"'\; --- ciETHLEHt:.M PUBUC UBRARY **************************FIRM 12054 18119 10-08-2010 .; -· _. .. DO NOT CIRCULATE Bf!THI..f!HI!M PUBLIC LWRARY 45IDELAWAREAVE * * * VOTERS' GUIDE * * * DELMAR NY 12054-3042 Read what the candidates have to say See Pages 3, 10-17,28,31,32 In this week's issue Serving Bethlehem, New Scotland, Guilderland - VOLUME Lll NUMBER 43 OCTOBER 28,2009 Climbing fora cause BC nixes tower near school Two Bethlehem High School Site near Operations and tower near an elementary school The concerns of residents dent's initial proposal. graduates are planning to stand but that a site near the Opera­ who formed a loose-knit coalition "I was frankly surprised that Maintenance building tions and Maintenance building against the proposal were three­ . on the highest point in Africa in the site at Hamagrael and the area still a possibility is still a possibility. fold: the possibility of health im­ site at Clarksville were included January to help fight obstetric The board voted unanimously pacts, the effect on nearby home in that opening RFP !request for fistulas. to limit the scope of the investiga­ values and the general infringe­ proposal]." said Superintendent See Page 19. By CHARLES WIFF tion. A proposal by Independent ment of commercialization on Michael Tebbano. wiffc@spotlightf]ews.com Towers LLC had named land district property. near Hamagrael and Clarksville District officials on Wednes­ The district will continue to The Bethlehem Central elementary schools as possible day reiterated that it was never investigate placing a tower at School District Board of Educa­ locations, sparking a controversy the position of the district that the Operations and Maintenance tion made it clear with a vote on and inciting a number of com­ a tower should be sited near an building, whlch is some distance Wednesday, Oct 21, that the dis­ munity members to speak out in elementary school, but that the from the high school. trict will not seek to build a cell protest. possibility was raised in lndepen- D See Tower Page 18 Company official: Sphere All around won't the world The Festival of Nations at the endorse Empire State Plaza on Sunday, Nov. 1, will offei ethnic food, dances, entertainment and anyone more from more than 25 partici­ Developer, candidates and pating countries. advocacy group sound off See Page 26. By DAN SABBATINO [email protected] Representatives from Sphere De­ velopment LLC, a company that once had a contract to purchase land from the owners of the Bender Melon Farm in New Scotland, issued a statement Tuesday, Oct 20, that the company Halloween head start will not endorse any candidate in the Ghosts and ghouls came out to trick-or-treat on Trick-or-Treat Street New Scotland town elections. at Guilderland High School on Saturday, Oct. 24. Sphere said last week that it is in TOP: Jaden, 6, and Brady Sicotte, 4, came out as Jedi Knights contract negotiations with another RIGHT: Angelo, 9, and Anthony Sbartello, 6, of Westmere, dressed parcel owner in the same market, but Eagles tie, up lor the ocassion. would not confirm if it was in New Ariana Cohn/Spotlight Scotland. In the Oct. 20 statement, the com­ take title pany clarified its stance on who it Bethlehem goaltender Dan would like to see in office after the Maddock stopped all four shots election. Previous comments indicat­ on goal he faced in a 0-0 tie with ed Sphere preferred candidates who did not favor a retail size cap on build­ Guilderland on Thursday that ings in the commercial zone. clinched the South Division title BC raises topic of more cuts "Sphere Development has become for the Eagles (12-3-1 ). Paterson threatens mid-year districts could be slashed rnid-year ... again. very concerned with the manner in See Page 43. According to Paterson's proposal released whlch it was portrayed to support reductions again earlier this month, BC would suffer a roughly certain candidates in the upcoming $1.6 rnillion, or 7.9 percent, reduction in state Town of New Scotland Town Board By CHARLES WIFF aid. election by a local media organiza­ [email protected] "In the course of the last year, we have been tion. This portrayal is further being seeing a repeat of events that happened when manufactured into fact by local New Talk about deja vu. the recession started to hit us last year," said Su­ Scotland organizations that endorse The Bethlehem Central School District is perintendent Michael Tebbano, at a Wednesday, particular candidates in the upcom­ II IIIII set to approach the possibility of making tiered Oct 21, Board of Education meeting. ing Town Board elections,'! the state- 6 reductions to the budget in light of Gov. David Tebbano said he thinks that the rnid-year THE SPOTLIGHT$. 75 Paterson's recent warning that state aid to many D See Cuts Page 18 D See Sphere Page 18 j . Page 1 • October 18, 1009 ' YR •.t\R8U OUBUS M.:iH3.JH t :.rhespottight I ... ..... , ~ • <I t • - ... ---- ~----- ----~------ l When: Wednesday, November 4, 2009 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Where: Excelsior College, 7 Columbia Circle, Albany, NY 12203 Why: - Receive a FREE preliminary transcript evaluation (Bring your military/civilian transcripts) - Receive a FREE resume critique (Bring your resume) - Meet the staff of the Center for Military Education - Find out how close you are to a degree - Learn about: The schools and programs within Excelsior College Financial Aid including the Post-9/11 Gl Bill The learning resources and services available Alumni experiences REFRESHMENTS A RAFFLE PRIZES i I I Excelsior College: i I I I - Is an accredited leader in distance education and helps busy working adults earn degrees with flexible programs while maximizing credit from military training, credit-bearing examinations, and other accredited colleges. i - Ranked by Military Advanced Education among America's top 20 colleges serving the military. - Placed by G./. Jobs among the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools serving the military nationwide. l)mJ lirulCil (lifi:mmunuo <.fli (W lt};.':J.Wl l!llllilD /)l.iffiili•lt~""fi;itUWt!ln, OO.,itl U~iltlW1fiDdl)lrufJlnii;1!), (111 tfu11l '~l-4100 l.o'.t~J;l o.m lf!fuuOttlUI' (!D (Jill> lrt•1llilqt) illl::ill ~~1};JnllillllJkKffillibiJ • The Spotlight October 28,2009 ·Page 3 *. * * * * * * NOVEMBER 2009 VOTERS' GUIDE * ·* * * * * * i Tax base key to Cunningham Messina vows to keep I • Name: John H. Oack) BETHLEHEM . to reverse the impact that town government open Cunningham S ERVISOR RACE deferred maintenance has had I UP on our aging infrastructure. • Age: 52 We continue to pursue • Name: Sam Messina • Occupation: Bethlehem opportunities to share services BETHLEHEM town supervisor • Political experience: • Age: 66 SUPERVISOR RACE • Political Town supervisor, 2007to present; and consolidate operations • Occupation: Bethlehem affiliation: Albany County Legislator 2004- in order to reduce the cost town board member Democrat 2007; and town board candidate of government to proP.erty • Political in government, business and 2001. taxpayers. We have succeeded in affiliation: nonprofits is extensive. Retired • W o r k reducing costs, by consolidating experience: • Areas of community Independence from state government as operations, reducing staffmg director of administration and I have 32 years involvement (outside of official levels, restructuring our health Party Work management and fiscal· director of banking town duties): Bethlehem Grange, plan, !illd leveraging technology • of 1,000-person Department of experience Elsmere Volunteer Fire Company to eliminate inefficiencies and experience: (social member), Nathaniel streamline operations. We will Bachelor's degree State. Served in the Division of including the Budget and the Department Jack commercial Adams Blanchard Post, Sons of continue working to ensure that in business and economics, a of Environrriental Conservation. Cunningham lending officer, the American Legion. Bethlehem remains a preferred Assistant to the publisher at municipal • Platform: We will continue community in which to live. master's in public Sam Messina administration the New York Daily News and accounts officer, working to manage our town • Why do you want to be held management positions in cash management officer, budget and encourage clean ed th and advanced bank operations manager commercial development to supervisor? 1have enjoy e studies at the John F. other business and not-for-profit and i'nformation technology help underwrite our tax base. Kennedy Center at Harvard. manager. In addition, we are working D Cunningham Page 31 My professional leadership D Messina Page 31 Golden wants to revise New Scotland candidates debate assessment process • Name: Peter Golden GUILDERLAND • Age: 56 SUPERVISOR RACE • Occupation: Business owner and author assessment ·process. I'd invest • Political affiliation: I am in our community by restoring an Independent running on the critical public safety cuts, build Republican line. promised sidewalks and bike • Work experience: Award­ paths, and address the traffic wirming journalist and author of congestion problem. 'I'd also six books; designer and product reform government by creating manager of multi-million-dollar a more welcoming atmosphere entertainment in the supervisor's office and end software the secrecy involving the-budget packages; process. advertising • Why do you want to .be and marketing supervisor? To offer solutions executive; and to ongoing problems that remain managing editor unresolved after our current of a capital region supervisor's 10 years in office magazine. - high local taxes, an unfair Peter Golden • Political experience: assessment process, the failure to New Scotland Town Board candidates, trom right, Roz Robins~n. Daniel !'l'ackay, Tim_ Stanton and Doug Former member address Western Avenue traffic, LaGrange debate Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Clayton A. Bouton Htgh School m Voorheesvtlle. The event was of the Guilderland Board of and the lack of sidewalks and bike · sponsored by The Spotlight and the League of Women Voters.