Colgate Bookstore news

By Heather Elia

(Hamilton, NY – Feb. 2012) The Colgate Bookstore will host a dragon-themed children’s program Saturday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m. in the Class of 2003 Events Room at 3 Utica St. Stories, dramatically read by bookstore staff, will be followed by a handprint dragon craft and a snack.

The program is free and open to children of all ages and their families, but mainly geared toward children 3 to 7 years old.

A tall, friendly dragon will be on hand at the end of the program for those who wish to meet and have their picture taken with it. Children who attend will also be entered to win a free book. Adults will receive a coupon for 20 percent off all dragon picture books.

The featured stories will include:

“Oscar and the Very Hungry Dragon,” by Uta Krause. It’s time to feed the dragon! But this year the village is out of princesses. So the villagers send Oscar, a not-so-plump little boy who would rather COOK dinner than BE dinner. This silly tale showcases heroic Oscar’s cleverness when he matches wits with a ravenous beast.

“When a Dragon Moves In,” by Jodi Moore. On a beautiful day at the beach, a young boy brings his bucket, shovel and imagination, and builds a perfect sand castle. Right away, a dragon moves in. The boy decides to befriend his dragon and they spend time having fun (and making a bit of mischief).

“The Paper Bag Princess,” by Robert Munch. The Princess Elizabeth is slated to marry Prince Ronald when a dragon attacks the castle and kidnaps Ronald. In resourceful and humorous fashion, Elizabeth must find the dragon, outsmart him and rescue the prince.

For more information on this or other Colgate Bookstore programs, call (315) 228-6944.

To the Editor:

In 2012, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) celebrates its centennial and has launched the boldest cause campaign dedicated to girls’ leadership issues in the nation’s history. As we launch this cause, we are asking all members of society to help girls achieve their full leadership potential.

Girl Scouts will use the occasion of its 100th birthday to incite a monumental shift in the way we support girls in this country, and seek to get the issue of girls’ leadership on the national agenda. The cause – ToGetHerThere – will help break down societal barriers that hinder girls from leading and achieving the highest ranks in all fields and industries, from science and technology to business and government.

Both Girl Scouts’ own research, as well as a third-party study by GfK Roper demonstrates that despite advances by women in business, politics, arts, law, and medicine, girls opt out of leading: one in five doesn’t believe she has what it takes to lead, and 61 percent of girls are either deeply ambivalent about leadership or say it’s not important to them at all. If this continues unchecked, millions of our girls may not reach their full potential as leaders in our society. Our cause will seek to alter this pattern.

At the helm of the initiative, which has as its goal the creation of balanced leadership in a single generation, is Girl Scouts’ new CEO, Anna Maria Chavez. Anna Maria, a Yale graduate and the daughter of migrant farm workers in the Southwest, understands that girls need critical support at a young age to become the future leaders of society.

To provide this support, we must start with all girls now – not just girls involved with Girl Scouting – and ask all adults to help girls achieve their full potential, in any way they can. (We will provide resources).

ToGetHerThere kicked off formally Jan. 31 in New York with a panel event at the TimesCenter. Included were Anna Maria Chavez and female and male leaders from a variety of fields – including media, finance, and sports – discussing leadership issues facing girls today and our new research findings.

On Feb. 1, GSUSA took the kick-off to Washington, D.C. where Congressional leadership was asked to get involved with the ToGetHerThere cause and to stand with Girl Scouts in support of girls. These events will serve as just the start of Girl Scouts’ larger cause effort.

We can provide access to local Girl Scouts, leadership members and board members, research findings, ToGetHerThere cause assets, including logos, website, original content, etc., an op ed piece, and historical photos.

We look forward to your thoughts!

Kimberly Dunne

Media Manager

(Oneida, NY – Feb. 2012) School-aged children can learn the secrets of snowflakes in Winter Wonders at the Oneida Public Library with Michele Ryan Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m.

Children will learn how snowflakes are formed and how varied they can be, while doing their own experiment in snowflakes.

The program is free. For more information, stop by the Oneida Library, 220 Broad St., or call 363-3050.

(Town of Sullivan, NY – Feb. 2012) The town of Sullivan Parks & Recreation Department, combined with the Knights of Columbus will be holding their Annual Foul Shooting Contest on Saturday Feb. 11 at the Chittenango Middle School from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

This program is open to all boys and girls ages 7 to 18 as of Jan. 1.

Registration is onsite beginning at 10:30 a.m.  Try your luck and test your skill.

Trophies will be awarded to the top scoring boys and girls in their age groups.  Parents, come cheer on the children.

For additional information, contact the Parks & Recreation office at 687-3471.

Course Participants learn about large animal safety and management practices at the Morrisville State College Dairy Complex.

(Morrisville, NY – Feb. 2012) Do you know youth who are 14-15 years old who want or do work on a farm? If so this course is for them!

The 2012 Agricultural Safety and Certification Program is scheduled to begin in late February. It is against the law for an employer to hire a person less than 16 years of age to operate farm tractors or machinery. An exception is made for the 14- or 15-year-old who has completed this approved safety course.

Even though family members and those over 16 are not required by law to take the course, it is a good idea for any potential new operator. The objective of this course is to reduce the number of injuries and deaths resulting from farm-related accidents, especially with young people in Madison County.

Those who satisfactorily complete the course will receive the certificate, which allows them to work for hire at age 14 and 15. Employers must request a copy of this certificate from young employees.

You must be 14 in order to take this course for a certificate.

Again this year, a special emphasis will be offered involving lawn mowers and other lawn, yard and garden equipment; information gained in this course is applicable to most home and yard work involving younger machinery operators.

In order to qualify for the certificate, participants must attend scheduled class sessions, complete the workbook provided, pass a written exam and complete the practical driving exam. The 4-H Tractor Safety and Certification Course class fee will be $10 for the manual and printed materials. The fee will be collected at the first session.

This program is a cooperative effort of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County, the Madison County FFA Agricultural Programs and Morrisville State College.

Pre-enrollment is required. Contact Cornell Cooperative Extension of Madison County 4-H Program, P.O. Box 1209, Eaton Street, Morrisville, N.Y. 13408 or call (315) 684-3001 to enroll or for more information.

(Oneida, NY – Feb. 2012) The Oneida Area Civic Chorale is offering a $300 scholarship to an area high school senior who has displayed musical talent in school and community performances and plans to engage in musical study beyond high school as a music major or in extracurricular areas.

Applicants must submit a completed application form, a performance tape or CD displaying solo and/or ensemble achievements, a short written explanation of how the award money would be used and a letter of recommendation from a music teacher. An interview with selected candidates may be requested before a final decision is made.

The scholarship will be awarded in May.

Applications and tapes/CDs must be received by April 1. Applications may be obtained from music teachers and guidance counselors at local high schools or by calling Kitty Warner at (315) 363-9667, and should be submitted to the Oneida Area Civic Chorale Senior Scholarship, 431 Broad St., Oneida, N.Y. 13421.

(Canastota, NY – Jan. 2012) Canastota’s Liam Douglass has his hands full in this match at home. Douglass scored in virtually every bout and even found time to do pushups to keep himself occupied in between his five contests.

Raider wrestler Edric Brooks is in control of his opponent, winning this match and giving a good account of himself throughout the day at a youth wrestling tournament held in Canastota Jan. 22.

Kenneth Relyea looks for the pin on his way to a win. This was the Canastota wrestler’s second ever wrestling tournament. (Photos by Jim Scheid)

(Brookfield, NY) The Madison County Fairgrounds Board of Directors is busy making plans for the 2012 Fair slated to take place July 12 through 15.

Over the recent long holiday weekend, five members of the Madison County Fair Board traveled to Rochester to attend the 124th annual New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs Convention At the convention it was announced that once again the New York State Association of Agricultural Fairs and New York State Showpeople’s Association are in process of accepting applications for their annual scholarship program, which will award up to ten $1,000 scholarships in 2012.

These scholarship are available to students who are New York state residents, who currently are (or have previously been) active in a fair that is a member of the NYSAAF or the NYSSA and who plan to attend (or already attend) college in pursuit of a degree.

The fair where you have been active or the NYSSA must endorse your application and will submit it for you. Madison County Fair President Jeff Mayne will gladly accept applications at the Beaver Den Diner in Brookfield or mail to Madison County Fair, P.O. Box 114, 1968 Fairgrounds Road, Brookfield, N.Y. 13314.

The deadline for applications is Friday, April 13.

For further information on the scholarship program and application forms, visit nyfairs.org/scholarship.htm; visit us at madisoncountyfairny.com.

(Canastota, NY – Jan. 2012) The Canastota Youth Wrestling Club, Inc. donated a check for $1,000 to Tim Tyler. Tyler is a former wrestler from Canastota going through his second battle with Lymphoma.

Tyler has traveled to Rochester, New York City and Texas to receive treatments. Tyler has a wife Jenny and two children, eight year old Emma and four year old Andrew.

Adults in the picture from left to right are Coach Will Hook, John Tyler (brother of Tim), John Tyler Sr., Kathy Tyler (parents of Tim) and Jennifer Hook (treasurer of the club). Also in the picture are members of the Canastota Youth Wrestling Club, Inc.

Submitted by Don Logan

(Chittenango, NY – Jan. 2012) Oxford Academy, was this year’s host to the 6th District American Legion Oratorical Contest. On Jan. 14, five students recited portions of the Constitution. They all spoke clearly and enthusiastically from just memory, it’s just amazing!

Pictured from left are Sam Aldridge from Milford, Karlene Becker from Chittenango, Nidhi Shah from Horseheads, Michael Freeman from Walton and Amanda Thornton from Marathon. After the judges had scored each student, Michael Freeman will move on to the Zone level, at Mohawk C.S. Feb. 4. Each student won a scholarship award.