October 2015 - The Florida Focus
Transcription
October 2015 - The Florida Focus
Volume 6 • Number 5 • October 2015 • COMPLIMENTARY 5K4Paws raises $5K for Warwick Valley Humane Society by Suzyn Barron Pulaski Committee Honors Pulaski Parade Marshal and Miss Polonias Warwick Valley Humane Society hosted its 4th annual 5K4Paws Road Race on September 20, 2015 on the hilly and difficult Glenmere Lake course with 97 runners, including a few 4 legged ones too. It was a partially cloudy, cool morning on the grounds overlooking the peaceful lake. DJ Jeanine of the Oh What a Night Karaoke DJs got the runners in the mood for the day’s race. This fundraiser for the Warwick Animal Shelter was made possible by the overwhelming support of our event’s major sponsors: Fetch Bar & Grill and Track 7 Postal Service; along with The Landmark Inn, Dr. Owen McShane DDS, Dr. Paul Gordon, Capacity Coverage of Warwick, Riehle Opticians, Warwick Car Wash, Northeastern Martial Arts Academy, and Greater Hudson Bank. Donations from ShopRite of Warwick, The Sugar Shack Cafe, Wadeson’s Home Center, Warwick General Rental and Rooster Tees along with opening warm-ups by CKO Kickboxing of Warwick completed the event. We extend our heartfelt thanks to all of our sponsors and donors for making this fundraiser a great success and cheers to all of the runners as they crossed the finish line! And Paws of Applause to the Chester Hambletonian Cheerleaders for “manning” the course! Overall winners were Justin Ross of Middletown 21:07.3 and Danielle Montuori of Florida 21:28.9. Congratulations and thank you to all the runners ages 8 to over 70 for your participation in the 5K4Paws for our homeless pets. Runner Steven Notturno, Warwick who finished 2nd in his division 28:19.2 On June 13th with the P.L.A.V. hall in Pine Island decorated in Polonia red and white, the General Pulaski Memorial Committee of O. C. held their annual Presentation Dinner – Dance to honor this years 2015 Marshal Sophie Morgiewicz and the 2015 Miss Polonia Sara LeMieux and her court Jr. Miss Polonias Casey Jashembowski, Jenna Greenhill and Morgan Jashembowski for Orange Counties contingency in the Pulaski Day Parade October 4th in New York City. The General Pulaski Committee is delighted to have Sophie Morgiewicz representing them this year. Sophie is the daughter of the late George and Stella Sanok of Campbell Hall. Sophie came to live in the Pulaski Highway area when she married her late husband Joseph, and began to work beside him on their black dirt farm. She is the mother of daughter Marie (Harrison) and sons Joe, Dave, and Dan and the grandmother of 7 young adults. Sophie is known for donating her time to many of her community and church functions. She is president of the Fr. Stanley Uszenski Scholarship Committee and gives time to work behind the scenes for the Pine Island Fire Co. with whom her sons and grandsons are involved. In 1999 Sophie was honored as “Lady of the Manor” in the last Orange County Onion Harvest Festival for her polish ancestry and farming roots. Sophie is semi-retired but still helps her sons on the farm and with farmers markets in New York City. Sophie accredits all that she is to her mother, who died when Sophie was 18. Her mom was a giving and caring person and helped many people. Sophie has always tried to live by her example. Sara LeMieux was presented and crowned the 2015 Miss Polonia. She is the daughter of Jon and Linda (Mudrick) LeMieux and granddaughter of the late Ray and Teresa Mudrick. She was a 2013 graduate of Minisink Valley and is currently a student at the College continued on page 3 PAGE 2 • The Florida Focus • October 2015 Community Calendar • October 2015 Abbreviations: CoC – Chamber of Commerce FFD - Florida Fire Department FHS - Florida Historical Society FPL - Florida Public Library FFPL - F riends of the Florida Public Library FSC - Florida Senior Center GH - Golden Hill HS – High School Thursday 1 KoC: Knights of Columbus PI: Pine Island PLAV: P olish League of America Veterans Hall, Pine Island PTA - Parent Teacher Association PTSA - P arent Teacher Student Association SSSI - SS Seward Institute TBA - To be arranged Sunday 4 Monday 5 Tuesday 6 Wednesday 7 Thursday 8 •St. Stanislaus Rosary Society Meeting; 11:30 AM; PI •St. Joseph Rosary Society Meeting; 2 PM; Parish Hall Florida •Pulaski Fire Department Meeting; 8 PM, PI •FFD Meeting; 7 PM, Florida Fire House •Florida Farmer’s Market; 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Rte 17A & 94 •Village Board Work Session; 9:30 AM, Village Hall •Florida Family Fun Fest Committee Meeting; 7 PM, Village Hall •KoC Assembly 0776 Meeting; 7:30 PM, KoC Hall •FFD Multi-Unit Drills; 6:45 PM, Florida Fire House Sunday 11 Friday 2 Saturday 3 Friday 9 Saturday 10 Friday 16 Saturday 17 •Flor-Wick Friends Meeting; 1 PM, Florida Senior Center Monday 12 Tuesday 13 Wednesday 14 Thursday 15 •Columbiettes [Knight of Columbiettes Auxiliary] meeting 6:00 PM KoC Hall •Village Planning Board Material due by noon, Village Hall •Florida Farmer’s Market; 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Rte 17A & 94 •St. Joseph Holy Name Society Meeting; 7 PM, Parish Hall •Village Board Meeting; 7:30 PM, Village Hall •KoC Council 4952 Meeting; 7:30 PM, KoC Hall •Flor-Wick Friends Meeting; 1 PM, Florida Senior Center •Florida Lions Club Meeting; 6:30 PM, Copper Bottom Sunday 18 Monday 19 Tuesday 20 Wednesday 21 Thursday 22 Friday 23 Saturday 24 •Free Blood Pressure Screening; Florida Fire House •American Legion Post 1250 Meeting; 7 PM, Legion Hall Cohen Circle. •Village Planning Board Work Session; 7:30 PM, Village Hall •Florida Farmer’s Market; 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Rte 17A & 94. •Village Board Work Session; 9:30 AM, Village Hall Friday 30 Saturday 31 Deadline for ads and articles for the November issue of The Florida Focus Sunday 25 Monday 26 Tuesday 27 Wednesday 28 Thursday 29 •Village Board Work Session; 7 PM, Village Hall. •FFD Multi-Unit Drills; 6:45 PM, Florida Fire House •Florida Farmer’s Market; 11:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Rte 17A & 94. •Village Planning Board Regular Meeting; 7:30 PM, Village Hall •KoC Council 4952 Social Meeting; 7:30 PM, KoC Hall •American Legion Auxiliary Meeting; 7 PM, Legion Hall Cohen Circle •Seward House Restoration Meeting; 7 PM, Florida Senior Center Florida Focus deadline to reserve ad space or submit articles is October 20, 2015 • [email protected] or submit online at www.thefloridafocus.org The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 3 Windy City Native Wins Local Onion Eating Contest Chicago native Michael Golabek has won the eighth annual Pine Island Chamber of Commerce onion eating contest. He consumed an 8-ounce onion in one minute twentynine seconds. One of seven contestants, Golabek commented, “It was one of the sweetest onions I ever ate”. Perhaps that opinion was not shared by all of the other participants. The Chamber holds the contest at Jimmy Sturr’s Onion Fest at the PLAV in Pine Island to remind the residents that agriculture is still an important part of the regions heritage. Pulaski Committee Honors Pulaski Parade Marshal and Miss Polonias continued from page 1 of St. Rose in Albany, studying towards a duel certification in special education and childhood education. Sara for the summer is working in child care. In the past she has worked for the Morgiewicz Produce farm markets; it has given her a deeper connection to her grandparents farming roots in the rich black dirt. Being involved in the Pokolenie Dance Group has given her the opportunity to get a sense of her mothers and grandfathers involvement in the past Onion Harvest Festivals. Completing Sara’s court are 3 Jr. Miss Polonias. The first two are Casey Jashembowski, daughter of Donny and Jodi Jashembowski of Middletown, and Morgan Jashembowski, daughter of Frank and Kathie Jashembowski. Both girls are the granddaughter of Ceil (Labanowski) Jashembowski and the late John Jashembowski. They both attend the Minisink School System and are involved in soccer and volleyball. Both girls are members of the Pokolenie Dance Group and contribute their love of polka dancing to their uncle Ray and coci Cathy as well as their great-uncle Rich Labanowski. The third Jr. Miss Polonia, Jenna Greenhill is the daughter of John and Suzanne Greenhill of Florida and the granddaughter of Bill and the late Ann Majewski. She attends S.S. Seward Middle School and plays travel basketball and likes to line dance. Jenna is also in The yearly Dinner - Dance is a proving a success for the committee. The P.L.A.V. was filled to beyond capacity with family, friends and well- wishers. Even with the General Pulaski Memorial Committee, one of farthest contingencies from the New York Pulaski Day Parade, many of the executive members made their way to attend our affair. This year was no different with Parade President Mr. Richard Zawisny and the Pulaski Day Parade Grand Marshal Artur Dybanowski and his family in attendance. A buffet style dinner was served with dancing provided by John Stevens Band. The evening was finished with an exciting performance from the Pokolenie dance group. This year, choreographer Joe Morgiewicz introduced their latest number, “the blue skirt waltz,” which was superb. The General Pulaski Memorial Committee is looking forward to attending the N.Y. Day Parade Banquet on September 26th where Marshal Sophie Morgiewicz and Miss Polonia Sara LeMieux will be introduced and honored by the Parade Committee and other Marshals and Miss Polonias while marching up 5th Ave. in the 78th annual Pulaski Day Parade. Theme Announced for Fire Prevention Week Warwick Valley Columbiettes #4952 Tricky Tray Saturday, October 17, 2015 (Doors open at 5:30 PM) Knights of Columbus Hall 75 Main Street Florida, NY 10921 (Behind St. Ignatius Orthodox Church) the Pokollenie dance group, getting her love for polka dancing from her mom who was a member of the “Karolinka” group of years past. On October 13, 2015 Janet’s Quality Baked Goods Will be donating the proceeds from all products sold at the market on this Day to the Florida Food Pantry! Your support would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Janet Picarelli - Janet’s Quality Baked Goods NFPA announced the theme for Fire Prevention Week from October 4-10, 2015. The theme is, “Hear the Beep Where you Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm.” Captain Thomas Andryshak will be holding his yearly fire prevention week lecture with demonstrations on Wednesday October 7th at various locations throughout the district. Call the Florida Fire Department, 845-651-7754, for more details. PAGE 4 • The Florida Focus • October 2015 Annual Polish Dinner to Be Held at Florida Presbyterian Church On Saturday, October 3, 2015, a Polish dinner will be served at the Florida Presbyterian Church. Lona O is cooking and will be dishing out stuffed cabbage, mashed potatoes, and more. There will also be our famous dessert bar! Serving is from 4:30 to 7:00 PM. Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $13.00 for seniors, $5.00 for children 5-12 and may be purchased by calling 651-2336. If tickets are not purchased in advance, seating cannot be guaranteed on the night of the event. We look forward to you joining us for this delicious meal. Polonaise Ball Come Celebrate with us on Saturday, October. 24th October is Polish Heritage Month! The Hudson Valley Polonaise Society would like to invite you to join us at our annual Polonaise Ball held at the Elk’s Lodge at 48 Prospect Street, Middletown, NY from 5:30 pm to 10:30 pm. The Pokolenie Dancers will highlight the event. Appetizers will be provided at 5:30 pm, the “Grand Polonaise” at 6:30 pm, followed by your choice of a roast beef or chicken cordon bleu dinner. Please indicate dinner choice at the time of your reservation. Dancing begins at 7 pm to Dennis Polisky and the Maestro’s Men. Tickets are $40 pp. Established in March 1991, the HVPS is dedicated to preserving Polish customs and culture, and we continue to work tirelessly to be able to offer our cultural events to the public. Don’t miss this wonderful evening. Contact Barbara Ewanciw at 845-8567526 or Hilda Ellis at 845-294-9254 or email [email protected]. It’s all about you! You are invited to participate in the most action-packed fun-filled community publication around if you have an interesting story, article, or photo then you’re the one we’re looking for! Please submit articles and photos to [email protected] Advertisers Get the most for your advertising dollar! Contact Al Sanza at (845) 258-9724 / [email protected] and find out about our advertising rates and discouts. You can send your ads to [email protected] or we will design one for you. The Florida Focus, Inc. Florida, New York 10921 POLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES The Hudson Valley Polonaise is sponsoring Polish language classes. They will begin Monday September 21st for ten weeks at the CYO building in Pine Island. Registration will be at 6 pm on the 21st, and classes will begin at 7 pm. For further information, you can contact Stanley Kocot at 845-651-4265. POLKA DANCE - NOVEMBER 1st The Hudson Valley Polonaise Society has arranged for Joe Stanky and His Cadets to entertain you from 2 to 6 pm at the PLAV in Pine Island on November 1st. Admission is only $15 and children under the age of 16, who are accompanied by an adult, are FREE! Door prizes and delicious food will be available. If you would like advanced tickets, or to make a reservation, call Stella at 845-291-8706. Tickets will also be available at the door. The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 5 Florida Fire Department Takes Part in Goshen Triennial Parade Florida Fire Department attended the Goshen Triennial Parade and showed off their antique fire trucks while a Florida Fire Police Officer Vince Poloniak worked one of the traffic posts along the parade route. Thank you to Florida’s Bravest for their pride and dedication on this rainy day! Pine Island Chamber of Commerce Hosts Pumpkinfest by Janet Zimmerman Columbus Day, Monday, October 12, 2015, the Pine Island Chamber of Commerce will host and sponsor Pumpkinfest, a Pumpkin Festival for the whole family, especially kids. The event, a fun filled afternoon of activities, is held at Pine Island Town Park (Kay Road off County Rte 1) from 11 AM to 3 PM. Cost is $5 for participating children. Pumpkinfest is a great way to celebrate the local harvest of pumpkins and spend the day outdoors enjoying the warm sunshine and crisp fall air. The day features a bouncy house for children, pumpkin painting for all, kite flying, and activities including touch-a-tractor and face painting. Attendees can enjoy food from K&K Doghouse and ice cream from Dairy O. The event is held at the pavilion and fields of Pine Island Town Park, where guests may also visit the park’s Butterfly Garden and playground area complete with swings, slides, and a play pirate ship. Easy parking and bathroom facilities are available. Questions: Contact Janet Zimmerman at 845.258.7008 or [email protected] Florida Fire Department Honor Guard: Cadet Nicolas Noviski, F.F.Kevin Cook, F.F.Victor Valentin Golden Floridians Calendar of Events for October 2015 October 7: Game Day -12 PM October 14: Business Meeting - 1:00, PM Food Drive for The Backpack Snack Attack Program Bingo October 21: Game Day - 12:30 PM Bingo calling starts at 1:00 PM October 22: TRIP TO BROWNSTONE to celebrate Oktoberfest. Bus leaves at 9:15 AM. Cost $55 members; $65 guests. For reservation call Marilyn at 986-4105 October 28: Halloween Luncheon catered by Ceil - Turkey Dinner - 12 PM Cost 410 members, $14 guests. For reservation call Josephine at 544-7102 by October 21, 2015. REMINDER: The Florida Senior Center is opened on Sundays from 1 PM to 5 PM for socialization purposes unless being used by another organization. PAGE 6 • The Florida Focus • October 2015 Applefest 2015 Festival Celebrates 27th Anniversary As our community festival celebrates its 27th anniversary, many residents recall the event’s humble beginnings in 1989 as a simple, local harvest celebration. Over the past twentyseven years, the event has grown in many ways. On Sunday, October 4, Warwick will welcome an estimated 30,000 visitors to the 27th annual Applefest, held rain or shine from 10 am to 5 pm. With free admission, Applefest features some 250 craft and food vendors, free musical entertainment on several stages, a carnival for children, Farmers’ Market, apple pie baking contest and fifty local non-profit exhibitors. Note - Apple pie baking contest entrants should check the Applefest website for updated rules and new official entry form. New this year will be an apple pie eating contest for adults and children to be held at the pie baking contest booth, #81 on Bank St. at 3 pm. Check the Applefest website for details. The Applefest 2015 Visitors’ Guide may be found on the website and is distributed free at the event. The booklet contains visitor information, directories of craft and food vendors, entertainment schedule, shuttle bus information, map of the festival area and upcoming local events. Applefest 2015 t-shirts, designed by local resident Connor DeHaan, will be sold at the “Applefest Information” Chamber of Commerce Caboose on South St. during the festival. The Carnival at Applefest, in Stanley-Deming Park, offers a variety of children’s rides, pony rides and amusements for families, with free admission. In addition to enjoying the Carnival during Applefest, families can also attend two Carnival-only evenings before Applefest, on Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3. During these family evenings, wristbands are available for unlimited rides (separate fee for each night), and individual ride tickets will also be sold. Co-produced by the Warwick Valley Community Center and the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, Applefest is a major fundraiser for these community organizations. Event proceeds are also used for town-wide community projects by the 50 non-profit organizations that participate in the annual festival. Notes Michael Johndrow, Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, “In addition to supporting the Warwick Valley Community Center, Applefest enables the Chamber to continue its work on developing business and increasing tourism in the Warwick Valley. It also provides a way for some 50 local nonprofit organizations to raise money in one day, without having to solicit in their local communities throughout the year.” The Applefest Committee is grateful for the support of this year’s sponsors: Platinum: Transtech/Chestnut Ridge Transportation Gold: County Waste, Crystal Run Healthplans, Mountain Creek, Myles Wealth Management, Orange and Rockland Utilities, Price Chopper, St. Anthony Community Hospital, Warwick Valley Apple Trail. Silver: Affinity Health Plan, Angry Orchard, Awestruck Cider, Crystal Springs Resort, David Lerner & Associates, Green Mountain Energy, LeafFilter North of New Jersey, Inc., McAdam Financial, Nationwide Insurance, New York Welcomes You, Inc., News 12 Hudson Valley, Seely & Durland, ShopRite, Solar City, Solar Maximum, Stewart International Airport, Sun Indulgence, WTBQ Radio Station. Bronze: Alteva, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, Edward Jones Investments, M&B Septic Service LLC/Noah’s Ark Port-A-John, Pennings Farm Market, Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, Ye Olde Warwick Book Shoppe. Complete information about Warwick Applefest and the Applefest Visitors’ Guide booklet may be found at www. warwickapplefest.com. Applefest 2015 Features •Over 200 craft vendors •Over 50 food vendors •50 local non-profit exhibitors •Free music all day on several stages •Warwick Farmers’ Market •Apple Pie Baking Contest (slices for sale after judging) •Apple Pie Eating Contest •Carnival with kid’s rides & amusements at the festival on Sunday •Pre-Applefest carnival-only evenings on Fri. and Sat. before festival •Pony rides at the Carnival on Sunday •“Rock & Rest” tent for feeding & changing babies (Stanley-Deming Park) •Walk to Village shops, restaurants & businesses The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 7 Orange County to Partner with Towns and Villages to Challenge Kiryas Joel Annexation Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus announced […] that the County will seek to join in litigation with other municipalities against the proposed growth of the Village of Kiryas Joel by 164 acres. The County Legislature, by a vote of 19-1, agreed to authorize such litigation to the extent that it would fund up to $200,000 in litigation costs. Michael Amo, who represents Kiryas Joel, was the only legislator to vote against the proposal. Legislator Shannon Wong was not present for the vote due to a family medical emergency. “It is important that we speak with one voice on this issue,” Neuhaus said. “Kiryas Joel’s environmental review failed to depict the true impacts of this annexation. SEQRA law needs to be changed to recognize the regional impacts of large scale annexations. For now, we have to turn to the courts to try and force the environmental issues to be fully considered.” The southern Orange County Mayors and Supervisors have retained the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP to litigate on behalf of those municipalities, which will include the County of Orange is it joins the lawsuit. Sharon Worthy-Spiegl from the County attorney’s office is expected to negotiate the terms of the inter-municipal agreement governing the County’s participation in the lawsuit. The Town of Monroe Board voted earlier this month to approve an annexation of approximately 164 acres into the Kiryas Joel. A petition for a 507-acre annexation was rejected, but Kiryas Joel is expected to appeal that decision to the Appellate Division of the state Supreme Court. A New Outside Addition to St. Ignatius Orthodox Church by Fr. George Kevorkian As you pass by St. Ignatius Orthodox Church at 75 North Main Street, you will notice a recent addition to the outside front wall of the church building. Two large icons of our Lord Jesus Christ and His holy Mother now adorn the outside wall and look out onto Main Street. The Orthodox Church makes frequent use of “icons” or holy images on the walls of the church and in our worship services. Just as we have images of our loved ones in our homes and offices, which are precious to us, the Orthodox Church has images of the Lord and His saints who are also precious to us and greatly loved. We hope that the presence of these two holy icons, now looking out on Main Street in this beautiful Village of Florida, NY will be a blessing to the Village and to all of those who encounter them. “We have never had a potential annexation or land development of this magnitude in the history of the county,” said Steve Brescia, Chairman of the Legislature. “At the very least, the SEQRA should be done properly. The potential impact of this annexation on water, sewage, traffic, schools and so much more is of the utmost importance to all County residents. We need to make sure that the planning and SEQRA process is followed in a diligent and transparent matter.” For more information, contact Justin Rodriguez, Assistant to the County Executive for Communications and Media Relations at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@ orangecountygov.com. Town of Goshen, Chester Schools. Bright and sunny contemporary home with 1.6 acres. Open floor plan with vaulted ceilings. You can sip coffee off one of your balconies, while overlooking breathtaking views of the countryside. The master bedroom has TWO large walk-in closets, a whirlpool tub and a separate shower. The basement has high ceilings and is just needing a few touches to make it a finished basement. Double doors allow you to exit the basement into the backyard. This would be the perfect spot for an additional patio! There are several mature fruit trees as well. You will fall in love with this 2+ bedrooms, 2 bathroom home. $338,800. Village Realty would like to welcome Sharon Pehush Call Sharon directly at (845) 651-4466 or (845) 820-7166 PAGE 8 • The Florida Focus • October 2015 Noble Pies Hosting Two Events at Warwick Applefest 2015 Noble Pies, an artisanal bakery in Warwick, NY will be very busy this year at the Warwick Applefest, Sunday, October 4. In addition to selling their 300 plus handmade pies at their booth, they will be judging the Apple Pie Baking Contest and hosting the first annual Pie Eating Contest. The baking contest has drawn over 25 entries each year and is a highlight of the Applefest for many of the local residents. There are divisions for young bakers and adults. Once the pies are judged and the winner declared, the pies are sliced and sold to the public. Entries for the baking contest must be dropped off by 11:30 at booth #81. The contest is free to enter. See rules and entry form at www. warwickapplefest.com. All funds raised from the selling of the pies are donated to the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry. Following the pie-baking contest will be the Pie Eating Contest at 3:00 at booth #81. This is a family event, with separate age groups for children and an adult competition, and tasty treats for spectators. “We always have such a great time with all the kids and adults. Spectators cheering everyone on makes it that much more exciting” said Leslie Noble, owner of Noble Pies. The pie-eating contest involves eating an Apple Pie with a 10-minute time limit, no hands allowed. Adult contestants will be required to hold their hands behind their backs and eat a 9” pie. The contest for children involves a smaller 6” pie. Contestants and spectators alike are all welcome. Noble Pies will be providing free samples of their pies and cookies. The winners of the contests will receive certificates for a free pie per month for 3 months. There is a $1 entry donation for children under 16, a $5 donation for adults. Entry fees will be donated to the Warwick Ecumenical Food Pantry. Reserve a spot in the contest by email: [email protected] or by calling 845-986-7436, or at booth #81 at 2:30. Download the entry form and rules at www.warwickapplefest.com. Noble Pies is owned by Leslie Noble and Tom Herman. They have been making homemade pies since 2008 in the Warwick area. Their retail location, 121 State Rt 94 S, Warwick, NY sells other baked goods and has a small cafe serving pies by the slice. MAKE THE GRADE WITH ALTEVA INTERNET * $19.95 Per month for 1 year Up to 15mbps NEED MORE SPEED? ASK ABOUT VELOCITY Access Study Aids Find Homework Help Conduct Research SIGN UP TODAY! 845 986 1919 Offer for new internet customers only. Internet (up to 15Mbps) is $19.95 for 12 months with Alteva phone service ($39.95/mo without Alteva phone service). Regular rates take effect upon the 13th month. Service and speeds are subject to availability. Alteva makes every effort to sustain the highest speeds available. Prices and terms are subject to change without notice. Customers can maintain service(s) for the promotional period to receive promotion pricing. Modem lease, maintenance and purchase options available. If customer becomes disconnected for non-payment, promotional pricing will no longer be available. The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 9 The Florida Focus • January 2015 • PAGE 7 Golden Hill Elementary Florida Union Free School District S. S. Seward Institute 3OHDVHDGGUHVVDQ\FRPPHQWVDERXWWKLV)8)6'SXEOLFDWLRQWR6XSHULQWHQGHQWRI6FKRROV'LDQH0+0XQURZZZ)ORULGD8)6'RUJ Superintendent’s Message: Questions and Answers Veteran’s New Alternative Exemption Beginnings Who is eligible for the Veteran’s Alternative Exemption? Another opening week is in the books! We kicked off the year with two days set aside for the most important learners of all… the Veterans who have served during pre-determined wartime periods, in combat zones, and those who became Teachers and Staff! We continue to face a flow of new demands disabled are potentially eligible for a reduction in school taxes as noted in the chart below. Veterans may fit from on-high, but perhaps more important are the demands we put under one category, or aoncombination of categories leadingtotoequip an increase in with the exemption ourselves based on our passion students all that amount. Honorably discharged Veteran’s NOT serving in the designated time periods may be eligible if he/she was honored with they will need for success and happiness as adults. an Armed Forces, Navy, Marine Corps, or A Global War on Terrorism expeditionary medal. In order to continue our progress, our first two days were focused assuring that all staff had a deeper understanding of on-going district initiatives. By making Exemption Category % Reduction State Basic Maximum sure that all staff are involved, we increase the chances of achieving the goals we have set for ourselves in supporting our students. Wartime 15% $12,000 Workshops included Career/Life Readiness, Distributed Leadership, Using Data Effectively, $8,000 New ApproachesCombat in Math, Project Based Learning,15% and +the Pre-K through 12 Writing Zone 10% (plus $12,000 = $20,000) Initiative. While it was great to see everyone working together to continue to build a vertically aligned program, what was perhaps more exciting lead by Disability 50% is that workshops were $40,000 teachers! Golden Hill Elementary Pre-Kindergarten for School Year 2015-2016 We need your help! With all of the hoopla tied to school reform, one truth remains… that well supported, Is there determined a maximum reduction? passionate, TEACHERS are at the core of each student’s path to success. Each teacher, just asreduction each student, is a uniquebyindividual specificformula passionsthat andbegins skill-sets. The Florida Union Free School The actual is determined applying awith multi-step withAsthe Veteran’s level of ourservice teachers discover new approaches and strategies that work for children, we work to give District is continuing in the direction as noted in the chart above. However, it would be highly unlikely for a Veteran to receive the maximum them a voice in sharing their success with colleagues. While this is ongoing throughout the of providing a pre-kindergarten exemption because the formula includes an “or lesser than” portion that is tied to the Town’s equalization rates. year, we are particularly appreciative of those who give up time in the summer to plan and opportunity to children who will be provide professional development forqualify? their colleagues. How does an eligible veteran EVENT/SPONSOR TIME/LOCATION UPCOMING EVENTS - Don’t Miss Out! 4 years old before December 1, 2015. Thesoeligible Veteran and color resideand in the fullaway timefor basis to qualify for PTA the exemption. And it goes… as themust leavesown change the property flip-flops on areaput another FAMILY FUN NIGHT: year… we will to workbased together to change our knowledge base, our mindsets, our child Property maycontinue also be eligible on the status of deceased Veteran’s dependent spouse, or parent. Enjoy a screening of the movie The District Pre-kindergarten Oct 17th – 6:00-8:00pm at instruction, and our supports for children. Leadership in this effort also comes from the “HOME” W popcorn, drink, and Program provides opportunities for Is this new? input we receive from members of our community. In an effort to continue to increase our Golden Hill young a raffle ticket to win a DVD of the children to participate in community engagement, members of theinFlorida Community invited “Snacks Veterans have benefitedall from reductions town and county taxare bills since to 1984. RPTLwith 458-a is an expansion challenging, stimulating programs, movie! $10.00 per family the Superintendent.” Upcoming dates are Nov. 9th from 7:00 – 8:30 PM and Nov 10th from of the Veteran’s benefit to include school tax reductions. designed to support their language, 9:00 – 10:30 AM. Please come and join the conversation! GOLDEN HILL COLORcognitive RUN: and social development Oct 24th – 8:00 am Thanks for all you do! Have fun, increase awareness of while being sensitive Golden Hill The Munro, share ofSuperintendent the tax burden of NOT paid by eligible veterans will be spread out across the remaining taxpayers Diane Schools tofor their strengths and needs. healthy living, and raise money who will pay a larger share. The State will not provide funding to support the veteran’s exemption. enrichment! If you know of any children in the If I am not a veteran, how will my taxes be impacted? Florida who–will turnat4Golden beforeHill PTA MONSTER MASH: Pre-K –UFSD Oct 30th 9:00am December 1, 2015 please encourage IF we used the 2014-2015 school tax levy and school tax bills, the non-Veteran owner of a home 3rd atvalued 9:00 atam on October 30th ***Volunteers Needed*** his/her parent to speak to $300,000 would have paid about $50.66 more in school taxes for this school year. Unfortunately, cannot PTAweCOSTUME BASH: 4th-5th Oct 30th –Coordinator, 7:00-9:00pm at Debbi Lisack, make exact predictions for the 2015-2016 school year due to changing equalization rates and the number and Grades. Food/Fun House/ DJtoand a Golden Hill and provide express interest levels of qualifying veterans. Costume Contest! ***Volunteers Needed*** necessary information. If the Board chooses to provide this exemption, and later discover that the burden on the PTA COMEDY NIGHT FUND Call (845) 651-4407. other taxpayers has become too heavy, can they change their minds? RAISER: Adults night out at Nov 14th – 8:00pm at 109 BrookYes. A recently signed law allows Boards of Education to rescind their approval of the Veteran’s Alternative Jester’s Comedy Club side Ave, Chester NY Exemption. However, specifics of that process are not available. Pre-sale cost $20.00/ticket Is the tax money saved by veterans made up through other revenue? So what’s next? Don’t miss your chance to support S. S. SEWARD SPORTS. The Board of Education will review all information available and consider input from the public prior to taking Updated schedules are available at www.ociaa.org a vote. The likely vote date is January 15, 2015. PAGE 10 • The Florida Focus • October 2015 Golden Hill Principal’s Message It was great to see so many smiling student and parent faces on the first few days of school as we welcomed 380 students to our campus! The first few weeks of school were exhilarating and flew by! Touring our school these past few weeks and visiting each classroom left me so excited for our teachers and students. Each classroom is busy throughout the day as students work hard, through memorable learning experiences focused on student success. It was wonderful to see how much effort they are all putting forth! We have had a seamless transition through the first few weeks of school and look forward to the next few months of learning. Thanks to our parents who attended Back to School Night on Sept 10th. All were greeted by the Superintendent, the Principal and teaching staff. The evening’s events provided parents with insight on what to expect for their students in the new school year. Over the last few weeks at lunch, our PBIS team met with each grade to share our school’s positive behavior expectations. Spartans are Respectful, Responsible and Safe! On Sept 15th Red Grammer visited our campus and was that ever exciting! He put on a fabulous show for our students that continued our conversation about positive behaviors and kindness! ‘We Day’ will continue at Golden Hill this year. Our students and community come together to celebrate the power we each have to change the world, learn about new issues and gain the inspiration needed to take our actions beyond the classroom walls. ‘We Day” helped inspire the 5th grade car wash last May. This year’s program, We Take Charge, has our students finding ways to reduce negative impacts on our planet while increasing positive ones. How interesting is that! We can do it!! Another school year has begun at Golden Hill Elementary School with smiles and giggles filling the hallways. Teachers and students alike smile while they greet their friends on the first day of school. On the first day of school, the prekindergarten children timidly get off their buses to meet Mrs. Hluchan and Mrs. Morgiewicz. This year marks year two of Golden Hill Elementary School’s Prekindergarten program. Each day, the 18 young students learn many new skills which helps form successful futures. The month of September was filled with many activities and lots of time playing outside in the warm weather. Feels Like Home The Golden Hill PTA continues to be busy arranging events for this new school year (please check upcoming events!) and the mum sale was a huge success. When you are at school, please notice the mums in our planters. Also, don’t forget about the Color Run Fundraising Event coming up on October 24 at Golden Hill. It promises to be a fun event for all ages. Get your tickets early! Come by even if you do not participate. We promise you will enjoy seeing the excited participants all covered in paint! Please know that we are here to make your child’s educational experience positive and rewarding. We want you to continue to support us as we strengthen our partnership with you this school year. Spartans keep learning! Welcome home Ms. Dagele, Seward Counseling Intern Deborah Lisack, Golden Hill Principal 4th and 5th Graders Dive into Controversy! Have you heard? Golden Hill’s 4th and 5th grade students are taking a stand on what is happening in the community of Florida, NY. As you may have read, the Village is trying to remove the Northern Cricket Frogs from the endangered species list so that they can use herbicides at Glenmere Lake. The herbicides would be used as a possible solution to the ever growing weed problem in the lake, which serves as an important water source for Florida residents. The students at Golden Hill are studying all sides of this issue, have developed strong opinions and are not opposed to having their voices heard. Through the study of this problem, students have learned specific scientific vocabulary, content and have used the knowledge to write persuasive essays. Their writing is full of wisdom and enthusiasm for what they believe would be the best choice for Florida, NY. Submitted by: Maggie Mayo - Fourth Grade E.L.A. Noreen Meehan - Fifth Grade E.L.A. The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 11 Career (LIFE) Readiness Corner Current school reform focuses on test scores confined primarily to ELA and Math. Last month we shared information on the “soft-skills” that are the foundation of success in work and in life. Among those skills was “teamwork and cooperation.” There was a recent article in the Washington Post entitled “If you want your children to succeed, teach them to share in kindergarten.” The article, written in July by Emma Brown, shared research that had tracked nearly 800 students for two decades and revealed that “social-emotional skills among young children can be powerful predictors for success later in life.” Examples include the ability to: • Resolve peer problems on his/her own • Understand the feelings of others • Share materials with others • Cooperate with peers without having to be prompted • Help other students • Listen to others’ point of view • Give suggestions without being bossy S. S. Seward PTSA provides Back to School Breakfast for students and staff. THANK YOU Seward PTSA! You will hear about programs in schools such as PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Supports), and DBP (Dialectical Behavior Program). These are both initiatives that embed these important skills in the daily life of our students and staff. Parents, teachers, members of the community, and those who employ students are important “teachers” of these skills. The most powerful teaching in the development of these skills is through modeling them from the time a child is born. We encourage you to take a look at this list of skills, and consider how you might contribute to the development of these capacities in the children you know. With GRATITUDE! The Golden Hill PTA would like to thank the following local businesses who’s generosity helped make our Fall Mum Sale a great success E.P. Jansen Nursery’s donation of mums and fall plants Kevin Shuback’s donation of pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, and corn stalks Soon’s Orchard’s donation of apple cider and apples Warwick Valley Winery’s donation of gifts for adult participants R&G Produce’s donation of a vegetable basket THANK YOU! Have you seen the beautiful flower garden as you enter Golden Hill Elementary School? It is really astounding and certainly perks up our entryway! We want to personally thank RJS Landscaping for their beautiful plants, trees, stonework and mulch that Mr. Rob Scheuermann, Mr. Jonathan Smit and RJ so meticulously put in place this August. The compliments from so many have been abounding as people are observed doing a ‘double take’ as they walk up to the school. We were very fortunate to have such a gracious outpouring of kindness from a local family business to support our efforts as we move forward here at Golden Hill Elementary School. PAGE 12 • The Florida Focus • October 2015 Seward Happenings Thank you for sharing your thoughts about our school, the new science classrooms, new bathrooms, gymnasium and sound systems during Back to School Night. Your continued interest and support are appreciated by everyone at Seward. You may have heard of an initiative called ISPs at Seward, and wondered, “What is that?” Independent Student Projects (ISPs) create the opportunity for students to immerse themselves in a particular area of interest to learn more about it, while considering a problem or question related to the topic. For example, a senior from the Class of 2015 has long wanted to own her own bakery. Inspired by her parents, she conducted a study of entrepreneurs where she interviewed them and collected data. Using this data, she created a business plan to help guide her as she goes off to college and owning her bakery. The business plan structure could be easily adapted for use by another student as well. Another 2015 senior was passionate about computer coding and programming. He teamed up with a Seward teacher, serving as “coach,” and led an introduction to coding for sixth graders. This year, a dozen students have begun the ISP journey. Robotics, medicine, and journalism are just a few of the areas being examined. All are guided by our Business and Career/ Life Readiness Teacher, Barbara Scheibling, whose vast contacts across the county allow students to participate in career shadowing and internship experiences. Students interested in knowing more, or community members interested in supporting an ISP student should contact Mrs. Scheibling at Seward! With the month of October upon us, please look for the parent teacher conference mailing. Remember to sign up for conferences via Sign Up Genius, which is accessible through the Seward website. Of course, keep track of your student’s progress by utilizing Parent Portal. All of us at Seward look forward to seeing you soon and thank you for your trust in us to help you enrich and educate your child to be life ready! Michael Rheaume, S. S. Seward Institute Principal Math Counts! This summer, some of our teachers gathered to discuss math curriculum and instruction. One particularly interesting discussion ensued regarding how students study math. Below are some ideas our teachers wanted to share with both parents and students. Mathematics is an active subject- Be an active listener and an active participant. Listening, seeing and doing engages more senses and therefore diversifies connections in your brain making it easier to comprehend skills and concepts. Mathematics involves practice- While there are certain facts and formulas you have to memorize in mathematics, many concepts only make sense through practice. Understanding and knowing a procedure for solving a problem is a good start. However, being able to apply math concepts is essential. One way to achieve this is through practice. SCIENCE COMES ALIVE! An exciting year has begun for 6th grade Earth science students at S. S. Seward Institute. The year began with a team building activity based on principles of engineering. The “Marshmallow Challenge” allows teams of students to compete against other teams to design and build the tallest structure possible using 20 pieces of spaghetti, a yard of masking tape and a yard of string. There is also the pressure of time in that students must complete their structure in 18 minutes. The structure must support a full sized marshmallow for at least 5 seconds, without assistance. Groups of four students worked feverishly to complete their designs, with the tallest structure measuring 43.5 cm tall. Each winning team received a homework pass for their efforts. “This activity was a great way to get students to brainstorm, design and experiment using collaboration and communication skills in a way that was both fun and educational,” said Mr. Fogarty. His goal is to make sure students are excited to come to class every day, and projects like the Marshmallow Challenge create a lively learning environment. Besides the initial team challenge, students were introduced to the Touch Tank which allows students to learn first-hand about ocean creatures, ecosystems and environmental concerns. Using the tank, the students have the opportunity to delicately handle sea stars, urchins, and hermit crabs, learning through experience of their fragile nature and needs. The brown trout eggs from NYSDEP will arrive soon to kick off our Trout in the Classroom Project. This rewarding experience provides our students with the opportunity to raise, monitor and research issues concerning water quality, NYS watersheds, and conservation efforts. Trout in the Classroom Project culminates in May with a trip to the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum in Livingston Manor, where students help release the fingerlings they have raised and receive direct instruction on environmental matters from local experts. The Ashokan Center Trip creates an opportunity for students to experience exciting hands-on learning in nature’s classroom. This trip is set for December 2nd – 4th. Student experiences include learning about the outdoors, team building skills, craft making, life in colonial times, and respecting nature and the environment. “It’s a great time for the students. They have a full three days of wonderful programs and experiences that last a lifetime. Students come back to visit me years later to tell stories of how much fun they had, and what they learned,” says Fogarty. “It’s very rewarding to know that what is done in the classroom has such an impact on the students.” Submitted by: Darren Fogarty, Seward’s Grade 6 Science Teacher Mathematics adds up- Concepts previously covered will apply to new concepts all the time. Mathematics is cumulative and gaps in foundational knowledge will affect your ability to understand new concepts. Look forward to more math information in our next article which will focus on useful math websites. Please send questions, suggestions or comments regarding Math Counts! to Dana Castine, Florida Union Free School District’s Director of Technology, Math, Science at email: [email protected] or voice: 651-3095 x30015. Students in Mrs. Allen’s Seward Humanities class began a mask unit. While introducing the unit, students had the opportunity to wear a traditional Venetian Mask made from a master mask maker from Venice. Now, students are challenged with creating their own authentic mask. The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 13 On The Road Things To Not Do While Traveling by Nick Biblis Often times you’ll run across articles that tell you how to travel, where to travel, when to travel, and generally what the best practices of travel are. Now while I’m a major proponent of every one has his or her own style of travel, I do draw the line somewhere. For me, the line of what not to do starts with these tips which can be applied to anywhere in the world that you go. Don’t Avoid Tourist Attractions I can’t count the number of times that I’ve sat in a hostel dorm and listened to somebody moan on and on about how they hate doing “touristy” things and “don’t want to go where everyone else does.” While sometimes that is all good and well, the reason something has been called a tourist attraction is because it’s worth seeing. Angkor Wat in Cambodia was just named the top destination to visit in the world by Lonely Planet. And guess what. It was one of the most incredible things that I’ve ever seen. Watching the sun set and rise over the ancient complex are two sights that I’ll never forget. Don’t Sleep In Sleeping in is great. It’s one of my favorite things to do in fact. On a Saturday or a Sunday there is nothing like sleeping well into the afternoon. But when I’m traveling I try and get up and at ‘em as early as I can. This is the best way to see as much as you can in the little time that you have. If getting up early and being active is an issue for you, try and plan all your travel early in the morning. There’s no motivation to move quite like a bus ride that will leave without you if you aren’t there on time! Don’t Rely Only on Plastic Many people are comfortable carrying around credit cards and that’s it. Carrying cash can often make people feel uncomfortable. I get it. If the cash gets lost there is no getting it back. If a credit card gets lost, you call and cancel it and there is no harm and no foul. Unfortunately, a lot of places in the world won’t always take your credit card. This is especially true in the more remote and exotic locations that you travel to. You don’t want to be in a cab that only takes cash when you only have a card. Don’t Go 100 Miles an Hour It isn’t worth rushing through museums or sites so that you can see more. A lot of times its great to just pick a couple of sites or things to do in a day and slow down. Travel should be a relaxing— it isn’t a race. I spent an entire day in Angkor Wat and I wouldn’t change that decision for anything. When it comes to being on the road, quality experiences trump the quantity of experiences every time. Don’t Stay Comfortable Get out of your comfort zone! I can’t say this enough. While traveling, most things are generally new and different and strange. What’s adding a couple of more things to the list? Don’t like eating weird things? Find the weirdest thing you can and eat it. Don’t like talking to strangers? Talk to everyone you meet. Pushing your comfort zone and expanding your mind and boundaries will make for some of the best experiences you’ll ever have and never forget. When Nick isn’t out on the road, he’s hanging out trying to soak up as much culture as he can through music and books while planning his next adventure. You can check out more on travel and culture at his blog, www.sureshotvagabond.com or if you have any questions about planning an adventure or just want to chat you can e-mail him at [email protected]. Florida Volunteers Take Time for Some Class Work on Incident Scenarios The latest multi-unit drill night was used to test the knowledge of the firefighters by going over three scenarios of incidents that may be encountered at any given time. Some members were taken out of their normal role and had to run the scene. Many were able to showcase true and impressive leadership abilities. Captain Thomas Andryshak, Safety Officer Robert Cook, Deputy Safety Officer Lisa Valentin, and Auxiliary Officer Joseph Patti oversaw the training. PAGE 14 • The Florida Focus • October 2015 October 2015 4 Cohen Circle Florida, NY 10921 (845) 651-7659 REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR PROGRAMS www.floridapubliclibrary.org A member of Ramapo Catskill Library System and Orange Library Association Rhymetime for Toddlers Continues through Oct. 22 ~ our weekly library hour with Miss Sara for toddlers from 18 to 35 months old with a parent or caregiver. Please make other arrangements for siblings in order to enjoy this one-on-one time with your toddler. We’ll read books aloud, enjoy rhymes and sing songs together to help build reading readiness. Thursdays at 10 a.m. Weekly Clubs for Kids & Tweens Books & Beyond ~ for Kids in Grades K - 3 ~ Tuesdays at 4:15 p.m. During the month of October, we will “travel” to Latin America with stories, movies, crafts and food from countries in South America and Mexico. Tween Club ~ for Kids in Grades 4 & 5 only. Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 & 13 In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we will go into the kitchen and learn some simple traditional Hispanic Recipes. Oct. 20 We will learn about a Mexican holiday called Day of the Dead and make masks which are a traditional part of the celebration. Teen Time For Young Adults in MS & HS~Mondays at 2:30 - 4 p.m. Drop in Monday afternoons after school for a snack at 2:30 and activities such as book discussions, arts & crafts, cooking projects, Wii games, music and more! Bring a friend or meet a new friend! Oct. 5 Banned Books Week Film Series continues with a 2010 movie version starring Johnny Depp of the challenged teen book, Alice in Wonderland. Threads Through South America Dyeing, spinning and weaving of textiles are important parts of many cultures of the world. We continue our Hispanic Heritage Month celebration with an exploration of the native traditions of textile making in Latin America. See a demonstration of wool carding, dyeing & spinning on a real spinning wheel. Children will then get a chance to weave the wool. Due to intricacy of the weaving, this program is for families with children in Grade 3 & up only. Wed., Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m. Family Movie Matinee See the delightful animated family film Home on our BIG screen. Popcorn & juice provided. Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m. Dusty the R.E.A.D. Dog Dusty is eager to hear children read! He is a certified R.E.A.D. (Reading Education Assistance Dog) dog. who inspires confidence in reading skills by “listening” to your child read, Beginners and advanced readers welcome. Call for personal reading time. Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. - noon Library Hours & Meetings in October Create Your Own Family Picture Book Bring your family and join and our favorite guest artist Heidi Bilezikian, who will be here to help us discover the art techniques of picture book author & illustrator Eric Carle. As a family, you will create your own picture book about your family in Carle’s artistic style. All supplies included. All children must be accompanied by a parent. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2 - 3:30 p.m. Day of the Dead & Halloween Party Celebrate Halloween and the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead at FPL. We will decorate cookies and craft a Day of the Dead Treat Bag. Fun for families with kids in grades K & up. Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m. JUST FOR ADULTS AT THE LIBRARY Fractured Fairy Tale Fun Join the Black Dirt Storytelling Guild in FPL’s latest Spoken Word presentation. Founding guild member Eileen Stelljes will provide a lighthearted workshop on Fractured Fairy Tales. Lean the history of parodies and politically correct versions of classic tales & try your hand at building a tale. Adults age 16 & up. Thursday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m. Organizing Basics Professional Organizer Hope Stuart of Apple A Day will share her secrets of how to organize any space using a very simple process she developed. Grab a friend, come to the library and bring home a little H.O.P.E. (Helping Organize Possessions Efficiently!) Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m. Poetry Café Open mic, guest poets Elaine Koplow & Hayden Wayne, & emceed by Robert Milby. Coffee & snacks. Adults over 16. Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m. Knit & Crochet Circle Join our friendly circle. Lessons for beginners and help for more seasoned needleworkers provided by expert Kathleen Braun. Mondays, October 19 & November 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Social Security - Your Best Options Are you nearing retirement age and thinking about social security? Explore your options and learn how to maximize your benefits with advice from advisors Darren McCarthy & Roger Pikul of Quest Financial Services. Wed., Oct 21 at 6:30 p.m. Page Turners Book Club Pick up a copy of this month’s selection, Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende and join us for a casual and fun discussion. Desserts and coffee served. Thursday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m. iPad Class Learn how to navigate your iPad. Topics include touch screen techniques, settings, managing apps, and how to use the basic apps that come with your iPad such as the App Store, Safari, Camera, Mail, & Maps. Adults only. Bring you iPad or iPhone to class for a truly hands-on experience. Friday, Oct. 23 at 10:30 a.m. Monday-Thursday 10-8 Friday & Saturday 10-5 Sunday 12-5 Closed Monday, Oct. 12 for Columbus Day Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m. Board Meeting Oct. 13, 7 p.m. Friends Meeting The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 15 Florida Public Library Check it out! www.floridapubliclibrary.org Solarize Your Home Get answers from the experts about going solar! Sustainable Warwick is partnering with Solarize HudsonValley to provide discounted installations and will come to the library with vetted installation companies to provide you with facts about your options during this informative program Learn more about the benefits at SustainableWarwick.org. Thursday, Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. Happy Anniversary, FPL! Celebrate 15 years in our “new” building! Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4 Used Book Sale Hours Friday (for Friends members only) 5-8 p.m. Saturday & Sunday 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Anniversary Party We are proud to be Florida’s community center for personal growth and life-long learning. So join us to celebrate our 57th year in the village & the 15th year in our present location. Bring a friend and bring the family! Drop in and have a cupcake, make a craft, share a book, and play games on our Xbox & Wii. Enjoy YOUR library! Assemblyman Brabenec Announces District Wide Constituent Meet and Greet Events Warwick, NY - New York State Assemblyman Karl A. Brabenec (R,C,I - Deerpark) has scheduled district-wide constituent meetings where local residents can speak with him and his staff to report any concerns or issues in an informal setting. The following meetings have been scheduled [for October]: •Saturday, October 10th from 10 am to 12 pm - Tuxedo Train Station, Route 17 •Thursday, October 15th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Greenwood Lake Village Hall, 18 Church Street •Saturday, October 17th from 10 am to 12 pm - Greenville Town Hall, 1537 US Route 6, Port Jervis •Thursday, October 22nd from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Wesley Hills Village Hall, 432 Route 306, Monsey “I am very excited to meet many of the residents of the district,” said Assemblyman Brabenec. “It is important that everyone has access to their elected representatives and it has always been my number one priority to provide the very best constituent service.” Residents can also call the Assemblyman’s office during normal business hours at 845-544-7551 or visit the district office located at 123 Route 94 South in Warwick. From Our Mayor For the past several years, The Village has been experiencing higher than normal repair costs for both our water and sewer systems. This has been particularly obvious with the increase in our water rates. sewer. This increase in revenue will be a boost to both funds and help offset the cost of repairs to the Randall Street waterline replacement project. It will also help us pay the bond on the Glenmere Lake Dam and Spillway project. In addition to the repairs, we know our share of the repair of the dam and spillway at Glenmere Lake will be over $1,000,000.00. Even though the County is helping with the initial cash outlay to pay the contractors, the Village will be paying a bond on the project over a period of about twenty years. As with every other entity we supply outside the Village, the agreement with MilMar Food Group will be cancelable, at our option, if we experience a critical water shortage or an issue with sewer capacity at our treatment plants. Should that happen, MilMar (or any of the others) will revert back to their current well and septic systems, at least until our crisis has passed. At present, we have an opportunity to supply MilMar Food Group on Route 17M in Goshen, with water and Saturday, October 3 from 1 to 3 p.m. Library Staff: Standing (l to r) Paisley, Liam, Barbara, Ashley, Marie & Madelyn. Seated (l to r) Martha, Eileen, Sara, Meg & Annette. Missing from photo~Maria, Patty, Amy & Beth Runners assembling at the start line for the 5K4Paws race that the Warwick Valley Humane Society hosted on September 20, 2015. PAGE 16 • The Florida Focus • October 2015 FPL Fundraisers Feature Local Art and Food The Florida Public Library has many opportunities for library lovers to show support for their hometown library during the month of September & October. Pick up a coupon at FPL and dine at the Copper Bottom Restaurant at 162 North Main Street in Florida, NY during the month of October and owner Marco Solari will donate 10% of your total bill to the library! You must have an original coupon from the library and present it to your server upon ordering. Copper Bottom offers guests a creative menu filled with contemporary, seasonal American cuisine, and upscale comfort food and is open seven days a week; Monday through Thursday until 10 p.m., Friday & Saturday until midnight, and Sunday until 8 p.m. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month in September and October, FPL is holding a drawing for an original oil painting of La Catrina, the iconic Mexican symbol of Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrated on November 2 and an original ceramic sculpture of a Mexican Tree of Life, a part of the pottery and ceramic tradition of the central highlands of Mexico. Tickets may be purchased at the front desk of the library for $2 per ticket and $10 for six tickets. A drawing for the winners will be held on October 31. has collected Day of the Dead images on her travels in Mexico. Intrigued by the melding of Aztec, Spanish and modern Mexican influences in the development of La Catrina as a symbol of both death and beauty, Claire has painted numerous images of La Catrina, also known as La Muerte, in her series focusing on strong women in myth and history. The painting also features colorful monarch butterflies as symbols of spiritual transformation. Her paintings can be seen on ClaireLegacyArt.com La Catrina is an unframed 24” x 36” oil portrait in vibrant colors painted by Claire Legacy, a Pine Island native now living and painting in Canada. She is a graduate of SUNY Albany where she majored in Art History and French. Born on Halloween, she has always had a fascination for spooky themes and transformations and The Mexican Tree of Life is a 9” x 6” sculpture created by Judy Duboff, a practicing potter and sculptor and owner of the Amity Arts Pottery in Florida, NY. She is a graduate of NYU with a Masters Degree in Art Therapy. Judy first painted as a child with her grandmother and later painted from nature. She attended Rhode Island School of Design where she discovered clay and pottery. Judy created the Under My Sombrero project for local migrant workers and has curated their artwork at the library for several exhibits. Judy’s complete bio and artwork can be found on AmityArts.com. Coupons for the Copper Bottom Restaurant and tickets for the Hispanic Heritage Month prize drawing are available now at the Florida Public Library. FPL is open seven days a week; Monday – Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday & Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Visit www.floridapubliclibrary. org for more information about the library or call (845) 651-7659. Programs for all ages celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month are scheduled throughout September & October. St. Joseph’s CYO Basketball 2015-2016 Registration St. Joseph’s CYO Basketball season is just around the corner. The program is open to boys and girls in grades 1-8. REGISTRATION DATES are from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Golden Hill Elementary School: Saturday, October 3rd and Saturday, October 17th. Registration fees are $105.00 (Travel) and $50.00 (In-House/Instructional). Discounts are given to parishioners and families with two or more players. Two checks will be needed at registration. Registration (one per family) will also include a $50 donation in raffles. The proceeds from the raffle support the CYO program and facility upgrades. (Left) “La Catrina” – oil painting by Claire Legacy (Above) “Mexican Tree of Life” – sculpture by Judy Duboff We look forward to an awesome basketball season. Please direct program questions to Steve Nicolas at 914-329-5351 or visit our website at www. stjoeshoops.org/contact_us See you at registration! The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 17 Focus on Wellness A Foe Named Phytic Acid by Paula Aston, CHC, edD If you have not heard of “phytic acid,” and the damage it can do, this column is for you! I want you to try this at home: at least 24 hours before you plan to eat rice (grains), nuts, seeds, beans, and other legumes, soak them in water. Next day, while prepping for dinner, dump the soaking liquid and rinse the food thoroughly, several times. Then carry on with your recipe. Why should you do this? Because many of our favorite foods contain phytic acid and that inhibits the absorption of the important minerals. Read more details about the impact of phytic acid in “Living with Phytic Acid” from www.westonaprice.org. Minerals may not get as much press as vitamins but they are just as essential to good health. Macrominerals that our bodies require include calcium, iron, zinc, and magnesium. What is calcium good for? Among other things: Strong bones and balanced blood pressure! Contrary to popular advertising, you get more calcium from cooked dark, leafy greens than from dairy products. What is iron good for? Energy! Iron transports oxygen through the blood. Anemia comes from a diet that is ironpoor, causing fatigue and lethargy. The richest, most absorbable sources of iron are red meat, poultry, liver, eggs yolks, and seafood. For best absorption, take a little vitamin C along with your iron source. What is zinc good for? Among other things, immune system support! Zinc is especially important for men’s prostate health. Best sources include beef, lamb, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, lentils, etc. Read more at www.whfoods.com. What is magnesium good for? Among many other things, nervous system support! Magnesium calms and soothes the nervous system and helps with migraine headaches. It is a great supplement to take at night before bed. “High magnesium foods include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds, fish, beans, whole grains, avocados, yogurt, bananas, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and more,” according to www.healthaliciousness.com You can also read “The 5 Minerals You Really Need,” at www.self.com for more information. Phytic acid can “bind” with the minerals we need, making it impossible for our bodies to absorb them. “A 2003 study examined the change in iron absorption when phytic acid was removed from various grains… participants absorbed 1160% more iron when phytic acid was removed from wheat. Iron absorption was improved about twelve times.” Read more about phytic acid at www.phyticacid.org. In the meantime, ask yourself if the manufacturer of “convenience” food goes through the trouble of getting rid of phytic acid in the foods that you eat. I wonder, for example, if almond milk makers soak nuts overnight before processing them. I sure do. I don’t want to lose valuable magnesium. Phytic acid… just one more reason to purchase whole foods and cook your own meals so you know what you’re getting. Happy Halloween Everyone! by Al Sanza Knights of Columbus Toy Drive The Knights of Columbus is a 133-yearold fraternal men’s benefit organization founded on the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity, and Patriotism. The Warwick Valley Knights of Columbus Council 4952 members have worked diligently in distributing boxes to local merchants, collecting donated toys and distributing them locally to needy children throughout Warwick Township for the past 19 years. The Warwick Valley Knights supply toys to families in need. That need quite often is temporary, for example an illness in the family or the recent loss of employment by the main breadwinner. A person may have a nice home, a nice car, and until recently a nice job. Suddenly (3 – 12 months in the past) they are out of work and must now decide between putting food on the table and buying toys for their children. We have many of these situations, especially under today’s economy, and we try to help. Since 1996, the Warwick Valley Knights of Columbus Council 4952 has collected and distributed over 22,400 toys LOCALLY to needy families. Many of our members look forward to being a part of giving needy children a toy they might not otherwise receive. Last year we distributed over 2,470 toys, LOCALLY, to children and families in need! You can help us by donating a NEW AND UNWRAPPED TOY at one of the local merchants who are collecting in a box marked “CHRISTmas-for-Kids Toy Drive.” Former Florida Resident Working in the Community Jim Pawliczek of Village Realty is pleased to announce that Sharon Pehush has joined the firm as a new real estate sales associate. Sharon resided in the Village of Florida for several years before moving to the Goshen area. She lives with her husband George, and daughters Elizabeth and Jessica who attend the Goshen schools. Akins Pharmacy Café a la Mode Central Deli Chester Cinema-6 Chester Diner Edward Jones Investments Etched in Time Florida Fire House Florida Library Galloway Dental Golden Hill Elementary Goshen Diner Guardian Self Storage Headlines Henry’s Deli FloWick Jockey Hollow Veterinarian Pennings Market Price Chopper Quaker Creek Roe Brothers S.S. Seward High School ShopRite - Chester ShopRite - Warwick St. Joseph’s Church St. Stanislaus Church St. Stephen’s Church St. Stephen’s School Sterling Bank - Florida Sterling Bank - Warwick Valley View Nursing Home Walden Bank - Florida Warwick Dry Cleaners Winslow Riding Academy Final Pickup is Thursday, December 17, 2015. PAGE 18 • The Florida Focus • October 2015 Psychic Moments Team Shak Update Anxiety and The Telltale Signs We were so close to this vehicle spinning out of control that we could have actually been involved in the accident. It was a situation that was far too close for comfort. by Psychic Cyndee How many people have experienced overwhelming anxiety? Fear is usually a normal reaction to something that is a potentially harmful situation. But sometimes a person can become overwhelmed with anxiety and have no idea what is causing it. They may not see an obvious connection. What does cause the sudden onset of anxiety? Often time’s a person’s anxiety can come from a psychic knowing. The anxiety can be an unprocessed warning of impending danger. Last week I was a passenger in a friend’s car. It was very late, we were both exhausted and I started to feel overwhelmed with ANXIETY. I wanted him to stop the car and let me out. But I said nothing and tried to calm myself. I kept thinking that I wanted the ride to be over. Suddenly I jumped out of my seat and lunged forward. I had visions of bloody faces on the road. The driver was very startled and yelled, what is it? I told him that I saw something on the road. He said, “There’s nothing there. I tried to explain to him what I saw and how it frightened me. A few moments later we noticed the cars in front of us were stopping in the middle of the road. We were on a sixty-five mile per hour highway and it was very dark out. We slowed down to discover that a car had apparently rolled over and flipped several times. It was leaning on the concrete meridian between two lanes of highway. One of the car’s doors was ripped off and dangling on its hinge. As our car slowed down we peeked inside the mangled and destroyed vehicle. The passengers were covered with blood and unconscious. I was witnessing the accident before it occurred. It was sheer terror as it filtered through my subconscious mind and manifested into feelings of overwhelming anxiety. Our psychic selves see and feel more than we can consciously process. We process energy through our emotional bodies. It may have appeared as though I was hallucinating, but what I saw was real. It was real and existed in the time space continuum. It was happening on a different level and I was plugged in. It was so horrific that my experience was that of sheer terror. How often do we get an ethereal glimpse of something right down the road? I needed to steer clear and out of its path. Precognition is the ability to witness or sense something that is about to occur in a future reality. Now if you take it one step further you can understand why taking anti-anxiety medicine can often times do more harm than good. We need to be able to “feel” and process our feelings— not block them. The medicated “zombies” often think that taking a pill will solve their problems. I am not referring to people who actually live in a war zone and need to temporarily take medicine to slow down their traumatized nervous systems. I am referring to the people who use and abuse anti-anxiety medicine as an immediate solution without looking deeper to pinpoint the root cause. We need to learn how to process our feelings, acknowledge the telltale-warning signs, and react accordingly. Psychic Cyndee’s book “THE ANGEL DIARIES” is available on kindle and nook. Psychic Cyndee is available for private and group sessions. (845) 537-1279 [email protected] www.psychiccyndee.com Facebook psychiccyndee Twitter.@psychiccyndee Team Shak members Joann Andryshak, Janice Harter, Ed O’Connell, and Tom Orr completed the Lehigh Valley Marathon and Tom Andryshak completed the Lehigh Valley Half Marathon on September 13. That brings Tom & Jo’s current mileage total to 1831 on their quest for 2015 in 2015! The Florida Family Fun Fest invites you to Join the Fun! Hello to the Florida Community! Thank you again for another successful year— we could not do it without your help and support. The Florida Family Fun Fest Committee is still actively looking for new members to help plan and organize various activities for Fun Fest. If you are interested in helping with Fun Fest or would like to find out more about Fun Fest, please call Jim Goodrich at 845-651-3529. Please come and Join the Fun of planning and organizing this wonderful community event. Hope to hear from You ! The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 19 Tips for a Healthier Halloween by Gina McAteer, MS, RD There’s something pretty scary for a lot of parents on Halloween, and it isn’t ghosts or goblins; it’s FREE candy. How do we promote moderation when our kids are filling up on sugary treats? How do we allow our kids to experience one of the biggest joys of childhood - a night of costumes and free goodies - and still teach them what it means to be healthy? Halloween isn’t going away anytime soon (and let’s be honest - do we really want it to?), but luckily, there are a few tricks parents can learn to keep their kids both happy and healthy on the scariest night of the year. When your kids go trick-or-treating, consider these tips: 1.Give out healthier snacks and see if other neighborhood parents would be willing to do the same. Here are some ideas: •“Treasures” (non-food items) like bouncy balls, crayons, spinning tops, or stickers •Whole-grain pretzels or mini bags of low-fat popcorn •Freeze-dried fruit or mini boxes of raisins •Pre-packaged apple slices or natural applesauce 2.Scale back on other less nutritious snacks around this time of year so the candy is essentially the only unhealthy treat eaten. 3.Make it a rule to donate a certain percentage of candy they get. Some options for donating include: •The military (overseas service men and women) •Local food pantries and food banks •Some schools and dentists •Nursing homes and children’s hospitals - some even have programs for reverse trick-or-treating, where you and your children can dress up to hand out Halloween candy to patients. 4.Turn it into a contest with siblings or friends: who can make their candy last the longest? 5.Use some of the candy to conduct kitchen experiments like the acid test: crush candies to dissolve in no more than ½ cup water, then add baking soda; see which candies have the most acid (which ones make the most bubbles)! What other fun ideas can you think of? When your kids go to Halloween parties, consider these tips: 1. Take the focus at the party away from the food: •Encourage active party games to help kids fit in their 60 minutes a day •Hold a costume contest •Let kids carve or paint miniature pumpkins 2. Make fun, but healthy, treats for snacking In the end, the most important thing to remember is that each child is different. Some kids will pace themselves with unhealthy food, while others, if given the opportunity, would eat a whole bowl of candy in one sitting. Different children benefit from different types and levels of rules and guidance, so it may take some experimentation to find a strategy that works for you and your family. Have a Healthy, Safe & Happy Halloween! DID YOU KNOW: Shop Rite of Warwick offers FREE nutrition service by a Registered Dietitian? Gina McAteer, MS, RD, is available for grocery store tours, individual counseling, product information, health events, and community programs. Contact her at (917) 6127425 or email her [email protected] The Florida Focus is published monthly by The Florida Focus, Inc., a NY State not-for-profit organization. Please address correspondence to: The Florida Focus, Inc. 62 N. Main St. Rm 208 Florida, NY 10921 Please send all contributions to: [email protected] To place and ad, please contact: [email protected] Visit us online at www.TheFloridaFocus.org Volume 6 • Number 5 • October 2015 Orange County’s annual Pumpkin Festival set for October 17th at Hill-Hold Museum Goshen, N.Y. - Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus and Commissioner Richard L. Rose of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation announced that Orange County’s annual Pumpkin Festival will be held from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 17 at Hill-Hold Museum. Guests are invited to enjoy a funfilled afternoon of activities, including pumpkin rolling and painting, scarecrow making, face painting, and a hay ride through the historic grounds of the Hill-Hold property to the pumpkin patch. If you look carefully, you may find a scarecrow lurking around to assist you in picking the best pumpkin for painting. Built in 1769, Hill-Hold farm was home to the Bull-Jackson family for more than 200 years. Now a part of the Orange County Parks system, Hill-Hold depicts life circa 1830, when the homeowners relied on candles, fireplace heat, homegrown food, and homespun clothes. Hill-Hold is located on Route 416 in Campbell Hall, across from Thomas Bull Memorial Park. Admission is $3 per person for the event. For more information, please contact Orange County Parks at 845-615-3830, through email to parks@orangecountygov. com, or visit our website at www. hillholdandbrickhouse.org. Special events are co-sponsored by the Friends of Hill-Hold and Brick House and the Orange County Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation.