This blog is about everything. I will address various topics hopefully on a day by day basis. Topics will range from my personal experiences to information that I learned from watching various television shows. Who says television isn't educational.
Also: ‘We thank you’: Troy honors good Samaritan, first responders for river rescue • Double M’s Haunted Hayrides returns for 36th season this weekend in Ballston Spa
Tuesday, September 15, 2026
Good morning!
Here are some of our top stories today. — Ivan Lajara, Regional Managing Editor.
The City of Troy held a special honoring ceremony on Monday to recognize Michael Schnoop and other individuals who helped rescue 8-year-old Amarys Lopez from the Hudson River last week.
For more than three decades, Double M’s Haunted Hayrides has been providing terrifying thrills, immersive experiences, and Halloween traditions. This weekend marks the start of its 36th season, inviting those brave enough to experience six terrifying attractions.
Students in the two-year HERO program at Capital Region BOCES learn how to operate, maintain, and repair large construction-related equipment, such as backhoes, dozers, front-end loaders, and excavators. There are approximately 90 students taking the program that is offered at the Extension Center and on the Schoharie CTE Campus.
The Rensselaer County Legislature invites residents and visitors to a guided walk through the Papscanee Island Nature Preserve on Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Hudson Crossing Park will welcome community members of all ages, abilities and disabilities to explore the possibilities of adaptive outdoor recreation during an Adaptive Outdoor Open House from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 22, and from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
One weekday morning about a decade ago, I was at St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in New York City, waiting in line to go to confession. My pre-sacrament reverie was broken by the sight of a seemingly heavily armed man. This particular day came during the height of the Islamist terror groups’ threats on Christian churches and the United Nations’ annual General Assembly week in Manhattan.
LOUDONVILLE, N.Y. – Siena University has announced the addition of women’s acrobatics & tumbling as the school’s 22nd Division I athletic program. The Saints’ newest varsity sport is targeted to begin competition in the 2027-28 academic year. “Our focus is on strategic growth that delivers real value for students,” said Siena University President Chuck Seifert. […]
Average gasoline prices in Albany have risen 8.4 cents per gallon in the last week, averaging $4.31/g on Monday, according to GasBuddy’s survey of 546 stations in Albany.
The annual Waterford Tugboat Roundup returned this weekend, inviting festivalgoers to enjoy a gathering of tugboats, workboats and barges and celebrate the maritime heritage of the Northeast Inland Waterways.
TROY, N.Y. — In this edition of the Section 2 high school sports we take a look at some of the Week 2 action. Shaker 33, Shenendehowa 10 CLIFTON PARK — Shaker may have struggled to sustain drives early, but the Blue Bison had no trouble producing explosive plays. Shaker scored on three big plays […]
Chicken Salad Chick, a fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announced the opening of its first restaurant in New York, which will expand the brand’s footprint to 27 states.
TROY, N.Y. — Saturday’s out-of-conference college football matchup between Utica University and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute was the perfect game for Moose sophomore defensive back Nathan Hernandez’s family to attend. That’s because it was less than a 30-minute drive from Hernandez’s hometown of Mechanicville. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, mom, dad, brothers and coaches were all present at RPI’s ECAV Stadium, making for a special day for Hernandez in what was a warm return to the Capital Region. From 2020 to 2024, Hernandez, once dubbed a Section 2 All-Star, was a defensive back and safety for the Mechanicville Red Raiders varsity football team […]
On Friday, Sept. 11, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation honored fallen members of DEC’s Division of Law Enforcement who passed away from illnesses related to their assignments at the World Trade Center site following the terrorist attacks on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001.
As summer comes to an end and Saratoga Springs prepares for the Halloween season, the Saratoga Springs History Museum is bringing back one of its most popular autumn traditions: the Halloween Ghost Tours of the Canfield Casino, taking place Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m.