A revised Rensselaerville ethics law, passed unanimously, includes a more specific number of days for each step in the process of hearing and investigating a complaint. The town board voted at the same meeting to allow use of the town's car for town business, when not used for the elderly.

The after the Conservation Advisory Council submitted its proposal for prohibiting high-volume hydraulic fracturing, the planning board voted not to make its own recommendation to the town board, considering the prospects for gas drilling nearby slim and since the comprehensive plan is under review.

While the lawyer representing Hitmans Roadside Service argues her client has not opened her garage to the public, violating town law, the town's attorney disagrees and has an invoice that lists services performed.

Ronald "Joey" Bates says he will retire from the Albany County Sheriff's Office if he wins election in November.

After a kitchen fire last month, the family's home on Bradt Hollow Road is uninhabitable as they stay in a family member's house. 

Robert Motschmann wasn't born a self-sufficient Hilltowner; the Long Island native became one. He uses trees from his 84 acres of woods to heat his home.

The Carey Institute for Global Good has matured into an important resource for regional brewers and farmers and will soon start residency programs in journalism and arts.

Conservation easements on the property will limit the town's primary use to a few dozen acres among nearly 360. Town officials hope the land will be a source of jobs for residents and revenue to the town.

BERNE — Musical instruments with quality sound can have stratospheric prices. Not least of which among their materials is the rare wood from the endangered African Blackwood tree.

To the Editor:

On behalf of the Helderberg Hilltowns Association, I would like to thank all of the people who participated in the Discover the Hilltowns: Farms and Artisans Tour this past weekend.