Holiday won't impact trash/recycling schedule

Each time we come up on a holiday, the We-Know-Things Team at The Terrace Times is asked if the City of Troy's trash/recycling pickup schedule will be affected.

As we head toward Labor Day, the answer is, yes, it will be affected. But, only on Monday, September 1.

The regular schedule will resume after that, so you can put out your garbage cans and recycling bins with confidence on Thursday for Friday morning pickup.

And, as we've reminded Terrace folk  several times over the years, the City asks that the trash receptacles not be put outside until 7 p.m. on Thursdays because -- well, who wants to look at your garbage cans all day?

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The story of Labor Day

The first Monday in September officially is Labor Day, an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, "The holiday is rooted in the late 19th Century when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being."

New York was the first state to introduce a bill involving Labor Day, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day -- on February 21, 1887. 

That same year, four other states – Colorado, Massachusetts and New Jersey as well as New York – passed laws creating an official Labor Day holiday. 

By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania had followed suit. And, by 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday. Finally, on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a national legal holiday.

Although the Congressional act took precedence, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor (AFL) convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as "Labor Sunday," dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

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Troy's oldest restaurant due for facelift

Manory's, the iconic 112-year-old downtown restaurant that is the oldest eatery in Troy, will be getting a facelift thanks to $50,000 from a national preservation grant program to help cover facility improvements and operational expenses.

Officials overseeing the program, run by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and American Express, named the establishment among 50 awardees in an announcement earlier this week. 

“It’s good for the city, good for the downtown area,” said Manory’s co-owner Connor McGrath. Approximately $40,000 can go toward building improvements; the rest can be used for general expenses. Recipients are required to complete projects before next spring. 

McGrath told the Times Union nothing for the project is set in stone. 

“We have paint where it needs to be painted, mortar work where it needs to be done, outdoor seating, furniture, maybe new outdoor lighting. We have things we know we’re going to do, but I don’t want to jump the gun and tell you we’re going to do something and have it not happen.” 

In 2018, Manory's was taken over by a partnership consisting of McGrath, Brendan Jones, Jack Engster and Anthony Marchese. Marchese's parents, Lou and Jen had owned the restaurant since the 1990s. Before them, the Manory family ran the restaurant at the corner of Fourth and Congress streets for decades, starting with Joseph Manory Sr. who founded it in 1913. 

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Rensselaer Farmers Market gets $50K state grant

Although the Troy Waterfront Farmers Market is arguably the region's premier such organization, many locals don't confine their shopping to that venue.

The Rensselaer Farmers’ Market, which operates on Thursdays in the small neighboring city's Riverfront Park, will be upgrading thanks to a $50,000 grant from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. 

Rensselaer city officials say the grant will fund decorative surface paintings, additional picnic tables and benches, among numerous aspects. 

The market offers weekly activities, entertainment, and vendors from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursdays in Riverfront Park. Other attractions this year have included a car show, a wellness fair, and a  foam party. 

“Our Farmers’ Market keeps getting better and better and this grant will certainly help with our efforts,” said City Clerk Nancy Hardt, who oversees the operations. Part of the grant is funding the markets ability to dedicate more time, efforts, and materials for the promotion of activities happening at the market. 

The current market season is scheduled to run through October 16 this year.

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Lawn treatment scheduled for next week

Vinmar Solutions, which handles weed and pest control applications on our lawns and common areas, has scheduled the next summer treatment for Wednesday, September 3.

As always, we ask Terrace residents to be sure seasonal furniture, grills, etc., do not block the paths of the application equipment. And, please be alert when walking your dogs that day.

Here is the required notification:

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'Burgh former restaurants being demolished

Demo work at rear of former restaurants. / City of Troy photos

The buildings that had been home to the Lansingburgh restaurants Trader Eds's and Hot Dog Charlie's have been condemned and City workers are in the process of demolishing the structures.

The two structures, located at 624 and 630 2nd Avenue, each were more than a century old. Both were gutted by a 2011 fire that began in Hot Dog Charlie's -- the original location of what eventually grew into a local chain -- and spread to the adjoining eatery. The businesses have been closed since then and been in continually deteriorating condiition.

The demolition work means 2nd Avenue is closed to vehicular traffic between 115th and 118th streets until the project is completed.

The impetus for the teardown came today (Friday) when Mayor Carmella Mantello issued an emergency declaration.

In a statement, Mantello explained that "I issued an emergency declaration for demolition this afternoon after our Code Enforcement was working proactively on quality of life issues and noticed the owner’s contractor tearing the roof off without a permit. After an engineer and fire inspection, these buildings are a major public safety hazard to our residents and city workers.

"Both owners will be billed and issued tickets and fines. Should the owners not pay it will go on taxes, and then if not paid [the buildings will be] foreclosed and the City will sell the properties (potentially merge properties) to a responsible person and/or developer."

Worker hoses down former Hot Dog Charlie's.

Former Trader Ed's restaurant.

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Movie night was a hit

Sunday night was movie night on Hyland Court, with neighbors enjoying a showing of the 2017 motion picture "The Greatest Showman," starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya, and Michelle Williams. 

Along with freshly-made popcorn, the group was treated to a fictionalized, family-friendly version of the life of P.T. Barnum, the flamboyant 19th Century showman, politician, and promoter who founded the Barnum & Bailey Circus, which he modestly called "the greatest show on Earth."
 

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This Sunday will be movie night on Hyland Court

 

The Court Theater, a/k/a/ Hyland Court, will be open this Sunday evening for a presentation of the motion picture "The Greatest Showman," starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya, and Michelle Williams.

The 2017 production is a fictionalized, family-friendly version of the life of P.T. Barnum, the flamboyant 19th Century showman, politician, and promoter who founded the Barnum & Bailey Circus, which he modestly called "the greatest show on Earth."

The outdoor event will set up at 8 o'clock (sunset is at 7:53 p.m.) with "curtain" at 8:30. Bring your own light blankets (just in case), chairs, and beverages. A popcorn machine will dispense snacks. 

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City Hall relocation plan narrowly OK'd

Proctors Theatre building on Troy's 4th Street. / Google photo

UPDATE (8/11/25): City Council has approved by a narrow 4-3 vote a proposal to move city offices from the Hedley Building on River Street to the historic former Proctor’s Theater building on 4th Street. The vote went along party lines with the four Republican council members outnumbering the Democrat members.

After a series of public hearings is concluded, her proposal to approve the new location for City Hall will, as Mayor Carmela Mantello describes it, "establish a permanent and modernized home ... while also preserving a treasured piece of Troy’s architectural history."

“This is more than a move, it’s a milestone,” Mantello said of her plan to relocate city offices from the Hedley Building on River Street. “We are saving a historic gem, revitalizing a key part of our downtown, and creating a permanent home for City Hall that reflects the strength and spirit of our city."

Under Mantello's plan, the long-out-of-use Proctors Theatre building will be preserved and repurposed to house city offices along with a new assembly hall, lobby, and community spaces.

The City now will proceed with the next stages of planning and design as well as more council action on a Land Development Agreement (LDA) and Approval of Lease with the goal of officially relocating City Hall operations to Proctors on or before January 1, 2027. 

The final public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. this Wednesday at Proctors Theatre. City officials and developers will be on hand to give a tour of the building, share plans, answer questions, and showcase the vision for Troy’s next chapter.

Proctors, according to information posted on Wikipedia, has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1979. It was built in 1914 for vaudeville performances by Capital Region entrepreneur Frederick Freeman Proctor who also built another theater with his name in Schenectady.

The building is credited to architect Arland W. Johnson. In the late 1970s it closed. Since then it has been through several owners, including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), which has had various plans including renovating it into office space or reusing it as a theater. 

In 2014, it was announced that Columbia Development would be renovating the building for the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce. As of September 2018, the building was repurposed into office space behind the preserved façade. Current tenants include the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce, RPI, and Christopher Brian Salon.

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Oakwood repaving next week

 

If you plan on heading down Oakwood Avenue (Route 40) in the vicinity of Oakwood Cemetery next week, better build in extra time or seek an alternate route.

As announced by the City of Troy, repaving the recently-milled surface of the busy road will begin on Tuesday, August 5. The duration of the work will depend on weather and other factors such as equipment and crew availability.

A few alternate possibilities:

• Head down Northern Drive (turn left at the Stewart's Shop) to Lansingburgh, then go south on 2nd Avenue.

• Turn left on Farrell Road at the traffic light at the entrance to Highpointe, and continue to Lake to make a right.

• Turn right at the Stewart's on Oakwood, then bear right at the traffic light and proceed to Route 7 (Hoosick Road).

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City sidewalk fixes now ADA complaint

 

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