By Jordan J. Michael

Playing baseball in the off-season gives players a better opportunity to maybe some day play in college. Ben Geist of Berne and Nico Church of Voorheesville are two 14-year-olds who know all about that.

GUILDERLAND — “That plant has a thousand painted lady eggs on it,” says David Corey, pointing to a hollyhock covered with tiny blue dots.

Harness the power of common sense before it’s too late

We admire the Pokornys of Knox. They live their beliefs. The couple is off the grid, using solar and wind power to fuel their Hilltown homestead. And they’ve long been active members of Helderberg Community Energy.

TAs seek support as super asks, ‘Are more TAs giving us better results?’

GUILDERLAND — While the superintendent is questioning the worth of Guilderland’s teaching assistants, they have decided to speak out.

ALTAMONT — Constantine Vlahos, who catered to decades of diners at the Altamont Manor, catered to his family as well.

GUILDERLAND — The women leading the teaching assistants for Guilderland are not aggressive union leaders.

“We’re polite because we don’t want to anger people,” said the president of the unit, Pauline Myers.

From “mother/helper” to paraprofessional

GUILDERLAND — Teaching assistants were first paid to help in Guilderland classrooms 35 years ago when a handful of women gave math and reading remediation as part of a federally funded program.

“Rectify salary disparity”

Remembering Alzheimer’s

Last year, we published a letter that struck a nerve in our community. A young girl, Courteney Bergen of Guilderland, wrote us about her family’s decision to keep her grandfather at home.

2008-2009 winter-spring sports review

By Jordan J. Michael

As the exciting soccer season came to a close this past school year, winter came through and brought some crazy weather, as well as some engaging basketball on the local hardwood.