The Mountain Eagle

9/22/21

C-GCC Employees Earn Longevity Awards for Years of Service

Written By Editor on 9/22/21 | 9/22/21

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Olive Shaffer, 518.828.4181, ext. 3431

HUDSON, N.Y. – Twelve members of the C-GCC faculty, staff, and administration were recognized this week for reaching important milestones in their careers.

C-GCC’s annual Longevity Awards, presented by President Carlee R. Drummer, Ph.D., commemorate years of employment, this year ranging from 10 to 30 years of service to the College.

The 2021 C-GCC Longevity Award recipients are:

10 Years

Associate Professor of Psychology and Sociology Barbie Shaffer of Nassau; Assistant for Institutional Research, Planning, and Effectiveness Diana Smith of Catskill; and Vice President for Administration and CFO Diane Topple of Hudson.

15 Years

Director of Human Resources Melissa Fandozzi of Athens;

Associate Professor and Advisor Diane Johnson Berninger of Kinderhook; Executive Director of the C-GCC Foundation Joan Koweek of Claverack; and Assistant Director of Admissions and Adjunct Psychology Instructor Kevin Kropp of Saugerties.

20 Years

Senior Library Clerk Tina Santiago of Hudson and Purchasing Officer Pat Day of Stuyvesant.

30 Years

Associate Director of Information Systems Rob Albertson of Ghent; Webmaster and Programmer for Information Systems Terri Bellanger of Stuyvesant; and Assistant Director, Workforce Columbia-Greene Holly Wanek of Round Top.

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The Kindness Project to Launch TOMORROW with Word Thursdays Featuring Andes Writers

Bright Hill Presents

Word Thursdays Online

featuring

Random Acts Of Kindness

and The Kindness Project

Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 7 PM

Andes Faculty and Staff Journal Writers

Robert L. Chakar, Jr., Ed.D.

Superintendent of Schools

Jennifer Finkle

Founder, Random Acts of Kindness Journal

Bertha Rogers

Bright Hill Editor-in-Chief, Editor, The Kindness Journal

Beatrice Georgalidis

Bright Hill Executive Director, Project Producer and Emcee

Special Opening Remarks on the Power of Kindness

by Master Therapist and Podcaster

Bernadette Winters Bell, LMSW, PLLC

with

Bright Hill Poets

and more

For Immediate Release

Contact: Beatrice Georgalidis, Executive Director

Producer, The Kindness Project

607-829-5055 or beatrice@brighthillpress.org

[Treadwell, NY] Word Thursdays featuring Random Acts Of Kindness Journal Writers and special guest presenters including Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Robert Chakar (Andes, NY) and master therapist and podcaster Bernadette Winters Bell, LMSW, PLLC will broadcast live on Zoom and Facebook Live at 7 pm on Thursday, September 23, 2021.

To attend the event on September 23, please click this link just before 7 PM:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83663019096

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS THE CORRECTED LINK!

Or visit Bright Hill's Facebook page at 7 PM to view the live stream.

RSVP to the event on Facebook here.

Or visit the event on our website here.

The Story of Random Acts Of Kindness

In February 1999, Jennifer Finkle, a teacher at Andes Central School (1990 - present) wrote on the first page of an empty journal:

Kindness Chain Key:

"Remember, you as a human being are very powerful; remember, challenges teach us about the elasticity of the human spirit. Use this journal to record a random act of kindness that you do for someone else. Pass the journal to the recipient and ask them do the same. I hope you’ll be surprised to see how good random kindness can feel and hope it will continue within our school community."

The first of hundreds of entries by faculty and staff followed, filling two large journals by 2019. Finkle was inspired by an episode of the Oprah Show in which she spoke of random kindness and how it can be just as fulfilling to the giver as it is to the receiver.

The journals contain small, heartfelt and uplifting acts of random kindness, in written form. A retired administrator, John Bernhardt, received the book and was so moved he recommended Finkle get it published; “a lasting tribute to our unique school and all of the people who work so hard to make Andes Central School such a special place.”

Finkle partnered with Bright Hill Press to begin planning for the publication and circulation of the Andes Central School Faculty and Staff Kindness Journal Random Acts of Kindness as well as the partner program The Kindness Project.

Inspired to share the journal with as many schools as possible in the tri-county area, Beatrice Georgalidis, executive director at Bright Hill, created and produced the publishing and distribution project and promotional campaign, with associate producer Sophie Bille,

Bertha Rogers, Bright Hill Editor-in Chief, edited the manuscript.

Five hundred copies of the Random Acts of Kindness book have been printed; one copy will be mailed to each of the 69 schools in the Delaware County and Otsego County BOCES school districts, including the gift of an empty journal, and a letter detailing the “The Kindness Project” with the hope that every school will begin their own kindness journal, and archive the kindness of their respective faculty and staff for years to come.

A video, email and social media campaign has launched to publicize the publication of the journal, and the Kindness Project.

Contributing Faculty and Staff, Andes Central School

Don Ackerley

Andrew Amodeo

Janice Armstrong

Grace Bacon

Linda Belmont

John Bernhardt

Gail Black

JoAnn Boerner

Cindy Bramley

Dori Buerge

Cheryl Butler

Margaret Brown

Robert Chakar

Dora Chambers

Tony Coiro

Barb Cole

Kellie Daino

Laurie Day

Mike DeBenedetto

Kris Dengler

Alice DeVita

Dwight Dolezel

Jill Eichler

Jen Ennist

Heidi Feltman

Jennifer Finkle

Debbie Fraine

Jackie Fredricks

Chelsea Guy

Lauren Green

Brittany Golden

Colleen Heavey

Courtney Hoyt

Dawn Kalleberg

Judy Klueg

Phyllis Kochersberger

Diane Krick

Jennifer Leaver

Laurie Little

Susie Little

Jim McLachlan

Misty LeRoux

Marylou Matthws

Ed McGee

Danny Mincarelli

Suzanna Mincarelli

Sarah Nightingale

Julie Nelson

Sandra Noonan

Wendy Redden

Glenn Reynolds

Sandie Reynolds

Teresa Reynolds

Jeff Rhone

Lynn Savoris

Arnie Barnes Schwartz

Michele Scarf

Jeanine Scinta

Patti Scinta

Alan Seidman

Elaine Peck Smith

Wayne Snyder

Jan Stevens

Morgan Sullivan

Peg Summers

Karli Tait

Tamara Titch

Margaret Tucker

Sharon Tucker

Lisa Valkavich

Adam VanValkenberg

Kathy Whittaker

Robin White

Gary Winghart

Jessica Young

Contributing Student Artists

Kindergarten

Elizabeth Bauer

Logan Barrett

Saul Bouquet

Xzavier Fickeria

Leonardo Giasson

Kinsleigh Gill

Colton Weaver

First Grade

Oliver Collins

Avery Hofsdal

Jase Weaver

Third Grade

Patrick (PJ) Chakar

Landon Colfer

Lucy Collins

Princess DePierro

Evan Hofsdal

Benjamin Liddle

Emily McGowan

Darbey Mondore

Charlie Orio

Liem Sass

Gage Temming

Kiara Weaver

Fourth Grade

Maria Collins

Lacey Green

Joseph Maxim

Myaleigh Rabon

Skyler Tosi

Abel Weaver

Fifth Grade

Juliette Bradley

Ducan Foster-Allen

Austin George

Matthew Liddle

Laney Mondore

Sixth Grade

Tucker Gardner

Mason Leal

Faith Sass

Brandon Temming

Lilly Temple

Sebastian Tosi

Jacob Ventimiglia

Jesse Wright-Bourke

This project was made possible by funding provided by The A. Lindsay and Olive B. O'Connor Foundation, The Andes Central School Board of Education, The Andes Historical Society, and the generosity of private donors and friends of Andes Central School and Bright Hill Press.

Please visit brighthillpress.org for more information.

Jennifer L. Finkle (1/19/68) was born in Southampton, NY (zip code 11968), where her father was a NYS Conservation Officer and her mother worked at Southampton College. They moved to Andes, when her father transferred to the NYS Police. She was 3 years old. At 5 years old, Jennifer was enrolled at Andes Central School. She attended there for grades K-12 and graduated as the salutatorian in 1986. She feels that Andes was a great place to go to school.

Jennifer’s next step was to attend college at SUNY Cobleskill where she received an associate’s degree in nursery education. After receiving the associate’s degree, she went on to obtain both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in elementary education, from SUNY Oneonta. Jennifer began teaching in Andes right after obtaining the bachelor’s degree and taught while working in the master’s degree program.

Jennifer is presently in her 31st year of teaching. She has taught grade 1 as a stand-alone class, a 1-2 combined class and this year a K-1 combined class. In addition to the regular teaching assignment, Jennifer also runs the after-school/summer CROP Program. She says that Andes is a great place to go to school.

Jennifer will be eligible to retire in 2 years, upon reaching the age of 55. When that time arrives, she will have spent around 45 years of her life receiving or giving education at Andes Central School. She thinks A.C.S. is a great place to be.

Jennifer married her junior high-school sweetheart, Dwayne and they have a beagle named Daisy. In their spare time they manage a small farm business. They have 30 colonies of bees for honey sales, laying hens for egg sales, shiitake mushrooms growing in the woods in the summer for farmer’s markets, turkeys for Thanksgiving and a huge garden. During the pandemic they were able to finish an outdoor wood-fired pizza oven, complete with discarded slate roof tiles from Andes Central School, in which they make prebaked pizza crusts for the markets. Jen’s Jam and Jelly business has also taken off, so many hours are spent picking fruit and making jam and jelly.

Hunting, fishing and foraging wild mushrooms are more favorite activities of theirs.

They feel it is rewarding to be able to catch, harvest, and process their own food knowing the health benefits of clean eating. It also gives them the opportunity to share resources with others.

Andes is a great place to live, according to Jennifer.

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH

JENNIFER FINKLE SHARE HER STORY

OF HOW SHE FOUNDED THE JOURNAL,

AND HOW BRIGHT HILL CAME TO PUBLISH

MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS OF KINDNESS ENTRIES

HOSTED BY MASTER THERAPIST BERNADETTE WINTERS BELL, LMSW, PLLC ON HER PODCAST, FROM HEARTACHE TO HEALING AND HOPE

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Local Forest Ranger News - Two Hikers Rescued

Town of Hunter

Greene County

Wilderness Search: On Sept. 15 at 7:45 p.m., Greene County 911 contacted DEC's Central Dispatch requesting Forest Ranger assistance with a 30-year-old man from Saugerties lost near the Prediger Road trailhead in the Indian Head Wilderness. Rangers Fox and Gullen responded, joining a Hunter Police patrol and NYSP Officer at the trailhead. Rangers bushwhacked toward cell phone coordinates collected by Greene County 911. Rangers located the hiker, provided him with a flashlight, and escorted him back to his vehicle. Resources were clear of the scene at 10:15 p.m.

Town of Shandaken

Ulster County

Wilderness Search: On Sept. 19 at 10:10 p.m., Ulster County contacted DEC's Central Dispatch reporting a 69-year-old overdue hiker from Pine Plains on Wittenberg Mountain in the Slide Wilderness Area. Rangers Martin and Franceschina responded with State Police, Shandaken Police, Ulster Emergency Management, New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Phoenicia FD, and Shandaken Ambulance. The missing hiker was last seen by his family at the intersection of the Wittenberg and Terrace Mountain trails. Ranger Russell located the hiker, uninjured, approximately one mile from the trailhead. The hiker stated he had taken the trail to Terrace Mountain and, after realizing his mistake, returned to the red trail to rest from fatigue. Ranger Martin assisted him out of the woods and resources were clear at 1:40 a.m.

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Annual 4-H Youth Golf Classic = Huge Success!!

2021 Results

Eighteen teams from the county, and beyond, gathered for the 20th Annual 4-H Youth Golf Classic at the Delhi College Golf Course on Friday, September 17th. The event was made possible by 6 patron sponsors, 13 greens sponsors, 7 cart sponsors, 4 individual/in kind sponsors.

Team Placings

1st Place: Bill Leo Jr, Tom Leo, Paul Clune, Mike Clune- score 59

2nd Place: Lindsey DuMond, Mike Wagner, Tim Smith, Jen Smith- score 61

3rd Place: Nate Doig, Sam Ly, Dave Adams, Mike Adams – score 63

4th Place: Bill Grau, Frank Liberati, Will Weir, Doug Payton- score 63

Closest to the Pin

12th hole Closest to the pin awarded to Gerry Stanton, 6’

2nd hole closest to the pin ladies only, Lindsay DuMond, 30’

14th hole closest to the pin men only, Frank Liberati, 15’ 5”

Longest Drive

Men – Jerry Leclar

Women – Jen Smith

EVENT POSTPONED Don't get ticked in the forest!

EVENT POSTPONED

Don't get ticked in the forest!

Avoiding Lyme and other tick- borne diseases requires avoiding a tick bite!

Join the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program's Joellen Lampman this Saturday, September 25 from 1 to 3 PM as she talks about the different ticks in our area and their biology, the diseases they carry, and how to protect yourself and others from being bitten. We'll put together tick drags for monitoring tick activity and then head outside to practice performing a tick drag and identifying ticks in the field.

Joellen Lampman is Community IPM Extension Support Specialist with the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program at Cornell University. With a degree in Natural Resources from Cornell University, Joellen is a lifelong environmental educator. At the New York State IPM Program, she utilizes the clear knowledge-based, decision-making process of IPM to teach ecology and make a difference, one property at a time. In some circles she is also known as the tick lady.

The presentation will be in the Landis Arboretum’s Meeting House with outdoor activities on the grounds. There is no formal admission fee, but we think a donation to the Landis Arboretum, our host, would be a fitting way to thank them for the use of their facility. The program is open to all, but pre-registration is required, as seating capacity is limited. For questions or to pre-register, contact Carol at happyinthehollow@gmail.com

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C-GCC Employees Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Awards

Three Columbia-Greene Community College staffers have been awarded 2021 Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence by the State University of New York (SUNY).

Kimberly Rhinehart-Rizzi of Catskill, senior associate for Human Resources and Business, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service, awarded for continuous, outstanding achievement, skill, and commitment to excellence.

Kelly Ann Radzik of New Paltz, director of Career Success and Experiential Learning, received the Chancellor’s Award for Professional Service, awarded for consistently superior professional achievement within and outside an individual's given position.

Barbie Shaffer of Nassau, associate professor of Psychology and Sociology, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, awarded to SUNY faculty members who demonstrate consistently superior service that includes contributions to academic and professional organizations, and leadership in local or system-wide faculty governance.

The Chancellor's Awards for Excellence are conferred to acknowledge and provide system-wide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement in five categories: Faculty Service, Librarianship, Professional Service, Scholarship and Creative Activities, and Teaching. For more information, visit SUNY.edu.

Photo Caption: From left to right, Director of Career Success and Experiential Learning Kelly Ann Radzik, Associate Professor of Psychology and Sociology Barbie Shaffer, and Senior Associate for Human Resources and Business Kimberly Rhinehart-Rizzi have been awarded 2021 Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence by the State University of New York (SUNY).

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9/21/21

New York Power Authority Awarded WELL Health-Safety Rating at its Facilities for COVID-19 Response

Written By Editor on 9/21/21 | 9/21/21

WHITE PLAINS—The New York Power Authority (NYPA) has been awarded the WELL Health-Safety Rating at its facilities for its operational policies, maintenance protocols, emergency plans and stakeholder education to address the ongoing COVID-19 environment and broader health and safety-related issues into the future.

From the onset of the pandemic, NYPA has utilized a vast array of infection mitigation tactics and strategies. The measures include a robust set of prescribed countermeasures based on organizational and community infection levels, including enhanced cleaning protocols, wide availability of PPE for employees, responsive testing measures, air quality improvements, extensive guidance on best-in-class health practice, and many others. All those efforts have been backed by dedicated internal and external teams focused on tracking, mitigating, and responding to changes in the pandemic.

Gil C. Quiniones, NYPA president and CEO. “From day-one of the COVID-19 pandemic, NYPA has been tireless in its pursuit and implementation of the highest safety standards at its facilities. This WELL Health-Safety Rating marks an important achievement in our organization’s visible commitment to supporting the health and wellbeing of our staff and visitors.”

The rating award was made by International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), an evidence-based, third-party entity that provides a verified rating for all new and existing buildings and spaces. The WELL Health-Safety Rating provides a centralized source and governing body to validate efforts made by building owners and operators to prepare their spaces for re-entry in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, instilling confidence in those who come through the building as well as the broader community.

IWBI leverages insights drawn from its internal task force on COVID-19, in addition to guidance on the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory infections, developed by the World Health Organization, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, global disease control and prevention centers and emergency management agencies.

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Letter to the Editor: Supporting Kelley for Supervisor

The Town of Delhi faces many challenges: young people leaving the area for work or because they don’t feel welcome here; a small and shrinking amount of land available for development as New York City buys up properties and climate change makes more areas flood-prone; and a town supervisor, Mark Tuthill, who consistently places loyalty to the county Republican party above the needs of Delhi residents.

My name is Quinn Kelley and I’m running for Town Supervisor because I believe we deserve a supervisor who will lead instead of follow, and whose first priority will be doing what’s best for Delhi.

Let’s look at just a few examples to understand the problem:

Transparency and communication -- Our Board of Supervisors should be operating transparently, following Open Meetings and FOIL laws, providing timely information about meetings, and allowing sufficient time and opportunity for public input on decision-making. Instead, they refuse to allow even the most fundamental public input: “privilege of the floor,” where residents can address the supervisors during their monthly meetings. This means when people are upset about proposed county land purchases, or threatened use of eminent domain, or anything else, they are left with protesting outside the building, writing letters to the editor, going to the media, and other third-party interventions, rather than being able to speak directly to decision-makers. Most counties allow this basic level of public participation, and Delaware County should, too. In spite of being repeatedly petitioned about this by residents across the political spectrum, Supervisor Tuthill has refused to even raise the issue. If elected, I will introduce a resolution to establish privilege of floor at the county-level, and I’ll hold weekly open office hours at town hall so residents can talk directly to me about their concerns and ideas.

Economic opportunity -- our Board of Supervisors should be working with residents and local businesses to provide the public infrastructure and support that can encourage business and improve quality of life. This includes things like:

Conducting inclusive, transparent decision-making that actively seeks input from diverse perspectives, not just friends of Board members; and immediately ending the practice of buying up viable, tax-producing properties on Delhi Main St. Delaware County is 1,467 square miles -- the county needs to look beyond Delhi for its property needs.
Welcoming and celebrating diverse populations, including residents and visitors from New York City. I’ve heard too many stories of new residents and young people who grew up here leaving the area because they don’t feel welcome, because of their race, religion, or sexual orientation. Being from a small town, we know that diversity makes us stronger and we won’t let national narratives that fuel hate infiltrate our community.
Applying for some of the dozens of state and federal grants that could help our towns and county transition away from fossil fuels and create good-paying, local jobs in the green energy sector. New York’s Community and Climate Protection Act has super-charged green infrastructure, including grants to expand sidewalks and biking trails that would improve community health and support tourism. The anti-government mentality among current board supervisors is a detriment to our community. Delaware county is being left behind. We need a supervisor who is willing to look for resources from sources beyond county taxation.

Emergency services/Shared services -- the Board of Supervisors should seriously consider establishing a paid, county-wide emergency services force. Almost every town in Delaware County is struggling to provide emergency medical services. Some towns are dropping as many as half of 911 ambulance calls, and the average wait time for an ambulance is now 50 minutes. Stamford now has no ambulance service at all. Some towns, like Delhi, still have a sufficient pool of committed volunteers to answer calls, but because surrounding towns don’t, Delhi’s volunteers are over-burdened responding to outside calls. Other towns, like Sidney and Hancock, have established paid EMS, which enables them to bill insurance companies for reimbursement (volunteer forces can’t bill insurance). This issue deserves real, transparent, public discussion, and county leadership.

Town of Delhi residents, I’m asking for the opportunity to earn your vote. I’ll be at the Democrat’s booth at the Harvest Fest this Saturday (9/25), and you can contact me through my website: https://www.facebook.com/quinnforsupervisor or email quinnforsupervisor@gmail.com. We deserve a supervisor who welcomes fresh ideas, a willingness to challenge the status quo, and the commitment to put Delhi first.

Quinn Kelley

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Recent Articles

C-GCC Employees Earn Longevity Awards for Years of Service

Written By Editor on 9/22/21 | 9/22/21

The Kindness Project to Launch TOMORROW with Word Thursdays Featuring Andes Writers

Local Forest Ranger News - Two Hikers Rescued

Annual 4-H Youth Golf Classic = Huge Success!!

EVENT POSTPONED Don't get ticked in the forest!

C-GCC Employees Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Awards

New York Power Authority Awarded WELL Health-Safety Rating at its Facilities for COVID-19 Response

Written By Editor on 9/21/21 | 9/21/21

Letter to the Editor: Supporting Kelley for Supervisor

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