HILLTOWNS — A California company has mailed large landowners in the rural Helderbergs, asking to lease their land for solar arrays.

Two Berne-Knox-Westerlo alumni with similar views were just two votes apart in a five-way race for two vacant school board seats.

Five candidates — more than have run for years — are seeking two seats on the Berne-Knox-Westerlo School Board in a special election on Feb. 23.

Including the public in plans for Westerlo's town buildings could improve plans as well as engendering support from the people who will have to fund it — the taxpayers.

Although the recently elected supervisor said he wanted "new blood" on the planning board, the town board members re-appointed the board's 40-year member, Daniel Driscoll, over his objections.

The new superintendent said that, at the next school board meeting, district programs that alleviate harassment will be explained. "Our mantra has been find it and fix it," he said.

Comments from residents who served on or valued the Budget Advisory Committee moved the school board to postpone its plans to suspend the volunteer group.

GALLUPVILLE — Joel Peter Landauer, a mechanic, technician, and councilman who enjoyed riding all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles, died on Saturday, Feb. 6, at Ellis Hospital. He was 60.

Mr. Landauer was born to Anthony Joseph Landauer and Shirley Elaine Landauer, née Schanz, on March 21, 1955, in Schenectady.