GI team takes 1st in WNY
Grand Island Dispatch, May 2, 2008

The Destination Imagination team from Kaegebein Elementary competed in a state competition April 5 in Binghamton. The Twist and Turn Imagineers are seven fourth and fifth graders who have been working since November to solve a theatrical-based challenge. The team had to present their solution to a panel of judges at the tournament and took third place in their division and first overall in the Western Region. Above, in front are, from left, Jessica Ackendorf, Caitlin Conlon and Kaitlynd Howell. In back are Katie Verso, Colton McGraw, Alexander Cancilla and Natalie Braun.

Scouts take the cookie
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008

Wheatfield Junior Girl Scout Troops 233 and 239 recently visited Howes All Occasion Homestyle Cookies on Tomson Avenue in Niagara Falls. They were able to work on two different badges as well as learn about running a business and making cookies. From left, front row, are Meredith Perkins, Deanna Todino, Molly Marshall, Mikayla Townsend; second row, Kaileigh Reading, Alexis Stempkowski, Mia Wright, owner Joan Howes; top row, Troop 239 leader Donna Todino, Caitlin Luderman, Nichole Taylor, Debbie Townsend and Troop 233 leader Kathleen Taylor.

Earth Day awareness at Lew-Port Middle
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008

As part of its Earth Day activities, students in Mrs. Buck’s eighth grade general science class at Lewiston-Porter Middle School participated in an Earth Day Groceries Project. The exercise was a cost-free environmental awareness project, which saw students decorating paper grocery bags from a local super market with messages carrying an Earth Day theme. About 90 bags were decorated and then returned to the Lewiston Tops Market where they will be filled and distributed to shoppers following their grocery purchases.

BOCES students best in state
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008

BOCES Heating and Air Conditioning champs in the New York State Skills
USA competition are shown, from left, Nick DiFelice from Lewiston-Porter,
Jacob Dullen from Niagara-Wheatfield and Joe Frey from Starpoint.

Several students from Orleans/Niagara BOCES have returned victorious from the New York State Skills USA competition in Syracuse.

Almost 100 students from Orleans and Niagara Career and Technical Education Centers competed against other career and technical students for the right to continue on to the national championships in Kansas City, Mo., this June.

The Skills USA Championships is the showcase for the best career and technical students in the nation.

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NBC’s Myers to be NCCC commencement speaker
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008

Lisa Myers, an award-winning senior investigative correspondent for NBC News, a seasoned political analyst, and one of the most respected journalists in the country, will be Niagara County Community College’s commencement speaker, May 17 at 10 a.m. Myers can be seen on the “Nightly News with Brian Williams,” “Today Show,” and “Meet the Press.”

Myers’ ground-breaking reports on the war on terror, politics, Iraq and corporate scandals such as Enron have triggered official investigations and influenced the political landscape.

She holds a bachelor of journalism degree from the University of Missouri. In 1998, Vanity Fair recognized her as one of the “Most Influential Women” in America.

NU announces commencement speakers
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008

The Rev. David M. O’Connell, C.M., president of The Catholic University of America, and Dr. Clayborne Carson, founding director of the Martin Luther King Jr. Institute at Stanford University, will speak at Niagara University commencement exercises May 17 and 18.

O’Connell, a graduate of NU and a former administrator at the university, will deliver the undergraduate commencement address Sunday, May 18, in Alumni Arena on the State University at Buffalo campus. The ceremony begins at 12:30 p.m.

Carson, a Buffalo native who holds a dual appointment as professor of history and director of the King Institute at Stanford, will speak at the graduate school’s commencement Saturday, May 17, in the upper level Gallagher Center on the NU campus. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m.

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Lew-Port to participate in 10th Clay Olympics
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008

Lewiston-Porter High School students and ceramic arts teacher Brett Coppins will participate in the 10th annual Clay Olympics, Friday, May 16, at Buffalo State College. From 10:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. that day, the mud will fly as Lew-Port students, working individually and in teams, compete against Lancaster, Kenmore East and Pioneer Central high schools to see which school can make the best pottery -- the fastest. At a 1:15 p.m. ceremony, the overall team point winner will be presented with a trophy created by last year’s winner.

Coppins reports the Clay Olympics was established at Buffalo State to support and promote the educational aspect of high school ceramic arts in the region, and to share a love of the medium in all of its richness and diversity. The event is made possible with support by the Sylvia L. Rosen Endowment of the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Sheffield Pottery, Lewiston-Porter High School, and the Arts and Humanities office of Buffalo State College. Coppins and Buffalo State College Ceramics Professor Robert Wood coordinate the annual event.

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Traveling art exhibit
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008

Students at Niagara-Wheatfield’s Edward Town Middle School stop to check out the works of Henri Rousseau and Georges Seurat in the Art and Technology Hallway of the school during the week of April 21 to 25. Art teachers Jill Hessinger and Karen Culligan received a Kenan Center grant to bring in the display from Teacher’s Discovery of Auburn Hills, Mich. Some of the student work that also was on display will be shown at the annual Kenan Center Art Exhibit in Lockport May 21 to June 4. (photo by Tom Cannuli)

Students raise $1,500 from charity basketball game
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008

Students attending Niagara-Wheatfield High School want to make a difference in the lives of those battling cancer, especially since one of their own is currently fighting the disease.

They recently presented the American Cancer Society with a check for $1,500, proceeds from a charity basketball game that featured the Buffalo Sabres Alumni against members of the Niagara-Wheatfield faculty.

Members of the Students in Action and marketing classes organized the event.

“It was a lot of fun and a great way to put what we are learning in the classroom into action,” said Don Schildhauer, one of the student organizers. “I really love the class.”

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NCCC approves 2008-09 budget
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, May 1, 2008
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008

The Niagara County Community College Board of Trustees last week adopted a $44.1 million spending plan for the 2008-09 school year.

The budget represents a spending increase of $2.4 million or 5.9 percent. The spending increase corresponds to the addition of new academic and other programs, improved security and normal cost increases, including health care benefits.

After approval by the trustees, the college budget goes to the Niagara County Legislature for approval. The annual public hearing on the budget is expected to held in early June.

The college is asking the county for a 2 percent increase or $9.048 million in support for an increase of $177,000

Student tuition for a full-time resident student would increase $60 per term or 3.7 percent to $1,656 per semester. The increase for part-time resident students would be $5 per credit hour. The proposed college budget and fee and tuition increases must be approved by the SUNY trustees once the budget is passed by the Niagara County.

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Huth student receive unique global experience
Grand Island Dispatch, May 2, 2008

Recently, the students at Huth Road Elementary School had the opportunity to see Dance China NY, America’s premier traditional Chinese dance company. Performing a vast and dynamic range of Chinese dance, the company transported the audience to a world of colorful myths, historical drama and timeless beauty. DCNY’s repertoire of traditional and contemporary folk and classical dances weaves a vibrant vision of China’s ancient indigenous folk cultures across varied terrains of time and region, legend and reality. As a part of the curriculum, the fourth grade students expanded their experience with a visit from Explore and More from East Aurora. Culture Day was celebrated as classes were decorated with cultural artifacts. The students rotate from classroom to classroom representing five different countries, including China. Each country’s program included a discussion period about the way people live, eat, play and learn; followed by an interactive activity or craft that is particular to the country represented. Above, Mrs. Koelmeyer, Christina Sutton, Kaitlin Hoy and Drew Callen dressed in attire from Yemen.

Grand Island High School honor rolls
Grand Island Dispatch, May 2, 2008

High Honor Roll

9th Grade

Nicholas Colao, Sara Diletti, Geoff Federspiel, Anna Ferrante, Emma Henderson, Ava Jackson, Ariana Mendel, Jessica Osvath, Paige Rockwood, Evan Shaw, Sara Victor, Jessica Yarnes.

10th Grade

Steven Boyle, Luke Burkhart, Alexandra Buscaglia, Evan Carey, Brittany Cieri, Sarah Dolan, Kara Dudley, Hillary Figler, Joseph Fischer, Lauren Fonte, Kate Garten, Maria Guidotti, Susan Head, Tara Hook, Krystin Hoppel, Seth Kline, Joel Klock, Brian Kulak, Andrea Nicolia, Jared Northrup, Erika Osberg, Sarah Palazza, Kaitie Samland, Mary Scherrer, Spencer Seese, Vincent Spada, Christopher Stessing, Jameela Syed, Samantha Tilkins, Maritina Tsembelis, Eric Weigold.

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Veronica Connor Middle School honor rolls
Grand Island Dispatch, May 2, 2008

High Honor Roll

6th Grade

Brian Ailinger, Natalie Argy, Michael Battaglia, Jack Boyko, Jacob Burford, Liana Buscaglia, Emily Certo, Magdalyn Chauby, David Cich III, Quinton Corrao, Brian DeRubes, Frank DeRubes, Sarah Dollendorf, Jenell Duxbury, Erika Ewert, Elizabeth Figler, Tyler Ford, Kevin Freedman, Emily Glose, Zachary Jones, Addison Joslyn, Kristina Kasprzycki, Emily Kernin, Kathryn Lamarco, Justin Lavis, Elizabeth LoBrutto, Emma MacIntyre, Justin McCarthy, Brentyn Mendel, Benjamin Morrish, Anna Nicolia, Gregory Nicolia, James Osborn, Jenna Paternostro, Michael Paternostro, Alessandra Price, James Pufpaff, Kyle Schoener, Jillian Sheehan, Vincent Shores, Lucas Siebert, Tara Stewart, Brock Tetreault, Stephanie Voyzey, Jackeline Wilson, Nicholas Young, Matthew Zabaldo.

7th Grade

Conor Atkins, Alexandra Bahgat, Rachel Bailey, Kassandra Bennett, Lydia Bernatovicz, Casey Bolles, Jessica Brownschidle, Sara Carlson, Megan Carroll, Sarah Chamberlain, Alyssa Cino, Sam Clarke, Courtney Collignon, Jane Cooke, Annaliese Corrao, Keelan Erhard, Brianna Gibney, Melissa Gibson, Madeleine Goc, Alexandra Griffin, Kourtney Hoppel, Mark Hughes, Manjinder Kaur, Bridget Kennedy, Zaineb Khawar, Mary Kneer, Christopher Komin, Grace Kulikowski, Christian Lamarco, Evan Leffler, Mandy Liesenfeld, Alexandria London, Stephanie LoTempio, Ellen Lutnick, Orendael Miller, Gurwinder Nijjar, Maggie Nobumoto, Marisa Phillips, Benjamin Purrington, Christina Richard, Dominica Roberts, Katelyn Ruszkowski, Kelsey Ruszkowski, Rachael Ruszkowski, Alexa SantaLucia, Marina Scerra, Lauren Shepard, Nicholas Soos, Adam Stanczyk, Joshua Tixier, Margaret Weiser, Kimberly Yaeger.

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Stella third quarter honors
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, May 3, 2008

Stella Niagara Education Park announces the following students have been named to its honor roll:

•Grade 4 - High Honors: Jacob Bennett, Peter Fiorica, Maia Gallagher, Ashwin Jajoo.

Honors: Maren Cipolla, Lydia Connolly, Zachary Newman.

•Grade 5 - High Honors: Jordyn Giambra, Alex Mieth.

Honors: Thomas Hahn, Ayush Jajoo, Dane Parlato, Taylor Zoldowski.

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GI Cooperative Nursery School holding 60th birthday celebration, basket raffle
Grand Island Dispatch, April 18, 2008

The Grand Island Cooperative Nursery School will be celebrating its 60th anniversary with a basket raffle on Saturday, April 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Trinity Methodist Church, 2100 Whitehaven Road. All friends and alumni are welcome to come celebrate by supporting the Grand Island Co-op in hopes to win one of several donated raffle items.

The Grand Island Cooperative Nursery School was founded in 1948 by a group of nine families. Since 1953, the school has been operating at Trinity Methodist Church with a staff including certified teachers and 72 students annually.

The Co-op, as it is commonly referred, believes in a hands-on learning environment. Children are encouraged to learn, discover and grow at their own pace. Socialization is very important at this tender young stage. The children also participate in a readiness program geared towards preparing them for kindergarten.

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Middle School hosts history competition
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 19, 2008

Saturday, March 15, wasn’t a day off for Lewiston-Porter Middle School students and instructors. That day saw Mrs. Linda Harvey, a sixth grade social studies teacher, coordinating the annual History Day competition. With its theme of “Conflict and Compromise,” the event saw the works of students from throughout Niagara County evaluated on their creativity in presentation of historical events. Shown above are students Jena Kreps and Jordan Powe with their project, “Battle of Fort Niagara.”

Retired NCCC math professor debuts book
Story and photo by Janet Schultz
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 19, 2008

David H. Brown, a retired Niagara County Community College professor of mathematics, has published a mystery. “The Elusive Chauffeur” will appear in local bookstores on May 20. He recently held a book signing at the Sanborn-Pekin Public Library where he talked about the publication.

“My wife had been wanting to write a book for a long time,” he explains. “I kept giving her ideas and one day she politely told me to write a book myself. So I did.”

Not only is this a mystery novel with the readers finding the motive and killer at the end, Brown’s book is filled with his love of mathematics and biblical teachings that has readers discovering or rediscovering their trust in God.

“It’s interesting to read of places I know about in Western New York, with no foul language and actually find biblical teachings in the story,” said Samuel F. Richbart, NCCC emeritus professor of mathematics. “I found the novel easy to read and I didn’t want to put it down.”

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Lew-Port instructors helping out
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, April 19, 2008

Recently, instructors from throughout the Lewiston-Porter School campus assisted with donations of cash and an attractive floral bouquet to the Wildlife Rehabilitators Benefit, which will take place tomorrow at the 3F Sportsmen Club on Swann Road. Shown in the above photo are Lew-Port Middle School instructors (rear, left to right) Vicki Fillicetti and Linda Harvey, and (front, left to right) Darlene LaPorte, Amy Golden and Karen Pax. Rehabilitators expected at the event include the Lakeview Animal Sanctuary, 2nd Chance Wildlife and Wildlife Kritters. Proceeds from the event will go to rescue or rehabilitate abandoned or abused animals.