This is cracking me up 😭 I desperately want to know more, but I also know better than to scan a random QR code on a flyer at Stewart’s.

Last week I posted asking people around the Capital Region to consider putting up a MeshCore repeater.

Since then, more repeaters have appeared around the area. A few nodes that were basically islands last week can now reach the larger mesh, and messages are getting through more reliably.

I don’t know exactly how many new radios came from Reddit, but several people here said they were ordering hardware. If you put one up, thank you. You helped build something the whole area can use.

You can watch the network on the live Capital District mesh viewer. Seeing a new repeater appear and start connecting previously isolated areas is pretty damn cool - and mildly addicting to watch the lasers go across the map :).

For anyone who missed the first post, MeshCore uses small LoRa radios to pass text messages without cell service, Wi-Fi, or the internet. A basic US915 Heltec V3 costs around $20. The firmware is free, and a radio plugged into USB near a high window can be contributing in about ten minutes. The original post has the hardware and setup links.

One person in the last thread said they might “lone wolf it” outside the main cluster. That’s honestly how new parts of the network begin. One person puts up a radio. Someone a few miles away adds another. Suddenly an area that had nothing has a path into the rest of the region.

The fun part is watching packets move across the map. The useful part is building a community-owned backup for storms, power outages, or the next time Verizon or Spectrum goes down and half the subreddit is asking whether it’s down for everyone else.

This isn’t a replacement for 911 or public-safety radio. It’s another way to pass short messages when the usual systems aren’t available. People in the local mesh community are also reaching out to community organizations, emergency-preparedness groups, and local public-safety contacts.

The local map and settings are at cdme.sh, and the Upstate Mesh Discord can help with hardware and setup.

If you added a node after last week’s post, drop its name or general area below. If your town is still sitting in an empty part of the map, mention that too. It’ll help everyone see where the next useful gap is.

Hey everyone! 28M here in the Albany area. I’m planning to check out Texas de Brazil soon, but Brazilian steakhouses are definitely better with company. Looking for someone who loves good food, can hold their own against endless steak, and wants to connect. Dinner is on me.Let me know if you're interested!

https://online.ogs.ny.gov/purchase/drupaldocs/reconnect_the_empire_state_plaza_report.pdf

Please expand the operating hours of the observation deck. Business hours only is nonsense, especially with the museum operating on the weekends.

https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/state-backs-10-projects-downtown-albany-22412249.php

ALBANY — Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced the first 10 projects backed by $200 million in state funding that’s been allocated to try and revitalize the capital city’s downtown core.

The projects represent the first significant steps in realizing the ambitious vision for Albany’s future that Hochul and Empire State Development, the state’s public-private development arm, laid out in February. The 10 specific projects will receive $18.6 million in funding intended to create roughly 300 units of housing and to support nearly $100 million in development.

Capitalize Albany, the city’s economic development organization, has also selected two developers to implement a “master plan” for wholesale reconstruction of the blighted eight-acre section of land known as Liberty Park, which surrounds the downtown Greyhound Bus Terminal. According to the governor’s office, Galesi Group and Columbia Development will carry out a three-phase plan which will include new office space, housing, “programmable creative space (and) experiential retail.”

The state has set aside $40 million to redevelop the site and the governor’s announcement says Capitalize Albany and the state will finalize the project’s terms “over the coming months.” It would be a dramatic change for a section of Albany known derisively as the “Parking Lot District,” and would include “a pedestrian walkway connected to a community green space.”

The largest single award in the first batch of grants is $6.5 million for the Jankow Companies to assist in the redevelopment of two interconnected office towers at 30 S. Pearl St. and 54 State St. The firm purchased the Omni Plaza this year for $10.1 million. Though the buildings have several well-known tenants, the Times Union reported in April that they were less than 60% occupied. The company plans to turn 54 State St. into a 120-unit apartment building and significantly renovate the office space at the 30 S. Pearl St. building.

The governor’s office says the cost of that project is estimated at $45 million.

Though Capitalize Albany did not select a plan from Redburn Development Partners to develop Liberty Square — even after principal Jeff Buell dropped a proposed minor league soccer stadium from the proposal — the firm was selected to receive grants of nearly $6 million. That includes $4 million for Redburn’s Union Station project. The announcement says that development will yield 50 apartments, a bar and restaurant, and will feature projection mapping on the exterior of the building “transforming it into a living art installation that illuminates the skyline.”

Both the Union Station project and Omni Plaza development received millions of dollars in tax breaks from the city’s Industrial Development Agency earlier this year.

Two Redburn projects on Columbia Street and North Pearl Street will receive $1.5 million and $250,000, respectively, the announcement says.

The governor’s announcement also contained grants to two nonprofits. The Historic Albany Foundation will receive $150,000 to support the multimillion-dollar renovation of the Van Ostrande-Radliff House, the city’s oldest building. The building at 48 Hudson Ave., constructed in 1728, will be getting a new sewer connection, among other upgrades.

Planners have said they hope the $200 million will lead to over $500 million in downtown development over the next decade. Its target is $3 in private investment for every $1 in public funds spent on the effort, a target it appears to meet based on the figures provided in the governor’s office.

In Our Own Voices, Inc., is slated to get $850,000 for a facility the group is calling an “LGBTQ Community Empowerment Equity Hub.” The governor’s office says it will house four affordable transitional housing units and several types of gathering spaces.

Hochul’s announcement also includes commitments of up to $20 million in city streetscape enhancements in the central business district, an area which includes Washington Avenue starting at S. Swan Street east to Eagle Street; Eagle Street between Elk Street and Howard Street; State Street between Eagle Street and Broadway; Pearl Street between Pine Street and Market Street; Broadway between Pine Street and Division Street.

The awards announced Tuesday represent $80 million of the $200 million set aside for redeveloping downtown Albany, which is part of the $400 million Championing Albany’s Potential initiative, designed to drive long-term growth in the city.

The announcement also highlighted a report by the state Office of General Services on the Empire State Plaza and efforts to better integrate the complex into the city’s overall landscape. The state office will receive $25 million in funds to make the 98-acre complex more accessible. The report calls for a more engaging space on the Corning Tower’s observation deck, an expanded visitors center and a “porch” on the west side of the complex that would make its Swan Street entrance more inviting.

The report does not include plans for a bus station anywhere in the complex, a proposal that has been advanced since a county-backed effort to build one on North Pearl Street fizzled earlier this summer.

“Not only are we forging a monumental path forward for Liberty Park, but we are also awarding visionary projects, launching vital tools for downtown businesses and continuing to strengthen Empire State Plaza’s connection to Albany’s core for residents and visitors of our historic capital city,” Hochul said in a statement. “I am thrilled to see so much progress in just one year and can’t wait for the next steps for the revitalization of downtown Albany.”

You can just keep driving! You do not have to stop because it is an intersection!

Just a little PSA :)

ETA: acting like you don't have the right of way when you do is more dangerous than just following the actual road rules, to be clear!

💙 Stan (black and white)
💙 Eric (dad)
💙 Kyle
💙 Kenny
🩷 Bebe
🩷 Wendy

Last year, we sought valuable community input on how we can make the Plaza more inviting, accessible, and inclusive. Drawing insights from over 2,000 participants through surveys, forums, and focus groups, we are proud to share how we’re realizing new possibilities at the Plaza: 

✅ Reconnecting: communities and visitors, neighborhood pathways, welcoming gateways

✅ Revitalizing: safer streets, everyday amenities, clearer signs 

✅ Transforming: events & experiences, accessible spaces, art & culture

Thank you, Albany! We invite you to explore: ogs.ny.gov/reconnect  

The Reconnect the Empire State Plaza project is supported by a $25 million investment from Governor Kathy Hochul’s Championing Albany’s Potential (CAP) initiative. More from Governor Hochul: www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-delivers-transformative-progress-toward-new-york-states-historic-drive

Someone come to the Empire State plaza within 13 mins and plz help me fight this. Been playing the game only a few months…only one other person I know plays it and they just started a few days ago. LMAOOOOO worth a shot

"Often" banner outside Four Corners Luncheonette

Looking out to try some middle eastern restaurants, not the typical halal chicken over rice kinda stuff. Please share your best experiences

What services can she connect to? Needs immediate housing option.

Anyone know why that guy is selling N*zi memorabilia next to Pokémon cards...?

We are near 2nd Ave/Delaware area and our power is out. Wondering if anyone else is experiencing an outage as well

hi! i’m going to a wedding in india and the bride is encouraging us to wear traditional sarees / lahengas. Is there a place that sells them in person in the area or somewhere i could try them on?

One of our kids is about to enter into a purchase contract for a property on Hoags Corners Rd. Private well and septic.
We all looked at the basic home info early on, but today’s research brought to light that some area wells were contaminated from the landfill and rt 203 acreage where they washed out the trucks. We are looking at the topography and it looks to be that most of the problem occurs South of the property he is interested in on Hoag’s.

Wondering if anyone has more information to share about the risk on that specific road or just for that area in general. I know some folks are hauling water into their homes and it sounds absolutely miserable.

Trying to get a group of friends together for dinner, someone suggested the Barnsider. What's the dress code (jeans/tshirts or no?) and are well behaved kids OK? It's a mixed group so...

Does anyone one know you need to still purchase the quick entry pass for this or do we only need our work badges? I didn’t see anything mentioned on either website and I am a little bit neurotic about planning ahead. I’m going to the pit bull concert tomorrow and want to confirm, if anyone has any info.

TIA

Note: the monochrome photo was taken by our volunteer coordinator with my camera. I edited it in Lightroom. I'm not at all salty about it being the best of the bunch!

https://www.animalprotective.org/

I stopped to pick up the shrub covers I wanted and they told me they’ll be continuing the estate sale this Friday and Saturday. Please, somebody go get all those incredible black history books. There’s still tons of gorgeous stuff, a/v equipment, and furniture too.

I just want to connect with some other folks in the area and discuss. What are you rocking with? How proficient are you? What do you do with your gear? Can you perform live?

I own a few pieces of equipment:

• Roland SP404mkII

• Roland MC-101

• Roland J6

• (the OG) Novation Circuit

• The Numark Party Mix

Next weekend (Sept 11th & 12th) just about an hour north of Albany in Salem, NY it's the annual Eastbound Throwdown festival! Takes place on a family farm, great mix of local and touring Americana, country, and bluegrass bands. A big party but still very family friendly with a kid's craft area hosted by the local library and the festival is free for 15 and under. Local band Eastbound Jesus are the host band and play both nights.

Great food vendors (including super affordable options from the Greenwich area Scout troop), and a nice mix of craft vendors. Beer available for purchase but you're welcome to BYOB too! A very chill environment, about 1,000 people so a good pick if you've always wanted to try a camping festival but never have. Free yoga on Saturday morning before the bands. $100 weekend pass includes tent camping by your car. Saturday only passes without camping available too.

I help organize the event so let me know if you have any questions! I can't recommend this festival enough, it's just the best people and such a positive environment. Even if you don't know the bands just bring your drinks, chair and post up on the hill and enjoy the view.

Throwdown website

Looking for a good company to service my older oil furnace. Previously used Legenbauer but they no longer have techs to do services. Tried calling Bourque based on previous posts on here but they don’t work on boilers that use oil. Any good recs that are reasonable in price and techs know what they are doing on older systems?

Thanks!!