Costco wins in court
The Town of Guilderland and the Costco warehouse retail chain won in a state appeals court, the Albany Business Journal is reporting. The Guilderland Planning Board properly completed the long form environmental review of the project before approving Costco’s plan to put a 160,000 square foot store near the Crossgates Mall. The group Save the Pine Bush could not convince the judges that the planning board did not follow proper procedure or ignored the butterfly habitat that the group tried to save.
Hattie’s names chef
Hattie's restaurant in Albany has named Chef Mark D. Graham to head the operation, the Albany Business Journal is reporting. The story talks to Graham about decisions for the space and menu. The restaurant space is still under construction and is a sister restaurant to Hattie’s of Saratoga Springs. Owned by the Business for Good Foundation, the Albany location plans to open later this year.
[Editor’s Note: In a bit of kismet, we are running two stories later today on this topic. One story covers restaurants and staff; the other is a chat with Lisa Mitzen, a co-founder of the Business for Good foundation.]
Turf field approved for SUNY Adirondack
The projected cost of a turf field at SUNY Adirondack, first proposed in 2019, rose from $3.8 million then to $5.7 million now, but the SUNY Board of Trustees approved the project anyway, a story in the Post-Star says. The state will cover half the cost, and the field is much needed to attract students and extend the playing season, officials at the college told the paper.
Apprenticeships on the rise
Given the cost of college and the need for skilled labor that does not require a college degree, apprenticeships are on the rise, says a story in the Times Union. State officials in the story say that apprenticeships are a great way for employers to get the workers they need by hiring and training them to do the job. The story highlights the Capital Region BOCES Signing Day, which is an event to celebrate the high schoolers who will sign onto apprenticeships to join the workforce.