Some of the stories that made the news Fri., Apr. 22 through Sun., Apr. 24:

Greg Hudson reported in the Register-Star more than 100 children turned out for the 33rd annual Hudson Department of Youth Fishing Derby, Sat., Apr. 23. The lake was stocked last week with brook and rainbow trout, joining the sunnies, bass and perch already in the lake. Four-year old Claverack resident John Davi took first place in his age category with the 15-inch trout he caught. "It is so huge," Davi said. The grand prize for the largest fish caught went to three-year-old Casey Tiernan after he landed a 16-inch trout.

Emilia Teasdale reported in the Columbia Paper the Ichabod Crane Board of Education last week adopted its $38 million 2016-17 budget. The annual spending plan included job cuts for recess and lunch monitors at the primary and elementary schools. Schools Superintendent George Zini said $46,000 was allocated to fund those positions three years ago as a way to free up teachers during the lunch period to work with students. However, he said, that time was not used as he intended, so the funds will now be used to pay for substitute teachers. In May, voters will be asked to ratify the board-adopted budget, and green light the purchase of four school buses at a cost of nearly $400,000, as well. Four candidates are competing for three open seats on the school board. A public hearing on the proposal will be held Wed., May 4. The annual budget vote and school board election will be held statewide Tue., May 17. In the Ichabod Crane district, polls will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the high school gymnasium.

The Catskill Board of Education, Jim Planck reported in The Daily Mail, also adopted its 2016-17 budget last week. The $39.4 million spending plan requires a .2 [point two] percent in the tax levy, an allowable increase under the state-mandated tax cap. Interim Superintendent Annemarie Barkman provided an overview of the proposal. Barkman said more than $51,000 in missing Gap Elimination Adjustment money has been restored by the state. And because of careful budgeting and new revenue, she said, up to seven positions could be added next year, even though the budget has been reduced by nearly $700,000. A public hearing on the spending plan will be held May 4. The polls are open 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on May 17, in the high school gymnasium.

Katie Kocijanski reported in the Register-Star fire departments statewide held open houses this weekend as part of the Firemen’s Association of the State of New York Recruit NY effort. The public was encouraged to visit their local fire company to see how they are run. According to the association, more than 500 departments across New York were slated to participate. Fire company volunteers demonstrated firefighting techniques, conducted tours of their facilities and allowed visitors to try on turnout gear. Companies in Austerlitz, Chatham, Coxsackie, Freehold and Hudson participated in FASNY's [FAZZ-knee's] Recruit NY weekend.

Emilia Teasdale reported in the Columbia Paper the Kinderhook Village Board accepted the bid of One Way Construction for $357,000 to build a new Department of Public Works garage on Route 9. Insurance payments to the village will cover the full cost of repairs. The old DPW building was destroyed by fire last year.

Questar III BOCES [QUESS-star Three BOW-seez] reported its proposed $5.8 million administrative budget for the 2016-17 school year was unanimously approved by component school district boards of education last week. This is the only portion of the budget the 22 component school boards vote on each year. The entire BOCES budget totals $68.3 million for the coming year. Board members Edmund Brooks, and Lynn Clum were reelected, and Nadine Gazzola and Mary Marro-Giroux were elected, all to three-year terms beginning July 1. The state Legislature created BOCES in 1948 to provide shared educational programs and services. There are 37 BOCES, or Board of Cooperative Educational Services, statewide.

The Daily Freeman reported cashless tolling took effect on the Tappan Zee Bridge overnight, Sun., Apr. 24. Drivers traveling southbound on the span between Nyack and Tarrytown with E-ZPass have the tolls automatically charged via that system, and those without will receive a bill in the mail. New York transportation authorities are turning to cashless tolling to reduce congestion, improve safety and reduce air pollution. More than 35 bridges, tunnels and toll roads across the country use cashless tolling.