The Mohawk Hudson Land Conservancy was founded 25 years ago on a cold winter evening by a small group of neighbors concerned about the loss of precious open space.

These local students were among more than 100 part-time students at the University at Albany to have a grade-point average of at least 3.5 in six graduation credits for the fall 2016 semester:

— Hannah Buckey of Altamont;

— Doug Clark of Schenectady;

— Ryan Frederick of Schenectady;

These local students have been named to the dean’s list or received a similar honor from their college or university for the fall 2016 semester:

— Mary Grace Barada of Delmar at Keene State College in New Hampshire;

— McKenzie Burns of Schenectady in the Class of 2020 at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania;

The Albany County Legislature appointed Darrell Duncan, of New Scotland, former Department of Public Works Commissioner and New Scotland highway superintendent, as the representative of the 38th District on Monday.

The program allows the students to explore their career goals and work with an individual business or organization.

Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill, earlier this month, that will limit health-insurance companies’ freedom to impose “step-therapy” protocols on their insured patients. The new law will also give doctors a clearer and faster path to appealing those protocols when they are applied.

Six months after being fired by St. Peter’s, Hedy Migden is practicing medicine again — as part of an independent practice — and has filed a $2 million claim against St. Peter’s and its parent company.

WEST BERNE.

At the meeting of the Reading Circle last week, Mrs. Basaler met with a serious loss. Any one finding a hand bag containing documents and money of the order is requested to leave it at the post office.

SCHOHARIE AND BARTON HILL.

The “blueprint” for conservation looks at the importance of linking parks and protected areas, as well as highlighting landmarks such as the Helderbergs, and the Albany Pine Bush.

The diverse coalition that backed a bill for the state’s funding of fair legal services for the poor needs to keep together and keep pushing past the governor’s veto.