Albany’s sometimes spirited vacation show downtown is a bit dimmer after considered one of its cherished decorations took a drop, after which a stroll.
That is the case of the lacking snowflake.
The town of Albany welcomes the vacations with the glow of heat winter lights. String lights curl round naked timber and massive gentle up snowflakes sit atop posts, as if floating within the evening air.
Since 1997, from November to January, Albany’s downtown is lit up with 75 of those snowflakes. However icy situations brought about one — they’re valued at $605 apiece — to go lacking, prompting a seek for its return.
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It began when a truck slammed into a light-weight pole on 301 First Ave. on Friday, Dec. 23 after a slew of icy highway warnings.
A light-weight pole and snowflake fell after a car collision. Businessman Oscar Hult observed the downed pole on his manner dwelling from closing up at his menswear store, the Natty Dresser.
In accordance with a metropolis spokesperson, the motive force misplaced management throughout the freezing rain.
“The particular person accountable has already been involved with town relating to the injury to the sunshine pole and different streetscape,” stated Matt Harrington, metropolis communications and engagement officer.
Within the wake of the accident, a steel trash can was broken and the sunshine pole holding the snowflake fell.
In between the accident that Friday and when town got here to scrub up the aftermath on Christmas Eve, the snowflake disappeared, stated Lise Grato, government director of the Albany Downtown Affiliation.
The town of Albany got here to scrub up the positioning of the fallen pole and snowflake on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2022.
Grato took to Fb to plea for the fallen flake’s return. It’s the primary time one has been snatched; the street-scale peak of the snowflake doubtless deters most individuals from even contemplating taking it, she stated.
Though Grato hoped Samaritan had rescued it, it did cross her thoughts that it might have been taken, by no means to be seen once more.
The snowflakes are crafted in Lebanon out of steel, Grato stated. And not too long ago their worth has gone up.
Right this moment’s substitute value of $605 apiece displays a $200 improve during the last three years due to the climbing worth of metals, Grato stated in a earlier interview.
Grato stated she checked Burcham’s Metals to see if the snowflake had made an look there.
However shortly after just a few days of looking, the snowflake was discovered.
In truth, it by no means left the fingers of town. It had been “rescued” in spite of everything.
A metropolis employee had put the snowflake at the back of a metropolis truck for safekeeping. Nonetheless, as a result of the employee then went on trip, the whereabouts of the snowflake have been unknown till Wednesday, Dec. 28.
“The snowflake was put in storage to quickly be joined by its brothers and sisters,” Harrington stated, giving the story a fairy story ending.
For Grato, it’s a welcomed return. After some minor repairs, the snowflake will probably be restored to its place of adoration atop a light-weight pole subsequent season.
“I’m delighted that it has been discovered, I used to be unhappy that it might have been misplaced,” she stated.
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