Ravena Grange’s ‘Words for Thirds’ campaign celebrates 20 years

In News, News - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald
January 28, 2025
0
Share

By Marlene McTigue

Capital Region Independent Media

Granger Ismay Payne hands out dictionaries to eager third graders. Marlene McTigue/Capital Region Independent Media

RAVENA — The Ravena Grange celebrated a significant milestone last week, marking the 20th year of its “Words for Thirds” campaign.

The initiative, aimed at fostering literacy and curiosity, provides dictionaries to third-grade students at Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School each year.

The Grange, founded in 1867 as part of the National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, has long been committed to community service. In Ravena, the organization has become a vital part of the town’s fabric, supporting local education, agriculture, and civic engagement.

Since launching the “Words for Thirds” campaign in 2005, the Ravena Grange has distributed hundreds of dictionaries to local students. This year, students eagerly flipped through their new books, discovering not only words but also the wealth of information often tucked away in dictionary appendices.

Students show off their new dictionaries, compliments of the Ravena Grange. Marlene McTigue/Capital Region Independent Media

“It’s not all about the computers as much as everybody thinks it is. They do enjoy these dictionaries. They like looking up words, sometimes even words they shouldn’t,” said teacher Linda Boehm with a chuckle. “But they do enjoy them and seeing what they can find inside.”

Third-grade students like Tyler and Braden expressed excitement about their new dictionaries. Tyler shared his plans to “read it every day.” Braden humorously remarked, “I’ll read every single day until I run out of pages!”

Third graders at Pieter B. Coeymans Elementary School received new dictionaries from the Ravena Grange in a tradition dating back 20 years. Marlene McTigue/Capital Region Independent Media

Grangers Jo Downey, Ismay Payne and Stephen Coye reflected on the campaign’s origins and growth.

“This program has been a constant in our community,” said Payne. “Seeing the excitement and the educational value it brings to these kids is incredible. It’s about more than just words; it’s about inspiring curiosity.”

Granger Stephen Coye at the Words for Thirds dictionary giveaway. Marlene McTigue/Capital Region Independent Media

The “Words for Thirds” program has been running continuously for two decades.

“Our junior Grange has been organized since 1957, and we’ve always had kids every year. There’s never been a lapse,” said Coye. “It’s given me a lot, and I hope I’ve given back just as much.”

As the dictionaries are handed out each year, the Grange’s commitment to education and tradition remains steadfast, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the Ravena community.

Third graders await their new dictionaries. Marlene McTigue/Capital Region Independent Media
Related Posts

District eyes after-hours security at HS, MS

In News, News - Ravena, The Ravena News Herald
November 14, 2024
0

By Melanie Lekocevic

Capital Region Independent Media

The district is considering adding a security employee to cover after-hours at the high school/middle school campus. File photo

RAVENA-COEYMANS-SELKIRK — The RCS school district is considering hiring a retired police officer or other security employee to monitor the high school and middle school during its after-hours.

The issue came up at the Nov. 6 meeting of the RCS Board of Education. Board of education member Matthew Miller asked that the motion to hire a security officer be tabled pending further discussion and input from the community.

“I think we should have more time to look at it and have discussions about what to do and what it’s going to look like,” Miller said.

District Superintendent Dr. Brian Bailey said the district’s risk management firm identified school buildings that are in use after the school day ends for events such as practices, games, rehearsals, art exhibits and so on, but don’t have security in place for those time periods. During the regular school day, there is an SRO, or school resource officer, on site.

“Although there are coaches and advisors and teachers and administrators, there is not one person here with continuity to assist with safety and security on a regular basis between the hours of 2:30 and 10 p.m.,” Bailey told the board. “In talking with Needham Risk Management, one of the things they suggested is having someone to serve in a security capacity in those second shift hours.”

If the position is approved by the board, the security officer would patrol the middle school and high school campus, focusing primarily on the high school, where the majority of after-school activity takes place.

“Considering the diversity of things that we have here, especially at the high school, having someone with security or law enforcement training who can be here on a daily basis, Monday through Friday during those hours, would be enormously helpful in creating continuity in our building security after hours,” Bailey said.

The district could consider hiring a retired police officer at an annual rate of $35,000 — the maximum rate retired officers are permitted to earn and retain their pension. The employee would not need health insurance as that would be provided through their former employer. That is what other school districts in the area have opted to do, Bailey said.

“This is the lesser of investments for us,” the superintendent said. “We could ask for an SRO to serve in the evening hours as well, and they are about $65,000 for us.”

Trained security officers could also fit the bill.

The employee would be unarmed. The specific hours of employment have yet to be determined, Bailey said.

Miller asked what would be done if the security employee were to call in sick. Bailey responded that they would have a list of qualified individuals ready to serve as a substitute, just as other positions in the district have.

Miller said he wanted to table the issue so the community could have their say.

“I would like to hear what they have to say before we go ahead and vote on it because this is the first time, I assume, that the community is hearing about it,” Miller said. “I would like to wait a little bit just to see where they stand because sometimes we have seen in other school districts, and even around here, that school officers can be controversial for different reasons, so rather than vote on it and have the controversy come later, let’s hear what they have to say.”

To generate input into the decision, information about the position will likely be incorporated into the RCS district’s weekly newsletter or in an email to the school community.

Feed Your Mind, Feed a Family: A Thanksgiving tradition of giving

In News, News - Greenville, The Greenville Pioneer
November 15, 2024
0

By Marlene McTigue

Capital Region Independent Media

Last year’s Feed Your Mind, Feed a Family meal distribution. This year’s event will take place Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. at Tops supermarket. File photo

As Thanksgiving approaches, the Feed Your Mind, Feed a Family program, initiated by Capital Region Independent Media (CRIM), is once again bringing comfort and community to the Capital District.

Led by CRIM’s Vice President and Publisher Warren Dews Jr., this initiative has become a local tradition, providing Thanksgiving meals to those in need through partnerships with local businesses, schools and organizations. This year marks the fourth year the program has been running in Greenville and Ravena, with the event continuing to deepen its impact on the community.

What began as a simple idea years ago has grown into a powerful community initiative with an army of volunteers activated to fulfill the mission.

“Our role as a media company is not only to inform but to touch and support the community,” said Dews. “By uniting our advertisers, subscribers and volunteers, we’re able to provide meaningful support where it’s needed most.”

With support from new subscriptions and sponsorships, this year’s program is ensuring that families across the Capital Region will gather for a Thanksgiving meal with turkey, stuffing, and all the traditional trimmings.

This year, Capital Region Independent Media is inviting readers to participate through a unique opportunity that will extend this impact into December. From now until Dec. 26, the newspaper will donate one meal to a family in need for every new subscription purchased. Two-year subscriptions, for instance, will directly provide two meals to local families.

Each meal includes a 12-pound turkey, two cans of corn, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry sauce, a dozen rolls and a liter of soda, ensuring that families have a hearty, traditional Thanksgiving experience.

Meals will be distributed on Nov. 21 at 3 p.m. at Tops supermarket on Route 32 in Greenville.

The need is immense. In New York, 1 in 9 people face hunger daily, and 1 in 6 are children. Nearly a third of households receiving SNAP benefits include children, underscoring the importance of programs like Feed Your Mind, Feed a Family, which help bridge gaps left by existing charity and government support.

The program’s success relies heavily on partnerships with local sponsors, including Shop ‘n’ Save, Holcim, Nolan Energy, Carver Companies, TCI and Crossroads Ford. Organizations such as Helping Harvest, St. Catherine’s Center for Children, Church of St. Patrick, and Trinity United Methodist Church play a vital role, helping identify those in need and distributing meals to families and individuals.

Some recipients will receive meals directly, while others will find support through their local food pantries and schools. TCI, a local sponsor, will distribute meals to families identified through their Backpack Program at RCS High School, which provides food for students who might otherwise go without over weekends.

“This is more than just providing a meal,” said John Barr of TCI. “It’s about strengthening our community connections and making sure everyone has a place at the table.”

The impact of the program is deeply felt among families, seniors, and individuals facing food insecurity, especially during the holiday season. Thanks to the continued support of local sponsors who understand the need in the community, Feed Your Mind, Feed a Family has grown into a deeply cherished local tradition, making sure the season of giving is a time of warmth and inclusion. Through community efforts and each new subscription, the program offers an opportunity for everyone to make a meaningful impact in the lives of their neighbors this holiday season.

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