May 31, 2011

Memorial Day Parade

Memorial Day in Castleton click here to see more photos!

Justice Paul Peter

Another Championship for the Wild Cats!

Boys Tennis Team Wins Section II Class B Championship


Congratulations to the boys tennis team for winning the Section II Class B championship by defeating Schuylerville 6-1.

This was the fifth straight Section II championship for the boys tennis program. Congratulations!  

Posted on Schodack's site 5/25/11.

Buzzing at Parker


The Parker School is now home to 10,000 Carniolan honey bees. In two weeks, the busy bees have been so productive that the school's new Bee Club has doubled the size of the hive.



Schodack Blotter 

4/10-4/15, 2011

May 29, 2011

EG Teacher of the Year

Columbia High School chemistry teacher Diana Prout has been named 2011's Teacher of the Year by the East Greenbush Teachers Association.


Read more... 

May 28, 2011

Castleton Parade

Memorial Day Parade

The Village of Castleton-on-Hudson/Town of Schodack Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 30, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Memorial Day.

May 25, 2011

"You're Blowing It"

Albany Co. DA describes "You're Blowing It" campaign

From now on, if you're pulled over under suspicion of driving drunk and you refuse to blow into a breathalyzer, prosecutors will no longer be letting you plea to the lesser charge of driving while ability impaired.

Lucky timing for Detective Miller...

ALBANY -- Police Chief Steven Krokoff said he is revising internal policies as he released video on Wednesday that shows longtime department spokesman James Miller stumbling and struggling to keep his balance.

May 24, 2011

GOP: No Disaster Relief Without Budget Cuts

Joplin, Missouri Tornado

On Monday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor said that Congress would not approve funds for disaster relief without budget cuts elsewhere. "If there is support for a supplemental, it would be accompanied by support for having pay-fors to that supplemental," he said.
 

Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Ala., said the move would ensure that there's enough money for victims of the Joplin tornado, as well as those suffering from flooding in the Mississippi Basin and from tornadoes that swept across Alabama last month.

Memorial Day Parade


Memorial Day Parade

The Village of Castleton-on-Hudson/Town of Schodack Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 30, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Memorial Day.

Thanks Volunteers

Community Members Invited to Attend CES Volunteer Appreciation Day

Volunteers are invited to attend a breakfast in their honor on Wednesday, June 8 at 8:15 a.m. in the CES cafeteria for the annual CES Volunteer Appreciation Day. If you plan to attend, please let us know by filling out this form and returning it to the main office by May 31.

Posted on Schodack's site  5/19/11.

May 23, 2011

Blotter



Updated information from the Troy Record:
Payton McPhillips, age 18 of East Greenbush was arrested on drug relate charges. 

According to police, Payton McPhillips, 18, sold 1/8th of an ounce of cocaine on two separate occasions from his home. After executing a search warrant on Tuesday, police found 8.9 ounces of marijuana, three grams of cocaine, 48 pills of ecstasy, $1,245 in cash and various pieces of drug paraphernalia.

Fatal Texting and Driving (Huffington Post)

A Lapeer, Mich., man who police say caused a fatal crash while texting and driving has been sentenced to just one month in jail and 12 months of probation. It was the first case of its kind since the state passed a ban on texting while driving last August.



Simply a waste of Money

The owner of Simply Certificates, which provided gift certificates that could be used at dozens of Capital Region restaurants and merchants, said he is shutting down his company and will provide refunds to certificate holders.

The Arthritis Foundation of Northeastern NY


Hundreds of people gathered Sunday morning at the Crossings in Colonie to support a cure for arthritis.
 
The ‘Lets Move Together' event was held to raise money for the 300,000 people of the Capital Region with arthritis.

Those able to raise  $100 or more received a free t-shirt at the event.

The Budget Had Nothing To Do With It

AVERILL PARK, N.Y.-- The superintendent of Averill Park School District is set to leave her position to take a new job in Washington state.

May 21, 2011

Did I take your photo at the Stawberry Festival?

View photos from the 2011 Strawberry Festival at Maple Hill High School.

Girl Scout Gold Award

This Saturday, May 21st, from 5 - 7pm at the Castleton Volunteer Ambulance building there will be a Spaghetti Dinner benefit to improve the Varsity Softball Field which is part of a Girl Scout Gold Award.

May 18, 2011

EG student arrested

Payton McPhillips, age 18 of East Greenbush was arrested on drug related charges. McPhillips is a student at the Columbia High School in East Greenbush.

Weekend Plans

Check out What To Do

    Girl Scouts Fund Raiser

    Girl Scout Gold Award

    This Saturday, May 21st, from 5 - 7pm at the Castleton Volunteer Ambulance building there will be a Spaghetti Dinner benefit to improve the Varsity Softball Field which is part of a Girl Scout Gold Award.

    Rejected Budgets

    Budgets rejected:

    Averill Park
    Berne-Knox-Westerlo
    Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk
    Ichabod Crane/Kinderhook
    Rensselaer

    East Greenbush Budget Passes

    VOTING RESULTS

    Proposition #1 - Budget: Passed

     
    Proposition #2 - Walk-In Voter Registration: Passed

     
    Candidates for the Board of Education: Kathleen Curtin, Mark Mann, and Alyssa Blostein were elected to serve on the Board of Education. Their terms will commence on July 1, 2011 and expire on June 30, 2014. Susan Garrigan-Piela was elected for a term commencing on May 18, 2011 and will expire on June 30, 2012.

    May 17, 2011

    Schodack Budget Passes


    The Schodack Central School District's budget was approved tonight by a vote of 700 to 485.

    A proposition to purchase two school buses was approved by a vote of 580 to 562.

    The following three candidates were elected to three-year terms on the Board of Education:

        Andrew Fleck 742
        Paul Puccio 804
        Mary Yurista 759

    Strawberry Festival Maple Hill High School

    View photos from the 2011 Strawberry Festival at Maple Hill High School

    Bill Dikant on FOX 23 New

    Bill Dikant has talked about the dangers of drinking and driving for 30 years. When will we listen?

    May 16, 2011

    Union strikes back at NY over teacher evaluations

    ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - The powerful New York State United Teachers union is severing its cooperative relationship with the state Education Department because it embraced Gov. Andrew Cuomo's teacher evaluation proposals.

    School Budget Vote TODAY

     

    School Budget Voting TODAY.

    For more information read more...

     

     

    May 15, 2011

    East Greenbush Employees' Pay Freeze


    East Greenbush CSEA union members have agreed to freeze pay schedules for the upcoming fiscal year.

    A collective-bargaining agreement between the East Greenbush Central School District and the Civil Service Employee Association (CSEA) calls for a one year contract extension with no increases to incremental pay scales for 2011-2012.


    Read more...

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    Maple Hill Swing Choir Performance

    The Maple Hill Swing Choir will perform with The Hendrick Hudson Male Chorus on Friday, May 20 at 7:30 p.m. for a concert at St. Paul’s Church on Carney Road in Castleton. 

    Tickets may be purchased at the door; $8 for adults and $5 for students and senior citizens. This is a great opportunity for the students to perform in the community. Please come out and show your support.
     
    Posted at Schodack CSD site 5/11/11.

    Wildcats Tennis!

    Congratulations to the Maple Hill High School boys varsity tennis team which won the Patroon Conference!

    TU got it wrong!

    Error in Times Union Story on School Budgets

    The Times Union ran a story on Sunday, May 15 about school budgets that contained an error. Schodack CSD is not considering closing Castleton Elementary School. The newspaper admitted the error and is running a correction.  

    Posted 5/15/11 on the Schodack CSD site.

    BOE Battle at ICC

    At least 5 seek 3 seats in Ichabod Crane District
    Written by Staff   
    Friday, 13 May 2011 

    KINDERHOOK – Five candidates are running for three seats on the Ichabod Crane School Board of Education. The three candidates with the highest number of votes will win the seats, which are for three-year terms.

    Running for no reason!

    RENSSELAER -- Police said the ill-informed man who ran from officers and jumped into the Hudson River after a traffic stop Wednesday is Nicholas S. Volmer, 21, of Albany.

    May 14, 2011

    Mimi's Kids Club

    Mimi's is the Place to be...ask your kids!

    By Catherine Sager
    EAST GREENBUSH




    "I think when someone sees an empty store front they just can't help but think 'wouldn't it be great if...'  I had always dreamed of owning a play based business and seemed to see potential everywhere," says Becky Bell, the creator of Mimi’s Kids Place it the Price Chopper Plaza.

    the SCENE: Moonlight Memory Walk

    the SCENE: Moonlight Memory Walk

    Third Annual Hoops for Hunger

    Friday, May 20 at the Maple Hill High School

    Schodack CSD will hold its 3rd Annual Hoops Against Hunger event on Friday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the MHHS gym


    Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast

    Castleton Kiwanis Club Pancake Breakfast

     The Castleton Kiwanis Club will be holding a pancake breakfast before the Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30, to raise monies for its community service programs.  

    May 13, 2011

    Free at the Castleton Public Library

    Movie Night at Castleton Public Library
    The library will once again be hosing a FREE MOVIE Night
    There will be a 6:30pm showing of Yogi Bear  Friday, May 13.
    Snacks will be provided courtesy of the Friends of the Library

    Schodack Valley Pizza Night Saturday, May 21


    Schodack Valley Pizza Night is scheduled for Saturday, May 21, from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m.

    May 10, 2011

    Walk for Suicide Prevention

     
    Thursday, May 26 at 6:00pm at Maple Hill High School Track

     
    "We will break silence and bring the issues of depression and suicide into the light." 



    In Memory of Kimberly Santore and Nollan Tryon

    Community Advisory Committee Meeting on Consolidation/Merger Study - May 12 from 6 to 9 p.m.

    Ichabod Crane and Schodack Central School District will hold their first joint Community Advisory Committee Meeting for the Consolidation/Merger Study on Thursday, May 12 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Ichabod Crane High School library

    Meet the Candidates for Schodack BOE

    Budget Public Hearing and Meet the Candidates Night - Tuesday, May 10

    Schodack CSD will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2011-12 school budget followed by a Meet the Candidates Night on Tuesday, May 10 at 7:00 p.m. in the High School library

    Moonlight Memory Walk

    The 2nd Annual Community Moonlight Memory Walk in memory of Chris Beebe and Kyle Koch was held on Thursday, May 12 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. 

    Strawberry Festival and Budget Vote May 17

    Budget Vote on Tuesday, May 17; Budget Newsletter Available

    The district has cut spending for the third year in a row with its 2011-12 proposed budget, which totals $20,125,047. 

    May 9, 2011

    Columbia's Student Athletes

    Columbia High School announced that four of its student athletes have made official announcements as to where they will attend college in the fall. 

    Read more...

    May 7, 2011

    What To Do

    There is plenty happening in and around Schodack this weekend.  Check out the SCENE's What To Do Page and make some plans!
    • Tulip Fest
    • Ringling Brothers 
    • Clean Up Caslteton
    • Mother's Day
    • Basketball Tournament
    • Princess Project

    Princess Project

     
    Saturday May 7 - Come browse the formal wear in the Maple Hill High School gymnasium from 5 – 7 pm

    The Princess Project is a formal wear recycling program designed especially for the Schodack community. Formal Dress costs are at an all time high in today’s economy and it’s sometimes difficult to afford or find dresses that you love. We want you to feel glamorous and confident without spending a fortune come find
    gently used dresses, shoes, and accessories.

    Mother's Day

    Mother's Day Tomorrow Check out What to Do for some great ideas

    • Castleton Ambulance Mother's Day Breakfast and Plant Sale
    • Hoffay's Harvest House Sheer Road Free regular sized cone for Mom 
    • May 8 Kay's Pizza is Open on Mother's Day
    • Mother's Day Brunch aboard the Captain J.P.








    Basketball Tournament Today at Maple Hill

    Arthritis Foundation 4 on 4 Basketball Tourney. Stop by and  grab a bite to eat or a cool drink. 

    May 5, 2011

    Rescue at Schodack Island

     
    Schodack Rescue

    At approximately 1:12 PM, a New York State Thruway employee, working on the Castleton Bridge, observed a person who appeared to be stuck and struggling in waist deep mud on the eastern shore of the Schodack Island State Park.

    May 4, 2011

    "Lets Move Together"

    The Arthritis Foundation of Northeastern NY is taking registrations for the "Lets Move Together" Arthritis Walk, which starts at noon on May 22 at The Crossing of Colonie.





    Castleton Volunteer Community Clean Up Day

                  
    The Village of Castleton will hold a Community Clean Up Day on  Saturday, May 7 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.   

    May 3, 2011

    Blotter

    Schodack Blotter
    3/23-4/4/2011

    Maybe Abbottabad needs a Neighborhood Watch

    Osama Bin Laden's Abbottabad Neighbors Noticed Unusual Things

    By NAHAL TOOSI and ZARAR KHAN

    "That house was obviously a suspicious one," said Jahangir Khan, who was buying a newspaper in Abbottabad. "Either it was a complete failure of our intelligence agencies or they were involved in this affair."



    Smarty Pants

    Osama bin Laden Found in 2009? 

    UCLA Geography Class Project Was on Right Track

     

    Class Project Turns 'CSI'
    The bin Laden tracking idea arose during conversations between Professors Thomas Gillespie and John Agnew in the UCLA geography department in 2009. 

    In 2009, former CIA officer John Kiriakou, an ABC News consultant, said the paper was a "really interesting starting point." A CIA official who had not seen the report said only, "Take it with a huge grain of salt, huge."  

    ABC News 

    Sony PS3 firmware hacked again

    Security breach of staggering proportions 

    Playstation was hacked...again!  77  Million gamers may have had their personal information breached! 


    What bin Laden's Death Means to America

    9 Years, 234 Days Later: What bin Laden's Death Means to America

     Andy Ostroy Huffington Post

     

    King of the Hill May 23

    King of the Hill is a fundraiser for the Chris Beebe Scholarship Fund. Schodack residents are encourage to attend. Admission is just $2.

    MHHS Alumni


    May 2, 2011

    Waste Watchers: Double Dippers take state jobs

    Double dippers. Government retirees back to work. Collecting a paycheck and a pension. Some even get special "211" waivers so they can make top dollar. It's a practice that one of the public employee unions said deprives regular employees of chance to move up.

    In state government alone, more than 2300 retirees are back on the job, pulling down an annual payroll of $51.5-million-dollars.

    No one is stealing. Double dipping is completely legal.
      

    Huffington Post

    Osama Bin Laden Killing 'Good Day For America,' Obama Says 

    A U.S. official says Osama bin Laden went down firing at the Navy SEALs who stormed his compound.

    "Today we are reminded that as a nation there is nothing we can't do," Obama said of the news bound to lift his political standing and help define his presidency. He hailed the pride of those who broke out in overnight celebrations as word spread around the globe. 


    Geronimo E-KIA

    Osama Bin Laden Operation Ended With Coded Message 'Geronimo-E KIA'

    Counterterrorism chief John Brennan told reporters that while bin Laden had vowed to go down fighting, in his last moments alive the master terrorist hid behind a woman. 

    Brennan called this operation a "defining moment" in war against terrorist groups where they "decapitated the head of the snake." 

    President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden, along with members of the national security team, receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in the Situation Room of the White House, in this May 1, 2011 handout photo.

     

    ABC news Read more...

    May 1, 2011

    Osama bin Laden Killed, Says Obama


    It's been confirmed. We have his body! 

    President Barack Obama made a huge announcement tonight that Osama bin Laden is dead at about 11pm EST. The President called for a late-night press conference Sunday night to relay the information.

    Leave your comment

    Best Water in Rensselaer County!

    “Congratulations to the Town of Schodack who now holds the title of County’s best tasting water.  I also want to thank the other municipalities who participated in this event and work day in and day out to ensure a safe water supply to the residents of Rensselaer County,” said County Executive, Kathy Jimino in a statement.
     

    Driver flips after a minor accident

    Rollover suspect flees

    Police are searching for a man who fled after he crashed his car and injured two friends.

    Read more...