In Westerlo, Councilman William Bichteman will be stepping down in January. Bichteman has done the bulk of the work on many of the town’s projects in Westerlo, and his ouster has led to questions about what this means for the supervisor he has assisted.

After holding a public hearing, the Westerlo Town Board adopted its 2018 town budget. Westerlo will stay under the property tax cap with a 1.84-percent tax levy increase, but is anticipating exponential increases over the years in fees for garbage and ambulance services.

WESTERLO — The Westerlo Baptist Church is hosting a free Thanksgiving dinner for the community on Nov. 23 at noon.

The church is located at 619 Route 143.

For more information, call the church office at (518) 797-3927.

WESTERLO — In this rural Helderberg Hilltown, dominated by Democrats for decades, a Republican newcomer to politics, Richard Filkins, has ousted a longtime Democratic councilman, William Bichteman. Democratic incumbent Joseph Boone was the top vote-getter.

In Westerlo, months after the town board enacted a new solar law, a California-based renewable-energy provider is looking to build an array in the town.

At the First Baptist Church in Westerlo, a church known for its missionary work, a former “missionary kid” has been chosen as the new pastor.

Tanja Morse is being represented by the same law firm as a Berne woman also arrested for animal abuse this summer.

A Greenville man crashed his car in Westerlo early Wednesday morning, according to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office.

In order for a cable company to qualify for a grant to fund expanding its internet service in Westerlo, the town must go through a multi-step process to approve a contract before Aug. 15. But last week at a board meeting, town officials were wary of being locked into a contract.

WESTERLO — The town is hosting a Summer Recreation Program at the Westerlo Town Park for the week of July 31 through Aug. 4, from 9 a.m. to noon. All children entering first through sixth grade, and who reside within the town of Westerlo, are eligible to attend.