David Hoffman has been appointed the associate dean for academic initiatives at Maria College in Albany. Hoffman, who holds a doctorate in bioethics with a concentration in health ethics and policy from Albany Medical College, will also continue in his role as associate professor for ethics and health policy at Maria.

B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation in Albany will screen “The Mad Adventures of ‘Rabbi’ Jacob,” a French comedy of frantic disguises and mistaken identities, on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m.

B’nai Sholom is located at 420 Whitehall Road in Albany. Refreshments will be available and there is a suggested contribution of $5.

Robert T. Schofield has been appointed as co-managing partner of Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP and William S. Nolan has been added as a member of the firm’s executive committee, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

The 40-year-old firm has 75 lawyers.

These members of the New York State State Army National Guard have re-enlisted:

— Sergeant Bridget Burch from Voorheesville re-enlisted to continue service with the 0206 Military Police Company; and

— Staff Sergeant Michael Downs from Delmar re-enlisted to continue service with the Company D, 3-142nd Aviation.

Tu BiShevat, the Jewish New Year for Trees, will be celebrated with a special seder on Sunday, Feb. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at B’nai Sholom Reform Congregation in Albany.

The Arbor Day Foundation is offering free trees to new members who join any time during January.

These local students were named to the dean’s list at Hudson Valley Community College for the fall 2019 semester with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher: 
 

— Kory Davis of Altamont;

— Thomas Gade of Altamont;

— Claire Guyer of Altamont;

— Alexandra Stevens of Altamont;

These local students were named to the dean’s list or received a similar honor from their college or university for the fall 2019 semester:

— Shannon Howland of Delmar, majoring in criminal justice at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire, with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher;

These local members of the New York Army National Guard have recently been promoted:

— Jeffrey Jensen from Altamont, assigned to the 206th Military Police Company, received a promotion to the rank of private; and

New York State has put into place tax exemptions to encourage development of renewable energy, which played out last week in Duanesburg, a rural Schenectady County town, that granted payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs, for two solar farms.