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More area Friendly's close their doors

Unfriendly times continue for the Friendly's restaurant chain. Five more locations in the Capital Region have shut down.

The closed stores include both Latham locations, along with restaurants in Albany, Glenville, and the one in Colonie Center.

That leaves the Capital Region with just five Friendly's locations -- in Clifton Park, East Greenbush, Glens Falls, Saratoga Springs, Troy and Johnstown.

According to Friendly's website, three Berkshire County, Mass. Friendly's also remain open along with a location in Bennington, Vt.

The chain filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy in October.

Two accused of stealing sign from pizza shop

LAKE LUZERNE - Two Corinth men have been accused of stealing a large sign from a pizza shop.

Police say 34-year-old Marc Jenks and 22-year-old Brian Martineau took the 5X8 foot sign from Nino's Pizzeria on Lake Avenue in Lake Luzerne in November. That sign has a value of around '$1,200.

Police say the men told them it was a joke.

Friendly's files for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection

NEW YORK (AP) - The parent of the Friendly's restaurant chain is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and says it has already closed 63 of its stores -- including six in the Capital Region.

The 76-year-old company known for its ice cream and hamburgers says the economic downturn coupled with higher costs and high rents drove it to file for bankruptcy protection.

Friendly Ice Cream Corp., based in Wilbraham, Mass., says it has secured $70 million in financing and that its 424 remaining restaurants will stay open as it reorganizes under bankruptcy protection. Gift cards will continue to be honored.

It says the store closings and its reorganization efforts will better position it for the future.

Its current owners, Sun Capital Partners, will be the lead, or "stalking horse" bidders, in an auction process.

Here is a complete list of stores closing...

CAPITAL REGION

Dozens of dining spots lined up for Travers Restaurant Week

Dozens of dining spots lined up for Travers Restaurant Week

More than 50 restaurants from around the Capital Region will take part in this years  Travers 1864 Restaurant Week. The event runs from Aug. 21 through Aug. 25.  The venues will offer three-course meals for $18.64.

1864 was the year of the first Travers Stakes at the Saratoga Race Course.

For a complete list of the restuarants involved, click here.

Saratoga's Spring Mardi Gras Festival!

Saratoga's Spring Mardi Gras Festival!

Saratoga Springs will hold it's annual Saratoga Springs Mardi Gras Festival on Saturday April 30th from 11am to 4:30.

This is a great celebration in downtown Saratoga Springs including an "Arti Gras" Parade on Beekman St., Cajun Cooking Competition with the Saratoga Restaurants, Music, and more! We've had a whole Mardi Gras party shipped up from the South - Beads, Masks, Crowns and other surprises....

The Beekman Street Festival starts the neighborhood party off with a wide assortment of fun and crazy activities at 11:00

McDonald's holds 'National Hiring Day'

WATERVLIET-  Along with Happy Meals and McNuggets, McDonalds was dishing up something else today, 50,000 jobs nationwide.

Today was national hiring day, an opportunity to hire 400 new workers in the Capital Region and get some publicity at the same time.

NewsChannel 13’s John McLoughlin was at the McDonald’s in Watervliet, where he says there was been a steady stream of applicants despite the jobs are all entry level starting at minimum wage.

Fast food consumers encouraged to count calories

GUILDERLAND - You may not think of it when you order fast food, the number of calories you're swallowing. For instance, a standard breakfast platter with pancakes? Over 1300 calories. That bacon cheeseburger combo meal?

"1010," pronounced State Health Commissioner Dr. Nirav Shah, at a media event Monday.

Health officials say that's too much, launching a campaign called "I Choose 600" to get New Yorkers to limit the calories in each meal.

"600 is the magic number because 600 times three meals plus a snack is 2000 calories we should be having a day for an average adult," said Shah.

But Shah said  too many people exceed 2000 calories a day, with larger portions and eating on-the-go.