Lady Spartans: State Champs Again!
Transcription
Lady Spartans: State Champs Again!
2-Year Anniversary! Page 3 Holiday Wishes Page 5 Parent Workshops A New Spartan Page 7 Page 10 Volume Two, Number 11 December 2007 © 2007 A Florida Chamber of Commerce Initiative Historian Visits School Page 11 Tellabration! Get Ready to Fish Page 16 Page 14 Florida Union Free School District, Florida Public Library and Fire Department Collaboration Lady Spartans: State Champs Again! COMPLIMENTARY Seward 1 Caledonia-Mumford 0 By Robert Gravelle The final score showed our girls’ soccer team had at last captured their second state title in school history. But the final score was only part of the story of these magnificent student-athletes. They persevered through 3½ hours of grueling championship soccer on a weekend that a polar bear couldn’t appreciate. They battled through a gut-wrenching penalty kick shootout on Friday, with a freshman putting home the winning kick. They battled through a championship game that saw their star midfielder, Vivien Greiser, crumple to the turf with a painful ankle sprain. Lesser teams would have folded and called it a great season, but not the Lady Spartans of Florida, NY. Because that is simply not how the student-athletes of SS Seward have been trained. From recreation soccer, to travel soccer, modified, JV, and, finally, to Varsity, their coaches have instilled a no-excuses work ethic that was most evident on this day. When Jillian Collova’s quick shot darted into the back of the net, a community rejoiced. continued on Page 10 60,000 Points of Light at Poloniak Christmas Spectacular By Robert Demetry inside It seems to be human nature that once we get a good thing, we can't get enough of it! Just ask Vince Poloniak, who isn't satisfied with honoring the tradition of Christmas by hanging a simple festive wreath on his front door. Poloniak can’t get enough Christmas lights and holiday displays—over the years he’s amassed enough lights to stretch nearly a mile from end to end, about 60,000 sparkling points of light in total. For more than 35 years Poloniak has preserved holiday traditions while building fond memories at his family-oriented displays. Young and old can mingle as they weave their way through a magical tapestry of festive lights, fantastic storybook characters and "fa-la-la-fa-la-la" music at their half-acre of wonder and merriment. "I started out the first year by carving out three Santas, two reindeer and a sled from plywood," remembers Poloniak. "But it didn't look very good." Unbeknownst to him, his wife Joan bought some manufactured Christmas items at a sale, just in case they were needed. "I guess she was telling me something," chuckled Poloniak. Year after year they added to the collection, until the 1990s when Poloniak said he really "started going crazy." Now more than 40 inflatable figures, including Mickey Mouse, The Grinch, Motorcycle Santa, etc, are among the decorations. Current Resident or Box Holder Why does he do it year after year? "I don't know, I think basically because the children really enjoy it... and maybe because I'm really a kid at heart," said Poloniak with a twinkle in his eye and a chuckle from his belly. Continued on Page 6 Page 2 The Florida Onion December 2007 Volume 2, Issue 11 From the Mayor The Florida Onion This article is my way of communicating with you, the residents of the village of Florida, on a regular basis. Any opinions expressed are strictly my own. Like the famous Orator, former Yankee catcher Yogi Berra, it’s ‘dejavu’ all over again as the Seward Lady Spartans came home with the title of New York State Soccer Champions; a title they held previously in 1987. Congratulations! Serving the Florida, NY community The Florida Onion is published monthly as an initiative of the Florida Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Florida Union Free School District, the Florida Fire Department and the Florida Public Library. At the November 13th Village Board meeting a proclamation was passed honoring retiring Village Justice Daniel Coleman by naming the week from November 18th through November 24th as ‘Daniel Coleman Week’ in Florida, New York. The Florida Onion is a volunteer publication. The Florida Onion not only welcomes but also relies on contributions from the community to fill our pages. If you have something to say, please consider saying it in The Florida Onion! Facing the Village of Florida is the adoption of a multi-year aquatic management plan for Glenmere Lake and a professional review of the spillway and dam. The cost of these items could be in excess of a million dollars. The question most asked of me as Mayor is “When will we have senior housing in the village?” At present, there are no projects either affordable or age 55 restricted. The senior population is growing and very active as experienced by the village’s two senior citizen clubs, the Seward Seniors and the Golden Seniors. They like the community in which they live and want to remain close to their relatives and friends but no longer want the responsibility of home maintenance. Please address correspondence to: The Florida Onion P.O. Box 214 Florida, NY 10921 845-651-6000 It is interesting to note that the destiny of Florida and its senior citizens is so closely linked with the migration habits of the 2” cricket frog. But, in time, this too will pass. We should be thankful that the squirrel, rabbit and mosquito are not on the New York State Endangered Species list. Send all contributions to: [email protected] You can read current and archive editions of The Florida Onion on-line by clicking on: http://www.Warwickinfo.net/FloridaOnion Recently a public notice by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was published in the Middletown Times HeraldRecord. This notice marks the beginning of the procedure to make changes to the existing flood plain maps that affect the Village of Florida. These changes are in the 100-year flood plan or the 1% chance plan called Base Flood Elevations (BFE’s). The areas in question are adjacent to Quaker Creek and Brown’s Creek. The result being, if your property is in a 100-year flood plan, you must carry flood insurance in order to obtain a bank mortgage. There is an appeal process. According to FEMA the only basis of an appeal is scientific information or knowledge that the BFE’s are incorrect, meaning a certified topographical survey with elevations different than those in the proposed report. The Onion Growers Editorial:, Bob Demetry, Shari Forst. John Keats, Marci Oakley, Joyce Willetts PhD Advertising: Jim Sheridan, Andrew Lyon Accounting: Evalyn Sosler-Palmer Layout & Production: Joyce Willetts PhD Marketing: Rob Cannillo Photoediting: Shari Forst The existing flood plain map and the proposed map are available at Village Hall for viewing. All appeal information must be submitted to the village. Appeals must be filed within 90 days of November 16, 2007, the date of the second notice publication. Prior to February 14, 2008 the village will determine if the evidence presented is adequate to demand an appeal or accept the proposed changes. ADVERTISING To place an ad, please contact: Jim at 845-651-6000 or 544 6169 (cell) or via e-mail: [email protected] Mayor James Pawliczek Community Calendar December 2007 Non-profit organizations may place events on the Community Calendar by e-mailing [email protected] or call 651-6000. Sunday Monday Abbreviations: CM–committee meeting. FPL–Florida Public Library GHES–Golden Hill Elementary School SSSI-SS Seward Institute 2 Holiday Market; 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, Golden Hill Elementary School 9 Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 $–indicates paid event 3 Seward Seniors General Meeting and White Elephant; 1 pm, Florida Senior Center, Cohen Circle Florida Fire Dept Meeting; 8 pm, Florida Fire Dept. Golden Hill PTA's Parent Workshop 7:30 - 9 p.m, Golden Hill Elementary 10 Cub Scout Pack 44 CM; 7 pm, American Legion Hall, Cohen Circle 5 4 6 Golden Floridians Meeting; The Florida Onion CM; Planning Board Work 1 pm, Florida Senior Noon, Village Realty Session; 7:30 pm, Village Center Board of Education Work Hall Session; 7:30 pm, Memorial Building 7 8 Tree Lighting; 4 pm, Village Hall 13 11 12 Seward Seniors Christmas Golden Floridians Holiday k The Florida Onion CM; Noon, Village Realty Dinner 12:30 pm, Florida Luncheon, Noon, Senior Center Senior Center, Cohen Board of Education Planning Board Meeting; Circle Meeting; 7:30 pm, SSSI 7:30 pm, Village Hall Village Board Meeting; 7:30 pm, Village Hall 14 17 18 16 19 20 Blood Pressure Screenings; American Legion Meeting. Seward Seniors Meeting The Florida Onion CM; Seward Seniors School 9 am to noon. Florida 7 pm, American Legion Noon, Village Realty 12:30 pm, Florida Senior Dinner 4 pm, SS Seward Fire House. Call 651Hall, Cohen Circle (above Center, Cohen Circle Meeting; 7:30 pm, SSSI Golden Floridians Social 7754 for info. the Police Station) Time and Game Play; 1 Last day to submit articles pm, Florida Senior to The Florida Onion for Center the January issue! ! 15 Community Calendar submissions due to The Florida Onion! [email protected] 21 22 28 29 [email protected] 23 24 30 31 Local Government Florida Village Hall, 33 South Main Street Clerk: 651-7815 Village Justice: 651-4940 Historian: 651-7815 Parks & Recreation: 651-8622 25 Christmas 26 27 Florida Onion CM; Noon, Village Realty Police Department, 2 Cohen Circle: 651 7800 Florida Village Highway Department, 45 Maple Avenue: 651-4332 Florida Village Water Department, Glenmere Avenue Extension: 651-7175 United States Post Office, 15 Edward J Lempka Drive: 651-7831 NOTE: All addresses are Florida NY, 10921. All phone numbers are area code 845. Other Useful Numbers: Florida Chamber of Commerce: 651-6000 The Florida Onion: 651-6000, [email protected] Florida Historical Society, P.O. Box 97: 651-7466 Cub Scout Pack 44: 651 7675 or 651 5483 Warwick Valley Humane Society: 986 2473 The Florida Onion December 2007 Page 3 …….. Like Mother, Like Daughter: Like Medals Twenty Years Apart by Robert Demetry Joann Andryshak and daughter Sarah each show off a gold colored medallion around their neck that is filled with memories from today and from the past. Joanne was a member of the 1987 S.S. Seward Girls Varsity Soccer Team that won the New York State Class C championship 20 years ago. Now a generation later, her daughter has followed in her mother's soccer cleats by being on this years' 2007 State Championship Class C team. "Twenty years ago it was such an accomplishment to win a big state award by a little Florida town, said Joann. It was so wonderful how we came back with the title and pulled into Florida to see the village waiting to congratulate us!" Sarah, a junior at SS Seward High said she and her Lady Spartan teammates "knew" they would come home with the title of state champion throughout the playoffs. "We knew we could get the gold... there was so much positive spirit and so many signs throughout the games," recalls Sarah. "It was a 20-year anniversary since Seward had held a state championship; we all never let any negative thoughts come into our minds; the records of both teams were almost identical” (1987: 20-0-3 and 2007: 21-1-2). Joann and Sarah Andryshak holding their State Championship medals. Photo: Robert Demetry Two family members, two championships 20 years apart-what next? Maybe a third medal in the future with another generation of a Lady Spartan draping another golden medal around her neck. Quite possible, not impossible say the Andryshaks! SS Seward Graduates: Where Are They Now? Jason Karas by Nicole Quattrociocchi Normally this column is devoted to what a past Seward graduate is currently involved in. It is a chance to hear about ones that we may have lost touch with or provides us with the opportunity to celebrate their achievements. This month’s spotlight provides us with a different reflection as we focus on the loss of a Seward graduate. With the recent discussion of a Seward reunion for the class of 1997, the thoughts of many turned to fellow alumni Jason (Jay) Karas who lost his battle with brain cancer one year ago on November 14, 2006, at the age of 27. Jay was a 1997 graduate of SS Seward, husband to Angie, and father to Anna who was just nine months old when her father died. Upon graduation, Jay stayed in the Florida area and worked along with his father and brother Jared in the family business as an auto repair specialist. Shortly after marrying Angie, doctors discovered a large mass on Jason’s brain and upon its removal, realized that Jay had an aggressive form of cancer which was likely to take his life. Jay fought this cancer for five years with strength and determination and focused on the aspects of his life that meant the most to him. Since Jason never used his illness as an excuse for personal gain, many of his acquaintances were unaware of his illness even at his death. Prior to his death though, Jay was active as a minister of Jehovah’s Witnesses and found great joy in teaching others about the Bible. He continued to work in the family business but relaxed by writing and recording music. An accomplished guitarist and singer, Jay’s music touched the lives of many. Jay’s family continues to find comfort in their faith as well as the kind words from others as they keep Jay’s memory alive. Watching little Anna grow up brings joy and happiness to everyone who sees her. As Jason wrote to her in a song, “Your presence is a welcome one, A beautiful edition - Soon we’ll see, you are – you are my special one.….” It is a good reminder to all of us to cherish each day with our loved ones and Jason with his wife Angie and daughter Anna. offer help where we are able to. Photo provided by Jason’s family. K of C Thanksgiving Dinner: Food for the Soul Florida Knights of Columbus Warwick Valley Council 4952 volunteers pose for a photograph with other area volunteers during their traditional Thanksgiving Day Dinner which was open to the public. Volunteers spent nearly 200 hours preparing for the holiday feast, cooking 15 turkey breasts and 12 festive hamscomplete with garlic potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, cranberry sauce and homemade holiday pies and desserts. Nearly 100 took advantage of an opportunity to not have to cook. Chartered in 1960, there are 200 local members—40 or so active—who sponsor year ‘round activities such as fish-fries, helping with Special Olympics, collecting to support two area food pantries, and others. The fraternal benefit society was founded in 1882 and named to honor Christopher Columbus and dedicated to the principles of Charity, Unity, Fraternity and Patriotism. There are more than 13,000 councils and 1.7 million members worldwide. On Sunday, November 11, a group of approximately 75 men, women and children gathered at the Veterans Memorial Monument in Florida in pay homage to all American Veterans. The program began with a prayer led by Deacon Don Roach. Orange County Clerk Donna Benson and Legislator Michael Pillmeier addressed the congregation. and Mayor James Pawliczek gave a moving speech on ‘freedom is not free.’ The program ended with a beautiful rendition of the Star Spangled Banner sung by Allison Zovistoski, daughter of Charlotte and Bob Zovistoski. Post 1250 Commander James Sosler did a wonderful job of hosting the event again this year. The Monument was cleaned and beautifully prepared for this event by Florida Cub Scouts who are sponsored by the Florida Legion Post 1250. Story and Photo by Robert Demetry Story by Evalyn Palmer-Sosler. Photo: Karyn Meier “It's our gift to the community and we thoroughly enjoy helping others that can’t cook for themselves or just want to come here and eat and make new friends,” said member Rich Buturla. Originally started about eight years ago as a “charitable gesture” by the local Catholic fraternal order, the organization charges a minimal $7per plate, including seconds and a food carton to take home. Page 4 The Florida Onion December 2007 Two Top Years at The Copper Bottom Sometimes, when a popular restaurant switches hands, some hold their breath in anticipation of rapid loss of business due to a decline in food quality. Sometimes, the dining experience actually gets even better. Two years have now passed since Mark Scott purchased The Copper Bottom Restaurant in Florida, NY and he has made it more popular than ever. The former rock star of "Trixter" turned restaurateur kept many of the same employees as well as brought back several employees that worked at The Copper Bottom in the past. He has also introduced something brand new to the dining experience; more attention to the guest. The Copper Bottom Owner had this to say: “I'm so proud of the staff—Front of the House as well as Back of the House. I certainly couldn't do any of it without them. The Copper Bottom has become such a special place for all of us. We are a family doing what we love—together. I look forward to going to work every day. Making a restaurant is so much more than just serving great food. You have to give it love and that’s what makes it something truly special.” Pictured from left to right: 16-Time Grammy Award Winner Jimmy Sturr, Executive Chef Enrique Romero, Former Congressman Ben Gilman, Copper Bottom Owners Mark and Susan Scott, Sous Chef Jose Sosa and Chef’s Assistant/Bodyguard Pedro Galinda Notables Operation Santa forTroops Jim Sheridan, pictured with son John, delivered a truckload of goods to Semper Fi Parents of Hudson Valley, NY recently. Thanks largely to donations from about a dozen local businesses and individuals, more than $1500 worth of goodies are on their way to troops overseas. Thanks to all who contributed! The organization accepts donations all year round. Visit semperfiparentshv.com for current needs. Congratulations Bob! Robert Demetry, a reporter and photographer for The Florida Onion, captured third place in the WVT Communications 2008/2009 telephone book cover art competition. His beautiful colorful photograph depicted a sundial in the Circle Herb Garden at Warwick's historic 1810 house on Main Street. The Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce will showcase one of Warwick’s major businesses, The General’s Garden at Techni-Growers, 177 Sanfordville Road at its December 6 Winter Garden Mixer from 5:30 7 PM. The event will feature refreshments and a raffle and the chance to judge the “Best of Poinsettia.” Join Chamber members for networking and fellowship. The Florida Onion December 2007 Page 5 Area Clergy 'Holiday Wishes' Holiday Generosity Needed For Local 'Toys-For-Tots' By Robert Demetry This is a very special time of the year when we have many reasons to celebrate our treasured values of hope for a better world to come, light that has the power to dispel darkness, and love which embraces all. While most of us tend to focus on the holiday trappings of sales, expensive gifts and glitzy holiday decorations, those leaders in the ministerial community in Florida—priests, ministers and rabbis—focus on the spiritual aspects of the holiday season. We wanted to know their thoughts-especially their wishes- as they prepare their hearts and their sermons, as spiritual shepherds of their community. We asked them: "What is your wish for yourself, your community and your world this holiday season?” Here are their heartfelt responses... Pastor Joseph Tokarczyk St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church Charlie Degnan with toys donated to the “Toys-For-Tots " program. Since 1996 the Warwick Valley Knights of Columbus Council 4952 has been working diligently in conjunction with the Marine Corps Reserve, Marine Air Group 49 (MAG-49) in Newburgh in their annual “Toys-For-Tots” program. “Over the years the Knights have distributed more than 10,500 toys locally to such area organizations as The Mustard Seed, Mother's Cupboard, AgriBusiness Children Development, the Migrant Workers Community, The Alamo and several needy families,” said Al Sanza, who is directing the drive in the Florida community. “Please donate and help a child receive a gift this Christmas.” Their goal is to collect more than 2,500 toys this year. Here are For my congregation, my wish is to complete local drop-off points for new toys, preferably unwrapped: the renovation of our church and our parish Florida: Central Deli, Florida Library, Florida Post Office, Northern Bear, Golden hall. Hill Elementary, Provident Bank, Roe Brothers, SS Seward Institute, Sports For the world, I pray for peace and for the end Fitness & Fun, St Edwards Hall, St Josephs Church, Werner’s True Value. of terrorism. Warwick: Edward Jones Financial, Galloway Dental, Key Bank, Provident Bank, Sandfordville Elementary, St. Stephens Church, Warwick Post Office, Wadesons. Pine Island: Quaker Creek Store. For more information, contact Al Sanza at (845) 258-9724 anytime. Rabbi Rebecca P. Shinder This holiday season, I would like to have a chance to spend Christmas with my elderly parents who are living in Europe. I haven’t had a chance to do so in more than 20 years! Temple Beth Shalom Holiday Services Hanukkah Happenings As the days are now shorter, darker, and colder I wish that we all turn to one another for strength, light, and warmth. May we approach this holiday season with renewed devotion to our community and our faiths. For many traditions, great miracles happened at this time long ago, my wish is that we be bestowed with the miracles of peace and good will to all men, women, and children. As we sang together at our moving Inter-Faith Thanksgiving service, "Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me." Happy Holidays! St. Ignatius Antiochian Orthodox Mission Temple Beth Shalom Fr. George Kevorkian St. Ignatius Antiochian Orthodox Church I would pray that all of us would love another, and be loved by another. Here I speak of the love that Jesus Christ showed for us when He gave Himself up for the life of the world. A love that is sacrificial, and unconditional. A love that lifts up, empowers, and heals. A love that "never fails". Rev. Heather Brown-Huston First Presbyterian Church of Florida I am thankful most of all for the mystery of creation—found in the world around us and in each person’s unique being. Without that gift from God, human life would not be what we know it as. As a Christian, I am thankful for the grace of God that I find in Jesus Christ, and the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. I am blessed with engaging and life-giving work as wife to Steve and mother to two small children, as pastor to First Presbyterian Church, as a volunteer in my home community of Port Jervis, and as a student. I have a warm and safe home, clothes to wear (and more than one outfit to choose between!) and plenty of food to eat. I am thankful for all those blessings, mindful that so many in our world do not have even a fraction of what I enjoy and take for granted each day. “Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect.” Chief Seattle (Suquamish Tribe) Special Christmas Eve Services: Monday December 24, Matins at 7 PM, Liturgy at 8 PM. Regular Worship Schedule: Sunday—Matins at 9 AM; Divine Liturgy at 10 AM; Sunday School at Wednesday—Vespers at 9:30 AM; 7 PM followed by an Inquirers Question & Answer First Presbyterian Church of Florida The Christmas Eve service is on December 24 at 7:30 PM. St. Joseph’s Church Roman Catholic On Sunday, December 2 from 1 to PM, a Hanukkah Card 2:30 Workshop will be held. Learn to craft handmade Hanukkah cards with Debbie Kittay-Heffler. Thursday, December 6 at 5 PM Drum Tales: The DeLIGHTful Story of Chanukah. The Chanukah story is brought to life through this interactive program featuring percussive instruments. The Story of Chanukah is set in ancient Israel, the land of the mighty Maccabees. Join us for this exciting tale of mystery, miracles, triumph, joy, and a single bottle of olive oil. Sponsored by Jewish Federation of Greater Orange County. Drum Tales is fun, interactive, percussive and musical. It is much like the traditional drum circle concept, yet taken to a new level, combining story-telling, musical instrumentation and song. Each participant is given a percussive instrument, which becomes their medium of transportation to faraway lands and exotic places, to ride the waves of mystery of an unfolding plot, and into the deep realm of imagination and the colorful beyond. Attendees must RSVP for this event. Call 651-7817. Friday, December 7, Hanukkah Shabbat Community Dinner, 6:30 PM. Bring your menorah for a community lighting. Latke cook-off competition. Bring a platter of your family’s favorite latke recipe to the table. RSVP suggested. 651-7817. On Sunday, December 9 from 10 AM to noon, Temple Beth Shalom will hold its Hanukkah Family Fair. All are welcome to join in a fabulous family Hanukkah celebration that will include games, arts, crafts, singing, storytelling and latke (traditional potato pancakes) munching. Kids of all ages will move from station to station around the temple for family holiday fun. Page 6 The Florida Onion December 2007 60,000 Points of Light, continued from Page 1 An active community volunteer known for his positive personality and his get-up-and-go exuberance, Poloniak remembers being in his backyard one year when a car pulled up near the driveway. A young boy got out, saying to his parents: "Mommy, mommy. This is the North Pole. See it's a lot colder here than at our house!" The whole Poloniak clan, including the grandchildren, work for weeks setting up after his Halloween decorations come down and election day is over. "My two sons-in-law come by weekends to lend a hand—sort of earthly elves because the real ones are busy up in their workshops far north of here," he said with a grin. Thousands flock to see the display and enjoy the holiday music pumping out of an outdoor loudspeaker. Visitors come from surrounding states and several have come from foreign countries to "stop by" because they have heard of his holiday handiwork. But Poloniak mostly notices the area youngsters who have been there before and have grown up and have brought another generation to marvel at his "Spanktown Spectacular." A wealthy New York City elderly couple came by limousine from their metropolitan mansion to Spanktown for a few years, but Poloniak didn't think they made the trip last year: "I missed them last year," said Poloniak, as if they were part of his extended family. As a holy day and holiday, Christmas is a mixture of traditions from half a dozen cultures accumulated over the centuries. It is a special time of the year that brings forth family and friends to express joy and happiness of life and all that it entails-of gift-giving and receiving, of love and loveliness. For Vince Poloniak, Christmas is a time of renewing long-kept Polish traditions of feasting on pierogis, kielbasa, and vintage wines—and his American traditions of outdoor lighting decorations that are heartwarming and endure from year to year. What would Santa say about Poloniak's "special gift " to his community and to his country? His granddaughter Christina put it bluntly: "He would probably faint!" You may view Poloniak's " Spanktown Spectacular " from December 15 until New Year's Day. The address is: 22 Spanktown Road, Warwick, New York. DIRECTIONS: From Rt.17A from Goshen, continue on thru Florida and at the second light make a right onto Highland, then bear right onto Union Corners Road. Go approx. 2½ miles until you see St. Joseph's Cemetery on the left; The Cops N Rodders Car Club will be running a trivia contest every month through April. The rules are that make a right onto Spanktown Road and follow contestants must enter all six contests and must have the most right answers to qualify for entry in the it about a quarter mile to the display. drawing. The winner will be awarded a $50 gift certificate for dinner at the Copper Bottom Restaurant (food From Rt.94 from Chester, at the light in only, no alcoholic beverages). Cops N Rodders Trivia Contest Florida make a left and follow the directions above. From Rt.94 from Warwick, travel into Florida and make a left at the first light just beyond the firehouse and then onto Highland and follow the above directions. Happy Holidays! Photos: Robert Demetry HVPS Celebrates Wigilia—A Polish Tradition Citizen of the Year to be Honored The 17th annual Wigilia Supper sponsored by the Hudson Valley Polonaise Society will be held on Saturday, December 8 at the PLAV Hall in Pine Island, NY. This traditional Polish Christmas Eve observance will begin at 5 PM. The celebration will feature the sharing of Oplatek, prior to a traditional meatless family-style dinner which will be served at 5:30 PM. Following the dinner, Stanley Kocot will be honored as the 2007-08 Hudson Valley Polonaise Society’s Polish-American Citizen of the Year. Tickets are $15 per person for nonmembers, $12 for members, and $5 for children under the age of 12. Reservations are required as the event is limited to 120 people. For more information or reservations, call 845-325-9608 or 845-3864909 by Friday, 30 November. Please mail your answers to the questions below to: The Allstate Insurance Agency, 62 North Main St, Florida, NY 10921 no later than 01 January 2008. Be sure to include your name and telephone number. For further clarification, if necessary, we can be reached at 845-786-9044 or 845-651-1188. The Cops N Rodders of New York is an Association of Collector Car Owners. If you are interested in joining our association, please email us at [email protected]. We will forward a membership application to you which details our membership benefits. The Cops N Rodders Car Club of New York will be opening an office in the Professional Building, 62 North Main St, Florida, NY effective January 2008. Good luck on this, our second in a series of six, list of trivia questions! 1) In what movie did Laurel & Hardy first appear together? 2) What was Laurel & Hardy’s last movie together? 3) In what John Wayne movie did Oliver Hardy have a part? 4) What producer created the team of Laurel & Hardy? 5) Name the actor with the brush mustache & wild eyes who played in many Laurel & Hardy films. Name: Phone: Mail to: The Allstate Insurance Agency, 62 North Main Street, Professional Bldg Ste 102, Florida, NY 10921 no later than 01 January, 2008 The Florida Onion December 2007 Page 7 Parent-to-Parent …….. by Norine Miller Cabin Fever by Nicole Quattrociocchi Winter recess is soon upon us. For children, a chorus of “yippee” can be heard through the peals of joy; for parents, the sigh of, “Oh, no, how will I keep my child busy with all of these days off?” is a common lament. With this year’s school calendar offering several cold weather respites from the daily routine of homework and tests, what can we do to keep our children occupied? What are some activities that do not include hours of playing Wii or watching television? If we are blessed with snow over the recess, the children (and parents!) can resort to some “old faithfuls” of winter play. Set up a snowman building competition, create snow angels in the backyard, go sledding, or engage in a snowball fight. The town ice skating park, found on Meadow Road next to the State Troopers’ barracks, will also be open for residents (Hours: Sunday to Thursday, 8 AM – 8 PM; Friday to Saturday, 8 AM – 10 PM). This park offers a nice opportunity to enhance your skating skills. If the weather does not cooperate, there are plenty of indoor activities to entertain children of all ages. Winter recess is a great opportunity to visit area attractions that are both entertaining and educational. The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, The Interactive Museum, or Museum of the Hudson Highlands are such sites. Check their websites for special times and events before venturing out. There are plenty of other activities to be found within a few miles of our town: roller skating, bowling, laser tag, indoor rock climbing, and pottery making are just a few examples. A visit to the local library is also an option. Your children can start a kids’ book club and meet several times over the winter break. Or take some time to explore a new hobby and check out a how-to book on it. Perhaps your child can learn to knit or bake. Speaking of baking, there’s nothing better than a home smelling like apple pie or chocolate chip cookies. Take advantage of the time off and bake with your child. Not only is it a great bonding experience but you’re working with math and the end result offers a nice reward! This is also a wonderful time to engage your child in the volunteer spirit by visiting area nursing homes to read to the elderly. What better way to spend our time off than in giving of our time to others? If you still hear complaints of “we’re bored,” great websites can be found when you google “winter activities for children” or “boredom busters.” Options such as making crystal snowballs, puppet show ideas, papier-mâché’ crafts and many more can be found on such websites as familyfun.go.com or kidsdomain.com. Don’t forget to allow for some good ol’ down time. There’s something to be said for staying in pajamas and watching old movies. Children are involved in so many after-school activities and time to “chill” out (no pun intended) is often lacking in their schedules. Of course, not each day should be spent in front of the television, but that’s where the above-mentioned suggestions come into play. It may take some planning and a little research, but winter recess can be an enjoyable time for children and parents alike. Here’s wishing the sighs of boredom will turn to peals of joy for all. Parent-to-Parent is wholly sponsored by the Golden Hill PTA Golden Hill PTA to Sponsor Holiday Market Why deal with the crowded mall when you can do all your holiday shopping right here in Florida? The Golden Hill PTA will be sponsoring a Holiday Market on Sunday, December 2, at Golden Hill Elementary School on Round Hill Road from 10 AM to 2 PM. We have a gift for everyone on your list! From handbags to home décor, candles to children’s book, our market will have it all. Admission is free and there will be refreshments and raffles. If you have any questions please call 508-6061. We look forward to seeing you there. Parent Workshops With Sandra Brownsey The Golden Hill PTA is hosting a series of Parent Workshops on November 27, December 3 and January 15 at Golden Hill Elementary School from 7:30 PM to 9 PM. The workshops are: Improving Cooperative Behaviors in Young Learners (Nov); Improving Homework Habits & Study Skills (Dec); and Improving Peer Relationships & Strategies For Accepting Differences In Others (Jan). All workshops will be presented by Sandra Brownsey, who has been a teacher for the past 17 years. She has taught in public and private schools, and has worked with many young children and their families through Early Invention and Preschool Services. Currently, Sandra is the Director of Special Education at Dynamic Therapy and Learning located in Florida. She continues to work with children, families and consults with various school districts. “We are pleased to be working Sandra Brownsey,” stated Golden Hill PTA President Allison Gill. “As an educator and a parent, Sandra’s knowledge and expertise will be beneficial to all parents.” As an added incentive to parents, the Florida Girl Scouts will provide baby sitting services to school-aged children during the workshops. Parents must register for the babysitting services. The workshops are open to parents of both Golden Hill and S.S. Seward students. If you would more information regarding these seminars, please contact Allison Gill at 651-1137. The Village of Florida in conjunction with the Florida Fire Department will sponsor the Annual Tree Lighting: 4:00 PM Friday December 7 at Village Hall The Florida Fire Department will be delivering Santa Claus, who will have some treats and gifts for all the children. All are welcome! Kids Night at the Florida Firehouse Parents, need a night out or some time to finish your holiday shopping? Here is your big opportunity: 3 worry-free hours without the kids! Bring your child to the Florida Firehouse and let us tend to them while you enjoy a night out on the town. Date: Saturday December 1, from 6 to 9 PM. Ages: 5-12. Cost: $10.00 per child or 3 for $ 25.00 Florida Fire Department members will be on hand to take the children around to several different work and play stations. We will also be giving all the children a special tour of the firehouse. Drinks and snacks will be provided. For more information please contact Kristen Moore at 845-590-3580. Counseling News and Views Blended Families and The Holidays By Ed Devaney The most recent rates of divorce in the United States reveals that of marriages taking place 15 years ago, over 40 percent have ended in divorce. Alarming as that is for couples with broken marriages, what if there are children? How about if mother and or father remarry? Trying to navigate the seemingly endless difficulties of agreeing on visitation, differing parenting styles, along with the multiple stressors of everyday life is a daunting task. Couple this with the inherent pressure of the holidays and the situation may become unmanageable. The common thread, whether you are a biological or step parent, is you obviously want your children to experience a harmonious and memorable holiday. Here are some ideas to help make this time of year less stressful. 1. Children are more perceptive than we may think. They often can sense tension between parents and sometimes blame themselves for parents’ arguing. “If I behaved better Mom and Dad wouldn't be fighting as much." Don't use the children as vehicles for resentment toward an ex-spouse. Although done unwittingly and without malice children may sometimes begin to believe that they are the source of the friction. Be cognizant and sensitive to this possibility and put the needs of the kids first. 2. How parents deal with conflict serves to teach children how to deal with disagreement. Teaching them to learn effective communication, listening skills and compromise will leave an indelible imprint regarding conflict resolution. If it's a few extra hours at Grandma's house, try to be flexible and look at the big picture. 3. Talk things through with family members. Make a conscious effort at trying not to harbor past wrongdoings and resentments. It's really not about who has control, rather what's in the best interest of the kids. 4. Emotions are on high alert during this time of year. Take this into account and when the seemingly inevetiable conflict arises take a deep breath and time to consider alternatives. Create ample time to plan so if there are issues everyone can take a day or two to bring reason back into the equation. 5. For some single parents having the children away from home on a holiday can magnify feelings of loss and loneliness. Don't go it alone, both your children and you will be better for it. Always keep in mind that the memories your are creating for your children will transcend time. So to all, may you have a happy holiday season filled with tradition and togetherness. Edward Devaney, LCSW-R is a licensed psychotherapist. His office is at 158 N. Main St, Florida; 651 9122 Page 8 The Florida Onion December 2007 Canine Corner The Right Dog For You By Shari Forst With the holidays drawing closer many people think about getting a dog as a holiday gift for their children and loved ones. Unfortunately a lot of people don’t think the idea through. Unlike the sweater from Aunt Mabel or the latest video game, a dog can’t be left in the back of a closet or stored in the CD rack after the novelty wears off. Animal shelters are loaded with unwanted dogs by January. Before getting a dog as a gift consider the recipient’s lifestyle. Dogs need a lot of attention, exercise and care. Do not opt for a German Shepherd or Labrador Retriever puppy if the person is not active and simply wants a dog to sit on the couch and watch TV with them. Senior citizens who had active working breeds in the past may not be as physically fit as they once were. They may be unable to walk dogs as often they used to and may not have the energy to run after a puppy. We sometimes hear “I’ve had German Shepherds all my life, and I never had one that acted like this.” This is because when the person was younger they weren’t fighting an illness, and could physically and emotionally handle the dog, giving them lots of exercise and attention. Before opting to give someone a puppy from a working breed, consider whether they have the time and physical and emotional energy to handle the dog. If not, look for an older dog that needs a home rather than a young puppy or young adult dog. WVHS News A dog is great for a family with kids, but you have to spend time raising them right. Dogs are like kids in many ways, except they never grow up and leave your household. If you have a young family and are constantly running from soccer practice to dance classes while working and running a household too, you must decide whether you can realistically make a commitment to the dog. Jenn Lennon and Suzyn Barron with Too often, people like the concept of having a family dog but don’t have the Meadow, a 1-year. old abandoned female time or patience to properly raise the dog they choose. And if you don’t have Catahoula mix. the time, the dream of a well mannered dog in your household can, in reality, become a nightmare. Another big mistake is getting a second dog, expecting that they will entertain each other and reduce the amount of time you need to spend with them. While it’s great for dogs to have companionship, you still need to spend quality time with each one. Two dogs are more work than one; not the other way around. Jenn Lennon of Warwick recently presented to Suzyn Barron, President of the Warwick Valley Humane Society a $500 check donation by BP Fabrics. Ms Lennon, a true animal lover, requested this donation for the organization. “This was a wonderful, unexpected large contribution to our Society, and we very much appreciate BP Fabrics generosity and Jenn's efforts to secure this donation for us," stated Suzyn Barron. Pet Photos with Santa at the Warwick Valley Humane Society Sat Dec. 1 and Sun. Dec. 2 from 12 noon until 3 PM with professional photographer, Chris Babicke. Rain/snow/shine. All pets and children welcome. $10/one, $18/two, $25/three photos to benefit the homeless animals at the Warwick Animal Shelter 48 Public Works Dr. off Kings Hwy. 986-2473 Before choosing a dog for yourself or others, do some research. Find out what the different breeds need in terms of exercise and care. Check with the breeder or shelter, and consult a professional to objectively tell you what will be necessary for a happy fit. Many reputable shelters and rescue places will allow you to bring a canine behaviorist along to evaluate the dog you are interested Pictured: Santa and the Ross Family in and help you choose the right dog for your lifestyle. They can help you plan Santa With Horse & Wagon To Visit The Village Of Warwick for a happy dog—and a happy household. On Sunday, December 9, Santa will be visiting in his sled at the Railroad Green Canine Case Squad can be reached at 845-651-DOGS (3647) or by email: from 12 Noon – 3 PM. The Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and member [email protected] realtors sponsor this event, which includes photos with Santa, and a Horse & Wagon ride through the downtown area. Call the Chamber office (986-2720) for Golden Floridians to Have Guest Speakers more information. The Golden Floridians will have a business meeting with guest speaker, Ceil Kutny from Antiques and Flowers on Wednesday, December 5 at 1 PM in the Free Parking in Downtown Warwick Until January 1 Florida Senior Center, Cohen Circle. Also, Mr. Burnside, Superintendent of In keeping with the holiday season, The Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce the Florida Union Free School District, will speak on the proposed renovation is once again decorating the parking meters. In cooperation with the Village of Warwick, there will be free parking from Thanksgiving until January 1, 2008. project. The Florida Onion December 2007 Page 9 FLORIDA UNION FREE FUFSD Please address any comments about this FUFSD publication to Superintendent of Schools Douglas Burnside SCHOOL DISTRICT www.FloridaUFSD.org 845-651-3095 Telephone Special Vote December 11 Bond Plan Calls for Improving, Updating Basic Building Systems Florida UFSD voters will have the opportunity to fund basic facility upgrades in a special bond election to be held December 11. The plan, which totals $4.8 million of prioritized work, will cost approximately $4 per month for an average home in our community. Building needs in the areas of heating and ventilation, electrical systems, roofing, doors and ceilings, and many other key areas have been established in the plan. These are not frivolous items; they ensure that our schools continue to operate safely and efficiently. Of course, as your Superintendent of Schools, I am also extremely concerned about cost. Conducting a bond project like the one our Board has proposed offers taxpayers a reasonable, moderate way of taking care of our buildings. Deferring these projects only costs more in the long run, which is why I urge you to carefully weigh the benefits of this project in preparation for the December 11 vote. There is another important component of the project we want to take advantage of on December 11th. Through the Expanding our Children’s Education and Learning (EXCEL) legislation, the State of New York is offering a grant to all school districts in the state for the facilities projects we are contemplating. Many districts throughout the State have already conducted successful public votes to capture this money, and more are planned in the future. In order for our district to receive this EXCEL grant, voters must approve a capital project proposition. Establishing Priorities We utilized an expert professional team to establish the basis for this plan. Working with our buildings and grounds staff, this team of Triton Construction (construction manager) and BBS Architects created a major facilities study this summer that established priorities for facility improvement over the next five years, as required by the State Education Department. This document is the guide to ensure the district’s existing school building investment is carefully preserved. The highest priorities in this plan have been included in the project. Some of the work may not have to take place for several years and will be included in future capital budgets. But the good news is that we have created a clear understanding of our facility challenges and we have a plan to address them. The project you will vote on revolves around the upgrade or replacement of existing building infrastructure at Golden Hill, S.S. Seward Institute, and the Seward Memorial building. Roofing, windows, boilers, doors, sidewalks, drainage – these are the projects that will be completed, and they must be addressed to keep our buildings safe and efficient. A public vote will take place on Tuesday, December 11, 2007 in the music room at SS Seward Institute from 6 AM - 9 PM. Residents are welcome to attend our public information meeting on December 6 at the SS Seward Institute cafetorium at 6:30 PM. For those who aren’t registered to vote, a special voter registration day will take place on December 6 from 3 PM to 7 PM in the Music Room of SS Seward Institute. On behalf of our Board and district educators, I urge you to participate in this election. I believe this is a worthy project that is deserving of your consideration, and I hope you will take the time to familiarize yourself with it through the special publication we have sent to all households (also available on our district website). Please feel free to call me directly with any questions about this plan, or email your questions to [email protected]. Douglas W. Burnside Douglas W. Burnside Superintendent of Schools Florida UFSD’s A+ Employees of the Month December 2007: Eleanor “D” Baird In March 1987, Eleanor “D” Baird started working for the Florida UFSD at Golden Hill in the main office. Several PPS directors and principals later, Eleanor’s home for the past 10 years has been in Seward’s Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) Office. She was nominated for Seward A+ Employee of the Month by her coworker and close friend, Linda Sontag. Eleanor “D” is one of Mrs. Baird’s nicknames, coming from a conversation at lunch a few years ago. We were joking about what we’d do if we won the lottery. “I don’t care how much money I win,“ Eleanor said. “Just make sure that they put the right name on the check. It’s Eleanor “D” Baird!” She has been teased about this ever since! Joseph Giordano A well-loved custodian, Joe Giordano was nominated by Library Media Specialist, Marlayne Sick. She explains: “I nominated Joe because of his zest for life and dedication to his work. He is an asset to our Golden Hill family. His spirit and work ethic are two qualities we should all model ourselves after.” Having retired from employment in New York City, Joseph Giordano came to the Florida school district 11 years ago. He and his wife, Jean, moved from the Bronx to Chester to be closer to family in Cornwall and Monroe. When his wife saw Florida’s ad in the paper for a part-time custodian, she asked him what he had to lose by applying. “I get itchy,” he said, “when I don’t have something to do with my hands.” Another fond nickname, used most often by her friends in the business office, is “Ollie.” Her dear nephew, Michael, had given her that name and when his So, Joe applied for the job and he has been helping Golden Hill to sparkle for dad referred to Eleanor as “Ollie,” when they were both in the business office, over a decade now. “I was only going to take it for a year or so,” he laughed. “I was lucky to find this job.” He and his coworker, Mario, have been a team for the name just stuck. As you can see, Eleanor makes an impression on people! the past 5 years. “We get along wonderful,” Joe said. When she was first at Golden Hill, Eleanor had a lot of varying responsibilities, from clerical work to cafeteria work. “Anything they told you to do, you did back What about changes that Joe has seen at Golden Hill over the years? “All for the better,” he said. “The new wing here and at Seward…And the night in those days,” Eleanor reminisced. “I did a little bit of everything.” activities and after-school programs.” Over the years, Eleanor has seen a lot of changes in the world of Special Education in our PPS office. “When I started, everything was handwritten, or at Joe takes great pride in his work and he isn’t stingy with compliments for his the most, typed. Now everything is web-based.” Also, the number of students co-workers. He credits Tom Andryshak for having a keen eye for detail, because receiving special education has grown over time, with the pre-school numbers that really helps to maintain excellent building conditions. “I get along well with Tom,” Joe explained. “He was supervisor here at Golden Hill when I increasing from 2 to 36. “That’s the biggest increase,“ Eleanor commented. came.” He went on to say “I wouldn’t want my child or grandchild to walk into Fortunately, Eleanor feels that the quality of her co-workers has made all the a dirty classroom or bathroom. All the custodians…we think the same. We all difference, no matter how much her job responsibilities have expanded. “I work as a team. Our relationship is really good.” work with the most wonderful people here. That is the greatest benefit of working in a small school district. I’ve always been blessed. And the parents Joe’s pleasure in his job has everything to do with the people that surround him. His dark eyes twinkle when he’s asked about kids today. are the most caring, wonderful people.” Continued on page 10 Continued on page 11 Page 10 The Florida Onion December 2007 S.S. Seward Please address any comments about this FUFSD publication to Superintendent of Schools Douglas Burnside www.FloridaUFSD.org 845-651-3095 Telephone Another Team to Cheer For State and Section IX Championship banners have been proudly raised time and time again in the gymnasium of SS Seward Institute, which has produced some of the finest athletes and sports teams in the Hudson Valley for decades. Yet, on the crisp autumn morning of November 14, Seward students set out on a competition that would not take place on a soccer field, basketball court, or baseball diamond. Instead, the fledgling Academic Team, implemented by Principal Michael S. Rheaume, traveled to the studios of The News 12 Networks in New York City for “The Challenge,” a Tri-State area high school competition. The team was valiantly represented by Sophomore David O’Neill, Senior Katie Wagner, Freshman Kathleen Wilson, Senior Etkin Tekin, and alternate Junior Justin Morena. Advisors Ed Holst and Ronnie Wynn, and a cheering section of 30 Seward students, watched as the Seward team battled Thornton-Donovan of New Rochelle for 3 rounds of History, English, Math, and Science. Entering the third and final round in a dead heat, the team impressed all with their vast knowledge base, yet came up one question short as the final buzzer sounded to signify the end of the game. Still, Kathleen Wilson stated: “It was awesome!” The Challenge with Seward/Thornton-Donovan will broadcast on February 2 In their first academic battle, the students of SS Seward gave Florida another team and February 3 at 6:30 PM and 9:30 PM on Channel 12. to cheer for in the many years to come Submitted by Nick Pantaleone Seward Honors 'Spartans of Excellence' The Spartans of Excellence from SS Seward Institute were recently honored by their teachers, staff, administration and peers. The students honored all have at least a 90% average in their respective classes and have shown leadership in and outside the classroom. Teachers nominate deserving students in this highly competitive recognition program. Students receive a coupon booklet, certificate and are treated to lunch at the school. Congratulations to all the Spartans of Excellence! Students’ Letters Published in 'Current Events' Two Grade 8 Social Studies students recently had their "letters-to-the-editor" published in the "Current Events" Weekly Reader magazine, a national publication that is used in the Middle School Social Studies classes at SS Seward. Michael Montouri's letter concerning the use of MP3 players in school was published in the November 5, 2007 issue. Alyson Pikul's letter on judges using shame as a punishment in criminal cases can be found in the November 12, 2007 edition. Students are encouraged to write to "Current Events" with their opinions to the two main stories in each issue. Michael’s and Alyson's letters are the latest of 7 letters by Seward students to be published in the last 3 school years. Submitted by Mark Stewart Spartan Added To Seward Lobby Local Artist Lends His Pride To School Pictured: Ryan Christian, Anthony Bailey, Ben Grawi, Dylan Hayes, Danny Collins, Jake Kinley, Alyssa Kamrowski, Kevin O’Neill, Charlotte Diefenbach, Allison Faliski, Heather Fraser, Gabrielle Villari, Susan Collins, Brooke Howell, Nick Ullman, Alex Lyon and Sarah Gaeta. Kathleen Folkl not in picture. Eleanor “D” Baird, continued from page 9 Of course, the most important people in Eleanor’s life are her family members: husband of 35 years, Bob: Mom and Dad, Eleanor and Vince Brown; daughter Stephanie, a federal research analyst, and her husband Mike; son Rob, a NYS Trooper, his wife Kerry, and their 15-month-old baby, Robert. Proud Grandma Eleanor beams when she says: “He is the joy of my life…The absolute joy of my life!” Local stained glass artisan Wilhem Post has tackled many different projects to help bring the beauty and uniqueness of stained glass to many local establishments. During the 2006-07 school year he spoke with Principal Michael Rheaume about making a donation to the school that reflected the tremendous pride all those affiliated with the school have. After several meetings Mr. Post derived his plan, which was to construct a stained glass portrait of the school’s mascot- a Spartan, in the school colors of orange and blue. Mr. Post then began his work, piecing each glass section together with care. Working from a printed picture of the Seward Spartan, Mr. Post used his talents to build a stunning and beautiful piece of art. After its completion, the Spartan was brought to Seward to be displayed, which was no easy task. The piece measures approximately 3 feet across by 4 feet high and weighs close to 100 pounds. All agreed that the piece would be displayed in a place of honor, where all who entered the school would see it. Now proudly displayed in the lobby of Seward, the Spartan looks over all who walk the school’s halls as a reminder of the school’s strong traditions and great future, while paying respect to the artist behind the art, Mr. Post. Students in the school have embraced the Spartan, and comment frequently about how “cool” the lobby looks. SS Seward Institute and their Spartans continue to make the community proud in the classroom, athletic fields and workplace. The strong ties to the community, as shown by Mr. Post, guarantee a great future for the school. Said Mr. Rheaume, “Spartan pride is alive in our school and community, I cannot thank Mr. Post enough for his time and talent. The Spartan piece is stunning and shows our school pride every day.” Lady Spartain: State Champs Again! continued from page 1 The Lady Spartans still had 19 minutes to hold their lead, but that would not be a problem. The strong defensive unit led by tournament Most Valuable Goalie Alina Greiser secured their team’s place in history by preserving the shutout. The wild celebration ensued and didn’t stop until the dedicated Florida Fire When you stop by the Baird residence, you may Department escorted the team on a triumphant ride into town. It was hard to tell whose smile was biggest: notice the welcoming dining room and the table full the team, their parents, or the dedicated community members who follow the team to the far reaches of of tasty delights like bowties with chicken, artichoke New York State. On this night, nobody seemed to care that winter was creeping up on us. hearts and sun-dried tomatoes. If you’re really lucky, Eleanor will have made her fabulous spaghetti and Coach Joe DiMattina once again did a wonderful job crafting a new team in August to a championship meatballs. “For really good food,” she grinned, squad in November. The team played a very difficult schedule that prepared them for the postseason battles. Each and every member of the squad put in long hours and strenuous practices to reach this “there’s nothing like the basics!” ambitious goal. They have all made a school and community very proud. On our Homecoming Day 2007, We thank you, Eleanor, for always going well beyond “the we honored our State Champion 1987 Girls’ Soccer Team. Lady Spartans 2007 State Champions: consider basics” in our PPS office. We couldn’t do it without you! yourselves invited to Homecoming Day 2027…it seems to bring good luck! Submitted by Dr. Paula Aston Cover photos: Mark Stewart and Robert Demetry The Florida Onion December 2007 Page 11 On The Hill Please address any comments about this FUFSD publication to Superintendent of Schools Douglas Burnside www.FloridaUFSD.org 845-651-3095 Telephone AEDs Donated to FUFSD The Florida Union Free School District was the recipient of a generous donation given by ZRCI and the Hamling Family. Peter, Darla and Thom Hamling presented funds to be used to purchase AEDs (Automatic External Defibrillators). The district was able to purchase four additional AEDs that will be placed in identified areas that would facilitate their use in a cardiac emergency. It is reported that a prompt response by a CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) rescuer using an AED leads to survival rates of 50% or higher which is significant when only 2-5% survival rates are reported with CPR alone. Records indicate approximately 450,000 people die each year of sudden cardiac arrest and 7,000-10,000 are children. Our sincere thanks to ZRCI and the Hamling Family for helping our school district provide an environment that is better prepared to respond to emergencies for staff, students and visitors in our school settings. Submitted by Marl eneLysack, RN Orange County Historian Visits Golden Hill Operation Safe Child By Student Reporter Emily Godsey By Student Reporter Andrew Meier On October 24, 2007, Golden Hill Elementary School had the Orange County Sheriff’s Department come. They came for the Operation Safe Child. Forty-eight children were fingerprinted and photographed. This event was sponsored by the Safety Patrol under the watchful eye of Mrs. Sick our Safety Patrol Coordinator. The children got a free card with a picture, their fingerprints and some writing like their names and their eye color. Mrs. Martinez, parent of Jonathan Martinez (a third grader) said, ”This event is so important. It gives you peace of mind if ever you may need it" Brrrr-It’s Cold Outside! The temperature is dropping! Please help remind your children to dress appropriately—coats, hats, gloves, boots, etc—for the daily outdoor recess period. Golden Hill Elementary School 2007-2008 Honor Roll: 1st Quarter Theodore W. Sly visited the fourth grade at Golden Hill Elementary. He brought the students back in time. First, he talked about the mastodon. He told them that Orange County is where more mastodons lived than in any other place in the world. Next, he brought us back to 1929. He told the students that the first Mickey Mouse video was “Steam Boat Willy” and how his mother had known Walt Disney personally. Then he brought them back again to 1917 showing them artifacts from World War I. He showed them a gas mask and taught them the dangers of the gas. After that, he showed a wash board and talked about how the wash was done without a washing machine as we know today. He talked about live stock and the work people do on a barn. Then, he showed a rug beater and how it worked. Next came the time of Alexander Graham Bell. Mr. Sly talked about the telephone. The time during wood stoves was next and then ironing and the incredible heat it took to make an iron hot enough to get out the wrinkles. Lastly, the students were brought back to 1776 and the American Flag. Mr. Sly was very interesting and we really appreciate the time he took to come and visit us here at Golden Hill. Emergency Early Dismissal Telephone Chain Two or three parents from each class have accepted the responsibility of phoning those parents that requested a telephone call during the Emergency Early Dismissal Please keep the school informed of your home, work, and emergency numbers. Please have a back up plan should the parent/school be unable to reach someone. Make the plan clear and easy for your child so he/she can understand what he or she is supposed to do if leaving early. In addition, please listen to local radio stations listed in the FUFSD’s 2007-2008 Calendar. Special thanks to all the parent callers! We can’t do it without you. We’re also especially thankful to Janice Morgese and Heidi Lyon who created the new database and entered the data as well as organize the parent lists. Thank you one and all! Submitted by Ronald DePace Mrs. Coppola Jordan Block Joseph Diaz Breanne Kovatch James Sfugaras Hailee Stangeby Kathryn Warren Mr. Brown Melissa Anderson Morgan Beattie Julia Birch Kayla Campana Heather Morris Allison Stam Mrs. Coppola Lena Bullock Destiny Durante Nicholas Murabito Allison Saturno Andrew Tomassi Mr. Brown Stephen Cushing Katherine Moos Andrew Sgombick John Sheridan Kyra Sullivan High Honor Roll 4th Grade Mrs. Crespo Eric Block Paisley Campbell Annmarie Chiappone Michael Folina Ashley Gallagher Sara Kovatch Nicole Melody Olivia Nicholson Kyle Straub Mikaella Verblaauw 5th Grade Mr. Healy Emily Cannillo Alicia Cohen Andrew Meier Taylor Wierzbicki Honor Roll 4th Grade Mrs. Crespo Samantha Assini Benjamin Conklin Cyrah Mills Mrs. Fisch Catherine Bula Ryan DeJong Natasha Duran Cole Gill Katie Kobylaski Luke Pikoulas Morgan Schultz Kara Shaughnessy Taylor Ubides Ms. Rohn Stephen Cannillo Allison McKelvey Mark Ng Caleb Pawelski Micaela Quattrociocchi Mrs. Fisch Elizabeth Bisone William Connaughton Christopher Dwyer Jessica Giza Kailin Kovatch Martin Mazzie Allison Wanczyk Levi Ward 5th Grade Mr. Healy Olivia Capone-Phillips Emily Godsey Alyssa Gentile Ryan Matthes Ms. Rohn Avery Aguas Sam Bonder Colin Kenny Amber Sommella Joseph Giordano, continued from Page 9 “They’re a little smarter these days, with the computers and internet and television.” He says that the majority of the students do their part to keep Golden Hill beautiful but he offers this suggestion to the few who might need a little reminder now and then: “Pick up all your stuff when you leave the classroom. Your stuff makes it harder for us to clean.” “Teachers are wonderful,” Joe commented. “They are always nice to me.” One way that parents can help teachers, Joe says, is to “look into things a little deeper,” if a teacher expresses a concern. “Don’t say ‘Not my child.’ Give teachers a chance. This is just my personal opinion.” So what does Joe do in his free time? “Whatever my wife wants,” he said. “We go to the mall and walk. We go shopping. Whatever she wants to do, we do.” Even in this day and age, with family all over the place, when it is holiday time at the Giordano home, “The door is open.” Whether they come from working here or there or from college, family members are always welcome. Just remember, Joe, we all think of YOU as family, too! Thanks for everything that you do, to make Golden Hill a golden place! Submitted by Dr. Paula Aston Page 12 The Florida Onion December 2007 On The Hill Please address any comments about this FUFSD publication to Superintendent of Schools Douglas Burnside www.FloridaUFSD.org November Grade News Kindergarten November was filled with many Thanksgiving activities. After learning how the Native American Indians and the Pilgrims celebrated the First Thanksgiving together, the three kindergarten classes enjoyed a delicious Thanksgiving Feast together in the lunchroom! Thank you to all those who came and contributed something to our celebration. We trust that the kindergarten parents enjoyed decorating the paper turkeys with their children. We were impressed with their creativity! The turkeys were covered with everything from feathers to nuts and did much to decorate the hallway and classrooms for the Thanksgiving season! We also enjoyed meeting with our parents for conferences this month. Communication between teachers and parents is the key to ensure your child’s success in school. Feel free to contact your child’s teacher whenever you have a question or concern. We now have begun preparing for our Winter Show. Mark the date on your calendar if you haven’t already done so: Friday, December 14 at 9:30 AM. It’s a show you won’t want to miss! First Grade The first graders have again spent a busy month with many activities. An enjoyable time was had by all at our “Fall Snack.” We celebrated the fall season with a special snack and parents coming to our classroom to read fall stories. Thank you for encouraging reading. In math we continue hands-on experiences as we explore partitioning a number into two and three parts while also learning math vocabulary. November reminds us about our freedom to vote and how the democratic process takes play. The children learned about Veterans Day and how important our veterans are, and were, in keeping our country strong and free. Thanksgiving has been a time to apply social studies and science while collecting food for our class basket. We made a list of things we are thankful for. We learned about nutrition and the importance of eating healthy foods. Caring and sharing has been demonstrated by becoming aware of the needs of others. Thank you for supporting the Youth Ending Hunger through your generous donations. We’d like to thank the PTA for providing a wonderful Book Fair and the first grade families for their generous book donations for our classroom. Parent-Teacher conferences were well attended. It was an important time to get to know you and your child better. Thank you for your support and interest. Third Grade November has proven to be another exciting month in third grade! The third graders are off to a great start with their cursive writing. They’re really excited about learning a new form of writing. They are working hard to form their lower-case letters properly. In Science we completed our study of muscles and will begin learning about the water cycle and weather conditions. Soon we’ll know how to tell what the weather will be like by looking at the clouds. The third grade teachers really enjoyed meeting with you to discuss your child’s progress during parent-teacher conferences. We appreciate your help in making this school year a successful one. We hope you enjoyed the letters of love and gratitude that your child wrote to you this Thanksgiving. They certainly have a lot of love in their hearts! We wish you a happy and healthy holiday season and look forward to our continued partnership in the New Year. Fourth Grade The first marking period for the 2007-2008 school year ended in the beginning of November. We would like to congratulate the students who made the High Honor Roll and the Honor Roll for the first quarter. Keep up the great work! We would also like to thank all of the parents who attended Parent/Teacher Conferences. Your support is always greatly appreciated. The Bring a Friend to Lunch program also occurred in November for the 4th grade classes. The students were very excited to have someone special join them for lunch. Everyone involved had a wonderful time. Thank you to all who came to eat with us. The students have been working hard in class this past month. They have started preparing for the fourth grade English Language Arts test that will be given on January 8, 9, and 10. They are working on developing their reading, writing, and listening skills. To prepare for Thanksgiving, the students wrote about what they were thankful for, created poems, or wrote Thanksgiving stories. We hope everyone had a happy and safe holiday! 845-651-3095 Telephone What it Means to be a Volunteer Firefighter Each year, 4th and 5th grade students at Golden Hill are invited to write an essay about what it means to be a volunteer firefighter. Here are some of this year’s winning essays. There are more on page 13, along with Jeff Babcock’s own views on what it means to be a volunteer in the Florida Fire Department. Samantha Assini (4th Grade) A volunteer firefighter is a firefighter who works without pay. Volunteers teach people in our community from young to old. They teach the rules of fire safety so that every person can protect themselves against the dangers of fire. Volunteers take the opportunity to protect lives, homes, and dreams. When my mother was young her house got struck by lightning and the volunteers took time out of their busy schedules to come to her house and put out the fire. My mom and my grandparents were very thankful. They also take time to come to my school and talk about fire safety. They talked about getting out of your house and staying out. They also talked about saving your pets and told us not to get our own pets because then we would be in danger. Volunteers also have to go through all of the same training that paid firemen do. Volunteers probably wanted to be firefighters because they care about people and don’t want them to get hurt. These people are our friends and they might scare you when they have their fire clothes on but they are only trying to help you. My uncle is a volunteer firefighter in the Village of Florida, NY. He’s been there for many years and has done allot for our town. Sometimes the volunteers help rescue cats that are stuck in trees. They are always there for us even if they have to get out of bed in the middle of the night and we wouldn’t want to be without them! Ryan Matthes (5th Grade) I think a volunteer firefighter is someone who is brave, caring, and puts other people’s safety before their own. They are not only risking their lives, but they are also giving up part of their lives to do this important work. When there is a fire, the volunteer firefighter will know that he or she is needed by their beeper or by hearing the siren. Once they are notified, they must stop whatever they are doing, and get to the fire. Sometimes the volunteer firefighter is at their regular job, sometimes they are at their kid’s soccer game, and sometimes they are at home sleeping. But, no matter what they are doing, they stop because people’s lives depend on them. Being a volunteer firefighter is hard work. There is a lot of heavy equipment that must be brought to the fire, like ladders, hoses, crowbars and axes. The fire can last for many hours and sometimes the weather makes their job even harder. In the summer, the volunteer firefighter can easily get overheated wearing their turnout gear. And, in the winter the temperatures are often below freezing. This can cause the run-off from the hoses to turn to ice, which can be very dangerous. Windy weather is probably the worst because it can cause the fire to spread more quickly, and make it harder to get the fire under control. In addition to saving people’s lives, the volunteer firefighter also saves people’s pets and property. And, they do all of this hard and dangerous work for no pay. The volunteer firefighter is a very special person. They care about people, and are willing to risk their lives for others. And, the only thing they get in return is the good feeling that people get when they know they are doing the right thing. Jordan Block (4th Grade) What does it mean to be a volunteer firefighter? It can mean many things. It is a big responsibility because a volunteer’s most important job is to save people’s lives and property. In order to be a volunteer firefighter, you have to train very hard. A volunteer has to be willing to sacrifice his or her time to train, having many things to learn. They need to know how to treat people who are hurt. They must have lots of training to learn how to treat people with different kinds of injuries. They learn a lot of physical tasks, like using a ladder and ropes for climbing. They must practice aiming the nozzle of the hose. It takes skill to make sure they water goes where it supposed to go. In order to do these tasks, they have to be in good shape: staying in shape requires a lot of physical training. There are many special tools firefighters must use. One is called the jaws of life. It is a very powerful tool that can cut through metal. The fire department has to earn money by holding carnivals and other fundraisers. The money is used to buy and take care of equipment. This is another example of volunteers sacrificing their time. The reasons why some volunteers want to be firefighters may be because they want to help their community and the people around them. Another reason may be that they enjoy the friendship of the other firefighters. Whatever the reason, volunteer firefighters have a lot of courage and are very brave to risk their lives helping others. I am thankful to the volunteer firefighters because of what they do for our community. The Florida Onion December 2007 Page 13 Firelines year of joining the department. Each member in the fire department must also have at least 8 hours of OSHA training a year and must make a minimum of 10% of the yearly calls. The Florida Fire Department handled about 250 calls last year. What it Means to be a Florida Fireman by Jeff Babcock It was over 17 years ago, when I decided to join the Florida Fire Department. Why? I had friends and co-workers who were in the fire department, I wanted to try something new and different, and probably most of all I wanted to provide a service to the great Village of Florida, from where I was born, raised and live. The Florida Fire Department is made up of Village of Florida residents—men and women—who VOLUNTEER their time and efforts. That’s right, we are volunteers, though it’s a common misconception that local fire department members are paid. Anyone who is 16 or older and has resided in the village for a year or longer can apply to join the Florida Fire Department. Residents who are 16 or 17 years old may join as junior members, becoming regular members at the age of 18. Anyone over the age of 18 may apply for regular membership. Applying for membership in the department means filling out a fire department application (that must be notarized), having a physical exam from your doctor, and submitting the yearly dues of $12 with the application. The application is forwarded for review to an internal department “investigating committee” whose job it is to check the applicant’s credentials. Every person applying must also have an arson check performed by the local Sheriff's Department. The investigating committee meets with the applicant to ask some general questions about their background and why they want to join. Then the application is presented to the general membership at the next regularly scheduled department meeting (the first Monday of every month at the firehouse) for the deciding vote. If approved, the investigating committee submits the applicant to the District fire commissioners for final approval. Now the fun begins. Each new member needs to complete many hours of training to be allowed to fight fires, handle equipment, and enter burning buildings. The required training for new members must be completed within a Members can continue their training and become leaders within the department. Many people see the “Line Officer“ side of the department at fire scenes, which consists of 3 Chiefs (Chief, First Assistant and Second Assistant) and 4 Line Officers (First Captain, Second Captain, First Lieutenant and Second Lieutenant). There is also a “Civil Line” in the department which consists of a President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and a Financial Secretary. These people are responsible for making the fire department run smoothly and efficiently. Now that you understand what it takes to become a member of the Florida Fire Department let me tell you what it means to me to be a Florida Fire Department member. It is more than just responding to the next emergency call. It is about helping the community that I was born, raised, live, and work in. It is about working with everyone in the village to make it a better place to live. As department members, we are very proud to help the village residents in any way possible. You will see many of us at the annual Christmas Tree Lighting at Village Hall. You probably saw us on Halloween night leading the parade of children and adults down Main Street, then doing the costume judging at the firehouse. Or maybe you saw us at the American Legion Post 1250 Memorial Day Parade, or at FunFest, selling chicken on a stick or raffle tickets. You see, we don’t just fight fires and respond to emergencies, we help serve the community in many different ways. At the current time I am an apparatus driver for the department. I have chaired many committees within the department and helped with many fund raising events throughout the years. I have served as Department President for 3 years and I am currently running for the same position for the 2008 year. I am very proud and honored to say that I have been the recipient of both the “Fireman of the Year” and “Outstanding Member of the Year” during my tenure as a fire department member. I became a Florida Fireman so I could help protect my fellow residents, and I also became a member so I could serve the Village of Florida and make it a better place for all of us to live. How about you? Do you want to serve the Florida community and make it a safe place for everyone? If the answer is yes, feel free to stop by the firehouse to talk to us and pick up an application. We definitely need new members. What it Means to be a Volunteer Firefighter, continued from page 12 Kayla Campana (5th Grade) Volunteer firefighters are a very important part of our community. They rescue people from burning buildings, and they can also get cats down from trees. I learned some interesting things about volunteer firefighters, and I hope you enjoy reading my essay. Colin Kenny (5th Grade) Volunteer fire fighters are the first responders to many emergencies. It seems to me that volunteer firefighters all have a few things in common. They are all brave and strong, and they all have a commitment to the community. Day or night you can always count on the volunteer fire department to respond to all kinds of emergencies, whether it’s Volunteer firefighters do their job just to help a fire, car accident, or even a public service call. others in need. They don’t get paid, and they volunteer their time so they can help or teach Volunteer fire fighters wear special equipment people in our community about fire safety. including boots, gloves, helmets, and jackets and Volunteer firefighters risk their lives to help save pants, sometimes called bunker gear. A fire fighter’s lives. I am grateful for all the work that best protection when in a fire is an air pack. This firefighters do for us. air pack connects to a mask and provides necessary oxygen. When you are able to sign up to be a volunteer firefighter, you don’t have to do it. The people A firefighter’s best weapon is a hose, used to who do it are doing it to help the community. control and eventually extinguish a fire. Most They also teach us a lot of things about fire people believe all fires can be fought with water, safety. Firefighters make sure kids understand but this is not true. For instance, water could that they are not scary. They just sound funny actually spread a gasoline or chemical fire, so because they breathe loudly through their masks. special foams are used to smother these types of They taught me to stop, drop, and roll while fires. covering my face if my clothes catch on fire. I also Fire fighters have to be physically fit and mentally learned that I should have a family meeting place, alert at all times. Situations in a fire can and so that I can meet my family away from the fire. If sometimes do, change quickly, and the safety of the volunteer firefighters didn’t take the time to explain public and brother firefighters depend on their this to us, we wouldn’t know what to do during a actions. fire. Firefighters really care about our safety. A firefighter must be able to wear gear and carry Firefighters have many characteristics like being equipment that is very heavy, and at the same brave, strong, kind, courageous, and helpful. They time carry a person out of a fire. Volunteer fire are brave because they risk their own lives to save fighters receive special training and practice people in danger. They are strong and courageous regularly, to work as a team, to reduce injuries because they have the courage and strength to go and save lives. They also drill with new into dangerous situations. They are also kind and firefighting and safety equipment. The tools fire helpful because they care about our safety, and fighters use have improved a lot since fire help keep our community safe. Firefighters show companies arrived in horse drawn engines with these characteristics in what they do. buckets. Because we have volunteer firefighters, I know I have a great respect for volunteer firefighters, what to do when there is a fire. They teach us for all they do and all they give to their things like to get out and stay out of the house. communities. When everyone is running out of a They also do other things like going into a fire. burning building they are the only ones running We should appreciate everything that volunteer in. Thank you volunteer firefighters of America! firefighters do for us. I have learned a lot about volunteer firefighters while writing this essay, and I hope you did too! Natasha Duran (4th Grade) Volunteer firefighters are one of the most important people in our community. Volunteer firefighters take their free time to learn about being a firefighter. They are important to our community because when we have a fire in our community they help put the fire out. When the fire department has meetings the volunteer firefighters are allowed to go. They go to the meetings to learn how to do CPR which helps people stay alive. They are also trained to rescue your pets. They are also trained to get you out of a burning house safely. Firefighters try and get as much stuff out as they can. They’re on duty 24-7. Even though they don’t get paid they still love doing this job. They assist the police with car accidents. They are trained to use special tools to help people get out of their cars. In closing, I’d like to say that volunteer firefighters are needed in our community. I’d also like to say THANK YOU to the firefighters. Page 14 The Florida Onion December 2007 4 Cohen Circle Florida, NY 10921 (845)651-7659 www.rcls.org/fpl A member of Ramapo Catskill Library System and the Orange Library Association Tellabration! A Great Success Florida Public Library’s 8th Annual Tellabration! on Saturday, November 17 was a great success with storytellers and story listeners alike in agreement that the new candlelit café format was the best ever. Library Director Madelyn Folino said “We’ve tried other venues for Tellabration! but decided to come back to the library for a cozy, intimate feeling and our story lovers really appreciated it. There’s no place like home!” Tellabration! is a worldwide and trademarked benefit day of storytelling sponsored by the National Storytelling Network and is always held on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Locally, the event is produced by the Black Dirt Storytelling Guild which meets monthly at the library on the second Thursday at 7:30 p.m. This year’s event raised money and collected donations of packaged and canned items for the Florida Food Pantry. Tellabration! 2007 was an afternoon of traditional storytelling filled with a variety of wonderful tales from around the world, as well as intriguing personal reminiscences of days gone by in Orange County. Anne Hanson of Florida accompanied herself with harp and drum as she opened the show with the Romanian folktale “Mizilca,” the story of a woman warrior who outwits the sultan. Eileen Stelljes of Walden, another founding member of the BDSG, shared memories and adventures of growing up at Orange Lake. tribal story on the origin of the sweathouse, while Guild member Debra Weber elicited much laughter with her rendition of “Abu Kassem’s Slippers,” a comic tale from Baghdad about some cursed and troublesome footwear. Madelyn Folino told her version of “Demeter and Persephone,” a favorite Greek myth about the seasons. Florida police officer Stan Lupinski made his debut as a storyteller by taking the audience on a bike ride through the village of Chester in 1960, as seen through his 12 year old eyes. Rosemarie Werkman, a resident of Washingtonville for 81 years and the Orange County Poet Laureate, treated listeners to a story entitled “Walking Uptown 60 Years Ago.” Kathy Wilson, age 15 and making her fifth appearance at Tellabration!, told a Blackfoot Times-Herald Record writer Chris Farlekas added to the story with his observations about Greek holiday customs, as well as sharing his original version of “Cinderella.” Author Pam Schembri of Montgomery grabbed the audience with “Cold Feet,” a chilling tale of dead men’s boots told in the persona of a Civil War drummer boy. The show ended with Anne Hanson’s Appalachian tall tale of “Good Shootin’” and the storytellers wrapped up another successful celebration of their spoken art with candlelit wishes for their listeners. Afterwards, storytellers and their families shared a delicious potluck supper organized by Guild member Maria Martinez. Stories continued well into the evening. The Black Dirt Storytelling Guild’s next meeting is on December 13 and all adults age 16 and up are invited to join in to tell a story or just listen. Stories for the evening are dedicated to the theme of “Prophecies, Blessings and Curses.” For more information or directions, call the FPL at (845) 6517659. The Florida Onion December 2007 Page 15 Glass Houses Accurate Appraisals… A Good Thing! When you are getting an appraisal it is very important to be accurate. A very common occurrence during the appraisal of a property is the homeowner, and sometimes the lender, asking to get the highest value possible and in some cases considerably over the highest value possible. In the current Real Estate/Credit crisis, borrowers have become increasingly desperate and are told by the lender what value they need on the property in order to qualify for a new loan or mortgage. This has become a major problem. Pack 44 Wolf Den#1 enjoyed a beautiful autumn day apple and pumpkin picking at Pennings Farm and Market. Thanks to Mr. Jack Pennings for a great time and an awesome hayride! Travel With Marci My Mom went to Florida and all I got was this T-shirt by Marci Oakley Do you have a souvenir that recalls a glorious time you had on a vacation? Is it something memorable that you will pass along to your children? Is it something they will look at one day that will start the conversation with the words, “Remember that great vacation we had as kids and mom bought this …?” Some of the most treasured reminders we have of our vacations are, what might be called, ‘non-traditional’ souvenir items. I’ll admit to owning a Christmas decoration of Santa wearing a hula skirt and of a snow globe containing a cruise ship with palm trees. Our kids have plenty of those ‘Wish you were here’ T-shirts. There are coffee mugs in the cupboard from all over the world. We have a drawer full of baseball caps from Jamaica, Portugal and places where they don’t even play baseball. And shot glasses—for show only, of course—with logos from the Caribbean, Europe and Australia. Our most treasured memories, however, came from the local stores, those places located off the main drag. After driving in Switzerland and hearing the cow bells across the fields of the lower Alps, we found the equivalent of Agway and purchased our own. Come visit, they are proudly mounted on our living room wall. We found an old antique store on a small alleyway in Venice and bought an iron door knocker complete with a Lion’s head. The handmade sweater I purchased my daughter when she was 5 from a flea market in Germany is waiting (many years I hope!) for my granddaughter. There is a penny barrel in our dining room from the Amish ‘Sanford & Sons’ shop we found near Lancaster, PA. When you are shopping for that treasured souvenir, go off the main path. Find the local Agway, the flea market, the equivalent of ‘Sanford and Sons’ and bring your memories home. Marci and Gary Oakley wish you a safe and happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year!! Marci Oakley is co-owner, with her husband Gary, of Castle Cruises, a full service local travel agency. Visit their website at www.CastleCruises.com or call 651-2250. The biggest disservice that an appraiser can do is inflate a properties value. Typically an over-inflated property usually leads to negative equity or owing more on your house than it’s worth. It may take years to be back at the breakeven point. This was quite evident in the Real Estate downturn of the late 1980s where it took a decade to recoup value. Currently we are in a decreasing real estate market and values of homes and sale prices are decreasing. The numbers of home sales that are used as comparables (comparing one house to the house appraised) are becoming increasingly scarce due to the slowing of real estate sales. Typically what happens is the borrower sometimes provides a appraisal done 3 months, 6 months and even, in one case of the cases I worked on, 2 years ago. If an appraiser uses the information in a ‘dated’ report, they are liable for any information whether it is correct or not. Appraisers are under a federal law of USPAP to do their own research and not simply retype another Appraiser’s work. Yes, you want to have a good value for your home and you also want it to be accurate. The best bet for a borrower is to use a local bank, mortgage company or lender who is familiar with the entire county and region and has relationships with local appraisers. When something comes up or there is a problem or a value issue, the Loan officer can get a clear understanding and a have a concise explanation. Local lenders are part of the community and will not avoid your questions, needs or problems. An appraiser has no vested interest in what amount the house sells for or is valued at. It's easy for them to step in and give you the information to help you make your decisions. Seeking a professional appraisal can often help homeowners make the best decisions on investing in their homes and setting a fair sales price. Submitted by Jason Gaer, Certified Residential Appraiser NY,NJ. Frontier Appraisal Services 651-8040 www.frontierappraisalservices.com. End of Year Information for Florida Seward Seniors December 3: decorating senior center for Holidays. Contact Vice President, Norman Glowaczewski if you wish to help. He will set time to decorate. December 4 meeting: 1 PM White Elephant December 11: Christmas Dinner 12:30PM. catering by Ceil. December 18: final meeting of year. Election of officers. Pizza Party 12:30 PM. and after meeting surprise dessert. December 19: School dinner SS Seward 4 PM. Sign up with Mrs. Greenwood. January 8, 2008 regular meetings will start for new year. Enjoy your holidays! Page 16 The Florida Onion December 2007 …….. On the Wild Side the warm area between Glenmere Homesites and the park open for most of the winter, and it’s rarely safe enough to tread. Ice Fishing When you’re on the ice, try to stay within shouting distance of other fishermen, and keep a nice length of rope with you at all times. Use a cheap plastic tub-style sled to drag your bait, tackle, and safety rope along the ice. If you fall through the ice, tell anyone coming to your aid that a rope is in your sled, thus speeding up your extraction. Always be careful on the ice, and try to avoid stomping around. Stomping increases the odds of a mishap, and it scares the fish. You can increase your safety, and your interest level, by bringing a friend along. by Jay Westerveld The smell of new frost reminds us that Florida’s ice-fishing season, popular here for well over a century, is near. We’re fortunate to have Glenmere Lake, a reservoir where no gas engines or swimming are allowed. This produces big, tasty fish devoid of the contaminants that are found in fish from other area lakes. Warmth and safety are inseparable—wear layers of warm clothing: a couple layers of polarfleece under a warm jacket works well. Don’t wear your nice ski or snowmobile jacket: ice fishing can be messy, and you don’t want to smell like a fish market when you hit the slopes or the trails. Polarfleece is very warm even when wet, it can be quickly wrung out if it’s soaked, and it’s lightweight. A warm Ice fishing is simple and fun, but it does hat will make or break your experience. Most of your body heat is lost through require a license. A license costs $19 for the your head, so capping it with a nice polarfleece or wool hat keeps things toasty. entire season and can be purchased at area Warm boots are a must, and wear two thin pairs of socks instead of one thick pair. bait shops, sporting goods stores, and local town halls. Fishing without a license can be One of my favorite tips for keeping warm on the ice is a to bring along a couple of expensive: DEC Environmental Conservation 2-foot square chunks of 2-inch thick (R-10) foam insulation (available at Roe Brothers). One 2- by 8-foot sheet costs about $16, which gives you 4 nice chunks. Officers regularly patrol Glenmere. Set one chunk on top of your bait bucket to sit on (I use a spackle bucket with a There are three factors to keep in mind when ice fishing: safety, warmth and styrofoam bait bucket inside). Use the other chunk on the ice for your feet. Not effectiveness. Safety always comes first and cannot be overstated. NEVER walk only will this keep your feet and seat warm, but the chunks make good on ice that is less than 4-inches thick. Glenmere Lake has distinctive warm emergency flotation devices. springs below the surface, which cause great variation in ice-thickness across the lake. As a general rule, when you view the reservoir from the village park Now you’re all prepared for ice fishing. Next month, hopefully the ice will be thick (or from anywhere along Glenmere Ave), stay to your left of the park area and enough for fun part—the actual fishing! In the meantime, send your ice-fishing Catfish Rock. All of the ice to your right (that is, toward Glenmere Homesites) photos to [email protected] and we’ll publish some of the bigger catches. For more information on Glenmere Lake, check out www.glenmere.us should be considered treacherous. An ever-growing flock of Canada geese keep Winter Wonderland at Rogowski Farm Accomplished pianist and composer, Richard Kimball, and the Olaj Band, featuring Peter Holmgren and Kevin Andreas are the featured performers at the Winter Wonderland Festival at W. Rogowski Farm in Pine Island, NY on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon, December 1 and 2, 2007, that also includes a gingerbread house contest and crafts for kids. “The Winter Wonderland Festival is the perfect family outing,” according to MacArthur Fellow and farmer, Cheryl Rogowski. “Kids can get involved in crafts while they learn about the role that farmers markets play in our community; meanwhile, music from such local recording artists as Richard Kimball and Peter Holmgren will make it fun for everyone,” she continued. Visitors will also get to sample refreshments from The Black Dirt Gourmet® kitchen that specializes in using local herbs, vegetables, and fruits in a growing line of prepared epicurean salads and spreads. Most consumers are not aware of the long distance (an average of 1,500 miles) that most produce travels before it reaches grocery store shelves. As a result many vegetables ripen in protective containers and packaging during transit, a process that optimizes appearance but diminishes flavor. With local farmers markets, produce is available within hours of being picked, and consumers can taste a significant difference in flavor. The gingerbread house contest, with a grand prize of $250, is juried by award-winning pastry chef, Jean-Claude Sanchez (of Jean-Claude’s Artisan Bakery & Dessert Café) and Lisa Ciriello (of Lisa’s Cookie Shop). It encourages families to participate in creating a completely edible work of art together. Attendees will also be able to speak with Cheryl about her Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that allows them to support sustainable local farming through farm share ownership. Admission fee is $10 for adults and $5 for kids (ages 3-12), and includes the music entertainment, an all-natural craft for the kids, refreshments, and fun. Those interested in participating in the Gingerbread House Contest can download rules, eligibility requirements, and get more information from www.Warwickinfo.net/WinterWonderland. Submitted by Peter Lyons-Hall The Florida Onion December 2007 Page 17 Psychic Moments by Cyndee Saying Goodbye Saying goodbye is never easy. Such was the case when a father was forced to say goodbye to his son. When people die unexpectedly they usually have unfinished business. Sometimes people don’t realize that they are dead. They have no idea where they are or how they got there. They’re lost, confused and sometimes it may become necessary for an intermediary to step in. Some people think that they are in a hospital. Others think that they are home in bed. Most people assume that they will wake up and return to their normal lives. “Astral plane thinking” occurs when someone gets lost in the dream. This is common after sudden death has occurred. People disconnect from the physical and drift into a sleepy dream like state. Usually they have little or no memory of what occurred when they crossed over. Once they do wake up and realize that they are no longer in the physical world, some still have difficulty comprehending what has actually occurred Recently I had the experience of communicating with someone who had crossed over very suddenly. His first impression was that he wasn’t home. He didn’t know exactly where he was. He thought that he was in someone else’s bed. And then he heard my voice. He knew that I was with him but he couldn’t understand why. I tried to explain to him what had occurred. I said. “Listen to me. I’m trying to help you… You’re not supposed to be dead yet… I am so very, very sorry but you’ve crossed over… You’re not exactly where you’re supposed to be. You’re in a space that exists between both worlds.” Judge DeAngelo Gives Thanks... To all the voters of Warwick I give my heartfelt gratitude for allowing me to fulfill my goal to serve you better. I am very proud to be a small part of the experienced, knowledgeable and caring group of leaders who are guiding our Town. For those of you who voted for me, I think you already understand that it has always been my wish to make you proud of our Courts and our Town and, in that, to never let you down. As for the rest of you, I hope you will get to know me better—but not in Court, please! Now, as far as I am concerned, the "Greater Greenwood Lake” voting area has the passion, understands mine and utilized it to wonderful excess on Election Day! You took me over the top and without you I could not have won! Much credit needs to be given to my "campaign committee,"all those many individuals who got sucked into my election enthusiasm, and those who ended up doing all the financial nasty stuff, about which judges are never allowed any knowledge. This especially includes Brenda Pender, Sue Holler, Lee Romano and Jack Lardner. And next time we are giving pom-poms and megaphones to the cheerleading duo of Carol Flood and brother Ed English. Without the endorsement, direction, confidence, patience and humor provided by the Town of Warwick Republican Committee members, I would not have had the ability to run for this office and succeed. Special thanks to Gen Winstanley, Barbara White and, ever-evolving, Tony Houston. If I did anything right or wrong, I assure you it was by accident unless properly directed by the Committee members. Most importantly, when you need someone to work hard and agonize with you every step of the way, everyone should have a friend like my husband Floyd. Nancy DeAngelo Town of Warwick Justice Elect Doggone Gifts by Shari Forst In the beginning he had difficulty understanding what it was that I was trying to The holidays can be a great time to tell our canine friends how much we love tell him. I had to repeat myself several times. The conversation continued as them by getting them gifts, as responsible dog owners it’s important to know follows: “Listen to me very carefully” I said, “You’re dead… and there is nothing what gifts can stand up to lots of tugging, pulling and biting. Here are some of that I can do to change that… I am so very sorry.” my recommendations: As time progressed he became a little bit more aware. And then suddenly a major Kong Toys are wonderful dog gifts; they are virtually indestructible (well breakthrough occurred. “Where is my son?” he asked. “I need to see him,” he said. almost anyway). My three German shepherds love them. They are cone “Will he be able to hear me in the same way that you do?” he asked. ”Go back to shaped and are made of a heavy duty rubber. They bounce in different sleep,” I said, “We will talk again later.” directions when thrown allowing your dog to chase after it with unbridled Tears flowed from my eyes as I became overwhelmed with emotion. I explained to glee. They can be chewed, stuffed with dog treats or peanut butter to keep him that there was a reason why I had to completely disconnect from him before your dog busy while you are occupied. They come in different sizes so canines he died. I knew that sudden death was in his future and that I couldn’t do of all shapes and sizes can enjoy them. Just make sure the one you pick is anything to prevent it. He was on a crash course of self-destruction and some form large enough and sturdy enough for your particular dog. of early intervention would have had to occur. Sergeants Glow in the Dark Footballs are another big hit with active dogs, they When a spirit re-enters the physical reality it becomes weak. The portal that opens glow in the dark when exposed to light so you can play fetch when it’s dark. They when someone crosses over doesn’t remain open for very long. Once the spirit has are also made well, and stand up to canines with the strongest jaws. been released from the physical it can begin its journey back home. Saying Floppy Discs are Frisbees that are made of a soft material so if the dog misses goodbye doesn’t always mean forever. Sometimes saying goodbye means “until we catching the Frisbee they won’t get hurt. The dogs also can’t chomp holes meet again…” through them causing then not to be able to fly well. The other great thing Please join me and my special guests for “Psychic Moments” which airs about them is you can toss them in the washing machine when they get dirty. WEDNESDAYS at 4:30 PM on 1110 AM WTBQ. Together we will discuss your Rawhide bones are also a nice gift for your dog. They have great dental benefits psychic experiences, answer your psychic questions and take a look at “What and when dogs chew them it helps keep their teeth white and clean, as well as Lies Ahead.” keeping their breath smelling better. Keep in mind they are not digestible and Cyndee Pawliczek can become lodged in the dog’s digestive system. They can also choke. HAPPY HOLIDAYS... from my heart to yours… Continued on page 19 [email protected] Pack 44 News On Saturday October 27, Cub Scouts from Pack 44 along with their parents and siblings attended a Haunted Harvest Festival at Camp Bullowa in Stony Point. Even though it rained the children had a great time. They were able to practice archery, see some Boy Scouts do Indian dances and check out the inside of a tepee filled with interesting artifacts, plus many other fun and interesting things. A great time was had by all! The Cub Scouts spent Election Day having a Patriotic Sing-along with the residents of Valley View Nursing Home. The scouts performed a flag ceremony and then proceeded to sing Yankee Doodle Dandy, You’re a Grand Old Flag, and others. They handed out flags and Americana crafts they had made. The residents wowed the Scouts by telling tales of their own "Scout Days" and repeating the Scout Oath by memory. The visit was topped off by everyone singing God Bless America. The Scouts gained a new appreciation for Seniors and the Scouting Movement in general. …….. Newspapers In Education The Florida Onion and the Golden Hill Elementary School Building Leadership Team are pleased to bring “A Sea Turtle Story” to our younger readers. This is the final installment. A Sea Turtle Story THE STORY SO FAR… Pancake, a hurt loggerhead turtle, is rescued, A Quality Serials Story by Mary Maden treated and sent to a sea turtle hospital. At the hospital, a young girl named Lolly helps take care of Pancake. The young girl bonds with the sea turtle. After the turtle is totally rehabilitated, (including regaining the use of a flipper), she is well enough to be released. Finally, the big day arrives! Pancake is released back to her ocean home. But, how will the sea turtle fare? Illustrated by Vicki Wallace Copyright 2001 by Mary Maden. All rights reserved. Mary Maden is an award-winning author. Visit her on the web at: www.marymaden.com Because of copyright, we are unable to publish “A Sea Turtle Story” on the internet. Please read the story in the print version of The Florida Onion. Thanks!! Merry Christmas from all of us at: Quaker Creek Store, Inc. 767 Pulaski Highway Goshen, NY 10924 (845) 258-4570 Quality Products Since 1947 The Florida Onion December 2007 Page 19 …….. Letters to the Editor Send your Florida Girls are on a High Protecting our future, one development at a time The first half action was exciting, with Elia Knieriemen giving Florida a 1-0 lead shortly before halftime. In the second half, Florida pulled away, with goals from Savannah Mass and Maggie Paras. The Florida defense played well with the Florida goalie only having to make one save, which limited Highland's scoring opportunities. These girls are on a roll winning their last 4 games, and spirits are on a high, something they should be very proud of. Send letters to: [email protected]. Please include your name, address, On November 4, the U12 Florida Spartans traveled to Highland and came away with a 3-0 victory, improving their record to 4-1-2. and telephone number. In a time when a price is put on everything, what price is our future worth? A price was put on cheap credit with the result being thousands of jobs lost and millions of people likely to lose their homes. A price was put on energy and agriculture with the result being global warming and contamination of fresh water sources. Global issues like these are the result of countless local events created by those with the power to effect change. It is our mayors, supervisors, planning boards, developers, and the public as a whole who have a duty to look beyond the short term gains of monetizing our precious resources. Years ago, Warwick’s residents set a mandate to preserve our open space and the small Village of Florida held to preserving its precious natural setting. Recently, the few with power in Florida have decided for us that it’s right to approve yet a third large scale development at the cost of irreversible change to the watershed surrounding Glenmere Lake, all for a few dollars. We need to ask ourselves “when does the price of our future become too great?” If you answer “now”, tell those approving these developments before it’s too late. Tom Humphryes Florida, NY Dangers of stormwater runoff It is with great sadness that I read about the current development situation at Glenmere Lake in Florida. Having grown up in Sugarloaf, I frequented Glenmere for canoeing, fishing, hiking and nature watching. I remember well the clicking calls of the cricket frog along with the "jug-o-rum" of the bullfrog and the splashing of the pickerel. I now reside in Georgia and am president of Trystal Environmental Consultants Inc. Our primary focus is stormwater pollution prevention under NPDES guidelines. We also perform wetland work. I know firsthand of the dangers of stormwater run-off, both from construction activities, and even more threatening: from roads. Residential streets gather run-off chemicals from lawn maintenance, car washing, autos dripping fuel, hydraulic fluids and oil, leaking septic systems and municipal sewer systems, and leaking garbage trucks. These chemicals are concentrated on the road surface, drained into stormdrains and further concentrated before being released into waterways. It would be a great shame to see Glenmere despoiled further by allowing more development around it. It is not only the cricket frog that is endangered. The cricket frog's existence is imminently threatened, but the threat to all the other species would increase dramatically if the proper actions are not taken. Mickey Wright Temple, GA Help I Am Drowning In Piles Of Mail! With the holiday season in full swing the catalogs, junk mail and credit card offers are stuffing mailboxes across the country. If not kept under control, these piles of mail could easily take over your house. Here are some tips for dealing with these piles. Florida Girls in action in Highland On November, 11, the team hosted Goshen. The game started fast for Florida, with Maggie Paras and Elia Knierman scoring goals in the first 5 minutes. Goshen answered with a goal, but Florida closed the first half with goals by Savannah Mass and Cassandra Martin, to make the intermission score 4-1. In the second half, Florida extended their lead, as Maggie Paras and Elia Knierman each scored again. Goshen scored twice more, but the Florida defense preserved the 6-3 win. The victory improved the Florida record to 5-1-2. . Submitted by Kiernan Brosnan Florida U12 Boys Undefeated The Florida Fury U12 Boys team played their final game of the Fall season against Carmel at the Florida Varsity Fields. The boys showed incredible spirit, drive and talent as they won this game 5-0 and ended their season undefeated. The team finished in first place in the East Hudson Youth Soccer League. Congratulations to the team! "I couldn't be happier for this group of young men" said Coach Wood. "As our team grows in size, it's nice to see a group of boys come together as a team to work towards a common goal. A special thanks to our parents for all of their cooperation through out the season” Pick a time and place to go through your mail daily. Have a “mail center.” This is where you will open your mail and discard the items you do not want or need. At this mail center should be a recycle bin, trash can, shredder and mail opener. Office supply stores sell counter-top shredders that can take a whole envelope. This is ideal for credit card offers, car insurance solicitations and other miscellaneous junk mail. Larger junk mail that does not contain personal information can be discarded in the recycle bin. It is vital that you shred all discarded and junk mail that has personal information on it. Identity theft is through the trash as well as electronic. Have a “home” for BILLS TO BE PAID. This can be a bin, accordion by date, monthly bill organizer, hanging file, etc. Take a look at the options and see what suits your space and needs. Once paid, the bill can be filed in your home filing system. Another important type of mail we receive is Bank Statements. You can incorporate reconciling the bank and credit card statements into your BILLS TO BE PAID system. When you pay the bills do the reconciliations at the same time then file. You should also have a “home” for invitations. Have one “home” for RSVP and one for ATTENDING. For RSVP invitations determine if you are going, put the event in your calendar and respond. The ATTENDING is where you hold the invitation, directions, etc. that you will need available when you go to the event. Once the event is over the information can be shred. What about periodicals? Have a TO READ bag. This will be the “home” for magazines you want to read. Having it in a bag makes it portable so you can read at home, in your car or while waiting at an appointment. You would be amazed how many magazines you can read in those 10- to 15-minute time slots. If you find an article that you want to save, keep only the article. You can organize the articles in a binder with sheet protectors and dividers. Recycle the rest of the magazine. Another tip, if you subscribe to a magazine you do not read, do not renew it. Enjoy the rest of your holiday season. Provided by Professional Organizer Cynthia Marsh-Croll of Croll Organizing. Visit us on the web at www.crollorganizing.com or contact us at 845-649-2778. Pictured from left to right: Top row-Coach Wood, Devin Wood, Joseph Pill, Zack Adams, Jake Kinsley, Tim Thompson, Danny Collins, Matthew Daggle, Michael Palace, Coach Cuzco Bottom row-Kyle Post, Robby VanRaamsdonk, Brendon Bourne, Andrew Lewis, Nicholas Thomas, Lance Globulins, Josh Hoare, Ramón Laconic, Zack Cuzco Doggone Gifts, continued from Page 18 If you give your dog a rawhide, make sure you can supervise them when they are chewing it. If they start to tear little pieces off then it’s time to take the bone away for a while. Limit your dog to no more than one a day. Stay away from toys with squeakers, even the smallest dog can rip the squeaker out of a toy and swallow it. Squeaker toys may look like fun, and your dog may enjoy it but if they swallow the squeaker or get it stuck in their throat it’s dangerous. Remember to buy toys that are bigger than your dog’s mouth, if they get exited while playing with a toy that’s smaller they can potentially swallow it, and get it stuck in their throat or in other places. The same way you have to give thought to buying toys for children, you must give thought to safe and fun toys to buy for your dogs in order to ensure a healthy happy holiday season for everyone. Announcing the All New 2008 Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan More Jet Inspired Than Ever! Born Born From From Jets Jets Landed Landed In In Florida, Florida, NY NY •• Authorized Authorized Sales, Sales, Service, Service, and and Parts Parts Pre-Owned Specials 2007 Saab 2005 Chrysler 1999 Saab 2004 Volvo VIN: 72805143All Options, Black, Leather, navigation, $44,080 MSRP 0% financing up to 60 months to well qualified buyers. $16.67/per $1000/60 month term. Ends 1/2/08 VIN: 5R595158 , Leather, loaded, third seat, excl. condition, MB comfort and style, 47,217mi VIN:X2003884, 1 Owner, Hatchbk, Auto, Excellent commuter or teenage 1st car. 128,494 mi VIN:41162871, Premium Package, Exceptional Condition, 73,267 mi. 9-7X AWD Pacifica Touring Edition AWD 9-3 Sport Sedan 13,495* $ XC70 AWD - 2.5 Turbo 5,995* $ Reduced $17,995* 120 S. Main Street Florida, NY 845-651-4603 CountrySaab.com Must present ad at purchase signing. Must take same day delivery. *Prices exclude tax, tags & MV fees. Financing available to qualified buyers. See dealer for details.
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