KNOX — A woman of brass and baked goods, Donna Ostrander fed grandchildren, neighbors, and friendly chipmunks.

She raised two daughters as a single mother after her husband, Donald, died; she worked as a clerk for the town and for the United States Postal Service.

KNOX — Firefighters watched from afar as Kenneth Fortuin's buildings burned at his Saddlemire Road residence, unable to get to the scene on Wednesday night. Their path to the fire was blocked by cut-down trees and Fortuin, said to be armed, threatened to harm anyone who approached the scene, police said.

Monday, Jan. 27, was a snowy day. I wrote the news but was nervous about driving so decided to go on Tuesday to Altamont.

Kyra got off the bus at 3 p.m. and we spent the rest of the afternoon discussing school.

Marcia came home and enjoyed dinner with us. 

Saint Valentine was a roman priest who was beheaded in 170 A.D. on or around Feb. 14. His crime had been performing marnux ceremonies for young men who were supposed to remain single in order to make better soldiers!

MEDUSA — A farmer, horse rider, and highway worker, Galen Chase had plenty of love and humor for friends and family.

Galen B. Chase Sr. of Medusa died, after a long, courageous battle with cancer, on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, with his loving family at his side. He was 61.

BERNE — A committed, smiling kindergarten teacher, Edith Rocheleau loved fun and education and didn’t see them differently.

For nearly a quarter of a century, we've made the practical request that Knox post agendas of town meetings; in the Internet age, this is a simple and essential task

School board member Vasilios Lefkaditis said his calculations showed a more grim outlook for the school's future budget decisions than administrators had presented. The agreement with Berne-Knox-Westerlo Teacher Support Staff was approved with three out of five in favor.

Monday, Jan. 20, was a holiday. It was Martin Luther King’s birthday. Marcia had to work and dropped off Kyra at my house at 7 a.m. 

Kyra and I went with Brandon to pick up Nichole and Samson. It was his holiday to spend with them. Jenn Smith and Iain met us at Sunset Lanes in Colonie.