Notes from around town

 We're not even a week into the new year, and the reports are coming out that Rensselaer County Sheriff Kyle Bourgault could be primaried next year.

"The Singing Sheriff" has stepped away from the concert stage, save for the occasional booking, but the Albany Times-Union is reporting today that Troy police detective Justin Ashe has thrown his hat in the ring for 2027. Ashe had supported former police chief Brian Owens in a losing effort vs. Bourgault in 2023.

This is bound to be interesting.

No one's really sure what the status is of La Victoria, a Mexican restaurant occupying the former Pioneer Food Market building on Congress Street, these days.

Prior to last night, I'd passed by La Victoria on the way home from having run some errands after work, to find the eatery already closed (their normal hours would have them closed at 9 pm), and it was already 6 pm and after, on two consecutive Mondays. Seems as though they're losing business, but we don't know for sure.

Around the corner on 3rd Street, La Casa De Pizzeria has quietly changed its name to Downtown Troy Pizza, a change that took place a few weeks back with 0 fanfare. I suspect an ownership change might have something to do with the name change.

WROW rang in the new year with some more programming & personnel changes.

"Brother" Lou Roberts is gone, as it would appear his contract was not renewed. Despite his still being on the current schedule as of press time, a link to his profile page no longer works. Roberts' last day was New Year's Eve, when he filled in on the midday shift.

Taking Roberts' place is Keith Andrews, who will fill the 6-midnight slot on Saturday nights. Andrews, a Boston native who returned to the Northeast a few weeks back, filled in for Jaime Roberts on December 14, which we now must figure was a trial run. Andrews spent a quarter-century in Texas before coming to Albany.

The new lineup, as of January 1:

Weekdays:

5-10 am: Magic Morning Show (Jaime Roberts & Ben Patten).

10 am-3 pm: Magic Midday Show (Bill Williams swaps with Patten).

3-7 pm: John Gabriel.

7-midnight: Patten.

Midnight-5 am: John Tesh: Intelligence For Your Life (Tuesday-Saturday mornings).

Saturdays:

6-8 am, 8:30-noon: Gabriel.

Noon-6: Patten.

6-midnight: Keith Andrews.

Midnight-6 am: Autoplay.

Sundays:

6: News, Views, & Interviews:

6:30: Albany Street.

7-noon: Jaime Roberts.

Noon-5 pm: Bill Williams.

5-10 pm: Candace Curby.

10 pm-5 am: Autoplay.

In addition, Williams has introduced a new feature, This Day in Music History, airing weekdays at approximately 12:30 pm. Gabriel has the Cool Song of The Day, weekdays at approximately 4:30 pm. The station has also launched "Community Awareness" interstitals, also as of January 1. Patten has discontinued the daily birthday list, as it would appear that WROW's contract with Dolce & Biscotti has expired as well.

Let's see how long this lasts.