ALBANY COUNTY — As fewer volunteer to fight fires and run ambulances, the Albany County legislature approved a resolution last week giving active volunteers an exemption on their county property taxes.

KNOX — Nobody knows who owns an unpaved 360-foot section of Whipple Road — not the town’s lawyer, not the town’s highway superintendent, not the town’s assessor. Residents are petitioning the town to take ownership of the road "in whole."

Zimmer to be honored
Give her a rag and she’ll braid you a rug



BERNE — Hand-braided rugs, some the color of fall, others in shades of sherbet, and one dressed in a business suit, are layered three deep in Florence Zimmer’s home.

WESTERLO — Starting this week, residents in the hamlet’s new water district will pay three times as much for water.

RENSSELAERVILLE — The future of agricultural districts in the town will be decided directly by residents.
"What the majority wants to do is what we do," said Supervisor Jost Nickelsberg last week.

RENSSELAERVILLE — A town telecommunications committee is working to bring better Internet access, cellular phone reception, and emergency communication to this rural community.

Windmills in the Hills
Staying rural: Dream the possible dream



HILLTOWNS — John Urrutia used to regularly climb the 100-foot tower of his home’s windmill to service the turbine on top.

EAST BERNE — August 14 marks a century for Elizabeth Griessler.

The second oldest in a family of nine brothers and sisters, she is the only living sibling.

HILLTOWNS — Wind power is moving in the Hilltowns. The Helderbergs are part of groundbreaking research in community wind projects.

EAST BERNE — Nan Stolzenberg, the planner hired to help East Berne create a vision for its future, will present her findings to the public this fall.