Dr. Alexander Ford, DO, RO, a family physician with Community Care Physicians in Rotterdam, was recently selected as the CDPHP [Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan] Top Doctors Peabody Award recipient based on patient reviews.

The Albany native has dual training as a physician and registered dietitian, serves as a public health nutritionist for the New York State Department of Health, and is the Director of Medical Education for 4th Family, a non-profit that empowers communities in the Capital District.

“I'm not one who chases awards, I do this for the people,” Dr. Ford said prior to the start of his day at Community Care Family Practice in Rotterdam. “I came back to help my community, and that's why I was away for almost a decade doing my training. I was completely moved, humbled, and inspired to keep grinding, pursuing greatness, and helping my people. This just puts an additional battery in my back to continue doing what I'm doing.”

I caught up with Dr. Ford, before his first patient, early on a Monday morning at his Rotterdam office. He rolled up near me in a familiar stool in a patient room and although new, I too felt at home with him.

The Gazette News Group has added a second seasoned reporter to a role exclusively covering politics as part of its Community Journalism Fund. The Schenectady-based newspaper group has five daily publications and three weeklies across the Capital Region.

Ted Remsnyder, a SUNY Stony Brook graduate, will step away from his current beat as the City of Schenectady reporter and take on the role of political reporter within the Community Journalism Fund.

He joins veteran reporter Chad Arnold within the Community Journalism Fund program. Arnold was tapped as a Healthcare reporter in late October.

He joined me in the Daily Gazette podcast studio to talk about the move.

Town of Clifton Park Supervisor Phil Barrett announced on his personal blog Monday that he would not be seeking re-election.

First elected in 1999, he has served the Town of Clifton Park and Saratoga County on the Board of Supervisors for the past 26 years.

He did not return calls for comment on Monday from the media.

On Wednesday, Phil Barrett sat down in The Daily Gazette podcast studio with long-time Capital Region reporter Stan Hudy for an exclusive interview to talk about his decision and reflect on his successes in the Town of Clifton Park.