Good morning, Albany.

Chief Warrant Officer Two Casey Frankoski (a Blackhawk helicopter pilot from Rensselaer) died in a 2024 military crash near Texas and is being honored as her parents launch her memorial fund featuring a second annual barbecue dinner and memorial golf tournament.

On Aug. 6, the Roundtable Panel featured an open discussion of community issues with panelists Jackie Berry of RPI, Beau Breslin of Skidmore College, and former Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan.

The event offered insights into local challenges and future community actions.

At the West Hill Community Center meeting on Aug.

6, EKG developers said their Kenwood data center project will use an air-cooling system to avoid heavy water use and rising utility rates while adding housing and jobs—formal proposals will come in the following weeks.

The Capital Region’s first stand-alone Shake Shack opened Thursday morning at Stuyvesant Plaza on Western Avenue, donating $1 from every sandwich sold to the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York; it is planning a location in Clifton Park (details pending).

Costco opened its first regional location today in Albany, drawing thousands of fans despite a brief power outage + heavy traffic.

Jolene Lomnes now runs HomeWright Builders with her two children in Glenville — rebranding Informative Project Solutions she launched in 2014.

The family handles home renovations and is seeking a historic homestead in upstate New York to build their legacy estate.

Albany officials celebrated finding both ends of Erie Canal’s Lock 1 underground, a key step toward a marina linking the canal to the Hudson River.

Excavation by SUNY Polytechnic and Albany Waterway Inc. confirmed the lock’s location, though construction will start only after funding is secured.

Catskill officials confirm a boil water advisory remains due to high turbidity affecting the treatment plant; Greene County Emergency Services will deliver extra bottled water at the police station after 4 p.m. Thursday + for residents in Catskill, Jefferson Heights, Leeds and South Cairo.

Guster Concert

7-11 p.m. — The Egg — Tickets vary — Enjoy an evening of catchy melodies from the beloved American rock band Guster.