The Catskill Chronicle

Pictured from left to right: Paul Harris Fellow recipients Jack Strassman, Jack Etter, President Dave Thomson, Harris recipient Karen VanCraenenbroeck, District 7210 ADG Barry Foster, and Harris recipient Russ Bogie. – Provided photo

LIBERTY, NY (February 6, 2011) – The Liberty Rotary Club presented four of its most active and involved members with the honor of becoming a Paul Harris Fellow. The presentation took place at the club’s recent weekly meeting at Charlie’s Restaurant (Former Cobbler’s) on Main Street in Liberty. The recipients of this prestigious award were Russ Bogie, Jack Etter, Karen VanCraenenbroeck, and Jack Strassman who have demonstrated Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” for many years through serving as club officers, chairing rotary projects and participating in rotary activities. Etter, VanCraenenbroeck and Strassman are past presidents and Bogie has been treasurer of the local club for many years.

According to Gary Siegel, Liberty Rotary Vice President, a Paul Harris Fellow is awarded to those Rotarian who have donations totaling $1000 contributed in their name to the Rotary Foundation. The Paul Harris Society is named after Paul P. Harris, founder of Rotary international. His intention was to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth. Today, Paul Harris Society contributions to The Rotary Foundation support a wide range of humanitarian grants and educational programs that enable Rotarians to bring hope and promote international understanding throughout the world.

Each of the new Paul Harris Fellows were presented with a commemorative certificate and pin by Rotary District 7210 Assistant District Governor Barry Foster. “We are so proud to have four new Paul Harris Fellows in our district. It is a tribute to the work of these individuals and the members of the Liberty Rotary Club who make a difference in our community, district and internationally through the volunteer work that we do,” says ADG Foster.

Most recently the Liberty Rotary Club has donated to Literacy Volunteers of Sullivan County, Boys and Girls Club of Sullivan County, Liberty AYSO and this past weekend they collected and delivered five shopping carts full of food to the local food pantry. Currently the club is conducting a raffle to benefit the Liberty Interfaith Food Pantry as well as other community organizations and rotary projects. In addition the club will be participating in the WSUL/WVOS heartathon on February 26^th and will be selling roses in the spring to raise money for scholarships which are awarded annually. For more information about membership and activities of the Liberty Rotary Club, call 292-5100.

Captions for photos – Left to Right: Liberty Rotary President Dave Thomson (left) and Rotary District 7210 Assistant District Governor Barry Foster (right) present Liberty Rotary Past President Jack Etter (center) with his Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Liberty Rotary President Dave Thomson (left) and Rotary District 7210 Assistant District Governor Barry Foster (right) present Liberty Rotary Past President and Liberty High School Principal Jack Strassman (center) with his Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Liberty Rotary President Dave Thomson (left) and Rotary District 7210 Assistant District Governor Barry Foster (right) present Liberty Rotary Past President Karen VanCraenenbroeck (center) with her Paul Harris Fellow Award.

Liberty Rotary President Dave Thomson (left) and Rotary District 7210 Assistant District Governor Barry Foster (right) present Liberty Rotary Treasurer Russ Bogie (center) with his Paul Harris Fellow Award.

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MONTICELLO, NY (February 5, 2011) – Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther (D, C – Forestburgh) visited the Monticello Central High School on February 2 to congratulate and thank the students and faculty involved with the new LGBT Supporters Club, and this week’s “No Name Calling Week” program at the school.

“When I heard about the students’ new club and the No Name Calling Week program I wanted to meet with the students and teachers to commend them for their efforts,” said Gunther. “By working with other students to end bullying in their school, these Monticello teens have shown real leadership on a very important and timely issue.”

Monticello High School recently launched a new club, the LGBTS club, or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,
Transgender Supporters club. The club will address bullying amongst all students.

Club members decided to participate in "No Name Calling Week," as part of the overall anti-bullying campaign at the high school. "No Name Calling Week" started January 31 and ended on February 4.

This is an event of educational and creative activities aimed at ending name calling and bullying in the school. The members of LGBTS hoped to encourage students to take pride in themselves and to also respect others, regardless of differences.

“Last year the Governor signed legislation I supported in the Assembly called the Dignity for all
Students Act,” said Gunther. “This new law ensures all students an environment free of any harassment regardless of the basis of the harassment, and free of discrimination based on actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex.

“But this new law does not take effect until July 1, 2012. In the meantime, these Monticello students are doing their part to ensure a safe and secure environment for all students in their school.”
Part of the week of activities includes asking other students and teachers to sign a Pledge which states:

“I believe that bullying and calling other students hurtful names is wrong. I pledge to do my best to:

 Not bully other students or call them hurtful names;
 Intervene if I safely can, in situations where students are being called names;
 Support efforts to end bullying and name calling.”

The pledge also offers advice on how to stay safe from bullying.

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MONTICELLO, NY (February 4, 2011) – Neither snow nor sleet, or the threat of it, could keep ThunderHeads (the name given to fans of radio station Thunder 102) from donating blood to support the 5^th Annual Thunder Blood Bowl held at Monticello Casino & Raceway on Wednesday, January 26. 

The Thunder Blood Bowl is one of the largest blood drives in  Sullivan County and has been setting the record each of the past four years for a single drive blood. This year was no different as almost 100 Thunder 102 listeners, local business and government leaders signed in, donating 78 units for the local blood bank during this critical period. 

“Our ThunderHeads never cease to amaze me in their capacity to give,” commented Paul Ciliberto, Market Manager/General Manager and host of Ciliberto & Friends, “we even had eight first-time donors during this drive”.

During the event, Thunder 102 gift packs containing, among other items, CDs from new country artists were given away each hour. One lucky person won a Take Out Super Bowl Party from Dutch’s Tavern and another donor won a gift basket courtesy of Monticello Casino & Raceway. 

Thunder 102 and the American Red Cross, along with Catskill Regional Medical Center and Monticello Casino & Raceway sponsored the Thunder Blood Bowl to help facilitate blood donations for the local chapter of the American Red Cross.

Thunder 102 and its parent company, Bold Gold Media Group, were honored in 2007 as Sponsor of the Year for their work with the American Red Cross Blood Services. Thunder 102 asks its listeners to support the American Red Cross by giving blood at local blood drives. In addition, the Thunder 102 American Red Cross Minute keeps its listeners apprised of upcoming blood drives, which helps raise awareness for the need for blood donation throughout its listening area.

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Carol Montana photo

MONTICELLO, NY (February 2, 2011) – Residents, business owners and anyone with an interest in Monticello’s future are invited by Sullivan Renaissance to hear an update about the positive work happening in Monticello. 

The community meeting will be held on Sunday, February 13 at 2:00 p.m. in the Monticello Fire House on Richardson Avenue in Monticello.

The primary purpose of the February 13 meeting is to update the community on the work being done, share ideas about future projects, and present opportunities for volunteering.

Sullivan Renaissance has spent the last decade supporting hundreds of projects throughout Sullivan County, many of which have been in the Village of Monticello, the county seat. For the last year Renaissance staff has been working closely with village officials, business owners, students and other partners on several new initiatives designed to improve Monticello.

“Now is the time Sullivan Renaissance would like to encourage residents to come together, share their ideas and participate in specific beautification efforts in Monticello to further compliment efforts already being realized” said Sandra Gerry, who chairs Sullivan Renaissance. “Spring will be here soon and we need to be ready to start planning and planting!”

Copies of the NYSDOT landscaping plans for Broadway will be on display, along with renderings of the decorative street lamps that are slated for installation beginning in the spring.

“We are happy to be partnering with Sullivan Renaissance on installation of the street lights,” said Mayor Gordon Jenkins, “The village trustees have also been working on many positive things in the village and we are looking forward to an opportunity to tell residents about our work.”

In addition to updates by Sullivan Renaissance and village officials, representatives from other groups will also report on their activities.  This will include: an outline of plans to market Broadway and organize events in the coming year from the newly-formed Monticello Business Association; and a unique perspective offered by Monticello High School students who participated in the Monticello Youth Summit in October.

Refreshments will be served. For more information contact Sullivan Renaissance at 845-295-2445.  Sullivan Renaissance is a beautification and community development program principally funded by the Gerry Foundation.

This just in…

Individuals wishing to attend the Sullivan Renaissance Winter Conference and Expo on Saturday, February 26 can register and sign up for workshops directly on-line.  Go to www.sullivanrenaissance.org and click on the Sullivan Renaissance Rooster at the top of the page. 

This year’s conference will focus on “The Value and Benefits of Community Beautification to Economic Development” featuring an address by Dr. Peter Tarlow, an international specialist in tourism.  The conference features exhibits and workshops on garden design, trees for public places, community gardens, recruiting volunteers, cultivating leaders, partnering with young people and economic development.  It will also outline the new 2011 Sullivan Renaissance grant program and have applications available.

In addition to the keynote address, Dr. Tarlow will present a workshop on “Making the Most of Your Assets.”  He has lectured throughout the world on current and future trends in the tourism industry, rural tourism, economic development, the gaming industry and issues of crime and terrorism.  All workshop space is limited to the first registrants.

The conference is located at CVI Building in Ferndale.  It begins at 8:00 a.m. with breakfast and registration.  The program starts at 9:00 a.m. and runs to 1:00 p.m.  Everyone is welcome.  There is no registration fee for this conference.

Those unable to register on-line should call the Sullivan Renaissance office at 845-295-2445 to obtain a form.  Completed forms may be faxed to 845-295-2746; scanned and emailed to sgonzalez@sullivanrenaissance.org; or mailed to Sullivan Renaissance, c/o Gerry Foundation, PO Box 311, Liberty, NY 12754.

Sullivan Renaissance is a beautification and community development program principally funded by the Gerry Foundation.  For more information, call 845-295-2445.

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