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SCHENECTADY
Museum and planetarium cutting hours, payroll
BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter

    The Schenectady Museum & Suits-Bueche Planetarium will be open Sundays effective Feb. 1 but closed Monday through Wednesday as part of a reorganization that also involves trimming staff hours by 30 percent, a museum offi cial announced Tuesday.
    The new hours will be Thursday and Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. — a reduction of 36 hours to 22. Currently, the museum is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
    Museum Executive Director Kerry Orlyk said she hopes the changes will boost attendance, especially since the New York State Museum is now closed on Sundays.
    “We thought it was another opportunity for families to be open on Sunday,” she said.
    In addition, being open Sunday will allow it to book birthday parties and hold special events. There will be planetarium shows on Thursday and Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 1, 2 and 3 p.m., which should also drive attendance.
    “Our days are busier when we have something going on in the museum,” she said.
    Also, the museum will offer free general museum admission between 11 a.m. and noon on the fi rst Sunday of each month, which it is calling the “Power Hour.”
    The museum currently employs about 26 full- and part-time workers. Orlyk said the weak economy also prompted the decision to decrease total hours. The changes will reduce the museum’s operating budget for 2011 by about $400,000 to $1.3 million, according to Orlyk. About 40 percent of the budget comes from event sales and money earned on interest from savings and investments. The rest is through donors and other foundation grants. The museum also has an endowment of a little less than $2 million, which it draws about 5 percent from every year to supplement operating expenses. ....................>>>>...................>>>>.....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01001&AppName=1

More renaissance news! Working together alert! This will increase attendance? -lol. If not for the forced marches by students this place would have closed years ago. Another civic institution run into the dirt by the usual suspects. They can't even have a Festival of Nations on a profitable basis. Truly sad. Horrible location, tapped out supporters and one poor "leader" after another. Maybe Proctor's could sell tickets?

BUT, the really great news is that there is a NEW DENNY'S (formerly Sambo's) coming to Nott on the piece of property which has the best view of the city besides Summit ave! Now THAT'S PROGRESS (slobber slobber, wet kiss on SaVAGE's A$$) THANK GOD!!!!

A grand slam breakfast followed by the worst joe in town at Morris' place {formerly Muddy Cup}. Smells like renaissance!

In all fairness, I can see this being a benefit to the kids at Union.  Friendly's was always busy, I never understood why they closed.  As for "renaissance" - don't think so, but it's a bonus for the city.  Hopefully NO $ from Metroplex or the city was involved, we'll see.

Quoted from benny salami

A grand slam breakfast followed by the worst joe in town at Morris' place {formerly Muddy Cup}. Smells like renaissance!

Union College is taking over the Muddy Cup. How come there was no grand announcement when the Muddy Cup closed! They couldn't get out of town fast enough!

Proctor's took over the Muddy Cup. The place was always empty except for the green market in the winter. Horrible, overpriced coffee that tasted burnt. Instead of bringing in a new tenant that pays rent-Morris takes over!

     He needed this space too? The Gazetto tried to bury this story. Morris is calling all the shots Downtown and no one is saying nuthin. He should take over Aperetivo next and take that off the tax rolls.

It already is, for the next 7 years.

Instead of laying off anyone-they cut the hours 30%? This will do nothing to stop the free fall. Feel sorry for the workers that are stuck with this "leadership". Another example of what happens when a nonprofit is with party hacks. They loaned away great art and showcased dusty old radios.

MT, is there ANY businesses paying taxes downtown!?!? Oh yeah, I know of one, Ideal Office Supply on Jay. Not only do they pay property and school taxes, but their assessment doubled last year as well.  

There's very few, but yes - there are some. Mostly on Jay St and the smaller mom and pops

I used to love going there when I was a kid, however I went there last year probably the 1st time in almost 12 years and was very disappointed. There was no new displays and the mood was just depressing. I believe there was 3 other people there and it was just gloomy all around. It's amazing that place hasn't shut down yet, maybe they could do the city a favor and auction off what crap they have left. The only thing left is sad reminders of what a thriving city Schenectady used to be

The location is terrible. No parking on top of a hill where the Nott Terrace Athletic Fields used to be. It should be closed. The City cut funding and so should the County. The way this idiotic County operates they will probably give it millions to move to Broadway-where a taxpaying business should be. I wonder how many of the 24 employees are DEM political hires?

One of the unsafest areas in the region. Lowlifes and bums and criminals everywhere. Sad but true.

Quoted from GrahamBonnet

One of the unsafest areas in the region. Lowlifes and bums and criminals everywhere. Sad but true.

Oh .. "lowlifes and bums and criminals everywhere" .... I thought i saw you and MT and MC hanging out there.