Two local real-estate firms merge to form Venture Fox Realty Group

GUILDERLAND — CM Fox Real Estate and Venture Realty Partners have merged, forming Venture Fox Realty Group with nearly 100 agents.

At 100, Hoosac Valley Farmers’ Exchange is getting back to its roots and wants to take you back to yours

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

The business, owned by Maureen and Eric Mayer of Copses Farm in Schaghticoke, features an exchange of products as well as an exchange of ideas, serving large commercial farms as well as backyard farmers.

For its golden anniversary, Caffe Italia ‘pays it forward’

GUILDERLAND — An Italian-style block party — with dancing, music, and Italian street food — was held at Hamilton Square on Saturday as Caffe Italia celebrated its golden anniversary and its first year in Guilderland.

Speeches were made and proclamations were presented at the start of the festivities.

Wiles at GHS: ‘For one last time, as I look into this sea of red and white, I cannot help but have hope’

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

This was a ceremony of both celebration and farewell — not only for the graduates but for their superintendent of nearly 15 years, Marie Wiles; for a school board member of 18 years who taught for decades before that at Farnsworth Middle School, Gloria Towle-Hilt; and for half of the keynote-speaker team, longtime high-school social-studies teacher and soccer coach, Michael Kinnally.

BKW graduation ’25: Essays, ‘clichés,’ and T-Swift guide students to the future

by Noah Zweifel

The Berne-Knox-Westerlo Class of 2025 celebrated its graduation on June 26 at The Egg, in Albany. 

BKW Graduation ’25: Q+A with valedictorian and salutatorian

Berne-Knox-Westerlo class of ‘25 valedictorian Peyton Del Vecchio has enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and will pursue a career in logistics, supply, or financial management, while salutatorian Elise Lendrum will attend SUNY Plattsburgh with the hopes of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.

Free family-friendly festival set for July 17 along the rail trail

DELMAR — The third annual Biking, Burgers and Beverages celebration is set to roll on July 17, rain or shine.

It will run from 4 to 7 p.m. along the Albany County Helderberg-Hudson Rail Trail.

The free event is hosted by the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce.

Community Bank opens Guilderland branch

GUILDERLAND — Community Bank has opened a new branch, in Guilderland, at 1791 Western Ave.

The bank plans to add branches off Wolf Road in Colonie and at the Schenectady-Mohawk Commons Plaza in Niskayuna, bringing its branch count to 13 locations within the region.

Photo: Pokingbrook Morris Dancers

With bells on their shins and scarves in their hands, the Pokingbrook Morris Dancers performed at Altamont’s Orsini Park on Wednesday evening, Jane 4. “Morris,” the dancers say, refers to traditional display dance forms from England that parallels Irish Step Dancing and Scottish Highland Dancing, although those styles don’t have the association with the seasons and with agriculture that Morris has.

Applications open for grants to upgrade municipal parks

ALBANY COUNTY — Albany County is now accepting applications for grants to enhance, improve, or develop city, town, and village-owned parks, playgrounds, or recreational facilities.

Grants are capped at $15,000 each from the $150,000 available. The deadline to apply is June 30.

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