April 24, 2013

For Immediate Release

Press Release
To: Mayor Keegan
From: Jon Russell Cring
Subject: Feature film Hobo Heyseus filming in Rensselaer County

April 22, 2013

Scholarship opportunities

Music Parents Association Offers Scholarships – Deadline: May 8
The Maple Hill Music Parents Association is offering scholarships again this year for students currently in grades 6-11 who pursue music lessons, camps or programs this summer. The total scholarship money available is $1,000, split evenly for Middle School and High School students. The maximum award to any one student is $250. Application deadline is Wednesday, May 8. For more information, visit 

April 18, 2013

Relay Recess of CES June 5, 2013 10am @ CES,MHMS & MHHS


Being on an American Cancer Society Relay Recess team is an amazing experience, and I hope you'll join me!
Picture yourself surrounded by your friends and teachers and the air is filled with the sound of laughter as our school celebrates those who have fought cancer, remembers the loved ones we've lost, and fights back against a disease that has taken too much from too many.
It would be an honor to have you on our team for this year's Relay Recess event.

April 16, 2013

Did you miss it?


Appraisal Day at Trinity Lutheran Church.
Read more...

Two robberies on Columbia Turnpike reported

EAST GREENBUSH — Town police are asking the public's help in their investigation of two similar armed robbery cases.
Both cases happened at night and targeted people walking on Columbia Turnpike.
At 10:30 p.m. Friday a group of about ten friends were walking on the turnpike near the Funplex when they were approached by a man with a gun who demanded they give him "what you got", police said.

April 13, 2013

For Immediate Release

                                                        
 STRIDE, Inc.                                      476 North Greenbush Rd. Ste. 9 ,   Rensselaer NY 12144
               
EMAIL:  mwhitney@stride.org     WEB: www.stride.org
Contact:       Mary Ellen Whitney- (518) 598-1279
For Immediate Release

WellPoint Foundation Employees help Clean up the SCORE Center
 
(Chatham NY)  STRIDE Adaptive Sports has a year under it’s belt in developing the 85 acre facility formerly Girl Scout Camp Sha-Te-Muc located in Chatham, NY.  The facility, now called STRIDE Center for Outdoor Recreation and Education (SCORE Center)  is used as a retreat for youth with special needs, and Wounded Warriors and their families to enjoy in educational programs including camping, hiking, archery, fishing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing. The 2500 square foot lodge offers a large space for trainings seminars and retreats.

On Saturday, April 27 employees from WellPoint Foundation, a division of Empire Blue Cross will assist STRIDE in spring clean up for the second year. Approximately 40 employee volunteers will be clearing trails throughout the 85 acres; building wheelchair ramps, and cleaning up the lodge and out buildings. “We are thrilled to have this kind of support;’ says Mary Ellen Whitney, CEO for STRIDE, “such a large group of committed professionals who give up a weekend to support this kind of endeavor shows the commitment of our community.”

Tenting pavilion areas have been named on the property; including ‘Yellow Ribbon Pavilion”; “Purple Heart Pavilion”; and the games and flagpole cabin is now called the “Gold Star Field”. STRIDE has been fortunate to have the support of many Scout troops in the region, who choose Eagle Scout projects at SCORE. Last year fire pits, new signs, a wheelchair accessible dock and a wheelchair accessible trail was created. Underway this year are more projects which include a 9 hole disk golf range; a competition level archery range, raised bed gardens and a professional horseshoe pit. Spring and summer enrichment programs are now being scheduled.

STRIDE’s mission is to educate and empower individuals with special needs in life-changing sport and recreation programs to sustain healthy, active and fun lifestyles. STRIDE is a volunteer organization with all sport lessons being taught by highly qualified volunteers, and STRIDE serves our Wounded Warrior community with rehabilitative sport and recreation programs to help them adjust to life and helping them adapt to their permanent injuries that they sustained during recent conflicts overseas.

April 12, 2013

NY District Mulls Action for Nazi Assignment


A high school English teacher faces disciplinary action for giving a writing assignment that asked students to make a persuasive argument blaming Jews for the problems of Nazi Germany, Albany school district officials said Friday.
Superintendent Marguerite Vanden Wyngaard said administrators were discussing what official action the unidentified 10th-grade teacher at Albany High School will face for the assignment given to students on Monday. It could range from a letter of counsel to dismissal.

-Provocative assignment - I equate it to being a member of a debate team and having to speak in favor of a topic you find distasteful, unsavory or even sickeningly repugnant. I think I want to find out exactly what the teacher's intention was before completely flying off the handle. It has certainly been made clear that teaching according to the "norm" doesn't always spark intelligent, meaningful reflection. Racism needs to be examined up close, dissected and rejected with a deep-rooted clarity. Perhaps (s)he was trying to help them see the brutal ugliness up close - from an unlikely (uncomfortable) perspective to make it more real.
Read the note "Please remember - your life (here in Nazi Germany in the 30's) may depend on it.- Csager

Comedian Jonathan Winters dies at 87

(CNN) -- Jonathan Winters, the wildly inventive actor and comedian who appeared in such films as "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" and "The Loved One" and played Robin Williams' son on the TV show "Mork & Mindy," has died. He was 87.
Winters died Thursday evening of natural causes at his home in Montecito, California, according to business associate Joe Petro III.

Winters was known for his comic irreverence, switching characters the way other people flick on light switches. His routines were full of non sequiturs and surreal jokes. 

[Robin] Williams, in particular, often credited him as a great influence. Indeed, he was greatly admired by comedians in general and was awarded the Mark Twain Prize -- which goes to outstanding humorists -- in 1999.

"Genius" was a common touchstone as comedians reacted to Winters' death.

April 11, 2013

Schodack's BOE looking for candidates

Schodack eNews - Districtwide News

Candidates Needed for Board of Education – 
Petition Deadline: Monday, April 22
 
The Board of Education would like to share the following message with our community. “We are less than two weeks from the April 22 deadline for candidates for the Board of Education to file their petitions with District Clerk Michele Reickert in the District Office. 
Three of the nine seats on the Board are up for election this year. It is likely that two of the three current Board members up for election will not be running for re-election. Thus, there are at least two openings on the Board for new candidates. 
While anyone who resides in the district over the age of 18 who has an interest in shaping our present and future is strongly encouraged to become a candidate, it would seem especially valuable experience for residents who currently have children in the district – especially younger children - to do so. 
This is an era of great change in public education. This district has historically been among the most innovative in the state in dealing with change. Our school needs the committed involvement of the entire community at this time. 
Please consider being a part of this great undertaking. A copy of the petition is attached. If you have any questions, please talk to Superintendent Horan or any Board Member. Thank you."