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."

Wealthy welfare mom' out of prison after 7 months

Posted: Apr 09, 2013 2:23 PM EDT

By Anya Tucker - email

 

Angela Lopez July 12, 2012 Mug Shot

COLONIE, N.Y. - The "wealthy welfare mom" was sentenced to 2 to 6 years after admitting that she stole $95,000 in public welfare benefits, yet after only seven-months behind bars, Angela Lopez is once again a free woman.

According to the State Department of Corrections, the brazenly unapologetic mother of six from Colonie was paroled in February.

Lopez pleaded guilty to stealing tax payer dollars in food stamps and benefits over a four year period, all while working a nursing job, living in an upscale neighborhood and driving a Lincoln Navigator.

So the NEWS CENTER's Anya Tucker wanted to know: Why is she out so soon?

The Corrections Department says Lopez entered a special boot camp for non-violent criminals. Once successfully completed, those prisoners - including inmates like Lopez - are eligible for early release.

They say that participants in the so-called "shock program" are much less likely to re-offend.

News in a Nutshell

Headlines that caught my eye

• Ex-UK Prime Minister Thatcher dies 
• 'Mickey Mouse Club' original Annette Funicello dies 
• 3 charged in connection to Facebook sneaker sale robberies 
• Why a Fox News reporter faces jail time in the Aurora shooting caseFox News reporter Jana Winter says she prefers prison time to giving up her sources. 
• NASA May Be Towing An Asteroid to a Planet Near You 
• Nassau woman charged with arson at her home 
• Road work to close part of Route 9J

Read more...

The Iron Lady dies after stroke

Ex-UK Prime Minister Thatcher dies

Margaret Thatcher, the UK's only female prime minister, has died at the age of 87 following a stroke. As reaction pours in from around the world, it is announced that she will have a ceremonial funeral with military honours at St Paul's Cathedral in London.

Read more...

Former UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died at the age of 87 following a stroke

BBC NEWS Baroness Thatcher

East Schodack fire company claims $9,300 theft

East Schodack fire company claims $9,300 theft by auxiliary

Posted at: 04/04/2013 11:47 AM | Updated at: 04/04/2013 6:10 PM
By: John McLoughlin

EAST SCHODACK – The volunteer fire company claims it is the victim of a $9,300 theft, by their own ladies auxiliary.

What makes this story really shocking, the woman they are accusing of stealing the $9,300 on behalf of the auxiliary not only had been a member of that ladies group, she also had been an active firefighter. And in fact, she had been Fireman of the Year four times. 

Instagram, FB and Twitter, oh my!

Clearly, when it comes to social media, a little guidance goes a long way.
I found this article on The Blog on HUFF Post.

When my kids were young - not that long ago, when the email and chatrooms were still new - I remember being afraid that there were monsters reading their chats and stalking them with only the worst of bad intentions.

Read more...

The Anchor relocates

The Anchor Food Pantry and Thrift Shop is moving from The Trinity Lutheran Church to their new home at  34 Boltwood Avenue in Castleton as of May 2nd, 2013. 

Their new location is behind The Riverside Center for Rehabilitation (formerly Resurrection Nursing Home) in the building previously used by the Maple Hill Pre-School. 

The Anchor's phone number will remain the same at 732-4120

Roger Ebert Dead: Legendary Film Critic Dies At Age 70

Roger Ebert had the most-watched thumb in Hollywood.With a twist of his wrist, the Pulitzer Prize-winning critic could render a decision that influenced a nation of moviegoers and could sometimes make or break a film.

Legendary film critic Roger Ebert has died at the age of 70, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.

On April 2, Ebert revealed on his blog that his cancer had returned and that he would be reducing his reviewing duties at the Chicago Sun-Times.

Ebert wrote that he would be taking a “leave of presence," as he underwent radiation treatment, but it appears the cancer was too far gone already.

Read more...

FOIL workshop

OPEN MEETINGS AND

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION LAW

A COMMUNITY FORUM

Led by Robert Freeman

Executive Director of NY State  Committee on Open Government

Tuesday, April 9th at 6:30 PM

Location: Maple Hill High School

             1216 Maple Hill Road, Castleton

Join your community leaders, board members and the general public for training on the Open Meetings and Freedom of Information Law.  Communities will also learn from each other how citizen participation is being used to help towns and villages make informed, intelligent decisions related to planning for their future.

Organized by the Schodack Planning and Development Association

PETA's Shocking secret slaughter

Shocking Photos: PETA's Secret Slaughter of Kittens, Puppies

When you donate to PETA, you not only fund the killing of animals, you fund the intimidation of animal lovers.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an organization that publicly claims to represent the best interest of animals -- indeed their "ethical treatment." Yet approximately 2,000 animals pass through PETA's front door every year and very few make it out alive. The vast majority -- 96 percent in 2011 -- exit the facility out the back door after they have been killed, when pet Cremation Services of Tidewater stops by on their regular visits to pick up their remains. Between these visits, the bodies are stored in the giant walk-in freezer PETA installed for this very purpose. It is a freezer that cost $9,370 and, like the company which incinerates the bodies of PETA's victims, was paid for with the donations of animal lovers who could never have imagined that the money they donated to help animals would be used to end their lives instead. In fact, in the last 11 years, PETA has killed 29,426 dogs, cats, rabbits, and other domestic animals.

Most animal lovers find this hard to believe. But seeing is believing. 

Read more...

Court Officer Honored by Town Board

Court Officer Bill Dikant, flanked by Hon. Bruce J. Wagner (left) and Hon. Paul W. Peter (right), after the March 11, 2004 adoption of a Town Board Resolution marking Dikant's achievements as Town of Schodack Justice Court Officer.

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Castleton family on Wife Swap

In "Wife Swap," two mothers of families, each with opposing values, trade households, lifestyles and children (but not bedrooms) in a two week-long challenge: In the first part of the exchange, each mom moves into the other's home and agrees to follow a manual of "household rules" written by the departing mother, including how to parent, manage their social life, do house work, unwind and more. Everything changes in the second week when "new mommy" takes charge, introduces her own set of rules and runs the "nest" her way. At the end of the second week, the two couples meet for the first time in a raw and highly-charged exchange of views, making frank assessments of one another and discussing the experience. 

Read more...

Watch it here...

Atlanta Cheating Scandal Leads To 3 Dozen Indicted

FILE - In this Feb. 20, 2009 file photo, then Atlanta superintendent of public schools Beverly Hall smiles. Hall and nearly three dozen other administrators, teachers, principals and other educators were indicted Friday, March 29, 2013, in one of the nation's largest cheating scandals. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma, File)

ATLANTA -- Juwanna Guffie was sitting in her fifth-grade classroom taking a standardized test when, authorities say, the teacher came around offering information and asking the students to rewrite their answers. Juwanna rejected the help.

"I don't want your answers, I want to take my own test," Juwanna told her teacher, according to Fulton County District Attorney Paul Howard.

On Friday, Juwanna – now 14 – watched as Fulton County prosecutors announced that a grand jury had indicted the Atlanta Public Schools' ex-superintendent and nearly three dozen other former administrators, teachers, principals and other educators of charges arising from a standardized test cheating scandal that rocked the system.

Read more...

High stakes exams raise questions for parents

Parents have questions of their own about tests

By Scott Waldman

Published 8:38 pm, Saturday, March 30, 2013

Max Powers is worried that one test will keep him from graduating from fifth grade.

The 10-year-old from Albany now dreads school, worrying about the standardized exams he will take over a few days next month. That's when schoolchildren across the state in third through eighth grade will sit for their English and math standardized exams. And even though low scores won't keep them from graduating, the anxieties of many children, like Max, have parents questioning the values of the exams.

True sign that Spring is here!

Kay's Pizza

 All deliveries have been received and final preparations are being completed. Summer hours are 4 to 11 Monday through Saturday and 3 to 10 on Sunday. Hope to see you soon!

The Anchor

The Anchor Food Pantry and Thrift Shop is moving from The Trinity Lutheran Church to their new home at  34 Boltwood Avenue in Castleton as of May 2nd, 2013. 

Their new location is behind The Riverside Center for Rehabilitation (formerly Resurrection Nursing Home) in the building previously used by the Maple Hill Pre-School. 

The Anchor's phone number will remain the same at 732-4120.

Schodack eNews - Districtwide News Correction on Board of Education Meeting Start Time

IT IS THE MISSION OF THE SCHODACK CENTRAL SCHOOLS  to develop our students to become "...active, reflective, creative learners. In our schools, they will engage in rewarding work and practice behaviors that are intelligent in both an academic and a practical sense. Students will develop the attitudes, skills and understandings that will allow them to fulfill their potential and to function successfully in their individual and social roles." 

SCHODACK CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT 
1216 Maple Hill Road, Castleton, New York 12033-1699 

March 26, 2013 Maple Hill High School Library 

BOARD OF EDUCATION AGENDA – REGULAR MEETING 

Did you get yours?

March 24
The Castleton - Schodack Kiwanis Club will be selling chicken barbecue dinners on Sunday, March 24th, to raise monies for its community service programs. The cost of the dinners is $9.00, and the dinners may be picked up from 12:00 noon to 5:00 P.M. at the Castleton Volunteer Fire Company in Castleton. For more information, or to order the dinners, call 732-2225. Walk-ins are welcomed.

Free Event

Schodack Central School District

Local historian and Civil War lecturer JJ Jennings will share his knowledge about the Battle of Gettysburg on Wednesday, March 20 at 7:00 p.m. in the High School auditorium. This lecture is a free event and open to the public.

Music Parents Indoor Garage Sale

Today @ MHHS

Music Parent Association  Indoor Garage Sale - The Maple Hill Music Parents Association is holding an Indoor Garage Sale today  -  Saturday, March 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

NY SAFE Act

Steve McLaughlin

The town of Schodack passed a resolution opposing the NY SAFE Act joining an ever growing list of towns, counties, sheriffs associations and others standing in opposition!

PIZZA NIGHT!

Every Third Saturday

SCHODACK VALLEY PIZZA NIGHT IS BACK! We are back and ready to serve you! Come and join us for our Pizza Night at the Schodack Valley Fire House from 5PM to 9PM. Bring the family for Pizza, Antipasto, Wings and more. Additional seating is available. As always, you can eat-in or take-out. For take-out, call us at 477-4215.

Chicken Parm and Buffalo Pizza!

Calendar Events

March 16

Music Parent Association Seeks Items for Indoor Garage Sale - The Maple Hill Music Parents Association is seeking donations for their Indoor Garage Sale to be held Saturday, March 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. We need gently used items, but cannot accept personal care items, clothing, magazines, televisions, computers or stuffed animals. 

See the full calendar HERE

To have an event listed on The Schodack SCENE, send the information (including date, time, street address and cost if any) to catherine.sager@yahoo.com. 

The Community Calendar is updated every Thursday.

For Immediate Release: March 16, 2013

Adaptive Snowsports Race for Athletes with Disabilities hosted at Jiminy Peak

(Hancock, Ma) Seventy-five disabled ski racers from across the Northeastern states will participate in STRIDE’s 18^th Annual “Great Race / Diana Golden Mills Cup Level I Adaptive Race” held on Saturday morning, March 16^th, 2013 at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in Hancock, MA. 

From the Troy Record

Schodack Central School District's energy savings rewarded with grant

The Schodack Central School District is one of 12 across the state to receive a portion of a $9 million grant as a reward for finding $9 million in energy savings.

School districts across the state were invited to apply for the grant by demonstrating how innovative cost-savings were implemented in their districts. The dozen schools found efficiencies and savings in their district’s operations, in areas such as transportation, maintenance staff, and administrative support. As models, these districts will serve as roadmaps for other districts to follow when containing costs which continue to escalate every year.

“Our education system must become more efficient and direct spending away from the bureaucracy into the classroom,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “The 12 districts we are awarding today stand out as leading examples and will serve as models for other districts across the state.”

Schodack was awarded $298,761 over three years for identifying a total of $331,956 in eligible savings by consolidating and reducing central office administrative responsibilities and positions and installing solar panels.

Read more...

  

Police search for man who stole tip jar

EAST GREENBUSH - Police have released surveillance pictures of a man they say was really determined to get his hands on a tip jar.

The man is seen here trying to break down the door at Grand Premier Tire on Columbia Turnpike, last Thursday.

Police say it took several tries, but he finally got in.

The stolen jar had several hundred dollars inside.

Anyone with information is asked to call East Greenbush Police.

Read more...

For Immediate Release

   Photo and press opportunity                                             

Major General Donald L. Rutherford

23rd Chief of Chaplains of the United States Army to Address Wounded Warriors in Troy, NY

Troy, NY- STRIDE Adaptive Sports welcomes 21 Wounded Warriors with their families to the Capital Region for a weekend of healing through sports. Arriving in Troy, they will spend four days touring the capitol of New York State, and then join STRIDE team of instructors at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort learning how to ski and snowboard Saturday and Sunday. 

Perv Patrol?

East Greenbush PD attempting to identify a man accused of forcible touching

Posted: Mar 06, 2013 4:41 AM EST 

EAST GREENBUSH, N.Y.--The East Greenbush Police Department is attempting to identify the white male depicted in the photo wearing a blue colored jacket and tan pants. The victim reported the suspect to have forcibly touched her buttocks while she was shopping at the East Greenbush Wal-Mart store early Tuesday morning. She was in the presence of her 18-month-old son at the time of the reported incident. The suspect then fled the store in the white vehicle also pictured.
Anyone who is familiar with the subject is encouraged to contact the East Greenbush Police Department at (518) 479-2525.

Headlines that caught my eye

Police: Parent had gun at school

RENSSELAER — Police on Monday arrested a Hudson man they say displayed a concealed handgun to Doane Stuart School officials inside the school Monday.

Read more...

Overlooked evidence leads to mistrial

Roberts asked Judge Andrew Ceresia to declare a mistrial with prejudice, alleging prosecutorial misconduct had permanently tainted his client's case.

Read more...

Hugo Chavez Dead: Venezuela's President Dies At 58, Vice President Nicolas Maduro Says

Chavez had been fighting cancer since 2011, and had chosen Venezuelan Vice President Nicolás Maduro as his heir-apparent when it became clear that health concerns might force him from office.

Read more...

106-year-old Mass. man gets high school diploma

BEVERLY, Mass. (AP) — Fred Butler was married for 65 years, raised five children, served in the Army during World War II and worked for years for the local water department, but the fact he never earned a high school diploma always bothered him.

Not anymore.

Read more...

State Trooper Stabbed At Empire State Plaza

Sunday, March 3 2013, 04:33 PM EST

Updated: Sunday, March 3 2013, 11:15 PM EST

UPDATE : 9:45 p.m.
ALBANY - A state trooper patrolling the concourse of the Empire State Plaza was stabbed in the neck Saturday afternoon after a man approached him and began a conversation.
State and local police, including police dogs, were searching for the man.

According to state police, the attacker struck Trooper Rodney Smith with a steak knife several times around 3:15 p.m. while he was checking the man’s identification.

Smith was cut on the left side of his neck, his face, arms and hands. After a brief struggle the man ran off with Smith’s radio.

Police say Smith called for help on a phone and was rushed to Albany Medical Center where he had surgery and is expected to fully recover.

"Our troopers can find themselves in dangerous and sometimes life threatening situations on any given day,” said State Police Superintendent Joseph D’Amico. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Trooper Smith’s family."

Trooper Smith is a 15-year veteran of the New York State Police.

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ALBANY - Police and K-9 units are searching for a homeless they believe stabbed a State Trooper with a large kitchen knife.

It happened on the Concourse level of the Empire State Plaza this afternoon.

Police say the Trooper, identified as Rodney Smith, is out of surgery.

He's listed in stable condition at Albany Medical Center.
Officers believe the homeless man has the Trooper's radio in his possession.

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ALBANY - State Troopers and Albany Police have closed the Concourse at the Empire State Plaza after a state trooper was stabbed in the neck. 

He has been transported to the emergency room. His condition has not yet been released.

Albany Police are investigating. Extra officers have been called to the scene to assist. 

Jennifer Lewke is on the scene. You can follow her on twitter at @CBS6Jennifer

State paid $1M to settle gov't sex harassment cases

Posted: Mar 04, 2013 5:25 PM EST

Updated: Mar 04, 2013 5:25 PM EST

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - Records obtained by The Associated Press show that state officials spent more than $1 million in public money over the past four years to settle sexual harassment claims against state workers.

Almost half of the cases were settled in court last year as Albany was embroiled in a scandal over a $103,000 settlement paid to women who accused Assemblyman Vito Lopez of sexual harassment. Lopez has denied harassing anyone and was easily re-elected to his Brooklyn seat in November.

The records obtained under the state Freedom of Information Law show 13 women and one man brought cases against several agencies.

The largest payout was for $650,000.

Records from the state comptroller show millions more in cash settlements, but don't identify which cases involved sexual harassment claims.