The pandemic has made clear that accurate information can be a matter of life and death.

These local students have recently distinguished themselves:

— Emma Tessarzik of Berne, was named to the dean’s list for winter 2021 term at Elmira College with a grade point average of 3.6 or higher;

— Margaret Maney of Delmar, a bachelor of science degree in marketing graduated from The University of Tampa;

GUILDERLAND — Community Caregivers is working with medical students and social-work students at area colleges and universities to help seniors during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The students receive academic “service learning” credit for their efforts.

“Because we were able to expand crisis stabilization, we actually improved the care for patients,” said Louis Filhour, chief executive officer for Better Health for Northeast New York. “We decreased and prevented them going to the emergency room. We prevented them from being admitted. We provided the services when they were needed and we helped to expand those hours.”

New York State’s guidance, just like the CDC guidance, is still requiring masks and social distancing in schools serving pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade students; on public transit, in homeless shelters, in correctional facilities, in nursing homes, and in health-care settings. Unvaccinated individuals, under both CDC and state guidance, must wear masks in all public settings.

The Hunger Games have given way to “a game of finding folks looking for a vaccine, doing a lot of education, doing a lot of engagement.”

“Once you are fully vaccinated … you do not need to quarantine,” said Albany County Health Commissioner Elizabeth Whalen.

An agreement between two major freight carriers calls for Norfolk Southern to foot the bill to reconnect to the CSX line in Voorheesville, which crosses over Main Street. In addition, Norfolk Southern will be rehabilitating the 15.5 miles of rail once known as the Voorheesville Running Track, which starts in Schenectady County, passes through Altamont, and terminates in Voorheesville.