July
A 21-year-old died on July 22 from injuries sustained in a shootout with Colonie police two days before on July 20. Agosotino Jubrey was involved in a long series of events that led up to the shootout, including a hit-and-run and dismantling of a drug lab. The debacle started in the Town of Kinderhook where Jubrey hit a motorcyclist with his vehicle on the way back from visiting a friend at a Columbia County campground where his friend allegedly set up a drug lab and was creating “ecstasy-like drugs,” according to police reports. Jubrey fled the scene, then returned to the camp where he and a friend disposed of some of the materials and just before 7 p.m. that evening was observed by a Colonie police officer pointing a semi-automatic .45 caliber gun at this mother and stepfather after a “slight disagreement,” according to police reports. Jubrey had already shot his stepfather in the hand before officers arrived on the scene and when he noticed patrol cars pulling up, fired two shots, with one bullet hitting the driver’s side door of the cop car and another sailing over the deputy’s roof and into the house across the street while residents were home, according to police reports. Jubrey continued to fire at the two officers before getting in his vehicle and backing his car into one of the patrol cars, becoming stuck but still firing shots through the passenger side window, according to police reports. An officer returned fire, with he and Jubrey exchanging a total of 13 rounds before Jubrey was shot in the head, according to police reports. Two .32 caliber revolvers were found in the front seat of Jubrey’s car, one loaded, as well as a long survival knife.
Capital Bank celebrated its move from Wolf Road to Newbury Plaza, taking over the old AT&T building, on July 21 with a groundbreaking event. The move fit into the town’s comprehensive plan because it was a redevelopment project centered in a “commercial hot spot.”
After Maplewood Elementary School was shuttered to widespread community dismay, the North Colonie Central School District announced on July 25 that it planned to lease the empty building to Achievement PLLC, a group centered on helping children with special needs meet daily challenges so they can reach their full potential.
August
The Town of Colonie and Waste Connections, Inc. put ink to paper on Thursday, Aug. 4 and signed the Solid Waste Facility operating agreement that will see the town remain owner of the landfill but put Waste Connections in charge of managing, maintaining and operating the facility for the next 25 years. The town was expected to receive an upfront payment of $23 million with signing of the contract and that money would go toward paying off town debt.
Three elderly women were killed on Aug. 10 when a Voorheesville woman’s flip-flop allegedly fell off near the gas pedal and she crashed into the group of women on the sidewalk in front of St. Matthews Roman Catholic Church. Luann Burgess, 55, was heading home from dropping off her 6-year-old son at school when she veered off the roadway, went into the parking lot and struck Carol Lansing, 66, Rosmarie Hume, 79, and Frances C. Pallozzi, 89, who were standing outside the church, said police. The three women were part of a group of Capital District hikers who would normally walk in that area on Wednesdays, said police.
The Colonie community sprung into action after the sudden death of 12-year-old Sierra Berhaupt, who drowned July 31 in a residential swimming pool, to hold a fundraising event on Aug. 27 to honor her memory and raise funds to support the family. A ziti dinner and bake sale was held at the Family Recreation Center in the Village of Colonie with all ticket sales going toward a bank account set up in the family’s name.
Tropical Storm Irene swept through the Capital District on Aug. 28 and the Town of Colonie experienced flooding in several areas, leading to the town issuing a State of Emergency until 11 p.m. that night and then again the next day over concerns for Lock 7 dam in Niskayuna being unable to hold water. Colonie High School was turned into a Red Cross Shelter for displaced residents.
The Music Studio celebrated its 35th birthday in 2011 with about 30 performances throughout the year, including Macy’s shop for a Cause on Aug. 27 where students performed at Colonie Center. The music school on Central Avenue in Colonie boasts about 10,000 graduates to date.
September
Ivory Coast Judge Ehounou Manlan visited the Town of Colonie on Sept. 1 when he toured the Public Safety Building in a continued effort to find more ways to fight corruption and governmental abuse. The visit was his second trip to the U.S.
The Pruyn House held its annual Old Fashioned Sunday event on Sept. 11. The event highlights the early 19th century and the local farm community and features activities and demonstrations that date back to the 1800s like basket making, weaving, quilting, carpentry, blacksmith and sheep shearing.
The Town of Colonie set a target date of Sept. 19 to have personnel issues related to the landfill in place. The Town Board passed a resolution that abolished and eliminated several positions within the Department of Public Works Division of Environmental Services that are at the landfill, which would be moved to other divisions within the department.
Equinox and ClearView Center, Inc., two nonprofit organizations, announced Sept. 19 that they had been approved for a $300,000 grant from the New York State Health Foundation to cover costs and expenses related to the merger between the two. The merger was planned to be complete by Jan. 1, 2012 and the entity would be known simply as Equinox.
The Town of Colonie found itself embroiled in a lawsuit when Albany County Comptroller Mike Connors filed suit on Sept. 29 claiming the town signed a lease agreement, not an operational agreement, for the Colonie landfill and thus a “permissive referendum” was necessary. Connors submitted emails between Department of Public Words Commissioner Jack Cunningham and Town Attorney Mike Magguilli where the two discussed lease agreements other counties used for their landfills. Magguilli largely dismissed the lawsuit, saying Connors didn’t have a very good argument.
October
Marra’s Pharmacy in Cohoes celebrated 80 years of business on Oct. 1. About 1,000 residents came to pay their respect to the store and City of Cohoes Mayor John McDonald stood by his mother, Barbara Marra, who has worked at the pharmacy since 1958 and took it over from her father in 1971.
Supervisor Paula Mahan called October “silly season” of the Election season when Albany County Conservative Party Chairman Richie Stack filed an official complaint against her with the Albany County District Attorney’s office on Oct. 4 related to campaign contributions she received. Stack brought into question a $1,000 donation from Jerry Cifor, former principal and CFO at County Waste and a current employee of Waste Connections, which Stack said called Mahan’s ethics into question. Mahan said she didn’t do anything wrong and said Stack lacked character.
Students at Boght Hills Elementary School got a crash course on fire prevention safety on Oct. 13 as part of National Fire Prevention Week. The Boght Hills Community Fire Department gave students a tour of a fire truck and mock house and they were given fire safety tips.
The Town of Colonie went public with plans for a proposed project at the site of the vacant Latham Water Treatment Plant called Mohawk Landing on Oct. 20 with a presentation at a Town Board meeting. The project proposed a 12.3-acre parcel that would become an energy-efficient park with solar panels, underwater collection system, water and community gardens.
A man died on Oct. 31 after being tased by police following a violent rampage at Gold’s Gym in Latham. According to police reports, Chad Brothers, 32, fell off a cardio machine and then began lashing out at others, including swigging from a woman’s water, turning up the speed on a man’s treadmill and then punching him in the face, knocking over 700-pound pieces of equipment and throwing around desks and chairs. When officers arrived, Brothers allegedly began to fight back and police used two to four different tasers on him, according to police reports, which is when the officers discovered he had passed out and an off-duty EMT performed CPR and Brothers was hooked up to a defibrillator, which gave a message not to shock him because he was still breathing, according to police reports. Brothers was transported to Albany Medical Center and pronounced dead. An autopsy later revealed Brothers had drugs in his system and died of “agitated delirium.”
November
Creo Caters was formed in July and on Nov. 1 it became the food service provider for the Colonie Golf and Country Club. Creo Caters, a White Management company, will provide food for all golf outings and membership dinners.
Candidates for Colonie Town Supervisor meet in a debate on Nov. 2, hosted by The Spotlight, the Colonie Chamber of Commerce, Capital Area Council of Churches and the League of Women Voters. Paula Mahan and Denise Sheehan answered audience-submitted questions.
Colonie Supervisor Paula Mahan declares victory on Election Night, Nov. 8, even with absentee ballots still uncounted an a slim 296 votes separating her and Denise Sheehan. Sheehan refuses to concede the race, opting to wait for the roughly 1,000 absentee ballots to be counted, a process that starts on Nov. 16. On Nov. 18, Mahan is officially declared victor after just about half of the election districts were counted.
A Latham teenager with dreams of becoming a country star travels to Nashville, Tenn. for a gig and to attend the 2011 Country Music Awards. Chelsea Cavanaugh, 15, leaves for Nashville Nov. 8 with plans to spend five days in the heartland of country music.
The Capital District Transportation Authority announces on Nov. 14 that it’s been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation Clean Fuels Program to spend on new hybrid electric buses in 2013. The CDTA currently has a fleet of about 235 vehicles with 20 percent being hybrid electric vehicles. Vehicles are replaced when they reach their life span, which is about 12 years or every 500,000 miles.
Ground is broken for the new Rumors Salon and Spa on Nov. 18 at 626 New Loudon Road in Latham. Rumors, Rumors IV Men and Rumors corporate offices, currently housed separately, will now all operate out of the new 10,000-square-foot facility, expected to open in April 2012.
A Meals on Wheels delivery van is stolen on Nov. 21 and on Nov. 30 SEFCU replaces the vehicle with a new 2012 Dodge Gran Caravan. ShopRite also donates 1,000 emergency meals for seniors which are used in the winter if bad weather prevents MOW from making deliveries.
December
Plans to put a Joe’s Crab Shack at the old Dakota restaurant site in Latham Farms are unveiled at a Dec. 6 planning board meeting. The restaurant chain is popular around the country, with 117 locations total, and the Capital District restaurant would be the first in the northeast.
The attacks on Pearl Harbor are remembered on Dec. 7, the 70th anniversary. An event at the Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post on Everett Road had four Pearl Harbor survivors in attendance and featured stories from the son of a Pearl Harbor vet who died four years ago on the anniversary of the attacks which had more than 2,400 U.S. casualties.
The National Guard celebrates its 375th birthday on Dec. 13 with a traditional cake cutting ceremony and the enlistment of five new members at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters in Latham. Haley Young, Michael Patterson, Jr., Shelbi Vanderbogart, Eric Petersen and Donald Pestuglicci took the oath and Hillary Crispell of the 105th air wing took the oath of reenlistment.
The Memorial Concert Band of Colonie presents a holiday themed concert on Dec. 14 in the auditorium at Colonie Central High School. The event is free and features a group of about 75 Capital District musicians. The band is sponsored by the Town of Colonie Department of Parks and Recreation and the South Colonie Central School District and puts on four concerts each year at the high school. It’s in its 13th season and the name honors deceased South Colonie Music Department administrators and educators.
The 2012 Albany County budget showdown comes to a close Dec. 14 when the legislature voteds27-7 to override County Executive Michael Breslin’s veto of a $598 million budget with an 8 percent property tax hike, just two days after he disapproved of the plan. The body needed at least 26 “yes” votes to override Breslin’s veto, and failure to record those necessary votes would have enacted a budget with a 13 percent tax hike, still less than the initial 19.2 percent increase Breslin proposed in his Executive Budget. Breslin releases a statement immediately following the override vote, saying his proposed budget was “very tightly drawn” and the legislature’s changes put the county at risk.
