Top: Mayfield graduates move their tassels as popped confetti falls over their heads at Mayfield Junior/Senior High School on Saturday. Above: Guests cheer for their graduate, not shown, as they enter the outdoor tent. Right: Graduates walk to the outdoor stage.

Onto bigger and better

Broadalbin-Perth’s Brady Cotter celebrates after his team defeated Gloversville in a Section 2 Class B football game on Oct. 13, 2023.

Brady Cotter shoots during a May 18 event at Fish House Fish and Game Club.

Broadalbin-Perth’s Brady Cotter celebrates after his team defeated Gloversville in a Section 2 Class B football game on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.

Where there’s smoke, Broadalbin-Perth High School senior Brady Cotter is putting out the fire.

The graduate has been volunteering with the Broadalbin-Kennyetto Fire Co. for the past two and a half years, and said the experience has left a tangible impact on him. He’s seen structure fires, car fires and assisted in cleaning up downed trees due to the high winds.

“I’ve actually gone to a lot of scenes in the past two years,” he said. “They still hit me today, but it’s something I truly love doing to help the community.”

Cotter plans to attend Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, to study construction management. He also plans on playing Division III football there. At Broadalbin-Perth, he played as center and left tackle for the team; however, an ACL tear in his sophomore year cost him time on the team. He returned to play after his recovery for what his coach described as a good “two-year stretch.”

“Brady and I have a unique relationship,” Varsity Coach Rick Wallace said. “I remember him many, many years ago — he was actually the water boy for me when I was here as a player. [It comes] full circle now that I’m his coach, and it was really great to work with him. The thing that stands out most about Brady is he was willing to do whatever the team really needed. He never really said no. It just was, ‘yep, coach, I’ll do it.’ We watched him grow and develop over the last two years on varsity, returning from injury, and making a big impact on our offensive line.”

Cotter credited his teachers for his interest in construction management. He said he plans on coming home and continuing to volunteer for the fire company, and is eyeing an internship with BBL Construction in the future.

“Actually, I have a lot of classes in school with Miss Battisti,” he said. “She’s the skilled trades and PLTW teacher, and with all the classes that she teaches, such as intermediate skilled trades, that has really pushed my goals to want to be a construction manager, with all the construction I do in that class.”

In addition to volunteering with the fire company and playing football, Cotter was a part of Broadalbin-Perth’s fledgling trap shooting team. He said that since he was the only senior on the team, he took a leadership role with the younger students.

“When I was starting to get the idea to put this trap team together, Brady was one of the very first people I spoke to,” Coach Frank Spooner said. “Him and I have actually been on board with this before almost everybody else. I’m sure I even talked to him before I spoke to his dad, knowing that he liked to hunt, and how much fun I was having in trap shooting. I knew he would be an asset to the team, because I know he’s very safe. I know he would enjoy it, so it was a perfect fit right from the beginning.”

Spooner added that in addition to Cotter’s natural leadership on the team, he’s a good shot. At the school’s sponsorship tournament, both he and Cotter tied at 24 for 25 shots, with Cotter earning second place.

“Brady is a great balance,” Spooner said. “He’s fun, he goofs around in a good way, [and] he’s also serious when he needs to be serious. He sets a great example. He’s a good leader without really being bossy, he shows that ahead of his time. The other kids looked up to him. They listened to him. He was great to have — I couldn’t ask for a better senior to lead off the program with.”

Broadalbin-Perth senior Brady Cotter will be attending Norwich University in the fall.

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Graduates walk to the outdoor stage at Mayfield Junior/Senior High School on Saturday, June 21, 2025.

The New York State Capitol Building near Washington Avenue on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.

With the state’s legislative session over some bills have been approved by both chambers and are heading to Gov. Kathy Hochul’s desk and some only passed one chamber.

Here is a rundown of where some of the bills sponsored by area officials stand.

Veterans Housing in Wilton

Sen. Jim Tedisco (R,C-Ballston Lake) and Assemblywoman Carrier Woerner (D-Round Lake) co-sponsored a bill to sell state land along Northern Pines Road to the Veterans and Community Housing Coalition in order for them to build 12 housing units and provide for future expansion. The project would provide 24-hour support services to veterans facing physical and mental health needs. The bill awaits the governor’s signature.

“Our country’s heroes deserve affordable housing and quality healthcare, and this bill addresses both,” Woerner said in a June 12 press release. I appreciate........

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