Inside Gillibrand seeks funds to battle pest Senator says ash borer problem not going away anytime soon. Page 5 T H E www.spotlightnews.com Serving Bethlehem, New Scotland & Guilderland Ready to rock Volumeme LVI Number 32 $1.00 August 7, 2013 The Guilderland Rock Adven- ture Barn, or GRAB, reopened to the public last month after clos- Neighboring state parks to merge ing its doors several years ago following waning interest. Public hearing yields support hearing on its draft master plan and See Page 2. draft environmental impact statement for Thacher and Thompson’s for Thacher and Thompson’s Lake state Lake draft master plan parks at New Scotland Town Hall. The master plan, which merges the two parks, By JOHN PURCELL includes the state parks’ envisioned [email protected] capital improvements and operational enhancements for the next 10 to 15 Albany County residents were generally years. The exact timing of or possibility welcoming of the state’s proposed plan to for proposed improvements isn’t clearly improve and enhance John Boyd Thacher defi ned because it hinges on several factors and Thompson’s Lake state parks to meet including availability of funds. modern recreational demands. “All substantive comments must be The public hearing on its draft master plan for Thacher The New York State Offi ce of Parks, taken into consideration by the agency and Thompson’s Lake state parks was well attended Fair-weather fun Recreation and Historic Preservation Thursday, Aug. 1, at New Scotland Town Hall. ■ Parks Page 11 The three-county Altamont on Thursday, Aug. 1, held a public John Purcell/Spotlight Fair is opening its gates and wel- coming patrons for its 120th year on Tuesday, Aug. 13. Clarkson See Page B1. A camp of their own urges IDA Bethlehem Senior Services program invites residents 60 and older to relive webcast summer camp experience Supervisor says move By MARCY VELTE would promote disclosure [email protected] and productivity Summer camp is considered By MARCY VELTE by many to be an important rite [email protected] of passage consisting of nature walks, junk food and forging new Bethlehem Supervisor John friendships. Others may have Clarkson and other members of Historici i season missed out on the experience. the town board are once again For those looking to add some encouraging Bethlehem Industrial ends adventure into their summer Development Agency members to The Albany Dutchmen bowed and re-live their days at camp, webcast their meetings for reasons of Bethlehem Senior Services is transparency and effi ciency. out of the Perfect Game Colle- featuring a new program for giate Baseball League playoffs in Clarkson attended the IDA meeting residents 60 and older. Beginning held on Friday, July 26, to ask members the division fi nals, but not before in September, a two-day summer to reconsider their previous decision putting Amsterdam to the test in camp will be held with events and to not webcast their meetings. At a three-game series. activities planned for seniors. the time, the “It’s a way to make new friends See Page 16. agency had and reacquaint with old ones,” opted against Click said Senior Services Director using the town’s Joyce Becker. online video it up INDEX The program is being held Bethlehem’s Senior capabilities To comment on Editorial page ......................6 during the day on Sept. 7 and Sept. Service Department will because this story go to Sports .......................... 15-16 8 at SUNY Cortland’s Robert C. be holding a two-day members were www.spotlight Entertainment ..............B1-B7 Brauer Memorial Education senior summer camp concerned it news.com. Classifi eds ................ B10-B11 Center in South Bethlehem. at Brauer Educational would limit open Crossword ..........................B8 This is a pilot program for the Center in South discussion. Legals .......................... 12-14 department, so space will be Bethlehem. “I think limited to the fi rst 20 seniors who this is about more than ramping-up sign-up. Photos by Marcy Velte/ disclosure and transparency, it’s also a The Spotlight (USPS 396-630) is published each Wednesday by Community Media “It may also be fun for people Spotlight productivity tool,” said Clarkson. Group LLC, 341 Delaware Ave., Del- who grew up in a city environment The supervisor said the town’s mar, N.Y. 12054. Postage paid at Delmar, to enjoy some activities in a rural N.Y., and at additional mailing offi ces. Vale said the idea is for seniors community have volunteered Meeting Portal has been extremely Postmaster: send address changes to setting,” said Becker. to re-live their youth, meet new their time to make the useful to town staff and board The Spotlight, P.O. Box 100, Delmar, The program is being camp a reality. Five Rivers members over the past year and a N.Y. 12054. Subscription rates: Albany friends and get out of the house. County, one year $30, two years $55, coordinated by Department of Different events have been Environmental Education Center half. The system has made it easy for elsewhere, one year $40, two years $73. Senior Services Outreach Worker scheduled throughout the staff plan to give a geocaching town offi cials and residents to fi nd Subscriptions are not refundable. information from previous meetings, Will Vale. He said the idea is camp’s two days. There will be demonstration, while local artists based on a similar program being will help campers tie-dye shirts re-watch meetings they may have talks and demonstrations on done in Delaware County that has and press fl owers. Paul Doyle missed and become informed about wildlife and the environment, expanded to an overnight camp. Jr. of the Critter Patrol will give past town issues. fi tness lessons, arts and crafts For the time being, Bethlehem’s a presentation on amphibians However, Clarkson said, they have program will only take place projects, live music, and food. and reptiles, and an instructor THE SPOTLIGHT $1.00 ■ IDA Page 11 during the day. Vale said members of the ■ Camp Page 11 Page 2 • August 7, 2013 The Spotlight Fitness and fun reach new heights Guilderland reopens The cost is $5 per person, really rock climb, they will rock-climbing wall which includes necessary go outside now,” he said. housed in historic gear. “They will climb on the “We thought we would real rock outdoors. They barn to public give it another try,” town would use this to train on Parks and Recreation more.” By JOHN PURCELL Director Dennis Moore Moore said the town [email protected] said, who indicated “likes to break even” on the response has been its cost to keep the facility A look inside one old moderate. “There weren’t open to the public. He said barn tucked among the enough people using it — it isn’t seen as a way to hills near Guilderland’s not enough customers to make money. Tawasentha Park won’t make it worthwhile.” reveal the expected animal Even though the facility Moore said the rock inhabitants, but there hasn’t been open to the climbing is “challenging,” public it was still being is still plenty of activity “fun” and offers a different brimming beneath its roof. actively used through form of fitness. Along the town’s youth summer The Guilderland Rock each wall are typically camp. Adventure Barn, or GRAB, two routes, with one route “We use this as fi tness reopened to the public last being easier than the for the kids,” Moore said. month after closing its other. Some of the more Four-year-old Alessandra, above, “We have around 250 kids doors several years ago strenuous climbs take you climbs up a rock wall at the Guilderland following waning interest. all the way up and onto the in camp that we bring Rock Adventure Barn on Friday, Aug. The historic 1800s barn, underbelly of the barn’s over here every day. 2, with her seven-year-old brother, We bus them over from located on Route 146 roof. Vincent, right. The facility recently right across the street across from Tawasentha reopened for the general public to Once someone learns at Tawasentha, and they Park, hasn’t held farm harness up and scale its walls. how to properly climb and come and climb as one of livestock and supplies belay, which is protecting their activities.” for many years. The red a climber from falling, they Photos by John Purcell/Spotlight barn features more than can participate without Stepping into the 3,000 square feet of rock the help of trained town facility you’ll notice the facility on Friday, Aug. Treadgold said he He enjoys working at wall climbing surface and employees. spongy floor, which is 2. Treadgold became enjoyed climbing because GRAB so he can teach made from the rubber of interested in rock climbing of the sense of adventure kids and share his passion. is suited for fi rst-time to Moore said declining ground up tires and has as a college freshman it offered along with the advanced climbers. All interest in the facility “It is really fun to work through a weeklong “sports sense” of it. of the necessary gear is could have been from been in the barn since with the kids,” he said. outdoor exploration offered in-house. people not wanting to it opened. One of the “It’s nice because it has “They all seem to really workers will likely greet program. Public use of GRAB climb during hot summer the dichotomy between an enjoy climbing, so it is nice you if they aren’t already is limited to Friday days.