Lisa Ramundo is the first women to serve as the commissioner of the Albany County Department of Public Works. A former engineer for New York’s Department of Transportation and in the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, she credits her recent appointment to experience overseeing the construction of roads, bridges, and other structures.

A county legislator is looking to secure $3,000 from a grant to bring back summer recreation programs for youth to the towns of Westerlo and Rensselaerville. Should the grant not be accepted, the legislator, Chris Smith, has said he will give up two months of his pay to support the program.

The Berne-Knox-Westerlo School District received $100,000 more in state aid than it had budgeted for. After a debate over whether to use all the funds to reduce taxes, the board of education agreed on a 50-50 split between the tax levy and the district fund balance.

A visioning session for the Village of Voorheesville was held at St. Matthew’s Church in the village. A series of exercises allowed visitors to formulate their ideas into statements, which the village will use to help form a comprehensive plan.

Stewart’s Shops has yet to open a store in the Hilltowns, but is set to announce a new location in either Berne or Knox by next month. Both town supervisors are vying for the spot, saying that it would help their town, while local businesses are wary of competitors.

BERNE — A decision by the governor and the New York State legislature to extend the state’s current budget until May 31 has left many school districts concerned about how they will develop their own budgets without knowing the amount of state aid.

A series of arguments and face-offs appears to have led to the firing of a town employee last September by the Berne Supervisor Kevin Crosier, according to accounts from other town employees.

A Voorheesville couple is now at odds with the solar energy company Monolith Solar.

The superintendent alleges the supervisor had overstepped his authority in several instances.

EAST BERNE — A daytime burglary at a home in East Berne may have been due to its seclusion.