An absentee ballot count for the town of Berne left the GOP candidates holding on to the supervisor and the town council seats. But the Democratic candidate Joel Willsey is only one vote behind Republican candidate Frank Brady. Two votes that were brought in excess of the eight-ballot minimum by Democratic Party Chairman Gerald O’Malley have not been counted, and the GOP intends to file a lawsuit to keep it that way.

Three local runners, two from Voorheesville and one from Berne-Knox-Westerlo, slogged through the mud and snow at the State Cross-Country competition at Wayne High School in Ontario Center in western New York Saturday, racing against the fastest runners in New York. Each ran on the 3.1 mile course.

WESTERLO — The Westerlo Baptist Church is hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner for the community on Nov. 23 at noon.

The church is located at 619 Route 143.

For more information, call the church office at (518) 797-3927.

Linda VanAller Hernick, a former cytotechnician and paleobotanist, has written a book on exploring the world of freshwater microorganisms in ditches and ponds surrounding her Rensselaerville home. She hopes others will be encouraged to partake in this little-known study.

BERNE — The Berne-Knox-Westerlo Secondary School is excited to announce the formation of a Future Farmers of America chapter. The FFA is an organization that provides agricultural, educational, and leadership opportunities for students and young adults across the country.

RENSSELAERVILLE — In a four-way race for town board, the two candidates running on the Republican line won. Incumbent Marion Cooke, a Conservative, was the top vote-getter and Jason Rauf, a Republican making his first run for office, came in second.

In a race that had all seats contested, unofficial results show Republican nominees won the town supervisor and town board seats by narrow margins.

WESTERLO — In this rural Helderberg Hilltown, dominated by Democrats for decades, a Republican newcomer to politics, Richard Filkins, has ousted a longtime Democratic councilman, William Bichteman. Democratic incumbent Joseph Boone was the top vote-getter.