to the extreme cold temperatures expected for the morning of Thursday, Jan. 8,

Oldest US Time Capsule Opened Today Jan 6, 2015

The oldest time capsule discovered in the country that dates back to 1795 was opened today in Boston as history buffs waited to get a glimpse of items from the nation's infancy.

Pamela Hatchfield, head of objects conservation at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, first removed the lid then inspected a newspaper, after loosening the screws beforehand for about four or five hours, she said.

Beef prices hit all-time high

By Michelle Linn
Owasso, Okla. —

People in Green Country and across the nation are enjoying low gas prices.

But, what you're saving on gas, you might be spending on groceries.

Beef prices are skyrocketing.

Top Republican open to gas tax increase

The incoming Republican leader of the Senate Transportation Committee said Sunday an increase is up for consideration, as "we have to look at all the options."

"I don't think we take anything off the table at this point," John Thune said on "Fox News Sunday."

Prices at the pump are at the lowest point in years -- the nationwide average has tumbled more than a dollar in the last year, reaching $2.20 on Monday.

The feds currently collect 18.4 cents in tax per gallon of gasoline.

Local business?

The Schodack SCENE is a locally-operated digital publication, focused on happenings in the Town of Schodack and theVillage of Castleton.  Launched in November 2011, the Schodack SCENE has had more than 195,000 page views, with an average of 5,500 views per month. 

Visitors from all over the Capital Region view local news and events happening in our area. Visitors to the Schodack SCENE could very well be your next customers.

Fees are significantly below industry averages.  

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Bloomberg News Boston Bombing Suspect Loses Bid to Delay Trial Over Venue Fight

In this courtroom sketch, Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is depicted sitting in federal court in Boston, on Dec. 18, 2014. Source: Jane Flavell Collins via AP Photo

Boston Marathon bombing suspect Dzhokhar Tsarnaev lost an eleventh hour bid to delay his Jan. 5 trial, as a split federal appeals court rejected his argument that the federal terrorism case should be moved out of Boston.

Tsarnaev has argued the trial should be moved because jurors in Massachusetts will be biased against him, given the severity of the April 2013 attack, which killed three and injured scores of others.

Tsarnaev, 21, faces possible execution if convicted.

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'Beverly Hillbillies' star Donna Douglas dies at 82

Donna Douglas, the voluptuous Louisiana-born actress who played critter-loving Elly May Clampett on the 1960's CBS series 'The Beverly Hillbillies" died on New Years day. 

Donna Douglas, who played hillbilly bombshell Elly May Clampett on the baby-boomer-beloved 1960s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies, has died. She was 82.

Mario Cuomo, former New York governor, dead at 82

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Mario Cuomo, the three-term New York governor and father of the state's current governor, died Thursday at the age of 82, according to multiple media reports.

Cuomo is among the most iconic New York governors of the 20th century, known for his liberal views, soaring speeches and deeply held beliefs that made him among the most prominent Democrats of his time. His death came the same day as his son, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, was inaugurated for a second term.

-USA Today

Bruce Wagner takes oath of office

Schodack Town Justice Bruce Wagner was sworn in by Schodack Town Justice Paul Peter during New Year's Day swearing-in ceremonies for Republican elected officials at the Rensselaer County Court House.

'Gilmore Girls' actor Edward Herrmann dies

Edward Herrmann, whose face and voice are familiar from so many roles in TV and film, died Wednesday in New York.

But he was also known for his Emmy-nominated portrayals of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in made-for-TV movies in the 1970s, as well as for numerous roles in films such as The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) and The Aviator (2004).

More recently, he voiced Roosevelt again for Ken Burns' PBS series, The Roosevelts: An Intimate History, in 2014.