February 28, 2011

Schodack Blotter

Blotter

SCHODACK 1/23-2/17, 2011















Blood Drive MHHS

Red Cross Blood Drive 
 Tuesday, March 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive on Tuesday, March 1 from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Maple Hill High School. The blood drive is organized by Maple Hill's Key Club. Walk-ins are welcome.

Budget Meeting Thursday

Community Budget Advisory Team Meeting
click to read more

See the Power Point Presentation of the First Draft of the Budget.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Maple Hill High School Library

February 27, 2011

Fresh Air Fund

By Catherine Sager
East Greenbush, NY

Since 1877, The Fresh Air Fund has been affording inner-city children the joy of a summer vacation with volunteer host families and at Fund camps, creating unforgettable memories and extraordinary possibilities. Fresh Air kids get away for a few weeks every summer to live with a host family. More than 65% of all children are re-invited to stay with their host families, year after year.

A paperwork glitch made the Hansen's first fresh air child unavailable the following year and although they were very disappointed, another boy was hoping for a host family and was matched with the Hansens. The very first meeting between Noah Hansen and Troyvon Young, seemed to make the upsetting snafu easier to handle. "The boys just hit it off immediately," says Tenniel Hansen, Noah's mother. "They have so much in common."

Really?!?


"It's no different to me than watching democracy spread across the
Middle East," said Mark Walsh, president of the Troy Teachers Association,

"I strongly believe that the right to collectively bargain is an American fundamental basis for our democracy," said Mary Sherwood of West Sand Lake, a nurse at St. Mary's Hospital in Troy

Comparing union bargaining rights to fundamental rights under an oppressive dictatorship in a place where people die for speaking their minds?  Really?!?

Should our founding fathers have refused to cross the Delaware in the dead of winter with rags around their feet because they weren't contractually obligated to do so? Really?!?


I understand when a child has a fit because someone won't let her have another cookie, and another cookie, and another cookie.  And if that child cries long enough and loud enough, some parents will just "give in, because it's easier."


Bargaining rights for teachers include being protected by the powerful Teachers' Union when they are requested to perform tasks for which they are not "contractually obligated," for instance chaperoning a dance or meeting parents after hours.  "I don't have to and you can't make me!"

February 26, 2011

What cuts will tax payers support?

How much of a tax increase will voters approve?

Notes to Self

Budget Woes
Schodack School District


The Schodack Central School District presented the first draft of its 2011-12 Budget at the February 17 Board of Education meeting, a $21,072,866 budget that would require an estimated 4 percent increase in the tax rate. Details are outlined in this  Power Point Presentation.



Be sure to attend the next Budget Advisory Meeting March 3. 
There are tough decisions to be made. The Board of Education wants your input.

Perfect Weather for Skating!

The Schodack Island State Park ice skating rink is open 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily, weather permitting. On Friday nights there is  a Bon Fire and refreshments are also available. For more information, call 732-0187 or see Ice Skating Information.

February 25, 2011

March Madness Book and Tag Sale at the Castleton Public Library

The Friends of the Castleton Public Library will host a March Madness Book and Tag sale at the Castleton Public Library on Saturday, March 19th from 10am-2pm. 

Free Pancakes

The F Word

You can get the free pancakes between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on Tuesday. In exchange, IHOP asks that you leave a donation for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals
Last year, IHOP guests raised more than $2.1 million. This year the goal is to raise $2.3 million. Since the charity freebie began in 2006, IHOP has given away more than 10.1 million pancakes!




Christopher D. Beebe

NY Winters

The Good News is - there's no school and it's perfect Snowman Snow!





Today
Steady Wet Snow or Rain
Highs: Mid/Upper 30s

Tonight
Precip. WInds Down
Turning Less Windy, Clearing Out
Lows: 0s/10s

Saturday
Clouds Slowly Increase
Much Colder
Highs: Low/Mid 20s

Meteorologist Ryan Finn

February 21, 2011

How much of a tax increase will voters approve?

Notes to Self

Budget Woes
Schodack School District


The Schodack Central School District presented the first draft of its 2011-12 Budget at the February 17 Board of Education meeting, a $21,072,866 budget that would require an estimated 4 percent increase in the tax rate. Details are outlined in this  Power Point Presentation.


Be sure to attend the next Budget Advisory Meeting March 3. 
The Board of Education wants your input.


February 20, 2011

What To Do

Click the link What To Do and check out what's going on at local libraries and museums. 
There are plenty of offerings in and around town for the President's Week break from School!

Find something fun to do in and around the neighborhood!

Most activities are FREE too! Go out and play!
Don't forget your camera!

February 19, 2011

Artists or Athletes?

Are modified sports more important than music and art? These are some of the tough questions facing our Board of Education as they wade knee-deep into the school's budget season.

Art or Athletics - Who can decide? To make a choice like that, I suppose it depends on your child's passion.

February 18, 2011

Budget Season is Underway in Schodack

Robert Horan, Superintendent of Schodack Central Schools sent information to residents who have joined the discussion about the upcoming school year's budget.

Read about the Budget Advisory Meeting!

In an email from Mr. Horan, he writes:
"As expected, there was a lot of very good discussion and conversation, something we want to continue with at our next CBAT meeting scheduled for March 3rd."


Mark your calendar, get involved! 

Feel Good Discount

Feel Better 50% OFF
Ivy Spa Discount

  • Expires in 1 year
  • Limit 1 per person. Valid only for service purchased. New clients only. Must use in 1 visit, no cash back. Gratuity not included.

February 17, 2011

Schodack Board of Education Meeting - Thursday, February 17 at 7 p.m.

The Board of Education will hold a meeting on Thursday, February 17 at 7:00 p.m. in the High School library. The first draft of the 2011-12 school budget will be presented. Interested residents are welcome to attend.

Budget Season is underway.  Stay tuned...

Public Meeting Notice

The Board of Trustees of the Castleton Public Library will hold its regular monthly meeting on Monday, February 21, 2011 at 7 p.m. on the second floor of Castleton Village Hall, 85 South Main Street, Castleton, New York. 

The meeting is open to the public. Residents of the Village of Castleton and the Town of Schodack are welcomed and encouraged to attend. Questions may be directed to the library at 518.732.0879.

February 16, 2011

February 15, 2011

February 14, 2011

NYS Museum

So much to do at the NYS Museum






Check out the Calendar of Events

LaFarge Public Health Assessment

The New York State Department of Health (NYS DOH) is completing a public health assessment for communities near the Lafarge Cement Plant in Ravena, New York. Using the public health assessment process, scientists at the NYS DOH Center for Environmental Health are helping to address people's concerns about emissions from the cement plant and possible effects on health.

Public Comment Draft, Phase One Report during a public comment period which will extend until February 15, 2011. After that time, NYS DOH will develop a final Phase One Report that will include consideration of public comments.

This is the ONLY OPPORTUNITY left and it will end on Feb 22nd.

 

February 13, 2011

Free Ice Skating 

The Ice Skating rink at Schodack Island State Park in now open seven days a week.
Free admission!
Friday night skating will start January 14. On Friday nights the snack bar will be open from 5 to 8 pm. Hot dogs, hamburgers, pork chop on a stick, and more hot foods. 
Food by the Schodack Landing Fire Company!

Fire at Evergreen Country Club

Schodack Valley called to Evergreen Country Club

At around 5 a.m. Saturday, February 12, a fire destroyed a maintenance building on the grounds of the Evergreen Country Club. The Schodack Valley Fire Department with other local fire companies extinguished the fire and assisted with clean up of what was left of the destroyed building.

Photo by Catherine Sager

Pizza Night This Saturday

Schodack Valley Pizza Night Saturday, March 19




Schodack Valley Pizza Night is scheduled for Saturday, March 19 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

Eat in or Take Out (518) 477-4215. Pizza, wings with home-made wing sauce (mild, hot, BBQ and Garlic Parmesan), mozzarella sticks, jalapeno poppers, fully loaded, freshly made, antipasto and side salads all available!



The next Pizza Night is scheduled for Saturday, April 15.


What To Do

Free Ice Skating 

The Ice Skating rink at Schodack Island State Park in now open seven days a week. Free admission!
 View the flyer 

February 12, 2011

Fed Ex in EG

Nearby 

 Fed Ex Coming to East Greenbush

 

 

 

 

 

Teen Day at CPL

Come to the Library on February 22, anytime from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Teen Day
  •  Wii Games
  • Snacks
  • Board Games
  • Watch a Movie 

MySimsGuitar Hero World Tour Band Kit - WiiNew Super Mario Bros. Wii 

February 9, 2011

Artificial Intelligence


A computer named Watson is the latest contestant in machine versus human battles of the "mind."

Next week the IBM supercomputer known as "Watson" will take on two of the most accomplished Jeopardy players of all time, Ken Jennings and Brad Rutter, in a three-game match starting on February 14.

A computer taking on the best human contestants on Jeopardy!?—the prospect is perhaps even more astonishing than when IBM's Deep Blue computer challenged the world's top chess player in 1997 (and won). NOVA recently asked three experts on artificial intelligence about Watson, its capabilities, and its implications beyond the game show. They include David Ferrucci, head of the IBM team that programmed Watson to play on Jeopardy!; Rodney Brooks, roboticist and recently retired head of the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory at MIT; and Luis von Ahn, a computer scientist at Carnegie Mellon and an inventor of CAPTCHA, the squiggly words and numbers used in computing to ensure a response is not coming from a computer. The following is an edited version of that conversation.


 Click the link above and read the whole interview with NOVA.

So we don't have to worry about HAL from 2001...

Von Ahn: We don't have to worry about HAL just yet. Maybe in a hundred years or so. But that's okay; we'll be dead. [laughter]

One last question for Dave: What's the silliest answer you ever heard from Watson?

Ferrucci: Well, as Watson's developed over the years, it's had a lot of silly answers; there's quite a variety of them. I guess one of my favorites is we asked it "What do grasshoppers eat?" and its answer was "kosher." [laughter]




Star Trek - The Original Series, Vol. 40, Episodes 79, 99 & 1: Turnabout Intruder/ The Cage (B&W/Color Version) / The Cage (Full Color Version) Star Trek: The Original Series - Season Two (Remastered Edition)Star Trek The Original Series - The Complete Second Season

February 7, 2011

Community Budget Advisory Meeting

Schodack residents discussed the budget challenges facing its schools on January 6 when the Community Budget Advisory Team met for the first of four scheduled meetings.

This year’s meetings will provide more opportunities for residents to ask questions and offer advice, noted Superintendent Robert Horan. He encouraged anyone interested to attend the remaining meetings, scheduled for February 8, March 3 and March 29.

“Your input is very, very important to us. These are your meetings. We want to hear from you,” Mr. Horan said. “We’re all in this together. We’re all here to provide the best education we can for our students.”

Freebies Check out the F Word Page

Freebies from Pilot expires Mar. 31, 2011

Free Photo Collage at Sears through Apr. 19, 2011

Free movie drink – Use this Facebook coupon to get a free drink at Regal Cinemas when you buy any popcorn.



So much to do at the NYS Museum






Coming up
When: Wednesday, February 9, 10:30 a.m.
Animal Tracking in the Pine Bush
February 12, 2011 :  9:30 A.M. - 11:00 A.M. 

February 6, 2011

February 4, 2011

February 3, 2011


Paying for College Without Going Broke 
Workshop  at MHHS
-Thursday, February 3 at 6:30 p.m. 
 
MHHS will host a "Paying for College Without Going Broke" workshop tonight Thursday, 
February 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the MHHS Distance Learning Lab. 
 
If interested, please register by e-mailing Continuing Education Director Theresa Hovish 
thovish@schodack.k12.ny.us  Subject:Paying for  College Workshop.  
 
The workshop is free but parents are asked to pre-register.

February 1, 2011

Blotter 1/3-1/8

Blotter

SCHODACK 1/3-1/8, 2011

Be Safe with Winter Weather Tips from the CDC

Winter Weather: Take Steps

Download the complete Extreme Cold Prevention Guide

Taking preventive action is your best defense against having to deal with extreme cold-weather conditions. By preparing your home and car in advance for winter emergencies, and by observing safety precautions during times of extremely cold weather, you can reduce the risk of weather-related health problems.