Notes from around town

 Downtown Troy is saying goodbye to two businesses on either side of the block on 4th Street between Congress & Ferry Streets.

Star & Splendor, a curio shop for fans of the supernatural, closed its doors at the turn of the year. Fret not, though, as the shop will reopen next month in Altamont, presumably closer to the owner's home.

On the other end, Mallo's Restaurant is closing for good on January 23. Seems that while the restaurant is a popular stop for business people and common folks alike, it's not making enough money to pay the rent on the space.

Meanwhile, a small, little known chicken restaurant chain, Smack 'n' Chick, is getting set to open at the corner of Hoosick & 15th Streets, which can't seem to hang on to a tenant for very long, either. Maybe they should change the name to Smack'n Chick'n to avoid any, ah, negative connotations......

There will be a pool on how fast they'll get nicknamed Temu Popeye's, since Smack 'n' Chick is also a Southern based chain.

Another day, another Trump drone loses his job.

More than a year ago, John Sarcone was a legit victim, accosted by what he thought was an undocumented immigrant in Albany in front of the Crown Plaza Hilton.

Today, Sarcone is stinging from two disqualifications in two days by the same judge, all because he, like Alina Habba and Lindsey Halligan, was appointed by president Trump without going through Congressional protocols.

And, as you can see, yes, Sarcone drew one DQ for an attempt at a vindictive prosecution of NY AG Leticia James. The other DQ was for an unrelated case. In all probability, Trump, undeterred, will try to find another patsy to do his bidding to satisfy his obsessive need for vengeful retaliation against Ms. James. Good luck with that.

I'd sooner see Trump is a debate with former Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura. That's one Trump definitely loses.......