As Americans, we are well aware after Jan. 6, 2021, that democracy needs to be carefully tended.

Too many of us take our form of government, and the freedoms it offers, for granted. Citizens can be engaged in supporting and protecting democracy in many ways.

But the cornerstone is the ballot.

Neil Sanders, always speaking in measured tones with ready explanations for sometimes thorny questions, shepherded the district through the Great Recession in 2008 and 2009 when Guilderland cut over 100 jobs but did not suffer a budget defeat. His advice as another recession looms on the horizon: “It all goes back to being a team effort. Everybody’s got to be part of that discussion and process.”

At their June meeting, Guilderland School Board members passed, without discussion, two measures to pay tax reimbursements totaling about $3.1 million.

The study looked at 30 years of development, demographic, and economic trends in town, and arrived at the conclusion that, generally speaking, development has declined in the years since the town last updated its comprehensive plan.

Guilderland Supervisor Peter Barber made the request in a July 6 letter.

Janine Tessarzik is proud of being a powerful woman.

At age 40, she was named world champion at the Scottish Masters Athletics International World Championships held last month in Moncton, New Brunswick in Canada.

Blanca Isabela Parker has graduated from Hudson Valley Community College at the age of 17.

The Guilderland GOP chose a candidate on Wednesday night to run for Laurel Bohl’s vacated town board seat but on Thursday — the last day to get on the ballot — he decided not to run.

John B. Haluska, Guilderland

Three juvenile males and two teenage women have been charged for stealing from unlocked cars and for stealing cars that were unlocked with the keys inside.
The thefts occurred over the past week, according to a release from Guilderland Police who worked the case with Bethlehem Police.