New York State’s guidance, just like the CDC guidance, is still requiring masks and social distancing in schools serving pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students; on public transit, in homeless shelters, in correctional facilities, in nursing homes, and in health-care settings. Unvaccinated individuals, under both CDC and state guidance, must wear masks in all public settings.

Senator Michelle Hinchey lauded the $1.4 billion increase in state aid for education in this year’s budget, bringing the total to $29.5 billion, which for Guilderland meant a jump in state aid of $2.1 million to $27.2 million. About a quarter of Guilderland’s $105 million proposed budget for next year is funded by state aid.

The Hunger Games have given way to “a game of finding folks looking for a vaccine, doing a lot of education, doing a lot of engagement.”

“Once you are fully vaccinated … you do not need to quarantine,” said Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen.

Incumbents Herb Hennings and Philip Metzger are challenged by Michael Hawrylchak, Vanessa Threatte, Antonio Rivera, and Norina Melita.

The Big Eye Gallery is hosting an event on Saturday, May 15, when the public can meet artists who were invited to take a challenge called Paint and Switch.

 On Wednesday night, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced, “Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed the use of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for adolescents 12 to 15 years of age. That decision followed a thorough review of data and FDA’s expansion of the emergency use authorization for this vaccine earlier this week.” He authorized providers to expand eligibility immediately.

“It’s important for the community to know for the larger gatherings that folks are going to need to be vaccinated or have proof of a negative PCR test 72 hours before the ceremony or a rapid test six hours before the ceremony,” Superintendent Marie Wiles said, “unless guidance changes between now and June 25.”

The first of Albany County’s 17 congregate meal sites for seniors re-opened Monday as a pilot program in Watervliet. Other meal sites will open on May 17, June 1, and Sept. 1.

For teaching purposes, Guilderland uses Google, a cloud-based application, which wasn’t affected by the recent cyber attack, said Superintendent Marie Wiles. “Google Classroom and our Google accounts were all fine,” she said. “It’s more when things are housed on servers that people need to be careful.”