Events: RCS Community Library

In Columns, Events - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald
July 24, 2024
0
Share
The RCS Community Library. File photo

RAVENA – Here are upcoming programs at the RCS Community Library. The library is located at 95 Main St. in the village.

  • Paint a Barn Quilt

Thursday, July 25, from 6:30-7:45 p.m.

Join with evening artists and create a painted Americana Barn Quilt plaque. Registration is required. For adults.

  • Romp and Read

Friday, July 26, from 10-11 a.m.

Romp and Read will help get the wiggles out on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. with interactive themes, stories and action songs with props. No need to register.

  • Chair Yoga for Seniors

Friday, July 26, from 10:30-11:15 a.m.

This series of gentle classes is for folks ages 50 and up. No experience or equipment is required. Join in at Senior Projects of Ravena for this series of yoga classes taught by local instructor Kelley Curran of Well & Kell. There is no fee for this class. Registration is required at rcscommunitylibrary.com. Please provide an email address so the library can notify you in the event of any change to the schedule.

  • Romp and Read

Tuesday, July 30, from 10-11 a.m.

Romp and read will help get the wiggles out on Tuesdays and Fridays at 10 a.m. with interactive themes, stories and action songs with props. No need to register.

  • Have Fun Storming the Castle!

Tuesday, July 30, from 2-3 p.m.

Construct a 3D castle out of nothing but paper. You’ll decide — does it need battlements, towers or a portcullis? The adventure is yours! Registration is required. For ages 10-18.

  • Last Tuesday Book Group: ‘The Ingredients of Happiness’

Tuesday, July 30, from 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Novel: “The Ingredients of Happiness” by Lucy Burdette. Thirty-two-year-old “happiness guru” Dr. Cooper Hunziker has it all — a dream job as assistant psychology professor at Yale University, a soon-to-be published self-help book, “The Happiness Connection,” and the perfect man. But there’s a problem — Cooper isn’t happy. Books are available at the library and new members are always welcome. No registration is required. For adults.

  • Write Together at the Library

Tuesday, July 30, from 6:30-7:45 p.m.

Are you a beginning writer, or maybe working on the Great American Novel: Maybe you’re the short story type? Prose fiction writers of all types and levels are invited to bring your notebooks, laptops or other writing implements and join in for an evening of writing together. The library will offer writing prompts, sprints and quiet time for you to get ahead on your writing project, no matter where you are in the process. Registration is required.

  • Family Storytime

Thursday, Aug. 1, from 10-11 a.m.

Family Storytime is a fun, participatory storytime for the whole family that includes songs, fingerplays, stories and movement activities. Early literacy activities are emphasized. No registration is required.

NEW FICTION

“Storm Child” by Michael Robotham

“Shadow of Doubt” by Brad Thor

“The Bang-Bang Sisters” by Rio Youers

“Lady Killer” By Katherine Wood

“What We’ll Burn Last” by Heather Chavez

Related Posts

GOOD NEWS!: RCS students strut their artistic stuff

In News, News - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald
May 31, 2023
0

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

RCS freshman Abbagail Givens with her untitled mixed media piece. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — RCS’s got talent.

And that talent was on full display last Tuesday when the district held art shows at the middle school and high school showcasing works by area students.

The lobby and library at RCS High School were lined with paintings, drawings, sketches, ceramics, photography, poetry and more to shine a spotlight on local talent. The middle school ran a show of its own on the other end of the campus.https://www.advisers.com/

The high school show and other arts events held on Tuesday were organized by art teacher Christina Wallace.

After holding the induction ceremony for the high school’s National Art Honor Society, an art show was held in the school’s library and lobby, with works by both English and art classes on display.

“We are celebrating all our artists who are currently taking courses,” Wallace said. “And we also have artwork displayed alongside the poems that were written by the English classes. We had the photography students take photos, hand them over to the English department, and then students responded to them with poetry.”

Visitors check out the artwork on display at the annual RCS High School art show. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

The works of nearly 200 RCS students were on display at the high school.

“I think it’s really amazing. These kids come in every day and they work 30 to 40 minutes and you can see they are working really hard,” Wallace said. “You don’t know where it’s going, but in the end you sit back and it’s breathtaking.”

Art teacher Amber Simmons is in her first year of teaching in the district and said there is a broad depth of artistic talent among the students.

“This district has some amazingly talented artists, and being able to come in this year and see how hard they work and how proud they are of their artwork is amazing,” Simmons said.

RCS freshman Abbagail Givens said her artwork is often inspired by her own emotions. She pointed to her mixed media piece that was on display.

“It was a ‘choice’ project — we got to choose what type of project we wanted to do,” Givens said. “I used watercolors, acrylics, oil pastels and colored pencils.”

Her mother, Lunelle Givens, beamed as she looked at her daughter’s work.

“I am very proud. She is very artistic and she loves it,” Givens said. “She has real talent.”

A display of works by senior Hannah VanDerzee, a student in the Advanced Placement: 2D Art and Design class. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

Mom Brenda Pagan also gazed with pride at her daughter’s work. Sophomore Casiana Pagan created a piece called “Recording Gold,” which was based on a song by one of her favorite bands.

“I love seeing her artwork,” Brenda Pagan said. “She has been doing arts and crafts since she was little but she just started doing art this year at school, other than normal elementary school art. This year she actually joined an art class and she is also in the art club and ceramic club.”

For visitors to the art show, seeing local talent on display was inspirational.

“It is awesome, it’s wonderful,” said Ted Smith. “It’s always great to see these kids explore their creativity.”

Youngsters check out artwork by RCS student Lanija Williams. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

The group RCS Friends of the Arts had a table selling merchandise and creating awareness of all the arts have to offer in the school district. This was a big year for the growing advocacy group.

“I am so excited that this is the first year we were able to give two private lesson scholarships at the middle school for students who want to take private lessons,” said Donna Hommel, president of RCS Friends of the Arts. “We give two scholarships away and we have four scholarships this year for seniors. I am beside-myself excited because we had enough money that we were able to increase the amount that we would normally give, and we were able to give a runner-up for one of the scholarships.”

“It’s because of the families in the district that come and buy our merchandise and show up for us,” Hommel continued. “I am so excited that we can give that money back to the students.”

Families and friends saw talent on display at the high school’s art show. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

RCS Friends of the Arts volunteer Ashley Chateauneuf said seeing the students’ work on display was gratifying.

“I’ve seen a lot of these kids grow up and you get to see their artistic value bloom from when they were in middle school all the way up to high school,” Chateauneuf said. “They find their niche in art and explore who they are. It’s fantastic to watch them grow internally and externally.”

A piece by Sandra Guzman-Ortiz in the RCS High School art show. Melanie Lekocevic/Capital Region Independent Media

Soft Paws: Service dogs versus emotional support animals

In Columns, Columns - Greenville, The Greenville Pioneer
January 16, 2025
0

By Charlene Marchand

For Capital Region Independent Media

Not only do we save dogs, but as Lucy could tell you, we board dogs we’ve adopted out into their forever families! Pictured, Lucy is lapping up the life of lunchtime breaks with the CGHS staff – we want every encounter to feel like our shelter is a home away from home! In the meantime, wonder if we could get her on the payroll? Contributed photo

We are so grateful for the selfless acts of giving on behalf of our companion animals at the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA. Our animal-loving supporters outdid themselves with their generosity to us over this blessed holiday season. We are humbled by it, and most appreciative.

To say that calls to my desk are numerous regarding the access of working service animals versus “emotional support animals” and various certified Therapy Dogs confirms the frustration of many business owners and facilities who are in uncharted waters, and feel they are being sold “a bill of goods” in a number of situations.

I fielded three calls last week alone asking if I could train a canine pet to be a “service dog” so the owners could take them into stores or sports venues and the like. In all of those cases, these owners were educated, subsequently disappointed with my correct information, and decided that training would not get them what they wanted.

Let’s quote from the US Department of Justice on the definition of a service animal:

Under the ADA, a service animal is defined as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability. The dog must be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability. For example, a person with diabetes may have a dog that is trained to alert him when his blood sugar reaches high or low levels. A person with depression may have a dog that is trained to remind her to take her medication. Or a person who has epilepsy may have a dog that is trained to detect the onset of a seizure and then help the person remain safe during the seizure.

Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals are NOT considered service animals under the ADA. These terms are used to describe animals that provide comfort just by being with a person. Because they have not been trained to perform a specific job or task, they do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. However, some state or local governments have laws that allow people to take emotional support animals into public places. You may check with your state and local government agencies to find out about these laws.

The ADA makes a distinction between psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals. If the dog has been trained to sense that an anxiety attack is about to happen and take a specific action to help avoid the attack or lessen its impact, that would qualify as a service animal. However, if the dog’s mere presence provides comfort, that would not be considered a service animal under the ADA.

People with disabilities have the right to train the dog themselves and are not required to use a professional service dog training program.

Under the ADA, the dog must already be trained before it can be taken into public places. However, some state or local laws cover animals that are still in training.

Feel free to call us with any questions at 518-828-6044 or visit our website at www.cghs.org. Our food bank is open to any from the public in need of pet food or for those wishing to donate food from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Spay/neuter clinics for cats are $100 male or female, including a rabies vaccination and a 5-in-1 feline distemper combination vaccination. Nail clipping services are available every Saturday from 10-11 a.m. at the shelter for a donation of $10 for cats and $15 for dogs (currently prepaid only).

Charlene Marchand is the chairperson of the Columbia-Greene Humane Society/SPCA Board of Directors. She may be contacted at cghsaaron@gmail.com.

Ravena News-Herald

The Ravena News-Herald is a weekly newspaper reporting on the news in the Ravena, Coeymans and New Baltimore communities of beautiful upstate New York.

Greenville Pioneer

Greene County’s independent newspaper. Featuring local news, letters to the editor, upcoming events, police blotter, columns from local writers and more.

The Columbia Paper

The Columbia Paper is a weekly newspaper reporting news and events from the communities of Columbia County in beautiful upstate New York.

Copyright © 2025
Capital Region Independent Media.

Powered by CityMediaInc.com