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January 30, 2010
A Denton Publication
1861-1865
Health
Sports
Do you recognize any names in this week’s “Johnsburg goes to War?”
See our special health & fitness section inside.
Lady Orange win title and all the scores from around the area.
Pages 9-10
Page 6
VICs among Paterson’s proposed cuts
Page 14
Hard work leads to adventure By Lindsay Yandon lindsay@denpubs.com
By Chris Morris & Lindsay Yandon
INDIAN LAKE — This year, Indian Lake Central School has continued its efforts to provide incentives for middle school students to perform well in the classroom with Adventures for Excellence (A4E). A4E is a school sponsored incentive program that runs in conjunction with the Prevention Education Department of Hamilton County Community Services that strives to encourage students in grades 6 - 8 to excel in school. If a student at Indian Lake does well on a test, writes a commendable paper, etc., but does not necessarily make the honor roll every quarter their name is entered into a drawing for A4E trips. Ten students are selected every five weeks and A4E provides the adventure. “It’s a chance to reward them for their great efforts,” said advisor, Joanna Pine. Pine is the secretary for the guidance and special education departments at Indian Lake Central School. Joe San Antonio of the Prevention Education Department chaperones the trips as well as provides a 12 passenger van on behalf of Hamilton County. Indian Lake accrues all costs for the trip, which
denpubs@denpubs.com lindsay@denpubs.com RAY BROOK — The North Country took a substantial hit Jan. 18 when Gov. David Paterson unveiled his 20102011 executive budget. And while the closing of three correctional facilities is getting the most attention in upstate New York, two other popular facilities are facing closure as well. Paterson’s budget calls for the closure of the Adirondack Park Agency’s Visitor Interpretive Centers in Newcomb and Paul Smiths. An official from Paterson’s budget office said shuttering the two VICs would translate to a savings of $129,000 in the coming fiscal year. The state would save $583,000 per year starting in 2011-2012. In a Jan. 18 interview following Patterson’s speech in Albany, APA Spokesman Keith McKeever spoke about what the cuts will mean. “In the governor ’s budget, there is a proposal to phase out the Newcomb and Paul Smiths VICs by January 2011,” McKeever said. “We won’t be laying off any staff this year. But they are planning to phase them out by next year.” McKeever said due to New York’s economic state, all government agencies are being asked to sacrifice. He said agencies need to scale back services to match need, not want. Agency officials are open to leaving the programs in place, but McKeever said they aren’t a top priority. The VICs provide environmental education programs to school children and adults, and offer miles of trails for hikers, skiers and snowshoers. “The services and programs provided by the VICs
Sixth grader, Billy Walters reaches the top of the rock wall on the Adventures for Excellence outing. Photo courtesy of A4E.
Johnsburg students make book club a success By Lindsay Yandon lindsay@denpubs.com
Tara Galusha, a student at Minerva Central School, plays her clarinet during high school concert band rehearsal. Photo by Nancy Frasier
See VICS, page 8
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Fifth and sixth grade students at Johnsburg show off The Thief and the Beanstalk — the book that they are reading in their book club. Photo by Lindsay Yandon
by authors that the students might want to read again,” said Homer. “The whole point is to keep them reading.” The group started as effort by superintendent Michael Markwica to encourage independent reading at Johnsburg. According to Homer,
the book club has been successful in accomplishing their goal. “All of these students are here because they want to be,” she said. “None of them are here because their parents forced them to come.” Students have taken the
See BOOKS, page 3
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NORTH CREEK — The Johnsburg Central School classroom where the fifth and sixth grade book club met on Tuesday was bubbling over with excitement. Hands shot in the air as students waited to discuss the book they had voluntarily opted to read for no grade. Advisor, Cindy Homer has been facilitating this group for two years and said the room is never lacking in enthusiasm. Every Tuesday, students bring their lunches to book club and discuss topics such as the characters and plot of a book chosen by a committee of their teachers. If they finish the book, they get to keep it. The book club tackles about four books a year and are currently on their second - The Thief and the Beanstalk by P.W. Catanese. “We try and choose books
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