Local police officers have faces, presence, are part of a community

Both the county and state proposals are not in any way curtailing proper enforcement of the law. Rather, they are setting parameters for a federal agency that is violating laws.

Climate change should not be political

Scientists have warned for decades that global warming will cause more weather extremes. This winter, we’ve seen the school closings, the closed businesses, the widespread power outages, and the deaths caused by snow and cold in places not used to dealing with such winters. And the winter suffering pales besides the destruction, drought, and death caused by extreme heat in places around the world.

Will the Berne Town Board step up to help its residents and prevent a flood?

The dam needs to be repaired. At the worst, if the dam gave way, lives and homes could be lost; at the best, if the dam is removed, the homes, without a lake, would lose value.

Kinship caregivers deserve all the help they can get

Kinship care is not new. As Gerard Wallace pointed out, George Washington, the father of our country, was also a grandfather, caring for two of his grandchildren without a legal arrangement. It is past time, in 250 years, for our laws and services to catch up with the reality that 1 in 11 Americans will live in a kinship home at some point in their childhood. If the people caring for these children get the support they need, our society as a whole will benefit.

Helping hands are here for you if you need cancer screening and don’t have health insurance

All of us should heed the recommendations for regular screenings and any of us without health insurance should take the first, simple step of calling 518-525-8680. The state’s Cancer Services Program of the Greater Capital Region helps uninsured individuals between the ages of 40 and 64 get free screenings for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers.

Ski lessons

I am mindful to this day of what I learned on those ice-cold Sundays in the Helderbergs. And I am thankful for the lessons that have sustained me for a lifetime.

Science should lead government both in offering guidance and in setting regulations

We depend on our government to enforce regulations that protect our health. And for nearly half of a century, Americans have relied on dietary guidance from the federal government to stay healthy. Both the regulations and the guidance are currently being upended.

The future of our democracy depends on citizens willing to seek the truth

by Melissa Hale-Spencer

It doesn’t matter if you are a Republican or a Democrat, a conservative or a progressive, your duty to seek the truth transcends party allegiance and political philosophy.