Governor Paterson on Monday signed the Albany Residential Parking System bill, sponsored by Sen. Neil Breslin (D-Bethlehem) – in which grants the Albany Common Council the authority to develop a residential parking plan to alleviate concerns from Center Square/Hudson Park residents who have to contend with state workers for parking in the blocks adjacent to the Empire State Plaza.

The bill, which was originally proposed in April, is supported by Albany Common Council president pro tempore Richard Conti and County Legislator Chris Higgins. Conti, in an interview with the Times Union, said “It’ll make it easier for residents during the daytime. When you have that much competition during the day for parking, there are traffic safety issues.”

Here’s the link to the proposed parking plan – www.knickledger.com/map-residentparking.pdf

Under the guidelines from the law, the Albany Common Council now will conduct a process in which questions such as who will get a residential permit, how will it be enforced, and under what circumstances can variances be approved. The Common Council will undoubtedly be lobbied by Center Square residents – ensuring their voice is heard for their neighborhood.

The plan has been almost a quarter century in the making. In 1986, the City of Albany passed a parking system to dissuade state workers from parking on their blocks during the day. Obviously, unions for state employees – already fighting for parking spaces provided by the state in general – didn’t take to this so kindly.

In 1988, the New York State Court of Appeals overturned the city’s plan, under the pretense that a municipality couldn’t restrict access to public roads. A spokesperson for the Public Employees Federation (PEF) at the time declared it was, “open season because nobody has to have a hunting license for a parking place.”

To paraphrase Bugs Bunny, it’s now duck season for the swarms of employees, yearning for that oh-so-not-as-big-as-they-need spot to get to work on time.

Each Monday, the Knickerbocker Ledger will endorse candidates if feels would serve New York State best in the 2010 election. Last week, the Ledger endorsed Kirsten Gillibrand for the U.S. Senate special election. Two weeks ago, we endorsed Tom DiNapoli for Comptroller and three weeks ago, both Eric Schneiderman and Dan Donovan as the Democratic and Republican candidates for Attorney General. This week, we will be issuing a general election endorsement for whom we feel would be best for United States Representative in New York’s 21st Congressional District – which comprises of Albany, Schenectady, Troy, and Amsterdam.

There are not many public officials in which you can truly say they’ve dedicated a lifetime to serving their fellow citizens for the greater good. For over 20 years, Paul Tonko served the residents of Amsterdam in the New York State Assembly with dedication, selflessness, and leadership. As Chairman of the Assembly’s Energy Committee, Tonko fought for New York State to protect the environment, generate jobs, and provide oversight of energy contractors.

As a member of Congress, Tonko has proven to be the model officeholder – relevant yet not in your face. The Capital Region may not realize it, but Tonko’s the real deal. Tonko was recently awarded the Albany County Young Democrats’ 2010 Forever Young and Democratic Award.

As one of the most Democratic districts in the country, an endorsement may not mean as much as it would in a contentious race – but when you’re a stand up guy like Tonko, it doesn’t hurt to give praise when the spotlight’s not on.

Stay tuned next Monday for our endorsement for New York State Senator for the 46th District.

(from left) UAlbany President George Philip, Lori Sames, Vice President for Student Success Christine Bouchard, Matt Sames, and Student Association President Justin Wax Jacobs.

Hannah has more than hope – she now has the support of it’s 18,000 students at the University at Albany.

Late last week, the University at Albany Student Association took the charge of supporting “Hannah’s Hope Fund,” established in support of a six year old girl named Hannah Sames who was diagnosed with Giant Axonal Neuropathy (GAN), a disease in which the ability to speak, swallow, and walk are decimated – tragically leading to a state of quadriplegia. Of those diagnosed, most die in their 20s.

This past Sunday at the Student Association’s block party on UAlbany’s uptown campus, Hannah’s mother, Lori Sames, spoke to students, urging them to vote for the Hannah Hope Fund by texting 101885 to 73774 (PEPSI) or voting online at www.refresheverything.com/hannahshopefund. University President George Philip and Student Association President Justin Wax Jacobs both urged students and staff to spread the word.

As of 10:00pm tonight, the Hannah Hope Fund is #3 for being selected for Pepsi’s Refresh Challenge to receive $250,000 to go toward GAN research. To supplement research for GAN, UAlbany’s DNA and RNA scientists have applied for federal funding to continue research at UAlbany to find a cure.

The top two in voting receive the $250,000 in funding – part of Pepsi’s $20 million philanthropic campaign for the year. A number of Capital Region causes have been part of internet-driven voting campaigns – most notably Charlie Muller’s drive to support the Boys and Girls Club in Downtown Albany earlier in the summer.

The Palace Theater announced it’s 2010-2011 SEFCU Classic Movie Series. Tickets are $5 for adults, children at $3. Here’s the season:

“Viva Las Vegas”
1964, 85 minutes, not rated
Monday, Sept. 20
Starring Elvis Presley, Ann-Margret, Cesare Danova, William Demarest, and Jack Carter.
Elvis and Ann-Margaret are perfectly teamed in this classic Presley movie, with Elvis as a race-car driver. Soundtrack includes “The Lady Loves Me,” “What’d I Say?,” “I Need Somebody To Lean On,” “Come On, Everybody” and the classic “Viva Las Vegas!”

“North By Northwest”
1959, 131 minutes, not rated
Monday, Oct. 4
Starring Cary Grant, Eva Marie Saint, James Mason, and Martin Landau.
This quintessential Hitchcock comedy-thriller stars Grant as a bewildered ad-man chased cross-country by the police and a group of spies all at once. With one memorable scene after another including the now legendary crop dusting and Mount Rushmore sequences, this movie is full of some of Hitchcock’s most memorable action moments.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” with a live on-stage shadow cast
1975, 95 minutes, Rated R
Monday, Oct. 25
This year the Palace welcomes the Whip-It Outskirts as its live Rocky Horror Shadow Cast. Wear your best costume and come do “The Time Warp.” This kinky and outrageous musical spoof of classic horror films spawned the ultimate audience-participation cult following amid a million midnight screenings. Rock music, kinky sex and wild comedy all come together in the story of a straight couple (Susan Sarandon and Barry Bostwick) stranded in a spooky old house filled with strange people from Transylvania, all under the watchful, leering eye of Dr. Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry). Music and lyrics by Richard O’Brien.

“A Streetcar Named Desire”
1951, 122 minutes, not rated
Monday, Nov. 22
A stunning production of Tennessee Williams’ play, with Marlon Brando as the animalistic Stanley Kowalski and Vivien Leigh as his wistful, neurotic sister-in-law Blanche Dubois, pressed together in a grim New Orleans tenement. Oscars went to Leigh, Kim Hunter and Karl Malden for their flawless performances as well as for the art and set decoration.

“Bonnie and Clyde”
1967, 112 minutes, Rated R
Monday, Nov. 29
Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway portray Bonnie and Clyde, a pair of bank robbing anti-heroes from the Depression-era 1930s. Veering wildly from comedy to melodrama and social commentary, this movie remains vivid and stylish throughout and has spawned countless imitators since its release.

Three Stooges Film Festival
Various running times, not rated
Monday, Dec. 13
The original knuckleheads return to the Palace for the best of Moe,
Larry, and Curly (and sometimes Shemp) in six of their funniest short films: “Disorder In The Court,” “False Alarms,” “The Hot Scots,” “Dizzy Doctors,” “Crime On Their Hands” and “Slippery Silks.

“It’s a Wonderful Life”
1946, 129 minutes, not rated
Friday, Dec. 17
It’s hard to believe that this timeless classic wasn’t a hit when it was released. Frank Capra’s sentimental fantasy of a small town businessman (James Stewart), follows him as he tries to do the right thing, thinks he’s failed and tries to commit suicide. He is ultimately saved by a guardian angel who shows him what life would’ve been like without him.

“A Christmas Story”
1983, 98 minutes, Rated PG
Monday, Dec. 20
A beloved holiday classic, humorist Jean Shepherd’s memoir of 1940s life comes alive in the tale of a young boy’s (Peter Billingsley) desperate craving for a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. Rich in period flavor and details, this film is wonderful fun for the whole family.

“E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial”
1982, 115 minutes, Rated PG
Monday, Jan. 10
Elliot (Henry Thomas), 10, befriends a creature from another planet that’s been stranded on Earth. A warm, insightful story of childhood innocence, frustration, courage and love with a remarkable “performance” by E.T. and a delightful young Drew Barrymore as Elliot’s sister Gertie.

“Chinatown”
1974, 130 minutes, Rated R
Monday, Jan. 24
A bizarre and fascinating mystery in the Hammett-Chandler tradition (set in the 1930s) with Jack Nicholson as J.J. Gittes, an L.A. private eye led into a complex dark case by femme fatale Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway). Chinatown finds Roman Polanski at his directorial peak and captures the feel of the classic film-noir like no other modern movie since.

“Dirty Dancing”
1987, 100 minutes, Rated PG-13
Monday, Feb. 14
The story of Baby (Jennifer Grey) and Johnny (Patrick Swayze), two fiercely independent young spirits from different worlds, who come together in what will be the most challenging and triumphant summer of their lives.

“The Defiant Ones”
1958, 97 minutes, not rated
Monday, Feb. 28
Engrossing story of two escaped convicts (Tony Curtis and Sidney Poitier) – one black, one white – shackled together as they flee the police in the South. A compelling racial drama runs throughout the film as the characters must learn to move past their own prejudices during their time on the run together.

“Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid”
1969, 110 minutes, Rated PG
Monday, March 14
Outlaws Butch Cassidy (Paul Newman) and The Sundance Kid (Robert Redford) are a pair of train robbers on the run from a relentless and remote sheriff’s posse. Memorable vignettes, well-written dialogue and the near-perfect chemistry between Redford and Newman made this film an instant classic.

“Monty Python and the Holy Grail”
1975, 91 minutes, Rated PG
Monday, March 21
From its opening multi-language titles to the closing arrest of the entire Dark Ages cast by modern-day bobbies, Monty Python and the Holy Grail helped to define “irreverence” and became an instant cult classic. In this, their first “proper” feature film, Python savages the legend of King Arthur, juxtaposing some excellently selected exterior locations with an unending stream of anachronistic one-liners and slapstick set pieces.

“The Bridge on the River Kwai”
1957, 161 minutes, not rated
Monday, April 11
An epic tale of the struggle of British POWs in a Japanese prison camp in Burma during WWII starring William Holden, Alec Guinness and Jack Hawkins. Winner of seven Oscars including Best Picture, Director, Actor, Cinematography, Scoring and Screenplay.

“The Ten Commandments”
1956, 220 minutes, not rated
Monday, April 18
Starring Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Anne Baxter and Edward G. Robinson. Vivid storytelling at its best, this Biblical epic follows Moses’ life from birth and abandonment through manhood, slavery and trials in leading the Jews out of Egypt. Oscar-winning special effects like the classic parting of the Red Sea make this a film that should be seen on the Big Screen.

“It Happened One Night”
1934, 105 minutes, not rated
Monday, May 2
This legendary romantic comedy is still as enchanting as ever with reporter Peter Warne (Clark Gable) and runaway heiress Ellie Andrews (Claudette Colbert) falling in love on a rural bus trip. Hitch-hiking travails, the Walls of Jericho and numerous other scenes continue to remain fresh and delightful. The first film ever to win all five major Oscars: Picture, Actor, Actress, Director and Screenplay. Based on Samuel Hopkins Adams’ story “Night Bus” originally published in Cosmopolitan.

“The Godfather: Part II”
1974, 200 minutes, Rated R
Monday, May 16
They said it couldn’t be done, but co-writer-director Francis Ford Coppola made a sequel that is just as compelling as the original classic. “The Godfather: Part II” contrasts the life of the melancholy “Don” (Al Pacino) with the early days of his father (Robert De Niro) as an immigrant in New York City. Winner of six Oscars including Best Picture, Director, Screenplay, Supporting Actor, Score and Art Direction/Set Direction.

Each Monday, the Knickerbocker Ledger will endorse candidates if feels would serve New York State best in the 2010 election. Last week, the Ledger endorsed Tom DiNapoli for Comptroller and two weeks ago, both Eric Schneiderman and Dan Donovan as the Democratic and Republican candidates for Attorney General. This week, we will be issuing only one, singular, general election endorsement for whom we feel would be best for United States Senate in the special election to fill the vacancy of now U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. The seat has currently been held by former U.S. Representative Kirsten Gillibrand from the 20th Congressional District.

A number of candidates have stepped up to announce their candidacy – from Joe DioGuardi (father of American Idol’s Kara DioGuardi), NYC attorney Gail Goode, economist David Malpass, former Port Authority Commissioner Bruce Blakeman, and Gillibrand herself – to be New York’s junior senator (pending Chuck Schumer’s re-election).

There’s really no other choice here besides Kirsten Gillibrand to continue her service in the Senate. A proven campaigner, a proven public servant, Gillibrand will continue to push forward a more centrist approach compared to the ever-liberal Schumer. As a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, Gillibrand keeps New Yorkers interest in national affairs that relate to post-September 11th military developments (i.e. the War on Terror in both Iraq and Afghanistan).

Gail Goode presents a compelling argument for her candidacy, but we’d rather see her lick her chops in a smaller race first before hitting the bigtime. The three Republicans in the race look like the Three Stooges – none of them really standing out and continuing to bumble along to Primary Day.

Stay tuned next Monday for our endorsement for United States Representative for the 21st District of New York.

Joseph Alindato (r.) with KFF Screening Committee Member Michael J. Fennally (l.)

“Changing tomorrow” may be a better slogan than “challenging tomorrow” for BASKnickerbocker Inc. (parent company of BAS News, the operator of the Knickerbocker Ledger).

Late Tuesday night, the company released a notice that its chief executive officer, Joe Bonilla, will be stepping down after nearly 4 years on August 31. The release also named BAS co-founder and Chairman of Knickerbocker Entertainment and Interactive (the unit that handles the Knickerbocker Film Festival), Joseph Alindato, as its incoming chief executive on September 1.

Alindato, 24, along with Bonilla and board treasurer and director of giving Antwuan Sims, co-founded BAS in November 2006.

Alindato conceptualized a number of entertainment products BAS currently offers, including the Knickerbocker Film Festival, Knickerbocker Pictures, and BAStv. Alindato served as director of production for ATV/BAStv’s “After Hours with Joe Bonilla” as well as was director of photography for the recently produced “Safe is Sexy,” directed by Nikita Shpilberg.

“As Chairman of Knickerbocker Entertainment and Interactive, Joseph has been instrumental in developing new entertainment assets such as the Knickerbocker Film Festival. As CEO, he’ll continue to bring that creativity to a company-wide scale,” said Joe Bonilla said in a statement.

According to Daniel Truchan III, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the board is expected to vote by August 31 to confirm Alindato in time for September 1.

BAS in the past year has seen significant growth buoyed by the Knickerbocker Film Festival and its media development unit Sunbear Design & Media. The Company operates five units in total – Trixie Productions, BAStv, Sunbear, Knickerbocker Entertainment, and BAS News.

Each Monday, the Knickerbocker Ledger will endorse candidates if feels would serve New York State best in the 2010 election. Last week, the Ledger endorsed both Eric Schneiderman and Dan Donovan as the Democratic and Republican candidates for Attorney General. This week, we will be issuing only one, singular, general election endorsement for whom we feel would be best for State Comptroller.

Thomas DiNapoli has been Comptroller since being appointed by the New York State Assembly in early 2007, during the infancy of the Spitzer administration. DiNapoli, 56, has been ardent about pushing forward reforms to check state budget deficits, which in 2010 ballooned to over $8 billion dollars and expected to grow to over $15 billion in FY 2011. DiNapoli, who holds the record as the youngest elected school board member in state history, has been more apolitical as the chief fiscal officer of the state.

DiNapoli, in our opinion, represents a consummate public official whose interested in serving the people more than serving his own personal interests.

Stay tuned next Monday for our endorsement for the special election for the United States Senate.

Do you have what it takes to go “over the edge”? The Special Olympics of New York are asking that question to participants for Friday’s event at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Downtown Albany.

The first 100 participants who’ve raised over $1,000 will get the opportunity to rappel off the side of the 18-story high Crowne Plaza. The event, organized by Special Olympics New York in collaboration with Avid Marketing Group, WGNA 107.7 FM, and CMC-KUHNKE, is hoping to raise some serious funds in order to support athletes in participate in the Special Olympics.

The event started 10:00 a.m. Friday and goes until 6:00 p.m. Special Olympics New York has 48,761 athletes across New York State. The competitions are offered at no cost to the athletes or their caregivers, which requires year-round fundraising efforts to continue to offer over 5,000 competitive experiences each year.

There will also be featured performances by Mirk & The New Familiars (voted Best R&B Band in the Metroland’s Best of 2010) and Frankie’s Theory.

To find out more, visit www.facebook.com/overtheedgealbany

It’s the last few days of the turnaround, 22nd season of Park Playhouse at Washington Park and the mood couldn’t have been better.

“We’d have been lucky to have half this number last year,” said a volunteer, referring to the 2009 season when “High School Musical” was featured. With diminishing crowds and declining corporate sponsorships, the Park Playhouse board of directors ousted longtime artistic director Ven Borromeo, who led the organization for 24 years, dating back to it’s pre Park Playhouse days.

Owen Smith, a 28 year old Delmar resident and Park Playhouse veteran, was named its new artistic director this past January. “Annie Get Your Gun,” this year’s production, features Molly McGrath and Sam Perwin as Annie Oakley and Frank Butler. McGrath and Perwin lead an all-star cast that don’t miss a single beat. Next year, Park Playhouse will return to a two-show season with “Annie” and “Chicago.”

“Annie Get Your Gun,” along with Park Playhouse II’s “The Wiz” play through August 15 (this Sunday) at 8:00 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., respectively.

McClane, the Terminator, and Rambo – in the same movie? That alone should make you want to see “The Expendables,” the Sylvester Stallone-directed action film opening up nationwide tomorrow.

“The Expendables” features a cast of steroid-filled brutes led by Stallone and featuring Jet Li, Jason Statham, Mickey Rourke, Terry Crews, Randy Couture, and Dolph Lundgren as a team of mercenaries hired to effectively dismantle an island dictatorship that had been financed by a former CIA agent (played by Eric Roberts). Steve Austin also stars as Roberts’ right-hand man.

But the most talked about scene in the film lasts all but one minute. Early in the film, Stallone’s character is found at a church, talking toward the screen, in which the next shot is of Bruce Willis, playing an agent named “Church” (real creativity there). After discussing the plan to go to the island, the doors at the end of the church open and bam – Arnold Schwarzenegger (Trench) comes through. Schwarzenegger and Stallone make a couple of cheap jokes (“Looks like you lost some weight,” “Looks like whatever weight I lost, you took,”) before discussing the plan. Schwarzenegger leaves, with Willis clearly disturbed asking, “What’s his problem,” with Stallone exclaiming, “He wants to be President.”

Maybe they wanted that money back from Planet Hollywood.

From the beginning, body parts fly in every which way, bullets are unloaded like there’s no tomorrow, and no amount of assault can go through Kelvar padding. If you’re a fan of late 80s-early 90s action, you’ll definitely love this.

In the Albany area, “The Expendables” is playing at the Madison Theater, Regal Crossgates 18, and Regal Colonie Center 13.