These local students received academic honors from Binghamton University by making the university's dean's list for the Spring 2013 semester:

— Casey A. Becerra of Altamont, at the at the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences;

Sergeant Major Jeffrey Nuding from Schenectady, has re-enlisted to continue service with the Intelligence and Sustainment Company, 42nd Infantry Division, of the New York Army National Guard.

The Army Corps had been testing water from monitoring wells on an old landfill for more than a decade, and finally received the funding for the cap-and-cover project through a grant from the Formerly Used Defense Site Program.

Peter Henner's column about contrasts — East versus West, young versus old — was named a winner by the Chess Journalists of America.

To the Editor:

What I have to say will embarrass the person I’m writing about, but it needs to be said, so, I’ll blurt it out.

Eric Monk from Schenectady, serving with the New York Army National Guard Headquarters and Support Company, 42nd Infantry Division is promoted to the rank of specialist.

Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential.

These local students have recently distinguished themselves:

EAST GREENBUSH— Ronald Gene Czajkowski a religious and creative family man, died on Friday, Sept. 13, 2013, from injuries sustained from a fall at Thacher Park. He was 44.

The soil, groundwater, and sediment at the site are contaminated with mercury. An unnamed tributary, which runs parallel to the site, merges with the Patroon Creek, and empties into the Hudson River, has also been contaminated.