Christopher Longo, Guilderland

Smokey Bear is coming to the Pine Bush for his annual visit on Saturday in a year when the area has been smothered with smoke from Canadian wildfires. So his signature phrase, “Only you can prevent wildfires,” has urgent meaning.

Nearly nine out of 10 wildfires nationwide are caused by people.

“We want them to be comfortable as athletes — and comfortable in their own skin and not feel objectified,” said Guilderland School Board member Rebecca Butterfield of allowing girls who so desire to practice in sports bras.

The audit notes that Guilderland lost about $5 million in net position due larging to increased costs for pupil transportation and tax certiorari expenditures as well as an increase in net pension liabilities.

The board president said she didn’t want advocating for more music space “to get lost in this bigger discussion” about state requirements for electric school buses.

The Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission is looking for neighbors that can collect data within half-a-mile of the preserve to help track changing weather patterns by measuring the depth of snow in their own backyard or at their workplace.

“He says, ‘My job isn’t to change minds. It’s to open minds,’” said Superintendent Marie Wiles of Guilderland’s new DEI director, Derek Westbrook. “I just love that. That’s what education is all about.”

Ronald Lee Sands, who as a youth growing up in Altamont had a passion for adventure and making model planes, graduated from the Air Force Academy and went on to help design the F-4 Phantom, the primary fighter jet used in the Vietnam War.

Judi Dineen, Altamont Reformed Church