Albany Times Union Local News

SCHENECTADY — John D. Marcella said he was financially, and emotionally, devastated when his bookkeeper stole nearly half a million dollars from his appliance business five years ago.

Now more than two years after Carrie LaFond was released from state prison, she has yet to pay any of the remaining $339,525 back that was required as part of her sentencing.

But what has torn Marcella's wounds anew, he said, is that LaFond's husband, Paul, continues to be financially enriched by Schenectady City Hall — promoting him to become one of the city's top administrators, providing him a free take-home vehicle, and allowing him to live in an inexpensive city-owned house that is located in Niskayuna at the city water reservoir.

ALBANY --A number of groups have combined to lend assistance to those who lost their homes in Friday morning's massive Myrtle Ave. fire.

It's been a wet week as we well know, with 2-6" of rain with some spots seeing more than that!

Albany

Hockey returned to Times Union Center, at least for one night, and it was a welcome sight to fans who miss the Albany Devils and River Rats.

Unfortunately, the attendance Friday night, announced at 2,851 but in reality considerably smaller, resembled that of a typical Wednesday night home game, which is why the American Hockey League skipped town in 2017. The fans who showed up were treated to a quality show on Day 4 of the Aurora Games.

Team Americas scored two third-period goals and defeated Team World, 3-1. That's also the margin by which the Americas team leads in pursuit of the Babe Didrikson Zaharias trophy, to be given to the team winner Sunday at the end of the six-sport, six-day all-women sports festival.

"It was competitive," said Team World coach Sarah Murray, an American who has coached in South Korea. "Unfortunately, we didn't pull it out."

On the other side, Team Americas coach Digit Murphy lauded the efforts of Aurora Games organizer Jerry Solomon and the Albany community for holding such an event.

"It's hit-or-miss that people are going to come to a game like this," Murphy said. "People have lives, they have back-to-school shopping. As women, we never have any time because we're cooking, we're going to work, we're packing school lunches, we're taking care of aging parents. It's tough to be a woman.

"The last thing on your list sometimes — I have six kids — is going to an event. We have to think of a new way that engages the community and wants little kids to come out and watch, and change the value. Why is it valuable to go out and watch women's sports? Don't make it about the game. Make it about the things around the game."

Certainly the teams did what they could before the game to bring attention to their sport.

They spent two days in...

It was the good news New York needed on Friday: A 5-year-old girl reported missing in the Southern Tier was found safe.

Saratoga Springs

Of the jockeys riding in Saturday's Grade I, $1.25 million Travers, Hall of Famer Javier Castellano leads the way with six wins. He'll be riding Looking At Bikinis for trainer Chad Brown in the Midsummer Derby.

Another Hall of Famer, Mike Smith, is making the trip East to ride in the Travers. Smith, who is usually on one of the favorites, is on anything but this time. Smith, who has won the race four times, including back-to-back years in 2016 (Arrogate) and 2017 (West Coast), will be on 20-1 shot Chess Chief this year.

Residents were temporarily displaced from their homes Friday evening after a fire broke out at a Main Street apartment building and threatened to spread to nearby residences.

PETERSBURGH — A fire at the Berkshire Bird Paradise claimed the lives of several birds and injured one of their caretakers late Thursday night, the sanctuary said Friday.

TROY – The first "Troy Reads Every August Together" event will be held Sunday in Riverfront Park to encourage children to read.

T.R.E.A.T. was created by author Coleen Murtaugh Paratore, a Troy native who has written 22 books including five picture books.

"I want it to be a celebration of young people and books. I personally am a living testament to how books can open doors for people," said Paratore, a former Troy Public Library trustee and current City Council member representing the 3rd Council District.

ALBANY — City firefighters set a pod ablaze on Friday morning to show college students how quickly a dorm room can become engulfed in flames.

The Moreau Lake State Park beach has reopened after a harmful algal bloom subsided and water quality tests came back clear.

Saratoga Springs

I don't like to pick the favorite in the big race. Really.

Here's the proof. Let's review this past spring's Triple Crown, shall we?

In the Kentucky Derby, I went with Roadster, the Bob Baffert-trained Santa Anita Derby winner. He went off at the juicy odds of 11-1 and finished a very non-juicy 15th. Nope, no favorites for me.