The Enterprise asked candidates about issues facing the county, including heroin use, county consolidation, suburban poverty, veterans' services, and care for the elderly.

Suburban schools — for decades a beacon, attracting city dwellers — are now feeling the effects of poverty, too.

The $1.01 million project was completed in two phases over two summers to accommodate school-year traffic.

Rather than closing a school to solve the problem of empty classrooms, the Guilderland School Board will pursue filling the space with pre-kindergarten programs.

NEW SCOTLAND — As Peter Ten Eyck, who owns Indian Ladder Farms, waited Thursday afternoon for the State Assembly speaker to arrive at his farm, he had a clear idea of what he’d like Carl Heastie to see.

Meghan Gutknecht doesn’t give up. Last week, she was standing in the Brazilian sunshine with a bronze medal hanging from a ribbon around her neck.

ALTAMONT — Lisa Seypura has knit a pair of mittens that, when the wearer puts her hands side by side, a ewe is formed, with the head on one mitten and the tail on the other.

The ribbed cuffs of the mittens are green grass on which the sheep can stand and graze.

RENSSELAERVILLE — Judging by the applause, about half the crowd at last Thursday’s hearing opposed the plan for a 180-foot tower on top of Edwards Hill because it would mar the Catskill vistas while the other half favored the sheriff’s proposal because it would bring radio reception for emergency calls to parts of Rensselaerville — inc

Fran Hahn, who loves her library book club, collects books all year long — from garage sales and friends — to give away for free during Fair Week to people who visit the one-room schoolhouse on the fairgrounds.

ALTAMONT — Alan Casline is a poet; he thinks in metaphors.

He likens poets reading at the Altamont Fair to a hummingbird — “aerodynamically and scientifically proven to be unable to fly but no one told the humming bird.”

He asks, “How many county fairs feature poetry?  How many do so for 29 straight years?”