Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: How a new Pine Hills café is reshaping the old Saint Rose campus
Coming up: I Don't Belong Here Tour on the Albany Patch calendar
What's up Albany! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- How a new Pine Hills café is reshaping the old Saint Rose campus
- What tough budget choices is Albany weighing to close a $55M gap?
- How Film Albany turned movie shoots into real tourism dollars
Also on today's calendar: Next Albany Job Fair: September 9, 2026 and 5 more events.
Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Thursday: Sun and some clouds, with a high of 79 and low of 58 degrees.
- Friday: Partly sunny, temps: high: 84, low: 59.
- Saturday: Mostly sunny and pleasant, with a high of 78 and low of 66 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Albany County officials welcome Olivia's Café at Events & Athletics Center on former St. Rose campus (saratogian.com) — A new locally owned Olivia's Café has opened in Albany County's Events & Athletics Center on the former College of Saint Rose campus, bringing fresh life to Pine Hills. County officials see the café as another concrete step in repurposing the shuttered campus into a community hub for neighbors to gather, eat, and reconnect. 
2. Applyrs addresses Albany midyear report laying out deficits (spectrumlocalnews.com) — Albany officials say the city faces a $55 million budget challenge over the next 16 months, even after cutting this year's projected deficit. Mayor Dorcey Applyrs is weighing options like property tax hikes or new fees, freezing non-essential hiring, and asking the state comptroller to review the city's midyear report before the 2027 budget is released October 1.
3. The Layover Live: How DMOs build thriving film commissions and turn productions into tourism wins (simpleviewinc.com) — Albany County's own Film Albany program is highlighted as a national example of how film commissions can turn visiting productions into long-term tourism and economic gains. The podcast conversation with Albany County film commissioner Debbie Goedeke explains how relationship-building, community buy-in, and film-inspired tourism experiences help bring jobs, hotel stays, and new visitors to the Capital Region.
4. Ready, Set, Bird! Albany Pine Bush Hosts Six-Hour Birding Blitz (iloveny.com) — Bird lovers can sign up now for the Barrens Birding Blitz, a six-hour team birding competition at the Albany Pine Bush Preserve on Saturday, September 19, 2026. With up to 200 species possible and both hiking and sit-and-spot options, the event includes lunch, awards, and a T-shirt, and highlights the rare Pine Bush ecosystem right here in Albany.
5. Smoke On Plane From Forces Emergency Landing (PHOTOS) (dailyvoice.com) — Passengers headed to Albany experienced a scare when their American Eagle flight from Arlington diverted to Harrisburg after smoke was reported in the cabin. The plane landed safely, everyone deplaned by bus, and the runway briefly closed while crews investigated, causing some delays and diversions before normal operations resumed.
📸 Around Albany
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Albany
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- I Don't Belong Here Tour →
Empire State Plaza Convention Center, 279 Madison Ave, Albany
5:00 pm
Thursday September 10
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Drawn To Art - Workshop at UREC
Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
2:00 pm - International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and Its Abolition
Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. Virtual - Black August Block Party
Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
3:00 pm - Board of Education Meeting
Menands School Albany, NY 12204
6:30 pm - CRAFT NIGHT at The Myers Residence
Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
7:00 pm - Drawn To Art - Workshop at UREC
Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. The Stephen and Harriet Myers Residence, 194 Livingston Avenue, Albany, NY, 12210, United States
2:00 pm - Next Albany Job Fair: September 9, 2026 →
1:00 pm
Friday August 21
Sunday August 23
Monday August 24
Friday August 28
Wednesday September 9
📣 Albany Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- HS Fall Sports Begins
South Colonie Csd Albany, NY 12205 - Tech Help with Ms. Sherry →
Menands Public Library, 4 N Lyons Ave, Menands
11:00 am - Board of Education Meeting
South Colonie Csd Albany, NY 12205
6:00 pm - BOE Meeting
Rensselaer City SD RCSD-1st-125-LGI (150)
6:00 pm
Monday August 24
Tuesday August 25
Wednesday August 26
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Steve Caporizzo-Pet Connection
Sue Wolfson Tillman 18 hours ago · Missing a cat? This friendly cat has been in the Guilderland area of Pine Bush elementary and E. Lydius St. No… (Nextdoor Ontario Street) - They were my second opinion after another company told me that I needed thousands of dollars to repair my Navion furnace.
Two young gentleman came to check it over. They were polite, respectful and friendly. Told me I didn't need anything except for a .79 hanger to hold… (Nextdoor Helderberg)
- Burlington Coat Factory posted a job opening for Retail Stocking Associate - Part Time in Albany. Apply here.
- University at Albany posted a job opening for Assistant Professor 10 Months - Psychology - University at Albany in Albany. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Albany here.
Ok Albany! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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