Last Week in Albany: Elections Guide, Dating Video, PJ Party, High School Overcrowding

Patch celebrated the launch of its 100th site last week, and local youth shared ideas on video about Albany's best date spots. Watch the video to see if you agree or have other ideas.

Albany Patch posted pages for each City Council candidate, with in-depth Q&As from three of the four. It's early, I know, but bookmark this handy elections guide, where you can find links to our elections coverage, as well as links with answers to all your elections questions. Speaking of questions, if you have any you'd like to ask the candidates, send them here and we'll be sure to pose them.

Though we don't have a special section for "Letters to the Editor," you can write me anytime with your letters, fewer than 500 words, and I will be happy to post them. With school nearly back in session, an election coming in November and city meetings about to resume, I'm sure folks have a lot on their minds. Don't hesitate to share.

Three people won gift certificates to local places via contests on our Facebook page, so be sure to get connected if you're not already. (We're on our way to 400 friends. I bet we can hit it this week with your help! "Like" Albany Patch on Facebook, and make sure your friends know about it too.)

School stories included two pieces on overcrowding at Albany High, both a view from the stairs, as well as a piece on possible solutions. STAR test results came in last week too. How do you think the students are doing? How important are test scores? Sound off in the comments.

Business features included a review of a wine and cheese tasting at Solano Cellars; a mouthwatering photo essay about Buttercream Bakery on San Pablo Avenue; and a profile on the Albany schools executive chef, Clell Hoffman. Did you know the school district has a chef who focuses on fresh, local food for all kids?

Arts and culture stories included a piece on the Ordway poetry garage; a failed attempt to find an Albanian to write about American Idol auditions (last week in San Francisco); and a photo gallery about last weekend's Rocky Horror Picture Show event at the Albany Twin. I also added to the "Old Parked Cars" gallery.

In sports, intern Ayako Mie wrote about a Japanese culture and meditation center on San Pablo. Columnist Steve Trutane wrote about the role fitness legend Jack LaLanne has played in his life. Columnist Miriam Walden shared some reflections on Cougar Field. And local photographer Michael Mejia let us post photographs he took at the Aug. 13 golf tournament and fundraiser for Albany High sports. ()

The golf tournament wasn't the only charitable effort in town. Several local Rotary clubs got together for a pajama party to collection donations for area women's shelters.

Of course, there was "Who's Who." Did you know we have a gallery of photos showing all the participants so far? Do you have a favorite entry or a suggestion? Write me.

We also switched the homepage to a new design, which has way more photos and makes it easier to see some of the cool spots in our directory. It's also easier to find columns now, because they're on the front. Any likes or dislikes about the new homepage? That's right -- the comments section is all yours.

We had a ton of announcements last week, from a radio feature on Allen Cain, of the Solano Avenue Association, to a lost cat to an alert about a police saturation patrol on Saturday night. You can always share your own announcements, for free, here. Add items to the calendar with this link.