Microsoft Deal Adds to Battle Over E-Books

 By MICHAEL J. DE LA MERCED and JULIE BOSMAN

The deal is “clearly motivated by Apple and Amazon as relatively unstoppable forces, each in their own domain,” said James McQuivey, an analyst at Forrester Research.

David Paul Morris/Bloomberg NewsEmployees at a Barnes & Noble in Emeryville, Calif.

 

Microsoft agreed to invest hundreds of millions of dollars in Barnes & Noble’s Nook division on Monday, giving the bookstore chain stronger footing in the hotly contested electronic book market and creating an alliance that could intensify the fight over the future of digital reading.

The deal, which gives Microsoft a 17.6 percent stake, values the Nook unit at $1.7 billion — roughly double Barnes & Noble’s entire market value as of last Friday — and bolsters the bookseller’s efforts to make its digital business the linchpin of its future growth.

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Schodack Central School News

Schodack School News

• CES Agricultural Project Meeting-Wed., 5/2 at 6:30 p.m.

• Board of Education Workshop Meeting – Thursday, May 3 at 6:30 p.m.

• MHHS Senior Citizen Lunch – Friday, May 4 at 1:00 p.m.

• Booster Club Meeting – Monday, May 7 at 7:00 p.m.

Merger Feasibility Study

Draft Merger Feasibility Study to Be Presented to Committee – Wednesday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m.

Consultants will provide a presentation on the draft merger feasibility study to the Community Advisory Committee on Wednesday, May 2 at 7:00 p.m. in Maple Hill High School library. Interested community members are also invited to attend. Please note, the State Education Department insists that hard copies of the draft study cannot be provided to the public until it approves the study. However, copies of the final report will be available to the public when the district holds community forums scheduled for May 21 at 7:00 p.m. in Maple Hill High School auditorium and May 22 at 7:00 p.m. at Ichabod Crane High School auditorium. The final report will also be posted to the districts' websites. Once the community forums are held, the districts' Boards of Education will hold meetings to decide whether to move forward with community votes on a possible merger.

Tomorrow Career Expo at Birch Hill

Career Expo 2012 – Tuesday, May 1 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.

In an effort to help students in grades 7-12 explore careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), Schodack CSD will co-host a Career Expo on Tuesday, May 1 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Birch Hill in Schodack. This free, interactive event will feature representatives from dozens of careers in STEM that students and parents can speak with to learn about their fields. There also will be panel discussions on careers in health care and emerging technologies. This event is paid for by a grant and is at no cost to school districts.

Share your favorite Spring Photos

 

Is Nothing Sacred?

The proposed demolition of historic St. Patrick’s Church in Watervliet raises quality of life issues for its neighboring community—and for the region

by Ann Morrow on April 26, 2012 · 

St. Patrick's Church, photo by Julia Zave

It was picture perfect: A young family enjoying the balmy spring weather with an evening stroll. Heading down the sidewalk of 19th Street in Watervliet, Eric Fagan, Jill Fagan, and their daughter Amber walked toward the tree-lined front lawn of St. Patrick’s, turning to look at the stately, soaring church. When asked if they knew about the vacated church’s possible fate, Jill answers firmly, “We don’t want it torn down. No one does.”