Schenectady News

Architect Dave Sadowsky, right, explains features in the new "Universal Design/Green/Affordable Housing Prototype Project" at 1005 Glendale Place in Schenectady on Monday afternoon.

Melvin Miller, 48, of Schenectady, was sentenced in U.S. District Court, Albany, to more than 20 years in prison,, to be followed by an eight year term of supervised release, upon his plea of guilty to ...

Eighteen people were left homeless after a fire at 923 Frances Ave. early Saturday morning left their apartment building uninhabitable, the Schenectady Fire Department said.

A teenager was shot in the leg Tuesday night after a dispute on Linden Street, police and witnesses said.

An early morning fire in Schenectady leaves 10 families homeless. Fire crews responded to 923 Francis Avenue at approximately 1:30 AM Saturday morning.

Veggie Mobile worker Paul Barrett helps customer Christina Coughlin in Albany, N.Y., on May 9. With the rapidly climbing cost of food and fuel, states and nonprofit groups are finding ways to get healthy food ...

Rebecca Polomaine, 31, of 475 Alexander St., was given her sentence at an emotional hearing that included statements by both parents of Riley Gilbert.

A city man told a judge this morning that he was "retaliating" when he chased another man into a DeGraff Street home last year and killed him in a fusillade of bullets.

LIFE IN PRISON FOR THE 26-YR-OLD SCHENECTADY MAN WHO SHOT A FORMER HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL STAR TO DEATH IN APRIL OF 2007.

People in the Stockade section of Schenectady say they're tired of watching graffiti vandals mark up their neighborhood, so they decided to do something about it.

"We want to make it look nice so they will want to move to the area but things like that happen," explained Carmella Ruscitto of the East Front Street Neighborhood Association.

The City's General Services Commissioner says his crews are overwhelmed with painting over the spray paint and it's tough to keep up.

Building the perfect replica of a Dutch ship isn’t enough to keep county Historian Don Rittner busy. Now he wants to fix up an old locomotive for the county’s bicentennial.

“That ship, whew!” Rittner said. “That’s from scratch. This, this is restoration.”

Wasps are invading Schenectady just in time to help take the sting out of the high price of gas! Vespa, which is Italian for Wasp, has landed in Schenectady and is now open at 1401 Erie Boulevard. The Chamber of Schenectady County celebrated its arrival with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 1, 2008.

Lisa Gilbert's tragedy has touched us all. But friends and family of Rebecca Polomaine are overwhelmed with her "extreme" sentence, claiming that she's always been a "good Mom" to her own four children.

Prayer writes:
"Yes a tragedy did happen,but I do not believe that Mrs Polomaine is soley to blame. There is only speculation of her wrong doing."
"I have known Becky all of her life & believe in my heart that she is a great Mom and deserves to raise her children. Now we have before us a second tragedy, except now it involves 4 more children. I believe that the Gilberts know Becky is not an evil person. If they thought that,they never would have put their child in her care.This whole thing is such a loss to all involved.My prayers are for both families,especially the children. Forgivness is Godly and a beginning for healing. All in all, the sentence given is extream. Is there really any justice for sending a mother away from her children for that lenght of time? Becky has always been there for her children & took care of them as any good Mom would. She is NOT, nor will ever be, or has ever been a threat to her children. I pray for the DA who obviosly has a hardened heart."
To read more comments and the original story click here.

Omari Lee, 27, convicted of shooting a former Schenectady High School basketball player to death was sentenced today to 70 years to life in prison.

A 33-year-old Schenectady teacher was chosen as Mrs. New York America on Tuesday night.

Kerry Lyn Boettcher topped a field of eight other married women from across the state at the RIT Inn and Conference Center. The women competed in interview, evening gown and swim wear categories.

The Schenectady Fire Department says it is now prioritizing its emergency calls and rolling out a new protocol for dispatchers to follow.

The Schenectady woman found guilty in April of smashing the skull of the 2-year-old she babysat a year ago was sentenced this morning to 18 years in prison.

Rebecca Polomaine, 31, of 475 Alexander St., was given her sentence at an emotional hearing that included statements by both parents of Riley Gilbert. Riley is now 3 and cannot talk or walk and is blind, the result of a severe brain trauma she suffered when Polomaine smashed her head into or onto a hard surface.

"Everyday, I come home and my duaghter cannot run to me," Riley's father, Brad, said in court this morning. "She can't say hi to me. She's stuck in a chair."

It’s meant for a low-income family, but the newly built 1005 Glendale Place looks nothing like the typical, stripped-down models that are designed to be affordable.

Instead, the just-finished house has all the trappings of prosperity, from solar panels on the roof to bamboo flooring in the living room.


“This is the first totally green LEED-certified — we think it’s going to be platinum certified — home in New York state,” said Mayor Brian U. Stratton. “That’s a tremendous accomplishment.”

Maurice "Bud" Watson is one gym teacher who likes to get his students out of the gym.

Watson, who teaches at the Academy of Culture and Communication at Pleasant Valley, was named the 2008-09 Schenectady City School District Teacher of the Year in June for his commitment to healthier living for students. Watson, one of just four National Board Certified physical education teachers in the state, will now be eligible to enter the New York State Teacher of the Year Program.

"His innovative ideas make students reach beyond their goals," said physical education teacher Brian Melanson

Seven more people pleaded guilty Monday in connection with a Schenectady-based drug ring that trafficked contraband from Long Island.

State organized crime prosecutors charged 24 people in May in connection with the drug ring, including Lisa Kaczmarek, the wife of former police chief Greg Kaczmarek. Several of those charge, including alleged ring leader Kerry "Slim" Kirkem, have already agreed to plea agreements.