As summer winds down and families are preparing for the start of the new school year, it's been particularly bittersweet for me as my oldest has departed for college and my house seems so much quieter. While I am proud of him and all his classmates as they take on new challenges in life, I do feel as if I blinked, and my son and his friends suddenly seem so grown up. It is a sad, but happy time full of potential. I wish all a wonderful start to the new school year!

Commemorating Labor Day. Today marks Labor Day, a commemoration and celebration of the immense sacrifices working men and women have made throughout our country. Organized labor has had a profound impact in building New York -- contributing to our economic prosperity, while fighting for fair and livable wages, safe working conditions, and a strong middle class. So much has been accomplished, yet we recognize challenges remain in wage equality, economic justice, and environmental protection.

Albany Capital Center. The development of the Albany Capital Center is now underway in Downtown Albany, marked with the implosion of the 11-story Wellington annex last weekend in what has been called “the greatest building implosion of all-time” by CNN.

In the Wellington Annex’s wake will rise a project long in the making and sized appropriately for our city, both physically and fiscally. The new convention center's development will allow for groups and associations to host larger conferences and expositions in Albany. Along with the rehabilitation of the DeWitt Clinton Hotel into a Renaissance by Marriott next door, this will mark an exciting chapter in the resurgence of Downtown Albany to the benefit of the entire region.

WMHT Special on Upstate Education Airs Tuesday. Last month, I joined Times Union State Editor Casey Seiler, SED Commissioner John King and Voorheesville Superintendent Teresa Snyder in discussing the results of a Siena poll on public education in Upstate New York. On Tuesday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m., WMHT PBS-17 will be airing “How We Live: The Fabric of Upstate,” a special featuring the forum presented by New York NOW, Siena College, the Times Union, and Gramercy Communications based upon the results of the Siena poll.

Events in and around the 109th:

+ Labor Parade. The eleventh annual Michael L. Burns Labor Day Parade will take place on Friday, Sept. 5 at Albany’s Corning Preserve from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This free, annual family event will be followed by a picnic celebration with food, fireworks, entertainment, and giveaways.

+ Celebrating Special Green Spaces in Albany County. On Saturday, Sept. 13 at 9 a.m., The Pine Hollow Arboretum, Mohawk Hudson Cycling Club and Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy join in Celebrating Special Green Spaces in Albany County with a bike road tour.

This 35-40 mile ride will include riding by and perhaps briefly stopping at a few Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy properties located along the Bozenkill beyond Altamont; cross the new rail trail running from the Port of Albany to Voorheesville, and ride through the Five Rivers Environmental Education Center. The ride begins at the Pine Hollow Arboretum Visitor Center, located at 16 Maple Avenue in Slingerlands and ends at the office of the Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy, 425 Kenwood Avenue in Delmar.

+ Centennial Celebration of Thacher Park. On Saturday, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thacher Park will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a variety of events and activities for the entire family to enjoy. Free to attend. For more information, visit nysparks.org.

Job Opportunities: New York State has setup a new job portal entitled Jobs Express, where thousands of private and public sector jobs are listed. Visit jobs.ny.gov for more information on how to apply for these opportunities.

As always, for the latest about my office’s happenings or for upcoming events, please visit my office online, on Facebook, on Twitter, or my Times Union blog. If you would like to reach my office, please feel free to send us a note.

Sincerely ---

Pat