google.com, pub-2480664471547226, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0

Weekly Schoharie Library News

Written By Editor on 2/15/21 | 2/15/21

Here's our weekly library news. Thanks,

Don

********************
Don LaPlant
Library Director
Schoharie Free Library
518-295-7127
dlaplant@mvls.info
********************

The Schoharie Free Library remains open to properly-masked, socially-distanced visitors during its regular hours: Monday, Tuesday, and Friday, 11 am-6 pm; Thursday, 12 pm-7 pm; and Saturday, 10 am-2 pm. Details and community resources are at www.SchoharieLibrary.org.  

The library has recently received dozens of new books and videos for young audiences. Come by and browse our new collections. 

All our regularly scheduled programs are currently meeting online via Zoom. Here’s what we have scheduled for the coming week: 

Our UFO (Unfinished Objects) Club will meet on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 10 am to share progress and tips on their craft projects. New members are always welcome to join. 

Attend our Interactive Storytime with Miss Heather on Friday, February 19 at 10 am for stories, crafts, songs, and more.     

The second meeting of the newly-established Young Adult Advisory Council will meet at 6 pm on Monday, Feb. 22. This week the YAAC will be considering new YA books to buy for the library’s collection. 

The next meeting of our Writing Club will be at 6:30 pm on Monday, Feb. 22.  

Our Knitcetera Club is scheduled to meet again at 10:30 am on Wednesday, Feb. 24. 

The library is also hosting a “Using Libby/Overdrive for Audiobooks” program at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Learn how to browse, download, and navigate the thousands of free, downloadable audiobooks your library card allows you to access. 

For more information or to sign up for any of these programs, contact JMosher@mvls.info or visit our Facebook events page.  

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Weekly Cobleskill Library News

The Library is open for browsing the first floor. Face masks and social distancing are required at all times. We continue to take every precaution to keep our patrons, staff and the building safe so if you feel unwell please do not come into the Library. The hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10-6 and Saturday 10-1. These hours may change without notice. You may fax, make copies and use the computers for 30 minutes. Public meeting rooms are not available and Library seating has been removed except at the public computers. Curbside pickup continues to be available, just give us a call to schedule your pickup.

 We are excited to share that starting the week of March 1 The community Library will be adjusting our hours and reopening on Wednesdays. The adjusted hours: Tuesday 10-7pm, Wednesday 10-5pm, Thursday 10-7pm, Friday 10-5pm and Saturday 10-1pm. These hours may change without notice.

The Library celebrates 100 years this month. For more information follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/theCommunityLibraryCobleskill/or sign up for future Library News emails at https://mailchi.mp/287db1f866ef/news

Both State and Federal Tax forms and instructions are here. They can be found in the lobby or can be delivered by curbside pickup.

The Library Wi-Fi is accessible 24/7 from the parking lot.

You have access to online books, audiobooks and now over 3,000 magazines through Overdrive/Libby using this link https://mvls.overdrive.com/.

You have access to databases and other resources with your library card through this link https://communitylibrary.mvls.info/research-2/

Want to see what is new in our collection visit https://bit.ly/3c2TdCl

The next Library Board of Trustees virtual meeting is on March 11th at 1pm. Meetings are open to the public however if you would like to attend please call the library (518.234.7897) and leave a message with your email address or email cob-director@mvls.info with your interest to attend.

Library Contact: 518.234.7897, coblib@mvls.info, cob-director@mvls.info https://www.facebook.com/theCommunityLibraryCobleskill/

https://communitylibrary.mvls.info/

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Veteran Presentation at the Gilboa Museum

Written By Editor on 2/14/21 | 2/14/21

NANCY MARIE PAYNE
CELEBRATING AMERICAN VETERANS OF THE 20TH CENTURY
performed at the Gilboa Historical Society

THIS WEEK: Recorded in November, storyteller Nancy Payne told us of three generations of veterans from her family—a grandfather who outlived his own obituary in the Great War; her father who served as a navigator in 35 bomber sorties over Germany in WWII; and her husband who was in the Strategic Air Command during the Cuban Missile Crisis.
.....Click here for this free performance through February 20, 2021.

Next week, our rotation continues with a rebroadcast of Dave Ruch and Phil Banaszak's seriously fun old American music!

______

This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered in Schoharie County by Greene County Council on the Arts DBA CREATE.
______

Please forward this invitation to friends who might appreciate it.
.....These performances
  • are short (won't impinge on time);
  • are free (won't impinge on wallet)
  • are straightforward (won't lead down a trail of links)
  • are FREE for everyone—members and non-members alike.

Please use this form to enter or update your contact information with the society, or pass it on to a friend for their use. Remember, we need an email address to forward each week's link (you can also access the link in the upper right corner of all gilboahistoricalsociety.com pages.
.....Your status: You have a complimentary membership!
.....
Please send feedback on your reaction to these performances, and let us know if you are having difficulty taking advantage of our internet offerings.

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Blackdome Performance February 13th

Written By Editor on 2/11/21 | 2/11/21


Saturday, Feb. 13 at 8pm

GIRL BLUE
 
A singer-songwriter with an ability to silence a room with just her voice and guitar.  She was awarded Record of the Year, Solo Artist of the Year and Music Video of the Year at the 2019 Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards.  She has performed a number of times in Windham at Eastwind, and we are delighted to have her join Blackdome for this 2nd online concert. Tune in this Saturday at 8pm!
 
Link for Performance
Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Underground Railroad Presentation Available Online

We are so sorry many of you were unable to log into the Underground Railroad presentation. We purchased 500 licenses, but Zoom did not let people in after it reached 100 participants.  However, we did record the presentation and it will be available for playback tomorrow on our website (sharonhistoricalsocietyny.gov).  You will receive a link to it once it is posted.  We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this technical difficulty has caused.

 

Click here for more information on our next event: "Railroads In Schoharie County".

 

Click here for information on "The Wild West: Miners, Cowboys, Gunslingers, Saloon Madams, and Ghost Towns"

 

Sharon Historical Society - NYRemember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Sharon Historical Presentation on the Underground Railroad Rescheduled

Written By Editor on 2/9/21 | 2/9/21

Due to the overwhelming popularity of the Underground Railroad webinar and a Zoom glitch, some folks were unable to log on. We will be repeating this program on February 22nd at 7 PM. Join us for Exploring the Underground Railroad in Schoharie County - Upstate New York, February 22, 2021, at 7:00 PM.

Registration is required even if you registered before.

We hope you’re able to join us!

Or if you prefer

A recording of the February 8th webinar is available along with handouts on the

Sharon Historical Society website by clicking here.


Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Special Reggie Harris Performance at Gilboa Historical Society

REGGIE HARRIS:
WATER AS A SYMBOL OF SOCIAL TURBULENCE
performed at the Gilboa Historical Society

Gilboa Historical Society presents a short performance each week by a rotating roster of musicians and story-tellers. You can be added to our mail list for reminders about upcoming shows!


Reggie Harris uses water as symbolic of social turbulence — from Jews escaping from Egypt, Africans being shanghaied across the oceans, and natural threats like hurricane Irene — and being able to survive with our own resurrection days.
. . . .THIS WEEK: Click here for this free performance from now through February 11, 2021.

Starting next Friday, our rotation continues with story-teller Nancy Payne celebrating some American veterans of the 20th century, followed by Dave Ruch and Phil Banaszak's seriously fun old American music!

______

This project is made possible with funds from the Decentralization Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature and administered in Schoharie County by Greene County Council on the Arts dba CREATE.
______

Please forward this invitation to friends who might appreciate it.
.....These performances
are short (won't impinge on time);
are free (won't impinge on wallet)
are straightforward (won't lead down a trail of links)
are FREE for everyone—members and non-members alike.

Please use this form to enter or update your contact information with the society, or pass it on to a friend for their use. Remember, we need an email address to forward each week's link (you can also access the link in the upper right corner of all gilboahistoricalsociety.com pages.
.....Your status: You have a complimentary membership!
.....
Please send feedback on your reaction to these performances, and let us know if you are having difficulty taking advantage of our internet offerings.

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Cobleskill Library News

The Library is open for browsing. Face masks and social distancing are required at all times. We continue to take every precaution to keep our patrons, staff and the building safe so if you feel unwell please do not come into the Library. The hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10-6 and Saturday 10-1. These hours may change without notice. You may fax, make copies and use the computers. Public meeting rooms are not available and Library seating has been removed except at the public computers. Curbside pickup continues to be available, just give us a call to schedule your pickup.
The Library celebrates 100 years this week, be sure to follow our facebook page for more information https://www.facebook.com/theCommunityLibraryCobleskill/
Tax forms and instructions are starting to arrive. We currently have 1040 and 1040-SR (SR is for anyone born before January 2, 1956). These forms and schedules 1, 2, 3 and LEP all come in one booklet. They can be found in the lobby or can be delivered by curbside pickup.
The Library Wi-Fi is accessible 24/7 from the parking lot.
You have access to online books, audiobooks and now over 3,000 magazines through Overdrive/Libby using this link https://mvls.overdrive.com/.
You have access to databases and other resources with your library card through this link https://communitylibrary.mvls.info/research-2/
Want to see what is new in our collection visit https://bit.ly/3c2TdCl
We still have January STEAM “Take and Make Kits” kits are available: Preschool Nature Explorer - Make your own binoculars and head outside to use your Nature Journal and do a scavenger hunt! Grades K-3 Pom-Pom Popper - Make your own popper and learn about energy and motion. Everything is included in this kit, including a target! Grades 4-6 Rubber Band Race Car - Engineer your own pull back race car and learn about physics while you do it! Everything is included in the kit but you will need a ruler and a hole punch or a nail will work in a pinch.  Each STEAM KIT will include: detailed instructions and the materials required to build or complete the activity.
The next Library Board of Trustees virtual meeting is on February 11th at 1pm. Meetings are open to the public however if you would like to attend please call the library (518.234.7897) and leave a message with your email address or email cob-director@mvls.info with your interest to attend.
Library Contact: 518.234.7897, coblib@mvls.info, cob-director@mvls.info https://www.facebook.com/theCommunityLibraryCobleskill/
https://communitylibrary.mvls.info/


Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Bassett Offering Free COVID Tests Feb 9 & 10th

Cobleskill – Have no symptoms of COVID-19, but looking to be tested? Bassett Healthcare Network, in partnership with the New York State Department of Health, is offering free COVID-19 rapid testing at its Cobleskill and Sharon Springs Clinics specifically for individuals who have no symptoms of the virus, but who wish to be tested. Appointments are required. The testing will be offered on Tuesday, Feb. 9, and Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the following locations and times. Call ahead to make an appointment.

Testing Site

Date/Hours of Testing

When to call for an Appt.

# to call for an Appt.

Sharon Springs Health Center, 591-1 State Route 20, Sharon Springs

Tuesday, Feb. 9
8:15 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. prior to testing date

315-412-5875

Cobleskill Primary Care, 136 Parkway Drive, Cobleskill

Wednesday, Feb. 10
8:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. prior to testing date

315-412-5875

Have symptoms and need to be tested?
Bassett Healthcare Network locations are currently performing COVID-19 tests for individuals in our region who meet the following criteria (if you have symptoms, you are not eligible to participate in the above rapid test clinics):

• Have symptoms of infection (fever, chills, sore throat, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches, diarrhea, severe headache, or loss of taste/smell)

• Patients who require testing prior to a medical procedure

• Employees with suspected COVID-19 exposure

If you believe you have symptoms of the coronavirus and need to be tested, please call Bassett's COVID-19 central phone line at 607-547-5555. If it is determined that you meet the criteria for testing at a Bassett location, you will be given an appointment.

The COVID-19 Vaccine
The Bassett network has a limited supply of vaccines at this time. Please visit www.bassett.org/covid-19 for the most up-to-date information on local vaccine supply, eligibility guidelines, registration resources, frequently asked questions, and more. You may also call the state COVID-19 Vaccination Hotline: 1-833-NYS-4-VAX (1-833-697-4829).

It is important to understand that the vaccine will not give you COVID-19. Neither the Pfizer nor the Moderna vaccines contain any part of the actual virus. It’s safe, research is proving its effectiveness, and it's one of the many steps that we can take together to protect ourselves and our loved ones. Learn more about the COVID-19 vaccine from the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Hobart Rotary Hosting Mental Health Webinar

Hobart Rotary Hosting Mental Health Webinar

The Hobart Rotary Club, in collaboration with Delaware Opportunities and the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) of Delaware County, will sponsor an essential community conversation on "Your Mental Health and the Covid Pandemic" on Wednesday, February 17 at 6pm. This webinar is free and open to the public via Zoom. Details on how to participate are outlined below.
 
The conversation will focus on the physical and mental impacts of living in these uncertain times and how we can best care for ourselves, our loved ones, and our community with simple strategies that help us build our resilience and connect to our community supports. This presentation is for any parent, teacher, health professional, and community member who is looking for strategies to deal with feelings of overwhelm, stress, and/or anxiety caused by the coronavirus pandemic and current climate of unrest.
 
Topics include Signs and Symptoms of a Mental Health Crisis, Concerns and Risks with Special Populations such as Youth and Seniors, Tools and Techniques to Handle Stress, and more.
 
Amanda Decker, Prevention Specialist at ADAC, will be the evening's Presenter. Ms. Decker is a trained CHAMPION for Delaware County, is certified as both a Youth and Teen Mental Health First Aid Trainer, QPR Presenter, Conscious Discipline trained, and a NYS certified teacher.
 
Moderators include Dr. Shelly Bartow, Executive Director of Delaware Opportunities, a community action agency serving all of Delaware County and providing some services in Chenango, Sullivan, and Otsego Counties; and Mary Rosenthal, Executive Director of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Council of Delaware County, which provides information, referral, and prevention services and is credited with the formation of a Treatment Court and Family Treatment Court in the county.
 
This free webinar on Wednesday 2/17 can be accessed online via Zoom or by telephone dial-in. Participants are asked to arrive at 5:55pm so the program can start promptly at 6pm. The Zoom room will be locked 15 minutes into the session. The main room will be recorded for educational/promotional use.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86719432220?pwd=NktUQmpoQ1FqOW8yTUpFdzhjK3VYZz09
Meeting ID: 867 1943 2220
Passcode: 289519
To attend by phone:   1-646-558-8656
 


Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

M'burgh Gives Green Light To Winter Sports

Written By Editor on 2/8/21 | 2/8/21

The Middleburgh Board of Education early Friday morning gave the green light for high-risk varsity winter sports. This includes basketball and competitive cheerleading for remote and in-person students. 
Wrestling is permitted as well, but since MCS merges with Berne-Knox-Westerlo for that sport, the team will have to wait until Albany County’s positivity rate for COVID-19 goes below four percent. The rates are reported daily and are tracked using a seven-day rolling average. The Health Department cleared the way for the board's decision because Schoharie County’s positivity rate is below the mandated four percent. 
“This will enable our student athletes to hit the courts tonight and throughout the weekend,” said Superintendent Brian Dunn. “I would like to thank the Board of Education for this decisive action to provide relief to our long-suffering student athletes. I would like to thank everyone who voiced their opinions to me and the BOE. There was overwhelming parent and community support for this vote.

“Please know that we take COVID very seriously in our home and feel that with the proper guidelines in place our children can participate safely in school sports,” said Jamie and Tom Lacko, parents of two Middleburgh School students who want their children to have the opportunity to participate in school sports this year. “Our son is a senior and has worked very hard to maintain good grades, as well as be a good student and role model for others. His hope and our hope for him, is to have the opportunity one last time to play for Middleburgh High School with the teammates he has built strong relationships with as well as the coaches he looks up to.” 

“We are thankful and excited for the opportunity to compete this winter,” said basketball Coach Gregg Johns. “Our school district, administration, Board of Education, teachers, community, parents, athletes and coaches have been very supportive throughout this most challenging school year. We have stuck together and are stronger for it. We will do everything we can to make this a positive and healthy experience for all of those who are involved.”

Superintendent Dunn is a major proponent of safely opening up more activities for students. “Please know that we are equity-focused in Middleburgh and we are next looking to the Governor to loosen restrictions for our arts programs so that they can soon get back to acting, singing and performing in traditional ways,” said Mr. Dunn. 
“Let’s continue to be vigilant with our common sense protocols to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in our schools: masks, physical distancing and hand washing are essential to keep everyone safe and our schools open.”
Athletes participating in these high-risk sports will be screened, but it was determined that additional COVID-19 testing will not be necessary. Spectators will not be permitted to attend, but when possible, the district will live stream the events.

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Leadership Training at Del Co Chamber

Leaderful Delaware, an initiative of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, is seeking people committed to community service who would benefit from strengthening leadership skills while developing a personal professional network.


The 2021 Leaderful Delaware program is currently accepting applications for its eight-month curriculum that begins with virtual classes in March 2021.  Up to 20 individuals can participate and half-day sessions will meet virtually twice monthly.


Participants will learn about critical issues facing Delaware County and the Catskill Mountains region through lectures, discussion groups, personal introspection, and panel discussions featuring current community leaders. The innovative curriculum is based on scientific theories of organizational and community leadership. Leaderful Delaware offers an alternative to the traditional model and calls on leaders to be concurrent, collective, collaborative, and compassionate.  Strategies include effective facilitation, dialogue skills, active listening skills, managing conflict, intercultural competence, leadership styles,  and peer coaching. 


Candidates will be selected based on their:

Commitment and motivation to community service.

Previous community service or desire to become involved in community activities. 

Interest in public service and desire to learn more about public policy.

Potential to advance to a leadership position within their companies.

Commitment to remain in Delaware County.



Preference will be given to Delaware County residents but non-residents are encouraged to apply.


Applicants should be sponsored by a business or a community leader and provide references. Tuition, payable by a sponsor or a participant, is $300, and includes all materials and fees. 


For more information and an application, contact the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce at 607-746-2281, delawarecounty.org, or email info@delawarecounty.org.

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Ferguson Named Executive Director of SUNY Institute for Rural Vitality

Dr. S. Scott Ferguson, professor of business and management at SUNY Cobleskill, has been named executive director of the College’s Institute for Rural Vitality. Ferguson will lead the Institute’s continued work in engaging regional partners in a collective effort to enhance the community and economic vitality in rural New York. 
A presence on the SUNY Cobleskill campus for more than 12 years, Dr. Ferguson has served in multiple roles in addition to his tenure as a professor in the Business Administration degree program. He served as the College’s inaugural chief diversity officer and has led the planning and implementation of many campus-wide initiatives, including serving as chair for SUNY Cobleskill’s 2017 Strategic Planning program. 
Outside of his experience at SUNY Cobleskill, Dr. Ferguson is an ambitious entrepreneur and business management professional, with successes to his credit ranging from small business start-ups to multinational, Fortune 500 companies. As an extension of his business ventures, he currently serves on the Schoharie County Chamber of Commerce’s Education Committee and is a former president of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. He also serves as president of the Cobleskill Auxiliary Services Board of Directors and vice president of the Canajoharie Central School District Board of Education. 
“Dr. Ferguson’s leadership qualities have served to enhance many facets of our institution, and he has played an instrumental role in defining and advancing the values of SUNY Cobleskill,” said Marion Terenzio, president of SUNY Cobleskill. “His expertise in economic and community development will be of great resource as the Institute for Rural Vitality continues to elevate its mission in the spirit of collaboration and stewardship.” 
The Institute for Rural Vitality was introduced in 2016 through a $749,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a unique partnership with Albany Law School. The Institute addresses the region’s most pressing issues in economic development and education, from college access and career readiness to legal support for agricultural businesses. Its distinct centers place SUNY Cobleskill students and faculty at the forefront of community partnerships and coalitions, adding their experience in support of these initiatives. 
SUNY Cobleskill was recently awarded an additional $761,141 through a USDA Agriculture Innovation Center grant. The Institute for Rural Vitality directed the funding to expand the services of the Farm & Food Business Incubator, a program offered in partnership with the Center for Agricultural Development & Entrepreneurship (CADE) to better equip growers and producers in the Mohawk Valley in addressing the farming industry's diversification and profitability challenges.
To date, the Institute has been instrumental in securing more than $6 million for community-based economic development projects and actively recruited a private partner poised to build an $84 million grow center on campus. The Institute’s commitment to regional development has recently been recognized by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) as the recipient of its 2019 Excellence and Innovation Award for Regional and Economic Development. 


Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

NYS Senator Oberacker is Guest Speaker at DelCo Chamber Event



The Delaware County Chamber of Commerce invites you to start your day with a productive and potentially profitable virtual learning opportunity, on Thursday, Feb. 18  from 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.  The Chamber's FREE  Third Thursday : Chamber Connects virtual Q & A live webinar is a terrific opportunity to participate in a leader-led conversation focused on building a better business and better business climate!
Stay current on what's happening in Delaware County and the region, and learn how to effectively pivot  toward a sustainable and thriving business model. 
The featured speaker for this event is New York State Senator Peter Oberacker, representing New York's 51st senate district - which includes the towns of most of Delaware County.
Senator Oberacker was elected in November and is the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse and the Senate Committee on Internet & Technology.  Additionally, He also serves on the senate standing committees on education, health, higher education, and judiciary.
This event is sponsored by sfcu. sfcu is a full-service financial institution providing the tools and resources our members need to make banking easy and convenient. 
To register for this FREE visit delawarecounty.org or call 607.746.2281. Once registered, you will automatically be emailed a Zoom link to join the event.

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Plant Workshop at Landis

We're excited to introduce the first in a series of three informative and interesting classes to be presented by Chris Cash, popular recently retired SUNY Cobleskill Plant Science Professor.  

The other classes in the series will be scheduled soon, but now, we invite you to join us for What Is this Plant, and Will It Work for Me? by Zoom on Saturday, February 27, from 10:00 - 11:30 AM with flexibility for Q & A at the end. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR THIS CLASS; registrations will receive the Zoom link prior to class. Click here to register by PayPal or if you prefer to avoid PayPal, contact us at info@LandisArboretum.org to pay by phone using your credit card.
 
In this first class, Chris will help you grow your knowledge of plants and what they need in order to thrive in our world. Plants have names and we need to start there. Chris will guide you into the world of plant names, suggested reference books, and online tools to identify and learn about plants. These are tools that casual gardeners and practicing botanists alike are using to identify plants.  Chris will also provide simple look at local 'plant communities' and how you might employ knowledge of plants and ecosystems to making your own garden selections and create a garden that works.

This workshop series will also include Roots and What's Underground (and Why It Matters), and The Importance of Soils to Your Happy Healthy Garden. Information on these sessions will be provided soon.
 
Instructor:  Chris Cash, Professor of Plant Science at SUNY Cobleskill, retired
Location: Zoom (registration required)
Members: $5/person; Nonmembers: $15/person

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Exploring Nature Workshop at Landis


THE WORKSHOP IS FULL.  ANY FUTURE REGISTRANTS CAN BE PLACED ON A WAITING LIST

Exploring Nature Themes in Writing
February 12, 19, & 26, March 5, 12, & 19
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

 
Participants will explore the effective use of nature themes to develop their own writing of fiction, poetry, and/or memoir. The instructor will share the work of authors who have used nature themes, as well as provide prompts and feedback to participants. The workshop is open to all regardless of experience. Participation in any or all sessions in the series is encouraged!  REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED AND LIMITED TO 12 PEOPLE.  Click here to register.  The workshop classes will be on Zoom; registrants will receive the link for accessing Zoom after registration.

Join Hanford Mills for 'Winter's Coolest Crop' Feb 4th

Written By Editor on 2/3/21 | 2/3/21

Thursday, February 4 at 7 pm
Winter’s Coolest Crop: Ice Harvesting History and Culture
Free program!
Andrew Robichaud, Assistant Professor of History at Boston University, joins HMM staff Liz Callahan and Kajsa Harley for a free online presentation about the ice trade in the 19th century. They will discuss the history of ice harvesting in the Northeast. They will also talk about the traditions of ice harvesting here in the Catskills and at Hanford Mills.

Sign up for the program here

If you can't join us for the live program, you can watch a recording of it on the Hanford Mills YouTube Channel. 

Andrew Robichaud is director of undergraduate studies and assistant professor of history at Boston University. He teaches courses in American history, including courses related to environmental history, urban history, animal history, and the history of Boston. His specializes in nineteenth-century America.

Robichaud’s next book project, tentatively titled On Ice: Transformations in American Life, is a history of climate, ice, and the ice trade in North America, and explores the cultural and economic ice age in nineteenth-century America.

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

BOCES Offering Cabling Tech Program

SCHOHARIE – High School students interested in a career with great job growth projection and median salary in the U.S. in excess of $60,000 need to look no further than the Capital Region BOCES Network Cabling Tech/Smart Home Technology program.

The program, in it’s second year of existence, will be housed at the Albany Career and Technical School campus starting with the 2021-22 school year after being located at the  Schoharie Campus.

“We have heard from prospective students and our component districts in the Albany area that they are interested in the Network Cabling program that they want to attend the program. At the same time we are constantly in contact with employers seeking workers for the industry. To maximize the potential of the program and to best meet the needs of our students, schools and even employers, we believe it is the right time to make this change,”  said Jeff Palmer, director of Career and Technical Education at Capital Region BOCES.

The Network Cabling Technician/Smart Home Technology provides a clear path to both a job in the industry or to further education.

“Our program prepares the workforce needed to build out and cable this new infrastructure. We have the right program in place and are actively looking for the students interested in these great careers,” said teacher Ed Henson, a 35-year veteran of Verizon.

The program works with business partners such as Verizon, National Grid and MIDTEL to teach students everything from network cabling using fiber- and copper-based systems Smart Home technologies, voice of IP phone systems and 5G wireless antenna installation.

“We need young people that want to work. I can’t stress this enough,” said Jason Becker, executive vice president for MIDTEL. “We were a sleepy company for 100 years and then all of the sudden in the last 25 years, boom,” he said, adding that the growth was industry wide as demand switched from telephone to internet and data service.

A Mid-Hudson Cable technician corroborated the demand, saying he and coworker are working 12 hours a  day, seven days a week to need the demand.

Beyond the demand created by people needing access at home to the high-speed internet, the switch from to 5G internet connectivity that was already taking place requires a whole new infrastructure to be built – with new 5G antennas  being installed  and fiber cables being strung.

The Network Cabling Technician/Smart Home Technology program utilizes C-Tech, an international workforce development company specializing in curriculum development, to provide industry recognized certificates.

Using those certificates, students like Chris Rarick, a senior from Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk Central High School, can begin careers in telecommunication, audio/visual and telephone industries, or have a head start on higher education.

“I‘m working now on the side installing security cameras and wiring. I had to run cable to all the remote locations, test them and make sure they were operational.  Just recently completed a job and it was a lot of fun,” Rarick said.

Upon graduation, Rarick hopes to make his business a full-time venture.

“I feel like this has already helped me reach my goals and taught me everything I need to know to get started in wiring and cabling,” he said

Classmate Jasmine Neill said the program has given her a bright future. 

“I am going to work in telecommunications - anything within the industry. I really enjoy the skills and the trade,” said the Sharon Springs student.

Students interested in the program should contact their home school district’s school counselor. For more information on the program, visit https://www.capitalregionboces.org/career-technical-education/courses-programs/network-cabling-smart-home-technology/ or email edward.henson@neric.org or Nancy.Liddle@neric.org.

Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

February is Career and Technical Education Month

Written By Editor on 2/2/21 | 2/2/21

ALBANY -- February is Career and Technical Education Month — a time when school districts across the country celebrate programs designed to prepare students for the workforce or to further their education.



Once an education path for those students only seeking vocational skills, career and technical education is now a pathway for students looking to build career skills, get a start on their college education or just learn a life skill that will allow them pay for college. At Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical School (CTE), more than 70 percent of high school students pursue higher education, while many others directly enter the workforce with a highly technical skill set.

“CTE gives me a good opportunity and experience to see what it’s actually like working in a dealership,” said senior Leon Bhajan, who is taking part in work-based learning at Destination Nissan in Albany.

“I am working in the shop, doing whatever they need me to do. The other day I helped someone put a motor in a car. It is a lot of hands-on work and real experiences,” he said. “It’s great to get out of school and get this experience.”

For 2013 graduate John Broadus, CTE meant a guaranteed career in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) field.

"There are a lot of possibilities in the trade. It’s recession-proof and I am doing quite well,” Broadus said.

Capital Region BOCES CTE offers approximately three dozen programs that prepare students for specific careers, but also give students such skills as communications, interviewing and time management that span the spectrum of careers.

Those programs are guided by input CTE receives from the business community. These professionals serve on nearly 20 different advisory panels that meet periodically at BOCES and guide the curriculum and planning, as well as provide work-based learning opportunities for students.

A key example of the BOCES CTE-business partnership is the Engineering Technician program that was launched in 2017 and was the result of a partnership between BOCES and GLOBALFOUNDRIES. The program trains students for careers at the high tech giant and other employers in the region and beyond.

"There's a demand among business leaders across the region and state to place an emphasis on college- and career-readiness," said Jeff Palmer, director of career and technical education at BOCES. "The programs we offer include everything from culinary and welding to electrical trades, auto body repair and internet application design. But they also prepare students with life skills that apply to whatever career a student pursues.”

“It’s about preparing students for life,” he added.

SUNY Cobleskill Outreach Instructor Ed Wallace concurred.

“Several students in recent years have come out of the BOCES program and entered the workforce as technicians and equipment operators, several others have gone on to secondary institutions like SUNY Cobleskill,” Wallace said.

Business officials said training high school students for careers in the skilled trades is crucial to keeping the industry alive.

“We need to create the connections for students early on. This is a way we can keep them in the pipeline as workers in our industry down the road,” said Jerry Skiff, director of service for Anderson Equipment Co.

More than 1,000 students from throughout the Capital Region take courses at the Capital Region BOCES campuses in Schoharie, Albany and at the Center for Advanced Technology at Mohonasen, as well as New Visions classrooms. Nationally, more than 15 million high school and postsecondary students are pursuing career and technical education, according to the U.S. Department of Education.

By choosing an education that includes career and technical training, those students are getting an education that is critical to their personal success, as well as the success of this region and the country.


Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

Rep Delgado Meets with Local Officials

Written By Editor on 2/1/21 | 2/1/21

U.S. Representative Antonio Delgado met with Greene County officials to discuss COVID-19 vaccine distribution, rural broadband, and infrastructure issues. Rep. Antonio Delgado spoke with Greene County Legislature Chairman Pat Linger, Greene County Highway Superintendent Scott Templeton, Greene County Deputy County Administrator Warren Hart, Greene County Administrator Shaun S. Groden, and members of the Public Health and Emergency Operations departments.

“Yesterday, Senator Gillibrand and I announced the reintroduction of our Rebuilding Rural America Act,” said Rep. Antonio Delgado. “This legislation would help communities like Greene County repair their weather-damaged roads, revitalize rural broadband, and build their local economy back better. Projects like the stabilization of the Hudson River shoreline need investment from the federal government. I thank Greene County leaders for speaking with me and sharing their coronavirus crisis struggles. I will keep working to deliver critical funds to Greene County, and rural counties across New York's 19th congressional district.”

“Greene County is very thankful to the Congressman for taking the time to meet with us,” said Greene County Legislature Chairman Pat Linger. “We have multiple projects underway that will require Federal assistance to accomplish. Stabilization of the Hudson River shoreline, broadband and cellular deficiency mapping and infrastructure build-out, and emergency funding for rural highway repair are all imperative to both the quality of life and economic development here in Greene. We are committed to our residents and visitors, and know the Congressman shares the same feeling. We hope he can assist in getting the funding committed to help move Greene forward with these critically important infrastructure needs.”

After his meeting with Greene County officials, Rep. Antonio Delgado met with Columbia County officials to discuss COVID-19 vaccine distribution. The Congressman spoke with the Chairman of the Board of Supervisors and Supervisor for the Town of Stockport Matt Murell and Columbia County Public Health Director Jack Maab about limited vaccine doses and a need for better coordination between the federal, state, and local levels.

“Counties like Columbia are ready, willing, and able to get shots in residents' arms,” said Rep. Antonio Delgado. “However, they need more vaccines and federal funding to cover the costs of vaccination distribution. My bill, the Direct Support for Communities Act, would send dollars directly to our counties, towns, and villages fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. I thank Chairman Murell and Director Maab for meeting with me and discussing this critical issue.”


Remember to Subscribe!
Subscription Options

The Best of the Summer

Donate to Support Local Journalism

CONTACT US:


By phone: 518-763-6854 or 607-652-5252
Email: mountaineaglenews@gmail.com
Fax: 607-652-5253
Mail: The Mountain Eagle / PO Box 162 / Schoharie NY 12157

https://www.paypal.com/biz/fund?id=M6592A5TZYUCQ

Subscribe!

Site Archive

Submit your information below:

Name

Email *

Message *