Inside Event showcases construction careers Glenmont event links students with job opportunities Page 14 T H E www.spotlightnews.com Serving Bethlehem, New Scotland Ultimatum & Guilderland for eyesore Volumeume LV Number 18 75¢ May 2, 2012 The owner of a dilapidated home in South Bethlehem has been ordered to have the prop- Waste-to-energy plant proposed erty cleaned up within a month. See Page 18. Residents take aim at Kentucky representatives from Kentucky-based formally submitted an application yet. The company’s gasifi cation design Recycling Solutions Technology provided company just wanted to explain the process information about its waste gasification in general terms before the board.” By MARCY VELTE process and the types of recycled end The proposal calls for the plant to be built on [email protected] materials that are created as a result. So far, a parcel of land near the port of Albany owned only one other plant exists in the country using by a real estate company run by Victor Gush, A proposal to build a waste-to-energy the company’s technology. a local developer. In previous years a recycling plant was met by opposition from Bethlehem “This could be such an opportunity for the center and a riverfront development called residents after an initial presentation on the town, but it’s really something that has to be Harbor at Beacon Pointe have been proposed project was made to the Town Board. vetted,” said the town’s Director of Economic for the site. During the presentation at the Town Development and Planning Michael Morelli. Lee Bazzle, an RST director of technology, Board meeting on Wednesday, April 25, “The proposal is so early that they haven’t even ■ Plant Page 31 Broad appeal Two Broads with Alotta Sound will pay tribute to powerful fe- male musicians at the Colonie Sign law library on Sunday, May 6. See Page 22. moves ahead Councilman wonders if rules becoming too complex By MARCY VELTE [email protected] After months of debate, specifi c changes to Bethlehem’s sign law have been proposed by Councilman Jeffrey Kuhn are moving forward. Kuhn, a lawyer specializing in environmental, land use, energy and commercial litigation, spent several weeks attempting to Still perfect rephrase the law so residents V’ville remained undefeated could legally place signs of a in the Colonial Council with a certain size on their properties and victory over Lansingburgh last John Behiri, owner of Johnny B’s Glenmont Diner, stands behind the counter of his silver 1960s eatery. The not-for-profi t organizations could diner is featured in Mike Engle’s new book “Diners of the Capital District,” along with nearly 50 other local Wednesday. advertise their events. establishments in the Capital District. A section of the town’s zoning See Page 36. Marcy Velte/Spotlight code currently reads, “no sign, other than an offi cial traffi c sign shall be erected within the right- of-way of any public street or highway.” INDEX “There are several problems caused by this particular provision,” Editorial Pages .................. 6-8 “When I was writing ‘Diners of New Sports .......................... 34-36 York,’ I noticed we weren’t giving enough said Kuhn. “First of all it’s not Entertainment .............. 22-23 attention to the individual diners,” said really enforced. People put up temporary signs in the Classifi eds .................... 29-30 the Rensselaer resident. “I wanted By MARCY VELTE to focus on what made them unique, town’s right-of-ways all the Crossword ..........................23 [email protected] especially in the Capital District.” time and as a result of that Legals .......................... 26-28 The new book contains there’s confusion whether Mike Engle didn’t eat a meal in a diner until information on 48 diners, nearly the law applies only to town he was in his 20s, but once he was brought to a all of them located in the Greater streets and highways, or if it The Spotlight (USPS 396-630) is pub- “greasy spoon” he was instantly fascinated by lished each Wednesday by Community Capital District from Johnstown applies to any public street or Media Group LLC, 125 Adams St., Del- the food and architecture of the down-to-earth to Watervliet. Each entry highway in the town.” mar, N.Y. 12054. Postage paid at Delmar, eateries. N.Y., and at additional mailing offi ces. contains photos, diner history with The proposed change now Postmaster: send address changes to “It’s kind of funny, we didn’t go out to eat architecture information and a short review includes town, county, state or The Spotlight, P.O. Box 100, Delmar, much when I was young and I’d never been of the establishment. federal streets and highways with N.Y. 12054. Subscription rates: Albany County, one year $26, two years $50, to a diner. Then someone brought me to one Each section also includes an area to obtain some exceptions. elsewhere, one year $35. Subscriptions and it just clicked,” said Engle of his fi rst diner the autograph of each diner’s waitress or The right-of-ways of several are not refundable. experience at the Miss Johnstown Diner. owner. Unfortunately, some of the diners in roads were designated as Now 38, Engle has spent years visiting, the book’s pages are now closed, such as the exemption areas. They include a eating at and researching diners. His first infamous Miss Albany Diner, so collecting portion of Route 32 from Route book, “Diners of New York,” was published in signatures for every establishment would not 9W to Elm Avenue, a portion of 2006 with co-author Mario Monti. In January, be possible. Route 9W from the Delmar Bypass he released his second book called “Diners of Engle said he became attracted to diners to the City of Albany border, the Capital District.” ■ Usual Page 19 ■ Sign Page 13 Page 2 • May 2, 2012 The Spotlight Capital District’s growth impressive, admiral says David W. Titley visits about how the Navy The Veterans Affairs do it to get things sort of area as part of Navy functions Hospital also made quite going again … part of this program “As soon as you get an impression him. post-traditional industrial economy that’s not only away from the coast…the “What I was really knowledge of what the impressed with there the Capital District but By JULIE CUSHINE-RIGG Navy does is very small. was they just opened the much of the northeast [email protected] There’s just simply not a women’s care (unit) for and Midwest,” he said. “It’s a huge economic Rear Admiral David W. lot of understanding,” said female veterans, and I transition.” Titley can call the Capital Titley. think that is really going District his hometown, Titley is assistant to help a portion of our Titley said other but a lot has changed here deputy chief of naval veterans who frankly, regions are also since his last visit. operations for information I’m not sure have always targeting manufacturing gotten fully the quality industries. For example, The admiral was in dominance and director of of medical care. … It’s in Mississippi’s Gulf the area on Thursday the Navy’s climate change great to see that the VA is Coast communities and Friday, April 26 and task force. His last trip to recognizing that,” Titley are aggressively 27, as part of the Navy’s the Capital District was Rear Admiral David W. Titley made several stops while in said. seeking foreign auto 50/50 Program, an effort in 1980, when he was the area as part of the Navy’s 50/50 Program. manufacturers to “come that pairs 50 senior Navy married. He also spent Submitted photo down to the south,” leaders with 50 cities. He’s “It was, let’s face it time touring the touting strong ethics and a Schenectady native, – tough times. GE was GlobalFoundries plant a lower cost of living as which provided him with downsizing…I remember Titley met with first downtown Albany. in Malta, and described draws. a hometown connection downtown Schenectady as responders in Schenectady “It was just an amazing that as a “very impressive – one of the elements the just a lot of vacant buildings. on Thursday among other visit. … What makes it operation.” When asked “I think there are many Navy was after for the Now you go down there stops, including at Mayor amazing is you look at what was the biggest places in America that are initiative. with sort of the Renaissance Gary McCarthy’s offi ce. those World War II vets change for the area has taking a look to say ‘Hey been since his last visit, what could be our niche? Trips like Titley’s around Proctors and the Being a Navy man, and Vietnam and Korean there was no hesitation. What could we do to try to are aimed at developing nightlife … you can kind of the trip wouldn’t be War vets who man it and produce good high paying relationships among feel that sense of renewal complete without stepping — the word ‘inspirational’ “Clearly sustainable jobs for our national and local leaders and optimism, I think it’s aboard the USS Slater, may be overused GlobalFoundries. … It’s fathers and mothers, sons and provide opportunities great to see for the district,” the destroyer escort somewhat, but it really is this, ‘Hey, what can we do to educate inland areas he said. from WWII docked near inspirational.” and how are we going to ■ Growth Page 12 HAVE YOU HEARD WHAT WE’RE DOING ON 88.3 FM? WE CARRY BULK PRODUCTS! CHECK US OUT ON YOUR RADIO at 88.3 fm OR PICK UP OR DELIVERY.