WSSV News

A Saratoga County man is dead after a crash Tuesday night in Hadley. According to WNYT, 48 year old Eric McFarlane and 45 year old Dennis Mason, were riding on a three-wheeled motorcycle when it went off the road. It hit a tree, throwing both men from the motorcycle. It happened just before 8:30 p.m. McFarlane was killed. Mason suffered serious injuries.

Employees at the Amazon facility in Schodack can now vote on whether to unionize. WNYT reports if employees vote “yes,” the warehouse in Schodack would be the second facility to unionize nationwide. Workers in favor of unionizing said at a rally Monday they want better pay and safer working conditions. Others say the union would not be a favorable situation for workers there.

DEC has filed a lawsuit against Norlite to force the company to stop polluting the air with contaminants from its Cohoes facility Norlite has a history of environmental violations and has previously been subject to multiple enforcement actions and penalties from DEC, including orders to cease and desist further violations. Recent air quality monitoring conducted by the state found the facility is emitting contaminants at levels that increase the risk to the health and wellbeing of the surrounding community.

Some improvements are being made to the state of the sidewalks in Mechanicville. WRGB reports updates are being done on Routes 4 and 32 near Central Ave. Those state road updates include repaving, curb cuts and raising the manholes and drains. City officials add they are continuing to make curb cuts in the areas that the city is paving as they’ve been doing for many years to make intersections for ADA compliant.

Town Center Park in Clifton Park opened to the public on Tuesday. It’s located off Exit 9 of the Northway. According to WTEN, The park features trails, open space, and sidewalks connecting it to the Town Center shopping area. Tuesday’s ribbon cutting ceremony was a culmination of a development plan that started over 10 years ago. Town leaders said it will bring an economic boost to the community.

Governor Kathy Hochul Tuesday announced construction has begun on a $4.2 million redevelopment of Roosevelt Drive within Saratoga Spa State Park. The project will improve transportation safety within the park by adding pedestrian and bicycling pathways adjacent to the park’s busiest stretch of roadway, which connects the Avenue of the Pines with the golf course, pools, picnic areas, and the Roosevelt Baths and Spa.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand discussed the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) in New York Tuesday.
In September, Gillibrand called for additional emergency supplemental funding for LIHEAP to offset the rise in energy costs due, in part, to OPEC’s recent decision to cut daily production. She says in total, LIHEAP is getting an additional one billion dollars, with $60 million of that money coming to New York.

DEC has issued an update on drought conditions across the state. The State’s Drought Management Task Force updated the drought status to “Normal” from “Drought Watch” for multiple regions including most of upstate New York because of recent rainfall and higher levels of ground and surface water. Despite the encouraging hydrological conditions, all New Yorkers are urged to continue reducing unnecessary water waste, fixing leaks, and choosing efficient water fixtures. Saratoga, Albany, Rennselaer and Schenectady counties are among those returning to normal designations.

Workers hoping to unionize at the massive Amazon warehouse in Schodack received a shot in the arm on Monday. Sen. Kristen Gillibrand – one of the nation’s leading backers of labor unions – came to their rally. The main theme of her message was fairness for American workers. WNYT reports there are nearly 1,000 workers on the payroll in Schodack.

Saratoga Public Safety Commissioner Jim Montagnino says this time last year the city was coming off a summer filled with stabbings, shootings, and violence. He says now, the string of violence looks to be in the rearview mirror for Saratoga Springs, crediting that to increasing the police department’s visibility this summer. WRGB reports those efforts included officers patrolling on foot, horse, bikes, and vehicles.