Catskilled Crafters ‘Taking Flight’ Opens at Pine Hill Community Center

By Robert Brune

PINE HILL — Once a year, the group of Catskilled Crafters kick off their themed project in January, meeting once a month for the purposes of skill sharing and building a cohesive art community. While many in upstate New York tend to hibernate through the winter months, these dedicated artists met up at the Pine Hill Community Center exchanging materials, learning new techniques, and leaning on each other through mutual support through this past winter. 

Gail Freund, one of the primary organizers of this group explains, “People make suggestions for the theme of the art project, back in October or November. There’s a four-person steering committee that reviews the suggestions for a theme. We come up with two themes from the meeting, and we send it to every crafter who’s participated since 2017 and we vote.” The ‘Taking Flight’ topic was my favorite over coats of arms, this year. Freund admits she doesn’t often get to do themes that she favors through the years, but she was very happy with this year’s project. Freund explains, “I’m not very good at sewing, but Wendy and Mary were wonderful, making time to help me.” 

This past Saturday, twenty-three uniquely crafted kites went on display at the Pine Hill Community Center.  Some of the kites would be able to be flown, but others not likely. This art project is an expression of personal subjectivity, inviting the community to connect with the individual crafters through their take on creative kite making. Each participant was invited to create their piece out of any material they chose. The only stipulation was that the design must incorporate at least one flying element, real or imagined. 

Brett Rollins, the PHCC art curator for the past three years said, “This was a different experience for me because I usually see the art before we hang it. For this exhibition, I didn’t see any of the work until the day prior to hanging it.” Rollins did a smashing job of delegating great spacing and creating flow of the individual narratives of kites which seemed to be fun for the artists and viewers. 

Wendy Brackman, one of the crafters participating, has a special gift for livening up an event. She crafted clever kite themed hats, adding to the taking flight atmosphere, handing them out at the opening reception.   

If you were unable to attend the opening reception this past weekend, here is what you can expect: A Dragonfly That Eats Butterflies, a Purple Dream, Broccoli Robins, a Box Kite, a Raven and a Pink Moon, an Airline That Lets Birds Fly Free, a Spiral Moth, and a Thunderbird! 

For more information on this event and others, see www.pinehillcommunitycenter.org

 

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Nickelodeon Presentation June 17 at Roxbury Library

ROXBURY — The Roxbury Library is pleased to present Dr. Joe Piasek speaking on Tuesday, June 17, from 10:00am to 12:00pm.  All are welcome to attend this free discussion.  Dr.  Piasek, SUNY Delhi communications professor and a member of the founding on-air team that created The First Kids Network, discusses Nickelodeon from its beginnings of caring for others to its unintentional yet subsequent role in the rise of Fox News as a divisive force in American culture in a talk entitled "How Fox Hacked Nick."

Nickelodeon established a structured, media-literate environment on cable television in 1980 in which a child could soak every day; a fantasy comfort zone that embraced a doctrine of diversity and global interdependence.  Nick's structure was the lesson even more than its program. It was a fan-based participatory realm:  "US vs THEM" (kids vs. adults) all in good absurdist fun.  Fox News produced a proximate structured environment on cable television for the same cohort some 30 years later.  Its "US vs THEM" position of was void of fair play where a fearful adult could feel secure, an absurdist realm of a different sort.

The target demographic of Nickelodeon's audience at its peak was 5-15 years old.  The target demographic of the Fox New audience some 30 years later is 35-50.  "How Fox Hacked Nick" is designed to be a provocative exploration of how Nickelodeon, a phenomenonally successful television network, dropped the ball and how Fox kept its eye on the ball to win the long game of cultural dominance in America.

 

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MUSINGS OF A LOCAL By Iris Mead - OUR NO SPRING SPRING

Comedian Robin Williams once said Spring is nature’s way of saying, “Let’s Party!” 

It’s the first week in June and our normal spring season is officially over.  In meteorological terms, spring starts on March 1st and lasts through May 31st.  Astronomically, spring begins on the vernal equinox which, this year was March 20th.  But Spring didn’t seem to arrive in our part of the country then or throughout the rest of the “spring season.”  Yes, we had occasional days of sun, enough to tease us into thinking there were going to be more, but there never seemed to be enough “more.” In fact, one Albany weatherman recently noted that from November 18, 2024 through May 31, 2025 there had not been one weekend that was entirely free of rain or snow in our area.  That was shocking to hear even though we lived those weekends. How many times did we moan and groan about another weekend ruined by snow or rain!  But nature did start giving us signs that spring was coming; snowdrops, daffodils and crocus poked their heads up, sometimes through the snow, the days started to lengthen, buds appeared on trees and bushes, wildflowers started appearing, birds returned and the days gradually lengthened and the air was fresher.  We began to smile more, breathe deeper and spend more time outside.  As Memorial Day approached, we began planning our summer gardens and trying not to purchase the annuals and vegetables that were being put out for sale too early. As we all know, the warning in our area is don’t put in your flowers and gardens before Memorial Day because there still can be frost. And there was a frost warning in some higher elevations earlier this week. 

This year’s non-Spring has financially hurt local golf courses, ruined many family gatherings, picnics, bake sales, concerts and outdoor events since many have been cancelled or postponed.  Memorial Day weekend, our end-of-spring kickoff to summer, usually packed with numerous events, was partially ruined by rain.

It's now June – let’s look forward to more dry days than wet ones, warmer days and even hot days coming our way.  If you are a follower of the Farmer’s Almanac, it is predicting below-average precipitation (RAIN) in June for the whole Northeast.  But it is forecasting above-normal RAINfall in the north of the Northeast and below-normal RAINfall in the south of the Northeast.  So, where does that leave us, you figure it out. In all, the National Weather Service predicts a hotter-than-average summer in the Northeast.  

Through the years, many sayings have evolved about predicting the weather.  Here are a few:

If the goose honks high, fair weather. If the goose honks low, foul weather.   (How to tell if it’s high or low?)

A ring around the sun or moon means that rain will come real soon.

Evening gray and morning red, put on your hat or you’ll wet your head.

And finally, the one we all know and probably go by the most:

Red sky at night, sailor’s delight, Red sky in morning, sailors take warning.

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating;  there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

So, whatever the day may bring, make the most of it and be thankful you are able to be part of it.

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Shandaken Opts Out of Phoenicia School Purchase, County to Explore Housing - Wellington Hotel Grant Hopes Emerge

Staff Report

SHANDAKEN – The Shandaken Town Board announced at its June 2 meeting that it will not proceed with purchasing the former Phoenicia Elementary School, with Ulster County now exploring affordable housing and recreational options for the site. The board also heard promising news of a potential $1.5 million federal funding recommendation for the Pinehill Wellington Hotel project and discussed Ulster County's new EMS stabilization plan, which will significantly involve Shandaken's ambulance service.

Supervisor Peter Davant stated the town decided to move away from acquiring the Phoenicia School. The Ulster County Executive's office will now work on potentially developing affordable housing at the location, while also aiming to maintain a community recreation center aspect.

In other major announcements, Jan, an owner of the Pinehill Wellington Hotel, reported that Congressman Pat Riley has recommended a $1.5 million community-funded project grant for the historic hotel's restoration. While subject to congressional approval, the news was met with enthusiasm. The hotel was also recently named one of the nation's 11 most endangered historic places by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Davant also announced a $14,800 grant for flood studies at the Bridge Street Bridge and a $39,000 Natural Resources Inventory grant for the town's Conservation Advisory Council (CAC).

Ambulance Chief Mike (Drake) detailed Ulster County's $4.7 million EMS stabilization and enhancement plan, confirming Shandaken qualifies for funding from both its $2 million pool for existing services and a $2.7 million pool for Advanced Life Support (ALS) anchor agencies. As an ALS anchor agency, Shandaken's paramedics may be contracted by the county to provide services to neighboring towns like Olive, Hardenburg, and Denning. The Shandaken ambulance squad also recently received a Unit Citation award for its response to a serious motor vehicle accident in January 2024.

The town is moving forward with electric vehicle (EV) initiatives, purchasing a Chevrolet Blazer EV using a $50,000 NYSERDA grant. Davant noted that while a proposed EV charging station at Glen Brook Park is estimated at $12,000, a $41,000 estimate for a Level 3 charger at the Pine Hill parking lot may require rebidding.

During public comment, resident Bill Fitchner inquired about the process for selling his mobile home park. Supervisor Davant clarified that while the sale itself doesn't need town approval, a new owner wishing to continue its operation as a mobile home park must obtain such approval due to its pre-existing, non-conforming status.

A significant portion of public comment focused on rumors surrounding the Pine Hill Veterans Memorial. Several residents expressed concern over misinformation suggesting the memorial might be moved or diminished for parking. Supervisor Davant emphatically stated there are no current plans to move or destroy the memorial. He explained that ongoing work in the park area relates to soil testing for an underground drainage system to mitigate local flooding, and that any discussion of moving the memorial was from years prior and is off the table if the community wishes it to remain.

Among numerous resolutions, the board:

- Approved participation in the New York City-funded flood buyout program for the Town Hall/Highway Garage complex.

- Expressed support for pursuing a consolidated municipal campus at a new parcel.

- Authorized a contract with MARK Project Inc. to administer the Pine Hill Main Street Revitalization Program grant application.

- Passed banking resolutions to close a high-fee Key Bank account, transferring funds to Community Bank, and to open new accounts with the Bank of Greene County, citing other local bank branch closures.

- Appointed Manuel Jeanpierre as Summer Recreation Director, Raven Ryan as Assistant Director, and Raya Hart as Recreation Specialist, and authorized related summer program contracts.

- Scheduled a public hearing for an environmental impact statement on the Glen Brook EV charger location for July 7th at 6:30 p.m.

- Committee reports highlighted the formation of a new housing nonprofit, the Catskill Alliance for Housing and Preservation (CAHP), which will work closely with the town’s housing committee and support the Pine Hill Main Street project. The housing committee is also nearing completion of a town-wide housing site inventory with assistance from Ulster County Planning. 

- The Parks and Recreation committee announced River Hoffman as the new dog park manager. The CAC will host a "Shandaken Prepares" flood assistance meeting on June 16th. The Comprehensive Plan committee has scheduled public engagement days for Sunday, July 20th, and is planning a second community survey.

The board also approved the prior month's minutes and the supervisor's financial report, which showed May revenues of $68,430.88. An executive session was held after the regular meeting to discuss personnel and water issues. 

 

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How Water Connects Upstate and Downstate Students Through Environmental Education

By Robert Brune

MARGARETVILLE — In New York State, the journey of clean drinking water is more than just a marvel of engineering, it’s also a powerful educational tool that brings together students from vastly different communities. More than 9.5 million residents of New York City depend on a vast network of 19 reservoirs and three lakes, stretching nearly 2,000 square miles across the Hudson Valley and the Catskills. This shared natural resource serves as the foundation for the Green Connections program, a unique initiative led by the Watershed Agricultural Council (WAC), which links students and teachers from upstate rural schools and downstate urban districts. Targeting grades 4 through 12, WAC trains educators and facilitates partnerships between schools that might otherwise have no interaction, encouraging students to engage with environmental science while also learning about one another’s way of life. These connections create opportunities for academic enrichment, emotional growth, and a deeper civic understanding, all rooted in the real-world importance of protecting and appreciating the natural environment. Through letter exchanges, virtual meetings, and hands-on workshops, students from both regions form lasting bonds, proving that while their day-to-day lives may differ, they are united by the waters that sustain them both.

Over the past seven years, Margaretville Central School 5th grade teacher Linda Pesa has been partnered up with NYC PS 376 teacher Jeanne Salchi of Long Island. Throughout each year students participate in WAC Zoom meetings led by a forestry instructor Tyler Van Fleet, students also further develop bonds with their partner school students with three rounds of pen pal letters, and both schools visit each other on field trips to participate in environmental workshops. Both teachers Pesa and Salchi relate how meaningful this experience is for their students, as some children at both ends don’t otherwise have the opportunity to travel outside the area in which they live.

Last Friday the MCS students gathered at the Shavertown Trail Head Pepacton boat launch area with a 30’ colorful diagram created by students of how the reservoir water travels from the northern Catskills to their homes in the city.  It was a rare day free of rain with warmer temperatures and sun shining. The touring bus of the NYC students, teachers, and parents approached the MCS group with loud cheers and ‘WELCOME PS 376’! 

Within a few minutes of the teachers, students, and WAC instructors greeting each other, they broke out into workshop groups learning about how the forest filters rain water, making its way into the streams, rivers, lakes, and reservoirs winding up into the aqueduct tunnel system traveling 125 miles to NYC.  The buses loaded back up and headed to the Margaretville Fairgrounds for a hotdog and hamburger lunch after the first set of workshops. When the students finished eating, they broke up into three groups for another set of workshops planned by Van Fleet. One was a lesson on water filtration using leaves and sticks, a scavenger hunt, building small fairy huts out of found objects. Next Van Fleet guided students into the riverbed to find macro invertebrates such as snails, worms, larva, may flies, and cray fish. She explained to the students, “When we find signs of life in the water, it means the water is a healthy environment.” The students suited up in waders following their instructors into the shallows of the East Branch of the Delaware behind the fairgrounds. 

What began as an exchange rooted in environmental education has blossomed into something much deeper, lasting friendships, greater empathy, and a shared responsibility for the land and water that connect upstate and downstate communities. Through the Green Connections program, students who may never have met otherwise are given the opportunity to step into each other’s world, learn from diverse perspectives, and witness firsthand the vital role of nature in sustaining daily life. The day spent learning about forest filtration, writing pen pal letters, exploring riverbeds for aquatic life, and simply sharing a meal, becomes more than a field trip.  It becomes a formative experience. For many students, this is their first time outside their home region, and for all of them, it’s a rare chance to understand how interconnected we truly are. Programs like this don’t just educate, they inspire a new generation to become thoughtful stewards of their environment and compassionate citizens of their state. 

 

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Major Police Presence at Margaretville CSD Following ‘Threats’ - School Says Individual Has Been Identified

Staff Report

MARGARETVILLE — A late-breaking series of events unfolded shortly before press time. Our newspaper will follow up with more information in the coming weeks.

Margaretville Central School announced Friday that an individual allegedly made threats against the district on social media. There was a significant police presence at the school Wednesday following the alleged threat. 

The school stated that “After a thorough investigation that began in the early morning hours and continued into the afternoon, the individual responsible for making the threat has been located and identified. All necessary appropriate actions within the scope of the law have been addressed and the district is taking appropriate steps in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct to address the incident.”

The district thanked the New York State Police and that their “efforts played a critical role in resolving this matter and helping us return to a sense of safety and calm. We recognize that today’s events caused fear, frustration, and uncertainty for many in our school community.”

“We also understand that the limited information we were able to share during the investigation may have added to that stress. Please know that this was necessary to maintain the integrity of the investigation and to ensure everyone’s safety. We appreciate those who came forward to report their concerns. We encourage all students, staff, families, and community members to continue reporting any safety concerns directly to school officials or by using the anonymous Sandy Hook Say Something hotline. Phone: 1-844-5-SAYNOW (1-844-572-9669) Website: www.saysomething.net We thank our students, staff, and law enforcement for their cooperation in ensuring the continued safety of our school community. With appreciation, The Margaretville Central School District Administrative Team,” read the statement.

We will continue to report as we receive more information.

 

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Celebrate Patriotism on Flag Day

Celebrate Flag Day with Bison Island Ranch in Sharon Springs this June 14th

By Alexis Pencar

SHARON SPRINGS — Bison Island Ranch is celebrating Flag Day on Saturday, June 14 from 12:00 - 4:00 PM as a way to express pride in our country, our flag, and our uniquely American National Mammal - the bison! There will also be family fun for Father’s Day as well! Join friends, family, and neighbors for this special celebration!

We are expressing our pride in our country, our flag, and our uniquely American National Mammal - The Bison!

Dr Susan Golembeski, Owner and Rancher of Bison Island said, “Flag day is an occasion to celebrate the flag of our great country AND reminds us of our national mammal - the American Bison! It’s a great time to celebrate this uniquely American, majestic icon as we honor our USA flag.”

All Veterans and those currently serving our country will receive $5 in “bison bucks” as a big Thank You! This can be used towards a purchase of bison meat, jerky, or bison tallow products. 

There will also be 10% off ALL steaks, so pick up something special to grill for Father’s Day. Dad will also get a Polaroid pic with his family and children will have the opportunity to decorate a frame for it. All visitors will receive a small American flag too. 

Show your patriotism, and help us celebrate this special and significant day! 

The Ranch Store will also be open with bison meat, bison jerky, bison art and the NEW bison tallow products like soap and personal care products for sale too!

Want to learn more about bison and their important role in our ecosystem? Learn first-hand by chatting with the knowledgeable “Susie Bison”. 

Did you know that the Bison Island Ranch herd is 100% Grass-Fed and pasture rotated, allowing the animals to live in the most natural and undisturbed way possible? As the largest land mammal in North America, a bison can consume up to 30 pounds of grass in one day! 

With another reason to visit The Ranch and learn more, The American Heart Association “recommends bison meat for a heart healthy diet due to its low fat and cholesterol content”! This meat is high in protein, iron, selenium, phosphorus, zinc, copper, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamins B6 and B12. If you haven’t tried delicious bison yet, this is your chance!

Come on out for the Bison Island Flag Day Celebration for an afternoon of fun on Saturday, June 14th from 12 until 4:00 PM! This is a free event. Bison Island Ranch is located at 194 Engleville Rd, Sharon Springs, NY 13459. Please visit www.bisonislandranch.com or Facebook and Instagram @bisonislandranch for more information.

 

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BOCES National Signing Day is a Success - Area Students Sign Letters of Intent to Work with Area Employers

ALBANY -  The annual Capital Region BOCES National Signing Day was a success with 40 high school students signing letters of intent and a crowd of more than 150 business, family, labor and education supporters watching.

During a ceremony on Thursday at the Career & Technical Education (CTE) Center – Albany Campus, dignitaries celebrated the students as well as the valuable role BOCES plays in preparing students to become contributing members of society and the workforce.

“The work done here at BOCES and CTE is amazing. It … puts students on the road to great success,” said Brian Williams, Executive Director, Capital Region Workforce Development Board.

He went on to say that Signing Day highlighted the “indisputable proof of the success of partnership in fueling the essential workforce pipeline.”

The Capital Region BOCES event was affiliated with the SkillsUSA National Signing Day, which mirrors the NCAA’s National Signing Day for athletes who commit to play sports in college. It is designed to honor students who are entering a technical field and to celebrate the dignity of work.

Among those speaking at the event were Jeff Palmer, Director of Career and Technical Education at Capital Region BOCES who thanked the partners, parents and educators on hand.

“Through your unwavering support, your child has reached this milestone,” he told parents, while praising the business and labor partners for “opening your doors to our students and helping bridge the gap between school and the workforce.”

Students praised their programs, teachers and the overall “BOCES experience.”

“When I first walked into this program, I wasn’t sure where I was headed. Now, I’m walking out with purpose, pride, and a clear direction. I know I’m not the only one who feels that way,” said Braeden All, a Building Trades senior from Middleburgh who signed a letter of intent with the Laborers’ Local 157 and Tri-City Scaffold Co. Inc.

Students, such as Samantha Herzog, a Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation (HERO) senior, said the Signing Day event marked a significant milestone in their lives.

“From the moment I climbed into a Bobcat at six years old, I knew I had found something special. That excitement turned into a passion—and thanks to the HERO program, it’s become a career path,” she said. 

“Over the past two years, I’ve gained hands-on experience with heavy machinery, built technical knowledge, and earned certifications in OSHA 10, Dig Safe NY, and forklift operation. As the only female in a class of 23, I’ve also learned to stand tall, stay resilient, and take pride in breaking barriers. I will graduate with an Advanced Regents diploma—and more importantly, a clear vision of my future,” said Herzog, who is signing with Laborers’ 157 and Murnane Building Contractors Inc.

Some local students who signed letters of intent, their programs, home school districts and future employers are as follows:

Braeden All, Building Trades, Middleburgh C.S.D., Laborers’ Local 157,

Tri-City Scaffold Co. Inc.

Joe Berbue, Automotive Trades Technology, Cobleskill-Richmondville C.S.D., Keeler Motor Car Company

Braydon Brown, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Middleburgh C.S.D., Laborers’ Local 157, MLB Construction Services

Dominick Catalano, Building Trades, Middleburgh C.S.D., UA Local 7 Plumbers & Steamfitters, John W. Danforth Company

Jacob Cross, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Schoharie C.S.D., Laborers’ Local 157, Jersen Construction Group

Derrick Fuller, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Middleburgh C.S.D., Laborers’ Local 157, LeChase Construction Services

Samantha Herzog, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Schoharie C.S.D., Laborers’ 157, Murnane Building Contractors Inc.

Dalton Porter, Building Trades, Middleburgh C.S.D., Carpenter’s Local #291,

LeChase Construction Services, LLC

Connor Prokop, Building Trades, Middleburgh C.S.D., UA Local 7 Plumbers & Steamfitters, Upstate Piping Products

Eleeka Rabine, Building Trades, Cobleskill-Richmonville C.S.D., Painters, Tapers & Glaziers Local Union No. 201

Cameron Simeon, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Middleburgh C.S.D., Laborers Local 157, M. Sullivan Construction Inc.

Jacob Soucia, Heavy Equipment Repair and Operation, Cobleskill-Richmondville C.S.D., Laborers’ Local 157, D.A. Collins Companies

 

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Cave House to Host ‘Mind-Blowing’ Mineral Expert

HOWES CAVE— The Cave House Museum of Mining and Geology opens its summer series of programs with “Mind-blowing Mica” on June 8 at the historic museum, 136 Blowing Rock Road in Howes Cave.

Educator, lapidary artist and jeweler Jim Pecora from Pecora’s Mica Mine Schoolhouse in Acworth, NH will offer the program. Pecora also operates the Crystal Rock Arts gift shop and New England Mineral Museum.

The Cave House will be open that day from noon to 4 p.m. The program begins at 2.

Admission is free. Donations are appreciated.

The following program in the museum’s summer series will be July 13, when Roger Masse, professor of wildlife management at SUNY Cobleskill, presents  “Young Forest Management to Protect Declining Species.” 

The Cave House is where the remarkable story of Howe’s Cave begins. The museum is a nonprofit, NYS-chartered educational institution, that promotes an understanding of the importance that local and regional geology and mining plays in our lives.

 

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County Planning Board Recommends Approval Of New Wedding Venue

By Chris English

SCHOHARIE COUNTY — A new wedding venue for Schoharie County is a step closer to reality after the county Planning Commission recommended approval at its Monday, June 2 meeting.

The site for weddings and private parties is at the 31.6-acre Red Fox Stable property on Terrance Mountain Road in the Town of Schoharie. Already operating at the site have been an AirBNB that hosts yoga classes and other events and also horse stables. The new use will involve erecting tents for the weddings/wedding receptions and other events and bringing in caterers to provide food and drink.

Attorney Joanne Darcy Crum said the Town of Schoharie Planning Board has held a public hearing on the matter but does not plan to make a decision until next month's meeting. She is representing Sergio Agme, a member of the Board of Directors of the company that owns the property.

Monday's action by the county Planning Commission came after it had judged the application incomplete at last month's meeting because of uneasiness and uncertainty about whether operations already going on at the site complied with all applicable rules and regulations. It was reported by a Planning Commission member at Monday's meeting that he had talked with Agme and checked into things and that current operations comply with health regulations. The septic system at the site does need to be upgraded, the PC member added.

In another action from the Monday meeting, the Planning Commission also recommended approval of a new business on Clauverwie Road in the Town of Middleburgh that will sell mulch, stone, sand and other landscaping supplies.

The business called Scenic View Supply will be owned by William Adams and Fred and Vicki Echtner, who all attended Monday's meeting and made their case for the new venture. 

"We wanted to provide a place a little more local to get these kinds of supplies rather than having to go into Cobleskill or Albany," Adams said.

Most of the discussion leading up to the vote was about the location of parts of the property within the 100-year flood plain and some concerns about that. The Little Schoharie Creek runs through a portion of the parcel.

"My recommendation would be to store materials in a part of the property out of the flood plain, or store them in something that is easily movable in case a flood is coming," said County Planner Zachary Thompson.

Members of the Planning Commission seemed satisfied when the owners assured them that materials could be easily moved with a loader or other means in the event of flooding. The owners added that the new business will not involve construction of new structures and all materials will be stored outside. The matter also needs approval from the Town of Middleburgh Planning Board in order to move forward.

 

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Golding Students Receive Grant to Visit Freedom Trail - Class of 2030 Received Competitive Grant from American Battlefield Trust’s History Field Trip Grant Program

WASHINGTON D.C. — William H. Golding’s Class of 2030 will soon head to the Freedom Trail in Boston,  Masscahusetts, thanks to a grant from the American Battlefield Trust’s History Field Trip Grant Program. This  trip will provide students with an exceptional, hands-on history learning opportunity. Grants are awarded based  on a competitive national application process, demonstrating Cobleskill-Richmondville’s commitment to  excellence in the classroom.  

“Throughout the year, students in the seventh grade have gained an in-depth understanding of the origins of the  American Revolution,” Mr. Arruda said. “With this trip to the Freedom Trail in Boston, we will finally be able  to bring this understanding to life allowing our students to be there with history. Students will walk in historic  places, breathe the historic air, and hear the sounds of the city where the Revolution was born.” 

The American Battlefield Trust is the largest battlefield land preservation organization in the country, having  saved more than 58,000 acres of hallowed ground across 24 states. Through visiting preserved battlefields and  walking in the footsteps of the citizen soldiers who fought there, the Trust aims to provide a foundation of good  citizenship for the leaders of tomorrow. The Trust strives to produce excellent educational resources in a variety  of formats for both educators and the public alike, ensuring that Americans never forget how their country was  forged. 

Every year, the Trust receives applications from classrooms across the country to participate in the History  Field Trip Grant Program, which offers funding and assistance to K-12 teachers planning field trips to Civil  War, War of 1812, or Revolutionary War battlefields and related historic sites. During the 2022-2023 school  year, more than 10,000 students from 33 states took part.  

“These kids get a chance to go to where history was made, where our country was created and defined,” said  Trust President David Duncan of the History Field Trip Grant Program recipients, “Battlefields are outdoor  classrooms that will teach future Americans about our democratic republic.” 

Mr. Arruda has enormous enthusiasm for teaching history and is excited to utilize the Freedom Trail as an  outdoor classroom that will give his students a meaningful and memorable experience. The American  Battlefield Trust is proud to support and empower such excellent educators as they inspire the next generation  of proud Americans. 

The American Battlefield Trust is dedicated to preserving America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educating the  public about what happened there and why it matters today. The nonprofit, nonpartisan organization has  protected more than 60,000 acres associated with the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War. Learn  more at www.battlefields.org. 

 

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