The two most recently appointed councilmen are up for election, as well as Keith Wright, the town's highway superintendent, and Kenneth Mackey, a town judge.

BERNE — Clients and animals were like family for Bonnie Jean Schmidt. She took her work as a home health aid seriously, with strength and gentleness, like the elephant tattooed on her arm.

Bonnie Jean Schmidt died of cirrhosis of the liver on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013. She was 57.

WESTERLO — Kenneth Mackey says he has learned a lot in his last four years on the bench.

“A lot of people don’t belong in jail,” he said. “I know now that some people really do.  You can tell the minute they walk in the courtroom.”

WESTERLO — Keith Wright likes being Westerlo’s highway superintendent.

“It’s not the same every day,” he said. “There’s always something different.”

Wright, who is 58, will have worked for the highway department for 20 years in June; he was foreman for six years and was appointed to the top spot 10 months ago.

WESTERLO — Theodore Lounsbury grew up in town, in Dormansville, and Westerlo is where he chose to stay.

“I’ve always loved it,” he said. “Everyone knows everyone else. It’s where my wife and I are raising our two kids.”

WESTERLO — Councilman William Bichteman said he was “terrified” at his first town board meeting.

A question was asked, and Bichtemen felt he wasn’t well informed to answer.

Since then, he has spent a lot of time making sure he is well versed on a wide variety of town issues, he said.

A varsity coach says he doesn't know why he is being fired; some parents and players say he favors stars. A frank and open discussion on the role of a coach is called for.

BERNE — A private yet generous woman, Charldine M. Meisner — known to friends and family as “Chickie” — had a passion for cars.

“She liked cars and she liked to go to the races,” said her companion, Frank Bruckman. “We’d go to Fonda or Accord and she enjoyed every minute.”

Monday, Oct. 7, was one of those days with unpredictable weather. All day the television warned of a tornado approaching. I kept wondering when Baby Zoey and I might have to wait it out in the cellar. We were lucky and it missed our area completely.

On Monday I had an appointment for a physical with Dr. Kolanchick. My daughter, Kathy came and watched Zoey. She took Zoey in the stroller and went to the apple orchard on our farm. Zoey loved the bumpy ride into the apple orchard.