July 23,2014
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Inside Soldier On moves ahead Vets rally legislature to keep housing plan in motion. Page 15 T H E www.spotlightnews.com Serving Bethlehem, New Scotland & Guilderland ReturnRt to t a more natural state Volumeme LVII Number 30 $1.00 JuLY 23, 2014 The Pine Bush Preserve is having thousands of invasive black locust trees removed. The buzz at FMS community garden See Page 3. Local beekeepers looking home since 2008 and started to spur interest in honey Click maintaining one at the garden hobby, offer guidance it up this summer. Another beekeeper had two hives at the site, but Watch a recently left the area. By JOHN PURCELL video of Ford jumped at the opportunity [email protected] the beehive to continue the sweet tradition at inspection at the garden. Standing alongside thousands www.spotlight of buzzing bees might be more news.com. “There have been bees here enjoyable then some people for 17 years, and lots of times believe. people didn’t even know they Jennifer Ford and Keith Freeman were here,” Ford said. “I thought conducted their fi rst beehive inspection it would be neat to kind of get more of a Guilderland school district residents are welcome Friday morning, July 18, at Farnsworth school and community involvement going to get an up-close look at a thriving beehive in the Talking Middle School’s Organic Garden. organic garden at Farnsworth Middle School. the talk The couple has kept beehives at their ■ Bees Page 18 John Purcell/Spotlight Scientists compete before a panel of judges to explain com- plex issues in layman’s terms. Glenmont See Page 11. In memory of Myles sidewalks Bethlehem YMCA dedicates new playground to Bethlehem set to be boy who died of brain cancer two years ago installed By MARCY VELTE Construction of pathway [email protected] along Feura Bush Road The memory of Myles McAdoo will to begin at end of month put smiles on the faces of children for years to come, after a playground was By MARCY VELTE dedicated in his honor last week. [email protected] After a long fundraising process to Construction on new Closing in get the playground sidewalk along Feura Bush built, the Road in Glenmont is set to on the title Bethlehem YMCA begin this month after the The Bethlehem Babe Ruth finally dedicated ABOVE: Myles’ mother, Laurel McAdoo, Bethlehem Town Board the structure and his twin brother, Marcel McAdoo, 15-year-old division all-stars opted to bond for a portion to McAdoo on thank the Bethlehem YMCA for their of the project’s costs. reached the semifi nals at the Wednesday, July continued support at the playground Installation of more Eastern New York State Champi- 16. The 9-year- dedication. sidewalks in Glenmont onships in Guilderland with a 3-2 old Bethlehem BOTTOM: Young Bethlehem YMCA boy died nearly was a major component of victory over Kingston July 20. summer campers sing at the playground Supervisor John Clarkson’s two years ago dedication ceremony for Myles McAdoo. See Page 24. following a battle past two State of the Town Bethlehem resident Myles with brain cancer. addresses. Last year, the Photos by Marcy Velte/Spotlight supervisor said he wanted to McAdoo, 9, died nearly two “We wanted years ago after battling brain place a greater emphasis on to make this completing the goals of the INDEX cancer. care what your abilities were, he loved an all-inclusive town’s Comprehensive Plan Blotter ............................. 4-5 playground, everybody who was around him.” Sports .......................... 23-24 and to enhance pedestrian which is reminiscent of Myles,” said The majority of the money was safety. Entertainment ................... 11 Executive Director Derek Martin. provided by the Capital District YMCA Classifi eds .................... 13-14 “Myles loved everybody. He didn’t The bonds, which are not to exceed $350,000, but Crossword ..........................12 care what your talents were, he didn’t ■ Myles Page 19 expected to be less, were Legals .......................... 20-21 approved by the Town Board on Wednesday, July The Spotlight (USPS 396-630) is published 9. The entire project will each Wednesday by Community Media Group LLC, 341 Delaware Ave., Del- cost $450,000, with $100,000 mar, N.Y. 12054. Postage paid at Delmar, coming from a state grant. N.Y., and at additional mailing offi ces. Postmaster: send address changes to Last summer, the town The Spotlight, P.O. Box 100, Delmar, received grant money N.Y. 12054. Subscription rates: Albany through the state’s Local County, one year $30, two years $55, elsewhere, one year $40, two years $73. Government Performance Subscriptions are not refundable. and Effi ciency Program. The town was given $776,107 for “departmental restructuring of the town’s payment system and maintenance staff.” The grant is paid out over three THE SPOTLIGHT $1.00 ■ Path Page 18 Page 2 • July 23, 2014 The Spotlight The Gables developer seeks switch to condos Keystone Builders went before the Bethlehem a build-out rate of 51 mortgage financing to Vista development master the situation, she’s afraid says change in Town Board on Wednesday, percent for bank fi nancing potential buyers if the plan. there are other townhouse designation could July 9, to seek a possible of potential purchasers. conversion can be done. Bolduc told the board developments with exemption to the town This was done instead of taxpayers that could be mean quicker build-out The president of that basically nothing law that does not allow abandoning the project. Keystone builders said would change for in the same situation. She existing developments to “This drove the lot/ the conversion makes purchasers. The design wanted to make sure if the By MARCY VELTE convert to condominiums. property cost up higher the difference between would stay the same, and law was amended, the other [email protected] This was done to prevent as a result, which created the project “dragging on they would still own their developments couldn’t developments from seeking higher unit costs. We for years” or never being unit, but instead of insuring come back and claim the A housing development tax relief by converting thought we could absorb completed. their home individually, all same thing. in the Town of Bethlehem existing apartments into the units would be insured “I think the fact that this is seeking permission to this, but the recession Supervisor John condos. together. project isn’t yet complete is revert from the project’s dramatically slowed our Clarkson said at the meeting The project had important,” she said. approved townhomes to ability to sell higher-end he wanted to make clear Councilwoman Julie originally been approved condominiums to entice units. No one anticipated, that Keystone Builders Sasso questioned if there Clarkson said if the as 40 condominiums, but potential buyers with lower Keystone included, the could change the project were purchasers willing project was completed as was later changed to 25 taxes. extent that the economy themselves, but in order to spend money on The townhomes, there would townhomes. The change was going to be affected,” Gables, but then weren’t be more taxable value. Steve Bolduc of for it to work from a tax was sought so Keystone said Bolduc. willing to pay the taxes and However, if the project is Keystone Builders, Inc. perspective, the town would could more quickly reach Bolduc said he was need to change a local law insurance. never completed, it might seeking the change due passed in 2008. Clarkson “We’ve lost so many be better for the town to do to unexpectedly low sales said it can’t prevent the sales because of taxes,” the conversion. of townhomes at The conversion, but rules out said Bolduc. “The units If the amendment Better Gables. In a letter to the tax breaks. The difference start at $400,000 and go up isn’t made, the existing town board, he explained is because when a property from there. A lot of these units could be taxed teen driving, only 14 townhomes have is taxed as a condo instead people are retired and once as townhomes, while sold in nearly three years, of a single-family home, it’s taxes are added on, they newly sold units could bigger discounts. and there are 12 lots taxed as a single property don’t think it makes sense be changed and taxed as remaining. Most of the instead of in pieces. to go up in taxes from their condos. Clarkson said he remaining locations are less “It equates it to sort of existing homes.” has heard from residents desirable and are directly in a similar situation in Check out our Steer Clear® Program. an apartment building or Bolduc said he expects on Delaware Avenue, so complex and its value,” the change of taxes would another development who When your teen gets ready to drive, we’re there. They learn safe driving and you get lower rates. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there.® they are harder to sell. said Clarkson. “The rule of be an incentive, and then are unhappy with that CONTACT AN AGENT TODAY. “We are not asking for thumb is that’s around 80 the project could finish makeup. a repeal of the town law percent of what the value being built out. Councilman Jeffrey preventing conversions would be, but that’s a rough Planning Director Rob Kuhn said he wanted to to condominium status, rule.” Leslie said he looked into know the impact on the but simply to permit a Clarkson said there the situation, and because town if the conversion were reversion of a project that are already 200 existing the project is in a multi- allow to go through.