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GOOD NEWS!: Cub Scouts: Building character, one boy at a time
By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
GREENVILLE — Cub Scout Pack 42 wants to share its opportunities with more boys in the community.
The pack held a Field Day at the Troop 42 campsite last Saturday, with activities, food and information for families interested in joining Cub Scouts.
“We are holding a field day, a recruitment day and activity day to get more kids to join,” said Assistant Scoutmaster Neil Augstein from Troop 42. “It gives kids something to do — outdoor activities, life skills. It’s character building.”
Boys become eligible to join Cub Scouts in kindergarten and can continue through fifth grade, learning and advancing along the way.
“Each grade is a different den,” said Pack 42 Committee Chair Caitlin Salisbury. “Kindergarten is Lions, then there are Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos. We have two years of Webelos — fourth and fifth grade. The pack is all of them together. Each den has two meetings a month and then we do one big pack meeting where all of the boys come together and that’s where we do the fishing derby, and in December we make gingerbread houses or some sort of Christmas-themed activity.”
“Webelos” is an acronym for “We’ll Be Loyal Scouts,” according to the Boy Scouts of America website.
The field day to recruit new Cub Scouts was held at the troop’s camp on Route 32, just north of Greenville.
“We have different stations set up for our already enrolled Cub Scouts to come,” Salisbury said. “We asked them to bring a friend, a sibling, a cousin, anybody who might be interested in Cub Scouts, and we are showing them what we do.”
To join, the youngest kids have to be enrolled in kindergarten to join in September, and in fifth grade, most of them will “cross over” into Boy Scouts.
“We have a really good rate of boys who graduate with us and then continue into Boy Scouts,” Salisbury said. “Last year we had 10 boys from Cub Scouts cross over into the troop and seven of them continued.”
Making friends and learning practical skills are some of the biggest benefits of scouting, advocates said.
“It’s fun. The friends that they make are usually for a lifetime,” Salisbury said. “The group of boys that we have that crossed over last year, they stick together. They love doing all of the activities together. We have fun activities — we have the fishing derby, the Pinewood Derby — they like the craziness of it and it’s so nice to see the den sticking together and making friends. And they know each other at school, too, so that makes it better.”
Cubmaster Frank Orlando said he got involved with Cub Scouts eight years ago when his sons were in the pack, and he stayed on as they advanced through the ranks. The experience teaches boys a great deal, he said.
“They learn about fire building, about the environment, about recycling,” Orlando said. “Then we go to camp and they play a lot of games and they become independent. They go camping, they stay in the tents by themselves, so it builds a lot of character.”
Cub Scouts typically go camping once a year for three or four days and do an occasional night out at the troop’s Route 32 camp, which was donated to the troop in 2014.
Similar to Boy Scouts, which begins in sixth grade, Cub Scouts have the opportunity to earn merit badges and other honors for skills they develop like swimming, canoeing, archery, religion and more.
“There’s literally hundreds of badges they can get,” Orlando said.
When 8-year-old Nicholas Walenta first came to the field day last weekend, he wasn’t certain he wanted to join. But after spending a short time with the Cub Scouts, he was all in, according to his father, Stephen Walenta.
“We thought it would be a good thing to do to keep him busy and give him some type of outside activity,” Stephen Walenta said. “He wasn’t 100% sure he wanted to join until he came here. He got to build a rocket and he shot it off. He did lots of other activities, too.”
Damion Heidelmark said his sons are no longer in scouting, but he helps the troop where he can and found it is a great experience for the kids.
“They do a lot — building and learning how to build things, gaining new friendships, learning how to work with each other instead of arguing and fighting,” Heidelmark said. “They actually work together. It’s great for the kids and for the families to get out and go to the camps in the summertime. They do hikes, and it gets families out and talking to each other.”
Families looking to get involved with Cub Scouts can still register for the program by visiting Greenville Pack 42 on Facebook or emailing greenvillepack42@gmail.com.
Horses of Unbridled: Love beyond limits: The journey of Laurie and Liam
By Susan Kayne
For Capital Region Independent Media
In the heart of Unbridled, a sanctuary where volunteers tirelessly attend to the unique daily needs of each horse, a captivating love story unfolds — one that transcends the ordinary and unveils the extraordinary connection between Laurie, an exceptionally dedicated volunteer, and Liam, a horse in need of a person to call his own.
Liam, a horse of breathtaking beauty, is the equine doppelganger of an Italian supermodel, Fabio. His striking features, complete with a long, flowing mane and a wide white blaze adorning his face, are enough to leave anyone wonderstruck. Standing at an impressive 17-hands tall and weighing 1,200 pounds, Liam exudes both strength and grace, reminiscent of Elizabeth Taylor’s famed steed, The Pie, from “National Velvet.”
Liam’s journey began at Woodford Thoroughbreds in Florida on March 3, 2016, under the ownership of John and Susan Sykes. With a lineage of winners and impeccable conformation, he seemed destined for a promising racing career. From the ages of two to four, Liam raced tirelessly 17 times at seven different tracks, amassing three victories and earning over $125,000.
However, the unrelenting rigors of the racing world took a heavy toll on Liam, leading to irreversible osteoarthritis—a result of the repetitive pounding his limbs endured on the unforgiving track.
Amidst this backdrop of racing glamour, New Vocations, an aftercare facility supported by the racing industry, welcomed Liam into their rehabilitation program. However, Liam’s life would take a precarious turn when, three or four months into his stay at New Vocations, he faced the grim prospect of euthanasia — a bleak moment that would change the course of his life forever.
In a desperate plea to save Liam, his former owner and trainer reached out to Unbridled. On a cold winter day in 2021, Liam took his first step towards the rest of his life as he disembarked at Unbridled. His imposing presence, striking in its own right, melted our hearts with a simple “Hello!” It was a moment that marked a new beginning.
Imaging of Liam’s right foreleg revealed the damage he had suffered while racing. Although irreversible, surgery held the promise of comfort and an extended life of soundness for this majestic creature. The skilled team at Rhinebeck Equine successfully operated on Liam, offering a glimmer of hope for future pleasure riding. As inquiries for adoption flooded in, each harboring grand aspirations for Liam, Laurie entered the picture.
When Laurie first laid eyes on Liam, she saw beyond his striking exterior. Liam, still a young horse, had given his all during his early years, doing everything that was asked of him, only to be left with the weight of unspent energy in his big, powerful body. The palpable frustration he must have felt became a silent language understood all too well by Laurie. She recognized the echoes of a horse who had given his all and had been left to grapple with the emotional, mental and physical aftermath.
Laurie’s compassionate understanding went beyond the surface. She comprehended the constraints imposed by his past, the toll racing had taken on his body, and the quiet potential that lay beneath his stunning exterior.
With weekly lessons, Laurie patiently worked with Liam on the ground, building trust and nurturing a profound connection. Gradually, she reintroduced him to a saddle and embarked on riding lessons, not merely to fulfill her lifelong dream of having a horse of her own, but to recognize Liam’s potential for a life filled with love and compassion.
Their bond deepened with each passing day, culminating in a momentous day on July 15, 2023 — National I Love Horses Day — when Laurie officially adopted Liam, a testament to the love that had blossomed between them.
At the core of Unbridled lies an unwavering commitment: to prepare each horse under its care for a life where they can truly be themselves, embraced and cherished by partners like Laurie. These partnerships transcend utility; they represent profound connections with sentient beings who share our world.
In the love story of Liam and Laurie, Unbridled’s mission comes vividly to life—a poignant and beautiful testament to Unbridled’s dedication to these majestic creatures and its unwavering belief in their intrinsic worth, transcending any role they might play in our lives.
Laurie and Liam’s remarkable journey stands as a testament to the favor that shined upon them. Liam’s chance at life against the odds serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of proactive measures to safeguard equine soundness and the significance of aftercare facilities in protecting retired racing and breeding stock.
The journey of Laurie and Liam is a powerful reminder that love has the power to conquer even the most daunting of obstacles, forging bonds that are unbreakable and inspiring new perspectives on our relationship with horses.
Susan Kayne operates the horse rescue organization Unbridled Thoroughbred Foundation, on the border of Albany County and Greenville.
