These local students were named to the Rochester Institute of Technology Dean’s List for the spring 2021 semester, each with a grade-point average of 3.4 or higher:

— Samantha Smith of Delmar, majoring in biotechnology and molecular bioscience program;

— Alex Denn of Voorheesville, majoring in economics program;

These local students were named to the dean’s list or similar honor from their college or university for the spring 2021 semester:

— Alex Guyette of Slingerlands, at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher;

 Wildfires in the United States and Canada have led the state’s commissioners of health and environmental conservation to issue an air quality health advisory that runs from 10 a.m. until midnight on Tuesday across New York State.

While the single Albany County death this week from COVID-19 was a sobering reminder that, still, the virus is fatal, most of the numbers — statewide and at the county level — have been encouraging.

Charles “Chuck” Peter Schiltz, a devoted dad, died on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at the age of 59. Born April 28, 1961, he was the son of Sylvester Schiltz and Betty (née Lee) Spadaro.

AVERILL PARK — Michael D. Baker Sr .— a loving husband, father, and grandfather — died on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in Albany. He was 70.

He was born on June 25, 1951 in Albany to the late Wilmer Baker and Yvonne Baker.

We must not be complacent about our duties as citizens. Democracy will wither if the majority of Americans do not exercise their essential right to vote.

The state’s Office for the Aging is partnering with the Association on Aging in New York and Selfhelp Community Services to bring Selfhelp’s Virtual Senior Center into the homes of elderly New Yorkers to improve connectivity, combat social isolation, and improve health and wellness.

Throughout the week, Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy has not reported more than four new cases of COVID-19 in any single day. And on Tuesday, for the first time in 10 months, he reported zero new cases. On Wednesday, McCoy announced that the county had marked another milestone with 60 percent of its 307,117 residents fully vaccinated.