American history must be woven of many distinct threads

Human societies create calendars. We mark our days.

GUILDERLAND — Setting the school calendar for next year has proved a challenge.

The school board will vote at its next meeting on one of two proposals.

—

BERNE — Carson Dorward carefully, oh, so carefully, cradled a dried gourd covered with an old blue fishing net laced with African seashells. He gently shook the hollow gourd, and the rhythmic sound resonated across his Berne classroom.

—

KNOX — Knox history came to life last weekend as descendents of those who had built up the hamlet gathered from far and wide to celebrate the 100th birthday of Emma Daisy Bunzey Stevens.

—

GUILDERLAND — Danielle Poirier likes a challenge. And she’s in for one.

Last week, Poirier was named transportation director for the Guilderland schools. On March 5, she’ll take the reins from Christine Sagendorf who is retiring.

KNOX — A 1990 Chevrolet pickup truck crashed in Knox early Wednesday morning. The driver was killed but so badly burned, he could not be identified, according to Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple.

will raise funds to help those now battling to rebuild in Central Bridge

A third Civil War concert will be held to benefit survivors of Tropical Storm Irene.

GUILDERLAND — The revenue gap faced by the school district for next year’s budget has narrowed to $2.6 million — down from $3.2 million — because the amount Guilderland has to pay to the Teachers’ Retirement System is less than had been anticipated.

GUILDERLAND — Although Superintendent Marie Wiles will not present her budget for next year until March 1, she indicated Tuesday she will recommend a spending plan that eliminates the popular high school advisory period.

Sometimes seeds that are planted take a long time to grow.

A Berne native, Michele Von Haugg, has made it her mission to plant trees on the other side of the world — in Tanzania. These are blackwood trees, known as mpingo in Swahili. The mpingo grows slowly, taking three decades to reach maturity.