— GUILDERLAND — In February 2010, Jean Simmons had hope for her floral business. This year, she’s closing her doors for good. Simmons blames her closure on the Guilderland Fire Department, and its annual Valentine’s Day rose sale.

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GUILDERLAND — Two years after residents approved a $5 million bond for a new firehouse, the Westmere Fire District has fired the project’s contractor.

GUILDERLAND — A new Albany County legislator, representing the Hilltowns, is calling for the county to audit a not-for-profit organization directed by Guilderland’s Democratic Party chairman.

ADIRONDACKS — Darwin Roosa, of Altamont, is the president of the New York Ski Racing Association, Nordic, and volunteers year-round to plan winter races and help get youth involved in the sport.

Even with all of his coaching, volunteering, and organizing, he remains a top competitor in masters’ races.

ADIRONDACKS — Orienteering is a sport where competitors use a map and a compass to find their way from one point to another, checking in at each point; the racer to complete the course the fastest wins.

Angelina McKenna fell in love with figure skating when she was only 4. It’s been 12 years, and her love for the sport has shown no signs of diminishing.

The Empire State Games have continued on in Lake Placid despite the lack of state funding for the last two years.

This year, however, the Games faced a dearth of something even more important than funding — snow.

GUILDERLAND — Denise Deitz noticed a gap in services in the town, and, being entrepreneurial, she decided to fill it.

Deitz has an 8-year-old son with special needs, and she said that, in the past, getting his hair cut was a traumatic experience for the whole family.

GUILDERLAND — After nearly two decades of suffering with heart and breathing problems, David Morey is facing his future with optimism.