Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper
by Thaddeus Flint
The monthly Board meeting at the Town Hall in New Lebanon was standing room only Tuesday night as a large group from New Lebanon High School came to defend their school’s reputation from what they felt were “outrageous rumors and comments” concerning the students of that District and heroin use.
[Read more…] about New Lebanon Town Board Hears Defense Of School District
The TRACs (Together Reducing drugs and Alcohol in our CommunitieS) regular monthly meeting will be held on April 22 at 6:30 pm at Stephentown Memorial Library. Come join us as we collaborate in order to make a difference in the lives of the youth in the Berlin and New Lebanon School Districts in our effort to reduce youth use of alcohol and drugs.
Our mission statement, “to encourage a drug-free lifestyle for youth, support families and provide community-based pro-social alternatives,” requires the support of many community members, organizations and businesses. We look forward to your participation.
submitted by Susan Bues, New Lebanon Foundation
The New Lebanon Foundation will launch its 2014 fundraising campaign with a Trivia Night on Friday, April 25, from 7 to 9 pm at the New Lebanon Junior/Senior High School on Route 22 in New Lebanon. Test your trivia knowledge! Bring your team of up to six family members and friends, or join a team on the spot. Door prizes, a Silent Auction and a 50/50 Raffle will add to the evening’s entertainment. For additional information please call Barbara Ruhe at 518-794-9490. The cost is $10 per person. All proceeds benefit the Arts and Humanities program for New Lebanon Central School children.
The Beryl H. Moul Memorial Grange Scholarship was established in 1958 by West Sand Lake Grange #949 in memory of prominent Grange Member Beryl H. Moul. Applicants must be Rensselaer County residents (for at least 4 years) and must be accepted in an accredited 2 or 4 year college program in New York State and pursuing a career in agriculture, home economics, nursing, natural resource management, environmental engineering or pharmacology.
The application includes an official high school transcript, and the deadline is May 1. The application and instructions can be found at any Rensselaer County High School Guidance Office or at the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rensselaer County website at www.ccerensselaer.org under teen opportunities. For questions please contact the CCE office of Rensselaer County at 272-4210.
submitted by Colleen Teal, New Lebanon Town Clerk
A Public Meeting/Forum will be held at the New Lebanon Town Hall on Tuesday, April 29, at 7 pm on Open Meetings Law and the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).
Robert Freeman, Executive Director of the Committee on Open Government, will be directing a public forum, open to everybody, to talk about and answer questions regarding public access to government information in New York State. This is your opportunity to get your questions answered regarding local government, including but not limited to your Town Board, Zoning Board and Planning Board, access to Town minutes and FOIL requests.
This public forum will last as long as is necessary as Robert Freeman is dedicated to staying to answer questions until no more questions remain.
Doug Schmolz
Berkshire musician Doug Schmolze will be performing at the New Lebanon Library on Friday, April 11, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public, although donations for the performer are appreciated.
Schmolze’s program will include traditional folk songs and sing-along favorites as well as songs from the American songbook from the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s from composers such as Harold Arlen, Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hammerstein. He will also perform solo guitar pieces from Latin American and Spanish composers including Flamenco.
Doug Schmolze studied guitar and composition at the Berklee School of Music, classical guitar with Alexander Bellow and voice with Virginia Berry, Michael Diesen-Barrow, Diane Ingraham Barnes and Frank Kelley. He has sung with the Pro Art Choral, the Lorien Ensemble, the Berkshire Bach Singers, Berkshire Choral Festival, Berkshire Opera, and the Cantilena Chamber Choir.
Father And Son Author Team
Local authors Michael and Diego Mongue will appear at the Library on Friday, April 18, at 3:30 pm, to talk about their quarterly comic book series, “Awesome Robot Science Fiction Action Comix.” The talk will be followed by Q&A and discussion, after which Michael and Diego will sign copies of the latest issue.
Awesome Robot started as letters left in Diego’s school lunches. Messages of encouragement like, “Have a great day at school” or “Eat your lunch and work hard” soon morphed into stranger missives, such as “Don’t eat cake from the cafeteria garbage pail.” These notes were accompanied by illustrations that eventually became the Awesome Robot series, the story of Dennis the Robot and his misadventures.
Mongue is an artist residing in Williamstown, MA. His work has been shown at the Left Bank Gallery in Bennington, the Arts and Crafts Guild in Dalton, the Flatiron Gallery in North Adams, the Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in New York City, and the Deborah Davis Fine Art in Hudson, the Firehouse Cafe in Adams. He is the author of M.Mongue: Acrylic Paintings from a Berkshire Artist, as well as the Awesome Robot series which he writes with his son, Diego, who attends the fifth grade.
All are welcome at this free event, which is most appropriate for school aged children although interested patrons of all ages are welcome.
An Evening Of Jazz And Swing With The Limb Shakers
Berkshire band The Limb Shakers will be performing at the Library on Friday, April 18, at 6:30 pm. They will perform a program of old time jazz and swing music at this event, which is free and open to the public although donations for the performers are appreciated.
The Limb Shakers have played swing dances at Club Helsinki and given concerts throughout Western MA and New York.
The band features Allen Livermore on saxophone and clarinet, bassist Seth Travins, and Alfred Brewer on trombone. Allen Livermore has performed at clubs, restaurants, resorts, colleges and arts spaces throughout New England and New York. “Sauerkraut Seth” Travins has toured extensively as bassist for Hudson Valley band The Wiyos. Berkshire-based Alfred Brewer performs on alto, tenor and bass trombones and euphonium. He currently studies with Norman Bolter at New England Conservatory.
Grains on the Brain
Today tremendous attention is being paid to the impact of wheat on the human body. Join Kelly Crine, licensed occupational therapist, for a spirited discussion on this subject on Thursday, April 24, at 6:30 pm at the Library. This program is free and open to the public.
Crine, who has been studying nutrition for the past decade, will share what she has learned about how the consumption of grains can impact health. She will discuss and demonstrate methods for traditional preparation of grains to improve their digestibility
The New Lebanon Library is located at 550 State Route 20, ¼ mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20/22.
To the Editor:
As Principal of the Junior/Senior High School in New Lebanon I am thrilled to know that there is a local community initiative aimed at preventing substance abuse in our township. I learned of the group after speaking with Matt Larabee at our annual soccer tournament this fall. Immediately, we sought to connect TRACS with our existing Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) coordinator, Lenny Brown. Additionally, I contacted Biffy Cahill in January with the goal of establishing a relationship between the school and TRACS.
The school’s ongoing efforts toward our common mission of preventing substance abuse include the posting of TRACS monthly meetings on Mr. Brown’s school e-board. I was pleased to learn that one of our students took the initiative to attend last month’s meeting as a result of this effort. New Lebanon Junior/Senior High School addresses the threats posed by substance abuse in many areas, which include:
• having our health classes target the dangers associated with substance use;
• participation in Red Ribbon week (alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention awareness);
• participating in Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness week;
• providing character education programming that supports leading a healthy life;
• re-establishing and maintaining an active SADD program (going on 3 years);
• seven years of inviting the Columbia County Sheriff’s K-9 unit into our building (multiple times per year), and
• utilizing the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for presentations, including drug identification for faculty and staff.
I am proud of our young adults and believe in their ability to make sound choices. We will continue our programming initiatives and will work in partnership with the New Lebanon community to address any issues should they arise.
Matthew R. Klafehn, NLCS Principal
On Wednesday, March 19, the New Lebanon Central School District Board of Education approved the appointment of Andrew Kourt to the position of Walter B. Howard Elementary School Principal, effective June 1, 2014. As part of the district’s Succession Plan, Kourt will work with current Principal Leslie Whitcomb though June before she transitions to the role of Superintendent of Schools on July 1. Superintendent Karen McGraw and Whitcomb have been working together throughout the school year and will continue to do so through July until Ms. McGraw retires on July 31, 2014.
“I am excited and honored to join the Walter B. Howard team and the New Lebanon community. It is my goal to collaboratively work with the community to ensure that every child has the very best educational experience and that our children can always find a love for learning,” Kourt said. “I am eager to motivate each child to be their very best, support teachers and staff so they can engage and challenge students, and communicate with family members so that they can stay involved in their child’s education.”
He added, “Together we will work hard to make Walter B. Howard Elementary School the very best! I look forward to meeting, listening, and building relationships with all members of our school community to ensure we build a common vision for our school. I can’t wait to get started!”
Kourt was one of seven candidates selected from the pool of applicants who were interviewed by a panel of teachers and parents followed by New Lebanon Jr./Sr. High School Principal Matthew Klafehn and Assistant Principal Rick Arket. Three candidates were then selected for the next round of interviews with McGraw, Whitcomb and Michael Los, the business manager. Two finalists were selected to interview with the Board of Education. Kourt immerged as the successful candidate.
Kourt will come to New Lebanon from the Bethlehem Central School District where he’s been a fifth grade teacher at Glenmont Elementary School since 2004. Prior to that, he served as a special education teacher at the school for a year. Since 2003, Kourt has also been a self-contained special education teacher for the district’s extended school program.
Since July 2012, Kourt has served as an administrative intern for the district. Among the work he’s performed in this role include developing ELA curriculum and district maps and providing professional development related to the Common Core Standards, observing teachers according to the APPR requirements, designing and co-writing district elementary report cards according to the Common Core Standards, coordinating a school-wide leadership theme and creating a school-wide master schedule. Kourt serves as a teacher mentor and member of several school and district committees. He has coordinated numerous programs and activities at Glenmont Elementary, including a Read-a-Thon to raise money for the school playground, Student Government, safety patrol and school-wide student book groups.
Kourt’s additional experience includes work as an educational literacy consultant. He has worked with the Hudson Falls Central School District, Capital Area School Development Association and the Bethlehem Central School District.
Kourt has a master’s degree in reading and literacy from SUNY Albany, a bachelor’s degree in special and elementary education from the College of St. Rose and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration and Leadership, also from St. Rose. He has his permanent New York state certification in elementary education and special education and an initial certification in school building leadership.
Kourt resides in Glenmont with his wife, Beth, daughter, Ava, and son, Eli.
The New Lebanon Library is now accepting donations of jewelry for its second annual Bling For Books sale, a jewelry bazaar to benefit the Library.
“This event was a smashing success last year. There was a beautiful piece of jewelry for every taste and budget,” said Library Director Jeannie Bogino. “During this cold weather, it would be great if people could go through their jewelry boxes and make a tax deductible donation of bling they never wear.”
Drop off for donations at the Library during regular Library hours.
The Bling For Books will be held Saturday, May 17, from 10 am to 2 pm. Admission is free. A Preview Sale will held Friday, May 16, from 6 to 8 pm. Admission for this costs $5.
The Library is located at 550 State Route 20, 1/4 mile north of the yellow blinking light at the intersection of Routes 20 & 22. For more information, please call the Library at 518-794-8844.
2014 Shatford Little Leasgue registration time is here!
Who can play? Any boy or girl ages 5 and whose parent(s)/guardian(s) reside in the Shatford Little League boundaries – map is available at registation and online. Children age 4 are welcome if thier parent helps his/her team.
When and where can I register my child? On the internet-Sign up NOW at www.eteamz.com/ShatfordLL/teams/
Or at the New Lebanon Firehouse on Saturday, April 5th from 10am-1pm or Tuesday, April 15th from 6-8pm
Or at Stephentown Library on Saturday, April 5th from 10am-1pm or Tuesday, April 15th from 6-8pm
Or at the Shatford Little League Park on Saturday, April 26th from 10am -1pm
What should I bring? A parent or legal guardian with a current driver’s license, and an original or state certified copy of your child’s birth certificate (First time registrants only)
How can I get more information? Please contact Daniel Corbett, League President, at shatfordbaseball@outlook.com
You may also like us on Facebook “Shatford Little League” in groups or at http://facebook.com/pages/Shatford-Little-League/602768553149003
