Program: The History of Indian Fields, Stephensville & Alcove

In Events, Events - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

April 12, 2023

Tom Sweeney, president of the Alcove Preservation Association, will present a program on the history of Indian Fields, Stephensville and Alcove, during the monthly meeting of the Ravena Coeymans Historical Society. Contributed photo

RAVENA — On Sunday, April 16, at 2 p.m., the Ravena Coeymans Historical Society will present another program on local history as it welcomes Tom Sweeney, president of the Alcove Preservation Association.

With a focus to celebrate the 350th founding of Coeymans, Sweeney will highlight the history of Indian Fields, Stephensville and Alcove.

After receiving a B.S. in civil engineering from the Indiana Institute of Technology and attending graduate school in Transportation Planning at RPI, Sweeney pursued a career with the New York State Department of Transportation. In 1969, he became a resident of the town of Coeymans.

Since his retirement in 2003, Sweeney has been committed to the preservation of the historical aspects of Alcove. He has championed the restoration of the Alcove Cemetery fence, advocated for the creation of the Valley Paper Mill Park and promoted the stabilization of its chimney.

Sweeney is also a retired U.S. Army colonel, having served 28 years in the New York State Army National Guard.

Open to the public, this program will be held in the museum, located in the rear entrance of the village municipal building in Ravena, and is accessible to the handicapped.

RCS honors outstanding student achievement

In News, News - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

June 19, 2024

RCS juniors were honored for their achievements in the classroom and beyond. Courtesy of RCS Central School District

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK—The RCS school district is wrapping up the school year and honoring its students’ achievements.

The accomplishments of this year’s juniors were recognized during the annual Junior Awards Breakfast held May 31. Students were honored for their work in specific subject areas.

Certificates were also awarded to students in recognition of college scholarships earned through “exemplary academic or extracurricular achievements.”

Here is a list of awards and honors earned by RCS students:

RCS DEPARTMENT AWARDS

English

Certificate of Achievement in UHS English 11 – Cooper Penzabene
Certificate of Achievement English 11 – Grace O’Brien
Certificate of Honor – Madison Hunter

Social Studies

The Social Studies Citizenship Award – Alyssa Grogan
Most Improved in Social Studies – Mallory Raymond

Physical Education

Healthy & Active – Dominic Hoffman
The Sportsmanship Award – Kendall Bullock

World Language

For Exceptional Achievement in French – Ryan Morrow
For Exceptional Achievement in Spanish – Ana Ball

Math

Outstanding Achievement in the study of UHS Pre-Calculus – Cooper Penzabene
Excellence in Algebra II – Sabrina Racine

FACS

Outstanding Achievement in the Family and Consumer Science – Sabrina Racine

Business

Outstanding Work and Participation in Business – Keegan McClellan

Technology

Outstanding Achievement in Technology – Julio Vargas

The Arts

For Dedication and Celebration of the Visual Arts – Kadance Pickup
Excellence In Music – Kofi Opoku-Aning

Science

Most improvement in Science – Isabella Dulay
Rocket Science Award – Cooper Penzabene

Triple C Award

The Attorney General’s 2024 Triple “C” Awards Program recognizes the “Commitment, Character, and Courage” of New York’s most exceptional young people.

Lennon Babicz
Bella Misuraca

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Each year, certain colleges and universities ask school counselors to identify students based on specific criteria. Most of these students will receive a college application fee waiver. If the student applies, is accepted, and attends this college, he or she will receive a significant scholarship, typically over the course of four years.

RPI Medalist
This award recognizes a student who has shown strength and success in the fields of mathematics and science – Cooper Penzabene.
Rochester Institute of Technology
Four outstanding students were nominated for the RIT High School Awards.

For Humanities and Social Sciences – Aurora Wagner

For Art and Design – Kadance Pickup

For Women in STEM – Kendall Bullock

For Science and Math – Sabrina Racine

Business & Leadership – Keegan McClellan

Sage Colleges
Student Sage Award: For a junior who has excelled in the classroom and who has been a role model and community leader – Isabella Dulay.
The Saint Michael’s Book Award
For a student who is academically successful, and shows a sustained and sincere commitment to community service, issues of peace and justice, and concern for others – Molly Engelhardt.
The Bonnie Scholarship
St. Bonaventure University’s Junior Scholarship recognizes students’ academic achievement and service to their school and community:

Mary McHugh
Madison Wilcox
Justin Sulik
Justin Castillo
Alex Halwick
Sam Langlais

Elmira Key Award
For Elmira College, this award acknowledges outstanding school and community leadership – Sam Rosen
Clarkson University Leadership Award
Demonstrates outstanding leadership and a student who has been a positive contributor to school and community – Ana Ball
Clarkson University Achievement Award
Demonstrates outstanding leadership and has been a positive contributor to school and community – Allison Kennedy
Alfred University Scholars Award
In recognition of academic and community achievement, along with an outside of ordinary character – Abby McDermott
University of Rochester – The following four recipients will receive an annual scholarship:

Bausch and Lomb Science Award – High Achievement and rigor in math and science – Katie McFerran

Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Award – Commitment to addressing social issues, leadership, and dedication to community action. Strong grades and rigorous program in social sciences – Alyssa Grogan

George Eastman Young Leaders Award –

Strong leadership in school and community, academic excellence, and involvement in school activities – McKenna Slingerland

Whittling Away: Crabby

In Columns, Columns - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald

May 25, 2023

By Dick Brooks

For Capital Region Independent Media

I’m in a crabby mood, which is unusual for one of a naturally sunny disposition.

Things started going sour around five o’clock in the morning when I was awakened from a semi-sound sleep by a sense that someone was staring at me. Opening my eyes revealed another pair of eyes about a foot from my face.

A firm “fuff” announced the fact that my trusty canine companion was feeling the call of nature and needed to take a walk.

Being a senior citizen of the male persuasion, this is a request that I can identify with but in my case it means a quick trip to the nearby bathroom. Solving Telly’s problem is a more involved process.

Leaving the warm cocoon of the bed and getting dressed is the first problem. Fortunately, when I had undressed, I left my clothes conveniently piled on the chair near the bed. I dressed quickly, urged on by another “fuff” from my furry friend, and groped down the dark hallway to the stairs, where I tried to descend quietly.

Downstairs, we turned on the lights in the living room and went into the kitchen. I turned on the kitchen lights and struggled into my jacket, grabbed a warm hat, turned on the porch light, found the flashlight and out we went.

The chilly morning air finished the waking process as we headed for Telly’s favorite unwatering hole. After depositing an admirable amount of urine, with less urgency we continued around the yard, following our usual path and returned to the warmth of the kitchen.

The red starting to appear in the east, the kitchen clock told me that a return to my warm upstairs nest was futile and since The Queen would be arising soon, I decided to put the coffee on and officially start the day.

A couple of cups of hot coffee and a pleasant conversation with The Queen before seeing her off and I had decided this wasn’t such a bad way to start the day so you may ask, where does the crabby part come in?

It started after The Queen had departed and I went upstairs to get cleaned up and dressed to face the new day. The fact that I now had to get undressed so I could get dressed again was a little irritating. I undressed and put yesterday’s clothes in the hamper, showered and started the dressing process all over again.

Underwear went on but the T-shirt felt funny, I had put it on inside out. I miss the old labels; the new printed ones make it hard to tell the inside from the outside without checking the seams.

Next the socks; sock wrestling is a form of exercise that most seniors can identify with. I had unfortunately grabbed a new pair of socks from their den in the sock drawer. Old socks with elastic that’s relaxed, tired or in some cases have just completely given up aren’t the challenge that new socks are. Lassoing your big toe when the target sock opening is new can be challenging, the opening being much smaller and the elastic fighting back.

Socking completed, the pants and sweatshirt were no problem. Next comes the shoes. I have a nice comfy pair of sneakers, well broken in and not hard to slip into. The only problem is they’re on the floor and the older I get, the farther away the floor gets. Got them on and here comes the crabby part — I tied them.

Why is it that all sneakers, running shoes, walking shoes or whatever you want to call them come with a yard and a half of shoelace more than you need to fasten them to your feet? I made the bows as big as I could and the laces still hit the floor. I’ve tried tucking them into the sides of the shoes, but that’s uncomfortable and they come out and drag anyway. I’ve cut them off on some pairs of shoes in the past but then they unravel and look untidy.

I wound up double knotting them like my Mom used to do when she sent me off to kindergarten, which looks undignified for a person of my age and stature.

I guess it’s going to be a double-knotted crabby kind of day.

Thought for the day — “Insanity is heredity — you get it from your children.” ~ Sam Levenson

Until next week, may you and yours be happy and well.

Reach columnist Dick Brooks at whittle12124@yahoo.com.