October 2015 - The Florida Focus

Volume 6 • Number 5 • October 2015 • COMPLIMENTARY
5K4Paws raises $5K for
Warwick Valley Humane Society
by Suzyn Barron
Pulaski Committee Honors Pulaski
Parade Marshal and Miss Polonias
Warwick Valley Humane Society hosted its 4th annual 5K4Paws
Road Race on September 20, 2015 on the hilly and difficult
Glenmere Lake course with 97 runners, including a few 4 legged
ones too. It was a partially cloudy, cool morning on the grounds
overlooking the peaceful lake. DJ Jeanine of the Oh What a Night
Karaoke DJs got the runners in the mood for the day’s race. This
fundraiser for the Warwick Animal Shelter was made possible
by the overwhelming support of our event’s major sponsors:
Fetch Bar & Grill and Track 7 Postal Service; along with The
Landmark Inn, Dr. Owen McShane DDS, Dr. Paul Gordon,
Capacity Coverage of Warwick, Riehle Opticians, Warwick Car
Wash, Northeastern Martial Arts Academy, and Greater Hudson
Bank. Donations from ShopRite of Warwick, The Sugar Shack
Cafe, Wadeson’s Home Center, Warwick General Rental and
Rooster Tees along with opening warm-ups by CKO Kickboxing
of Warwick completed the event. We extend our heartfelt thanks
to all of our sponsors and donors for making this fundraiser a
great success and cheers to all of the runners as they crossed the
finish line! And Paws of Applause to the Chester Hambletonian
Cheerleaders for “manning” the course!
Overall winners were Justin Ross of Middletown 21:07.3 and
Danielle Montuori of Florida 21:28.9. Congratulations and thank
you to all the runners ages 8 to over 70 for your participation in
the 5K4Paws for our homeless pets.
Runner Steven Notturno, Warwick who finished 2nd in his
division 28:19.2
On June 13th with the P.L.A.V. hall in Pine Island
decorated in Polonia red and white, the General
Pulaski Memorial Committee of O. C. held their annual
Presentation Dinner – Dance to honor this years
2015 Marshal Sophie Morgiewicz and the 2015 Miss
Polonia Sara LeMieux and her court Jr. Miss Polonias
Casey Jashembowski, Jenna Greenhill and Morgan
Jashembowski for Orange Counties contingency in the
Pulaski Day Parade October 4th in New York City.
The General Pulaski Committee is delighted to have
Sophie Morgiewicz representing them this year.
Sophie is the daughter of the late George and Stella
Sanok of Campbell Hall. Sophie came to live in the
Pulaski Highway area when she married her late
husband Joseph, and began to work beside him on
their black dirt farm. She is the mother of daughter
Marie (Harrison) and sons Joe, Dave, and Dan and
the grandmother of 7 young adults. Sophie is known
for donating her time to many of her community and
church functions. She is president of the Fr. Stanley
Uszenski Scholarship Committee and gives time to
work behind the scenes for the Pine Island Fire Co. with
whom her sons and grandsons are involved. In 1999
Sophie was honored as “Lady of the Manor” in the last
Orange County Onion Harvest Festival for her polish
ancestry and farming roots. Sophie is semi-retired
but still helps her sons on the farm and with farmers
markets in New York City. Sophie accredits all that she
is to her mother, who died when Sophie was 18. Her
mom was a giving and caring person and helped many
people. Sophie has always tried to live by her example.
Sara LeMieux was presented and crowned the 2015
Miss Polonia. She is the daughter of Jon and Linda
(Mudrick) LeMieux and granddaughter of the late
Ray and Teresa Mudrick. She was a 2013 graduate of
Minisink Valley and is currently a student at the College
continued on page 3
PAGE 2 • The Florida Focus • October 2015
Community Calendar • October 2015
Abbreviations:
CoC – Chamber of Commerce
FFD - Florida Fire Department
FHS - Florida Historical Society
FPL - Florida Public Library
FFPL - F
riends of the Florida Public
Library
FSC - Florida Senior Center
GH - Golden Hill
HS – High School
Thursday 1
KoC: Knights of Columbus
PI: Pine Island
PLAV: P
olish League of America
Veterans Hall, Pine Island
PTA - Parent Teacher Association
PTSA - P
arent Teacher Student
Association
SSSI - SS Seward Institute
TBA - To be arranged
Sunday 4
Monday 5
Tuesday 6
Wednesday 7
Thursday 8
•St. Stanislaus Rosary
Society Meeting; 11:30
AM; PI
•St. Joseph Rosary
Society Meeting; 2 PM;
Parish Hall Florida
•Pulaski Fire Department
Meeting; 8 PM, PI
•FFD Meeting; 7 PM,
Florida Fire House
•Florida Farmer’s Market;
11:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Rte
17A & 94
•Village Board Work
Session; 9:30 AM,
Village Hall
•Florida Family Fun Fest
Committee Meeting;
7 PM, Village Hall
•KoC Assembly 0776
Meeting; 7:30 PM, KoC
Hall
•FFD Multi-Unit Drills; 6:45
PM, Florida Fire House
Sunday 11
Friday 2
Saturday 3
Friday 9
Saturday 10
Friday 16
Saturday 17
•Flor-Wick Friends
Meeting; 1 PM, Florida
Senior Center
Monday 12
Tuesday 13
Wednesday 14
Thursday 15
•Columbiettes [Knight of
Columbiettes Auxiliary]
meeting 6:00 PM KoC
Hall
•Village Planning Board
Material due by noon,
Village Hall
•Florida Farmer’s Market;
11:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Rte
17A & 94
•St. Joseph Holy Name
Society Meeting; 7 PM,
Parish Hall
•Village Board Meeting;
7:30 PM, Village Hall
•KoC Council 4952
Meeting; 7:30 PM, KoC
Hall
•Flor-Wick Friends
Meeting; 1 PM, Florida
Senior Center
•Florida Lions Club
Meeting; 6:30 PM,
Copper Bottom
Sunday 18
Monday 19
Tuesday 20
Wednesday 21
Thursday 22
Friday 23
Saturday 24
•Free Blood Pressure
Screening; Florida Fire
House
•American Legion Post
1250 Meeting; 7 PM,
Legion Hall Cohen Circle.
•Village Planning Board
Work Session; 7:30 PM,
Village Hall
•Florida Farmer’s Market;
11:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Rte
17A & 94.
•Village Board Work
Session; 9:30 AM,
Village Hall
Friday 30
Saturday 31
Deadline for ads and
articles for the
November issue of
The Florida Focus
Sunday 25
Monday 26
Tuesday 27
Wednesday 28
Thursday 29
•Village Board Work
Session; 7 PM,
Village Hall.
•FFD Multi-Unit Drills;
6:45 PM, Florida Fire
House
•Florida Farmer’s Market;
11:30 AM - 5:30 PM, Rte
17A & 94.
•Village Planning Board
Regular Meeting;
7:30 PM, Village Hall
•KoC Council 4952 Social
Meeting; 7:30 PM,
KoC Hall
•American Legion Auxiliary
Meeting; 7 PM, Legion
Hall Cohen Circle
•Seward House
Restoration Meeting;
7 PM, Florida Senior
Center
Florida Focus deadline to reserve ad space or submit articles is October 20, 2015 • editorial@thefloridafocus.org or submit online at www.thefloridafocus.org
The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 3
Windy City Native Wins
Local Onion Eating Contest
Chicago native Michael Golabek has won the eighth annual Pine Island Chamber of
Commerce onion eating contest. He consumed an 8-ounce onion in one minute twentynine seconds. One of seven contestants, Golabek commented, “It was one of the sweetest
onions I ever ate”. Perhaps that opinion was not shared by all of the other participants.
The Chamber holds the contest at Jimmy Sturr’s Onion Fest at the PLAV in Pine Island to
remind the residents that agriculture is still an important part of the regions heritage.
Pulaski Committee Honors Pulaski
Parade Marshal and Miss Polonias
continued from page 1
of St. Rose in Albany, studying towards
a duel certification in special education
and childhood education. Sara for the
summer is working in child care. In the
past she has worked for the Morgiewicz
Produce farm markets; it has given her a
deeper connection to her grandparents
farming roots in the rich black dirt. Being
involved in the Pokolenie Dance Group
has given her the opportunity to get a
sense of her mothers and grandfathers
involvement in the past Onion Harvest
Festivals.
Completing Sara’s court are 3 Jr.
Miss Polonias. The first two are Casey
Jashembowski, daughter of Donny and
Jodi Jashembowski of Middletown, and
Morgan Jashembowski, daughter of
Frank and Kathie Jashembowski. Both
girls are the granddaughter of Ceil
(Labanowski) Jashembowski and the late
John Jashembowski. They both attend
the Minisink School System and are
involved in soccer and volleyball. Both
girls are members of the Pokolenie Dance
Group and contribute their love of polka
dancing to their uncle Ray and coci
Cathy as well as their great-uncle Rich
Labanowski. The third Jr. Miss Polonia,
Jenna Greenhill is the daughter of John
and Suzanne Greenhill of Florida and
the granddaughter of Bill and the late
Ann Majewski. She attends S.S. Seward
Middle School and plays travel basketball
and likes to line dance. Jenna is also in
The yearly Dinner - Dance is a proving a
success for the committee. The P.L.A.V.
was filled to beyond capacity with family,
friends and well- wishers. Even with the
General Pulaski Memorial Committee,
one of farthest contingencies from the
New York Pulaski Day Parade, many
of the executive members made their
way to attend our affair. This year was
no different with Parade President Mr.
Richard Zawisny and the Pulaski Day
Parade Grand Marshal Artur Dybanowski
and his family in attendance. A buffet
style dinner was served with dancing
provided by John Stevens Band. The
evening was finished with an exciting
performance from the Pokolenie dance
group. This year, choreographer Joe
Morgiewicz introduced their latest
number, “the blue skirt waltz,” which was
superb.
The General Pulaski Memorial Committee
is looking forward to attending the N.Y.
Day Parade Banquet on September
26th where Marshal Sophie Morgiewicz
and Miss Polonia Sara LeMieux will be
introduced and honored by the Parade
Committee and other Marshals and Miss
Polonias while marching up 5th Ave. in the
78th annual Pulaski Day Parade.
Theme Announced for
Fire Prevention Week
Warwick Valley Columbiettes #4952
Tricky Tray
Saturday, October 17, 2015
(Doors open at 5:30 PM)
Knights of Columbus Hall
75 Main Street Florida, NY 10921
(Behind St. Ignatius Orthodox Church)
the Pokollenie dance group, getting her
love for polka dancing from her mom who
was a member of the “Karolinka” group of
years past.
On October 13, 2015 Janet’s Quality Baked Goods Will be donating
the proceeds from all products sold at the market on this Day to the
Florida Food Pantry! Your support would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you, Janet Picarelli - Janet’s Quality Baked Goods
NFPA announced the theme for Fire Prevention Week from
October 4-10, 2015. The theme is, “Hear the Beep Where
you Sleep: Every Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm.”
Captain Thomas Andryshak will be holding his yearly fire
prevention week lecture with demonstrations on Wednesday
October 7th at various locations throughout the district. Call the
Florida Fire Department, 845-651-7754, for more details.
PAGE 4 • The Florida Focus • October 2015
Annual Polish Dinner to Be Held
at Florida Presbyterian Church
On Saturday, October 3, 2015, a Polish dinner will be served at the Florida Presbyterian
Church. Lona O is cooking and will be dishing out stuffed cabbage, mashed potatoes, and
more. There will also be our famous dessert bar! Serving is from 4:30 to 7:00 PM. Tickets
are $15.00 for adults, $13.00 for seniors, $5.00 for children 5-12 and may be purchased by
calling 651-2336. If tickets are not purchased in advance, seating cannot be guaranteed on
the night of the event. We look forward to you joining us for this delicious meal.
Polonaise Ball
Come Celebrate with us on
Saturday, October. 24th
October is Polish Heritage Month! The
Hudson Valley Polonaise Society would
like to invite you to join us at our annual
Polonaise Ball held at the Elk’s Lodge at 48
Prospect Street, Middletown, NY from 5:30
pm to 10:30 pm. The Pokolenie Dancers
will highlight the event. Appetizers will be
provided at 5:30 pm, the “Grand Polonaise”
at 6:30 pm, followed by your choice of a
roast beef or chicken cordon bleu dinner.
Please indicate dinner choice at the time of
your reservation. Dancing begins at 7 pm
to Dennis Polisky and the Maestro’s Men.
Tickets are $40 pp.
Established in March 1991, the HVPS is
dedicated to preserving Polish customs and
culture, and we continue to work tirelessly
to be able to offer our cultural events to the
public. Don’t miss this wonderful evening.
Contact Barbara Ewanciw at 845-8567526 or Hilda Ellis at 845-294-9254 or
email austriangirl283@yahoo.com.
It’s all about you!
You are invited to participate in the most action-packed fun-filled community publication
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and discouts. You can send your ads to ads@thefloridafocus.org or we will design one for you.
The Florida Focus, Inc. Florida, New York 10921
POLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES
The Hudson Valley Polonaise is sponsoring
Polish language classes. They will begin
Monday September 21st for ten weeks at the
CYO building in Pine Island. Registration
will be at 6 pm on the 21st, and classes will
begin at 7 pm. For further information, you
can contact Stanley Kocot at 845-651-4265.
POLKA DANCE - NOVEMBER 1st
The Hudson Valley Polonaise Society has
arranged for Joe Stanky and His Cadets to
entertain you from 2 to 6 pm at the PLAV
in Pine Island on November 1st. Admission
is only $15 and children under the age of
16, who are accompanied by an adult, are
FREE! Door prizes and delicious food will
be available. If you would like advanced
tickets, or to make a reservation, call
Stella at 845-291-8706. Tickets will also be
available at the door.
The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 5
Florida Fire Department Takes Part in
Goshen Triennial Parade
Florida Fire Department attended the Goshen Triennial Parade and showed off their
antique fire trucks while a Florida Fire Police Officer Vince Poloniak worked one of
the traffic posts along the parade route. Thank you to Florida’s Bravest for their pride
and dedication on this rainy day!
Pine Island Chamber
of Commerce Hosts
Pumpkinfest
by Janet Zimmerman
Columbus Day, Monday, October 12, 2015, the Pine
Island Chamber of Commerce will host and sponsor
Pumpkinfest, a Pumpkin Festival for the whole family,
especially kids. The event, a fun filled afternoon of
activities, is held at Pine Island Town Park (Kay Road
off County Rte 1) from 11 AM to 3 PM. Cost is $5 for
participating children.
Pumpkinfest is a great way to celebrate the local
harvest of pumpkins and spend the day outdoors
enjoying the warm sunshine and crisp fall air. The
day features a bouncy house for children, pumpkin
painting for all, kite flying, and activities including
touch-a-tractor and face painting.
Attendees can enjoy food from K&K Doghouse and ice
cream from Dairy O. The event is held at the pavilion
and fields of Pine Island Town Park, where guests may
also visit the park’s Butterfly Garden and playground
area complete with swings, slides, and a play pirate
ship.
Easy parking and bathroom facilities are available.
Questions: Contact Janet Zimmerman at 845.258.7008
or janetzimm3@gmail.com
Florida Fire Department Honor Guard: Cadet Nicolas Noviski, F.F.Kevin Cook, F.F.Victor Valentin
Golden Floridians Calendar of Events for October 2015
October 7: Game Day -12 PM
October 14: Business Meeting - 1:00, PM
Food Drive for The Backpack Snack Attack Program Bingo
October 21: Game Day - 12:30 PM
Bingo calling starts at 1:00 PM
October 22: TRIP TO BROWNSTONE to celebrate
Oktoberfest. Bus leaves at 9:15 AM. Cost $55 members; $65
guests. For reservation call Marilyn at 986-4105
October 28: Halloween Luncheon catered by Ceil - Turkey
Dinner - 12 PM
Cost 410 members, $14 guests. For reservation call
Josephine at 544-7102 by October 21, 2015.
REMINDER: The Florida Senior Center is opened on
Sundays from 1 PM to 5 PM for socialization purposes
unless being used by another organization.
PAGE 6 • The Florida Focus • October 2015
Applefest 2015
Festival Celebrates 27th Anniversary
As our community festival celebrates its 27th
anniversary, many residents recall the event’s
humble beginnings in 1989 as a simple, local
harvest celebration. Over the past twentyseven years, the event has grown in many
ways.
On Sunday, October 4, Warwick will welcome
an estimated 30,000 visitors to the 27th
annual Applefest, held rain or shine from 10
am to 5 pm.
With free admission, Applefest features some
250 craft and food vendors, free musical
entertainment on several stages, a carnival
for children, Farmers’ Market, apple pie
baking contest and fifty local non-profit
exhibitors. Note - Apple pie baking contest
entrants should check the Applefest website
for updated rules and new official entry form.
New this year will be an apple pie eating
contest for adults and children to be held at
the pie baking contest booth, #81 on Bank
St. at 3 pm. Check the Applefest website for
details.
The Applefest 2015 Visitors’ Guide may be
found on the website and is distributed free
at the event. The booklet contains visitor
information, directories of craft and food
vendors, entertainment schedule, shuttle
bus information, map of the festival area and
upcoming local events.
Applefest 2015 t-shirts, designed by local
resident Connor DeHaan, will be sold at
the “Applefest Information” Chamber of
Commerce Caboose on South St. during the
festival.
The Carnival at Applefest, in Stanley-Deming
Park, offers a variety of children’s rides, pony
rides and amusements for families, with free
admission.
In addition to enjoying the Carnival during
Applefest, families can also attend two
Carnival-only evenings before Applefest, on
Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3.
During these family evenings, wristbands are
available for unlimited rides (separate fee for
each night), and individual ride tickets will
also be sold.
Co-produced by the Warwick Valley
Community Center and the Warwick
Valley Chamber of Commerce, Applefest
is a major fundraiser for these community
organizations. Event proceeds are also used
for town-wide community projects by the 50
non-profit organizations that participate in
the annual festival.
Notes Michael Johndrow, Executive Director
of the Chamber of Commerce, “In addition to
supporting the Warwick Valley Community
Center, Applefest enables the Chamber to
continue its work on developing business and
increasing tourism in the Warwick Valley. It
also provides a way for some 50 local nonprofit organizations to raise money in one
day, without having to solicit in their local
communities throughout the year.”
The Applefest Committee is grateful for the
support of this year’s sponsors:
Platinum: Transtech/Chestnut Ridge
Transportation
Gold: County Waste, Crystal Run
Healthplans, Mountain Creek, Myles Wealth
Management, Orange and Rockland Utilities,
Price Chopper, St. Anthony Community
Hospital, Warwick Valley Apple Trail.
Silver: Affinity Health Plan, Angry Orchard,
Awestruck Cider, Crystal Springs Resort,
David Lerner & Associates, Green Mountain
Energy, LeafFilter North of New Jersey, Inc.,
McAdam Financial, Nationwide Insurance,
New York Welcomes You, Inc., News 12
Hudson Valley, Seely & Durland, ShopRite,
Solar City, Solar Maximum, Stewart
International Airport, Sun Indulgence,
WTBQ Radio Station.
Bronze: Alteva, Bethel Woods Center for
the Arts, Edward Jones Investments, M&B
Septic Service LLC/Noah’s Ark Port-A-John,
Pennings Farm Market, Warwick Valley
Winery & Distillery, Ye Olde Warwick Book
Shoppe.
Complete information about Warwick
Applefest and the Applefest Visitors’
Guide booklet may be found at www.
warwickapplefest.com.
Applefest 2015 Features
•Over 200 craft vendors
•Over 50 food vendors
•50 local non-profit exhibitors
•Free music all day on several stages
•Warwick Farmers’ Market
•Apple Pie Baking Contest (slices for
sale after judging)
•Apple Pie Eating Contest
•Carnival with kid’s rides &
amusements at the festival on Sunday
•Pre-Applefest carnival-only evenings
on Fri. and Sat. before festival
•Pony rides at the Carnival on Sunday
•“Rock & Rest” tent for feeding &
changing babies (Stanley-Deming
Park)
•Walk to Village shops, restaurants &
businesses
The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 7
Orange County to Partner with Towns and
Villages to Challenge Kiryas Joel Annexation
Goshen, N.Y. – Orange County Executive
Steven M. Neuhaus announced […] that
the County will seek to join in litigation
with other municipalities against the
proposed growth of the Village of Kiryas
Joel by 164 acres. The County Legislature, by a vote of
19-1, agreed to authorize such litigation
to the extent that it would fund up to
$200,000 in litigation costs. Michael
Amo, who represents Kiryas Joel, was
the only legislator to vote against the
proposal. Legislator Shannon Wong was
not present for the vote due to a family
medical emergency.
“It is important that we speak with
one voice on this issue,” Neuhaus said.
“Kiryas Joel’s environmental review
failed to depict the true impacts of
this annexation. SEQRA law needs to
be changed to recognize the regional
impacts of large scale annexations. For
now, we have to turn to the courts to try
and force the environmental issues to be
fully considered.”
The southern Orange County Mayors
and Supervisors have retained the law
firm of Bryan Cave LLP to litigate on
behalf of those municipalities, which
will include the County of Orange is it
joins the lawsuit. Sharon Worthy-Spiegl
from the County attorney’s office is
expected to negotiate the terms of the
inter-municipal agreement governing the
County’s participation in the lawsuit. The Town of Monroe Board voted earlier
this month to approve an annexation of
approximately 164 acres into the Kiryas
Joel. A petition for a 507-acre annexation
was rejected, but Kiryas Joel is expected
to appeal that decision to the Appellate
Division of the state Supreme Court.
A New Outside Addition to
St. Ignatius Orthodox Church
by Fr. George Kevorkian
As you pass by St. Ignatius Orthodox Church at 75 North Main Street, you will notice a
recent addition to the outside front wall of the church building. Two large icons of our
Lord Jesus Christ and His holy Mother now adorn the outside wall and look out onto Main
Street. The Orthodox Church makes frequent use of “icons” or holy images on the walls of
the church and in our worship services. Just as we have images of our loved ones in our
homes and offices, which are precious to us, the Orthodox Church has images of the Lord
and His saints who are also precious to us and greatly loved. We hope that the presence of
these two holy icons, now looking out on Main Street in this beautiful Village of Florida,
NY will be a blessing to the Village and to all of those who encounter them.
“We have never had a potential
annexation or land development of this
magnitude in the history of the county,”
said Steve Brescia, Chairman of the
Legislature. “At the very least, the SEQRA
should be done properly. The potential
impact of this annexation on water,
sewage, traffic, schools and so much
more is of the utmost importance to all
County residents. We need to make sure
that the planning and SEQRA process is
followed in a diligent and transparent
matter.”
For more information, contact
Justin Rodriguez, Assistant
to the County Executive for
Communications and Media Relations
at 845.291.3255 or jrodriguez@
orangecountygov.com.
Town of Goshen, Chester Schools.
Bright and sunny contemporary home
with 1.6 acres. Open floor plan with
vaulted ceilings. You can sip coffee
off one of your balconies, while
overlooking breathtaking views of the
countryside. The master bedroom has
TWO large walk-in closets, a whirlpool
tub and a separate shower. The
basement has high ceilings and is just needing a few touches to make it a finished basement. Double doors allow you to exit the
basement into the backyard. This would be the perfect spot for an additional patio! There are several mature fruit trees as well.
You will fall in love with this 2+ bedrooms, 2 bathroom home. $338,800.
Village Realty
would like to
welcome
Sharon
Pehush
Call Sharon directly at
(845) 651-4466 or (845) 820-7166
PAGE 8 • The Florida Focus • October 2015
Noble Pies Hosting Two Events
at Warwick Applefest 2015
Noble Pies, an artisanal bakery in Warwick,
NY will be very busy this year at the Warwick
Applefest, Sunday, October 4. In addition to selling
their 300 plus handmade pies at their booth, they
will be judging the Apple Pie Baking Contest and
hosting the first annual Pie Eating Contest.
The baking contest has drawn over 25 entries each
year and is a highlight of the Applefest for many of
the local residents. There are divisions for young
bakers and adults. Once the pies are judged and
the winner declared, the pies are sliced and sold
to the public. Entries for the baking contest must
be dropped off by 11:30 at booth #81. The contest
is free to enter. See rules and entry form at www.
warwickapplefest.com. All funds raised from the
selling of the pies are donated to the Warwick
Ecumenical Food Pantry.
Following the pie-baking contest will be the Pie
Eating Contest at 3:00 at booth #81. This is a
family event, with separate age groups for children
and an adult competition, and tasty treats for
spectators. “We always have such a great time
with all the kids and adults. Spectators cheering
everyone on makes it that much more exciting”
said Leslie Noble, owner of Noble Pies.
The pie-eating contest involves eating an Apple
Pie with a 10-minute time limit, no hands allowed.
Adult contestants will be required to hold their
hands behind their backs and eat a 9” pie. The
contest for children involves a smaller 6” pie.
Contestants and spectators alike are all welcome.
Noble Pies will be providing free samples of their
pies and cookies. The winners of the contests will
receive certificates for a free pie per month for 3
months. There is a $1 entry donation for children
under 16, a $5 donation for adults. Entry fees
will be donated to the Warwick Ecumenical Food
Pantry. Reserve a spot in the contest by email:
contest@noblepies.com or by calling 845-986-7436,
or at booth #81 at 2:30. Download the entry form
and rules at www.warwickapplefest.com.
Noble Pies is owned by Leslie Noble and Tom
Herman. They have been making homemade
pies since 2008 in the Warwick area. Their retail
location, 121 State Rt 94 S, Warwick, NY sells
other baked goods and has a small cafe serving
pies by the slice.
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The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 9
The Florida Focus • January 2015 • PAGE 7
Golden Hill
Elementary
Florida Union Free School District
S. S. Seward
Institute
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Superintendent’s Message:
Questions and Answers
Veteran’s New
Alternative
Exemption
Beginnings
Who is eligible for the
Veteran’s
Alternative
Exemption?
Another
opening
week is in the
books! We kicked off the year
with two days set aside for the most important learners of all… the
Veterans who have served during pre-determined wartime periods, in combat zones, and those who became
Teachers and Staff! We continue to face a flow of new demands
disabled are potentially eligible for a reduction in school taxes as noted in the chart below. Veterans may fit
from on-high, but perhaps more important are the demands we put
under one category, or aoncombination
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students
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an Armed Forces, Navy, Marine Corps, or A Global War on Terrorism expeditionary medal.
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vertically aligned
program, what was perhaps more exciting
lead by
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$40,000
teachers!
Golden Hill Elementary
Pre-Kindergarten
for School Year 2015-2016
We need your help!
With all of the hoopla tied to school reform, one truth remains… that well supported,
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them a voice in sharing their success with colleagues. While this is ongoing throughout the
of
providing
a pre-kindergarten
exemption because the formula includes an “or lesser than” portion that is tied to the Town’s equalization rates.
year, we are particularly appreciative of those who give up time in the summer to plan and
opportunity to children who will be
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UPCOMING EVENTS - Don’t Miss Out!
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The District
Pre-kindergarten
Oct 17th
– 6:00-8:00pm at
instruction, and our supports for children. Leadership in this effort also comes from the
“HOME”
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popcorn,
drink,
and
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Is
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of the Veteran’s benefit to include school tax reductions.
designed
to
support
their language,
9:00 – 10:30 AM. Please come and join the conversation!
GOLDEN HILL COLORcognitive
RUN:
and
social
development
Oct
24th
– 8:00
am
Thanks for all you do!
Have fun, increase awareness of while being sensitive
Golden
Hill
The Munro,
share ofSuperintendent
the tax burden of
NOT
paid by eligible veterans will be spread out across the remaining
taxpayers
Diane
Schools
tofor
their strengths and needs.
healthy
living, and raise money
who will pay a larger share. The State will not provide funding to support the veteran’s exemption.
enrichment!
If you know of any children in the
If I am not a veteran, how will my taxes be impacted?
Florida
who–will
turnat4Golden
beforeHill
PTA MONSTER MASH: Pre-K –UFSD
Oct 30th
9:00am
December
1,
2015
please
encourage
IF we used the 2014-2015 school tax levy and school tax bills, the non-Veteran owner of a home
3rd atvalued
9:00 atam on October 30th
***Volunteers Needed***
his/her
parent
to speak to
$300,000 would have paid about $50.66 more in school taxes for this school year. Unfortunately,
cannot
PTAweCOSTUME
BASH: 4th-5th
Oct
30th –Coordinator,
7:00-9:00pm at
Debbi
Lisack,
make exact predictions for the 2015-2016 school year due to changing equalization rates and the number and
Grades. Food/Fun House/ DJtoand
a Golden
Hill and provide
express
interest
levels of qualifying veterans.
Costume Contest!
***Volunteers
Needed***
necessary
information.
If the Board chooses to provide this exemption, and later discover that the burden
on the
PTA COMEDY
NIGHT FUND Call (845) 651-4407.
other taxpayers has become too heavy, can they change their minds?
RAISER: Adults night out at
Nov 14th – 8:00pm at 109 BrookYes. A recently signed law allows Boards of Education to rescind their approval of the Veteran’s
Alternative
Jester’s
Comedy Club
side Ave, Chester NY
Exemption. However, specifics of that process are not available.
Pre-sale cost $20.00/ticket
Is the tax money saved by veterans made up through other revenue?
So what’s next?
Don’t
miss your chance to support S. S. SEWARD SPORTS.
The Board of Education will review all information available and consider input from the public prior
to taking
Updated schedules are available at www.ociaa.org
a vote. The likely vote date is January 15, 2015.
PAGE 10 • The Florida Focus • October 2015
Golden Hill Principal’s Message
It was great to see so many smiling student and parent
faces on the first few days of school as we welcomed
380 students to our campus! The first few weeks
of school were exhilarating and flew by! Touring
our school these past few weeks and visiting each
classroom left me so excited for our teachers and
students. Each classroom is busy throughout the day
as students work hard, through memorable learning
experiences focused on student success. It was
wonderful to see how much effort they are all putting
forth! We have had a seamless transition through the
first few weeks of school and look forward to the next
few months of learning.
Thanks to our parents who attended Back to School Night on Sept 10th. All were greeted
by the Superintendent, the Principal and teaching staff. The evening’s events provided
parents with insight on what to expect for their students in the new school year.
Over the last few weeks at lunch, our PBIS team met with each grade to share our
school’s positive behavior expectations. Spartans are Respectful, Responsible and Safe!
On Sept 15th Red Grammer visited our campus and was that ever exciting! He put on a
fabulous show for our students that continued our conversation about positive behaviors
and kindness!
‘We Day’ will continue at Golden Hill this year. Our students and community come
together to celebrate the power we each have to change the world, learn about new issues
and gain the inspiration needed to take our actions beyond the classroom walls. ‘We Day”
helped inspire the 5th grade car wash last May. This year’s program, We Take Charge,
has our students finding ways to reduce negative impacts on our planet while increasing
positive ones. How interesting is that! We can do it!!
Another school year has begun at Golden Hill Elementary School with smiles and giggles
filling the hallways. Teachers and students alike smile while they greet their friends on
the first day of school. On the first day of school, the prekindergarten children timidly
get off their buses to meet Mrs. Hluchan and Mrs. Morgiewicz. This year marks year
two of Golden Hill Elementary School’s Prekindergarten program. Each day, the 18
young students learn many new skills which helps form successful futures. The month of
September was filled with many activities and lots of time playing outside in the warm
weather.
Feels Like Home
The Golden Hill PTA continues to be busy arranging events for this new school year
(please check upcoming events!) and the mum sale was a huge success. When you are
at school, please notice the mums in our planters. Also, don’t forget about the Color Run
Fundraising Event coming up on October 24 at Golden Hill. It promises to be a fun event
for all ages. Get your tickets early! Come by even if you do not participate. We promise
you will enjoy seeing the excited participants all covered in paint!
Please know that we are here to make your child’s educational experience positive and
rewarding. We want you to continue to support us as we strengthen our partnership with
you this school year.
Spartans keep learning!
Welcome home Ms. Dagele,
Seward Counseling Intern
Deborah Lisack, Golden Hill Principal
4th and 5th Graders
Dive into Controversy!
Have you heard? Golden Hill’s 4th and 5th grade students are taking a stand on what is
happening in the community of Florida, NY.
As you may have read, the Village is trying to remove the Northern Cricket Frogs
from the endangered species list so that they can use herbicides at Glenmere Lake. The
herbicides would be used as a possible solution to the ever growing weed problem in the
lake, which serves as an important water source for Florida residents. The students at
Golden Hill are studying all sides of this issue, have developed strong opinions and are
not opposed to having their voices heard.
Through the study of this problem, students have learned specific scientific vocabulary,
content and have used the knowledge to write persuasive essays. Their writing is full of
wisdom and enthusiasm for what they believe would be the best choice for Florida, NY.
Submitted by: Maggie Mayo - Fourth Grade E.L.A.
Noreen Meehan - Fifth Grade E.L.A.
The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 11
Career (LIFE) Readiness Corner
Current school reform focuses on test scores confined primarily to ELA and Math.
Last month we shared information on the “soft-skills” that are the foundation of
success in work and in life. Among those skills was “teamwork and cooperation.”
There was a recent article in the Washington Post entitled “If you want your children
to succeed, teach them to share in kindergarten.” The article, written in July by
Emma Brown, shared research that had tracked nearly 800 students for two decades
and revealed that “social-emotional skills among young children can be powerful
predictors for success later in life.” Examples include the ability to:
•
Resolve peer problems on his/her own
•
Understand the feelings of others
•
Share materials with others
•
Cooperate with peers without having to be prompted
•
Help other students
•
Listen to others’ point of view
•
Give suggestions without being bossy
S. S. Seward PTSA provides Back to School Breakfast for
students and staff. THANK YOU Seward PTSA!
You will hear about programs in schools such as PBIS (Positive Behavior
Intervention Supports), and DBP (Dialectical Behavior Program). These are both
initiatives that embed these important skills in the daily life of our students and staff.
Parents, teachers, members of the community, and those who employ students are
important “teachers” of these skills. The most powerful teaching in the development
of these skills is through modeling them from the time a child is born. We encourage
you to take a look at this list of skills, and consider how you might contribute to the
development of these capacities in the children you know.
With GRATITUDE!
The Golden Hill PTA would like to thank
the following local businesses
who’s generosity helped make our
Fall Mum Sale a great success
E.P. Jansen Nursery’s donation of mums and fall plants
Kevin Shuback’s donation of pumpkins, gourds, hay bales, and corn stalks
Soon’s Orchard’s donation of apple cider and apples
Warwick Valley Winery’s donation of gifts for adult participants
R&G Produce’s donation of a vegetable basket
THANK YOU!
Have you seen the beautiful
flower garden as you enter
Golden Hill Elementary
School?
It is really astounding
and certainly perks up
our entryway! We want
to personally thank RJS
Landscaping for their
beautiful plants, trees,
stonework and mulch that
Mr. Rob Scheuermann,
Mr. Jonathan Smit and RJ so meticulously put in place this August. The compliments
from so many have been abounding as people are observed doing a ‘double take’ as
they walk up to the school.
We were very fortunate
to have such a gracious
outpouring of kindness
from a local family business
to support our efforts as
we move forward here at
Golden Hill Elementary
School.
PAGE 12 • The Florida Focus • October 2015
Seward Happenings
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about our school,
the new science classrooms, new bathrooms, gymnasium
and sound systems during Back to School Night. Your
continued interest and support are appreciated by everyone
at Seward.
You may have heard of an initiative called ISPs at Seward,
and wondered, “What is that?” Independent Student
Projects (ISPs) create the opportunity for students to
immerse themselves in a particular area of interest to learn
more about it, while considering a problem or question
related to the topic. For example, a senior from the Class of 2015 has long wanted to own
her own bakery. Inspired by her parents, she conducted a study of entrepreneurs where she
interviewed them and collected data. Using this data, she created a business plan to help
guide her as she goes off to college and owning her bakery. The business plan structure
could be easily adapted for use by another student as well. Another 2015 senior was
passionate about computer coding and programming. He teamed up with a Seward teacher,
serving as “coach,” and led an introduction to coding for sixth graders.
This year, a dozen students have begun the ISP journey. Robotics, medicine, and journalism
are just a few of the areas being examined. All are guided by our Business and Career/
Life Readiness Teacher, Barbara Scheibling, whose vast contacts across the county allow
students to participate in career shadowing and internship experiences. Students interested
in knowing more, or community members interested in supporting an ISP student should
contact Mrs. Scheibling at Seward!
With the month of October upon us, please look for the parent teacher conference mailing.
Remember to sign up for conferences via Sign Up Genius, which is accessible through the
Seward website. Of course, keep track of your student’s progress by utilizing Parent Portal.
All of us at Seward look forward to seeing you soon and thank you for your trust in us to
help you enrich and educate your child to be life ready!
Michael Rheaume, S. S. Seward Institute Principal
Math Counts!
This summer, some of our teachers gathered to discuss math curriculum and instruction.
One particularly interesting discussion ensued regarding how students study math.
Below are some ideas our teachers wanted to share with both parents and students.
Mathematics is an active subject- Be an active listener and an active participant.
Listening, seeing and doing engages more senses and therefore diversifies connections
in your brain making it easier to comprehend skills and concepts.
Mathematics involves practice- While there are certain facts and formulas you have
to memorize in mathematics, many concepts only make sense through practice.
Understanding and knowing a procedure for solving a problem is a good start. However,
being able to apply math concepts is essential. One way to achieve this is through
practice.
SCIENCE COMES ALIVE!
An exciting year has begun for 6th grade Earth science
students at S. S. Seward Institute. The year began
with a team building activity based on principles of
engineering. The “Marshmallow Challenge” allows
teams of students to compete against other teams to
design and build the tallest structure possible using
20 pieces of spaghetti, a yard of masking tape and a
yard of string. There is also the pressure of time in that
students must complete their structure in 18 minutes.
The structure must support a full sized marshmallow for
at least 5 seconds, without assistance.
Groups of four students worked feverishly to complete
their designs, with the tallest structure measuring 43.5 cm tall. Each winning team
received a homework pass for their efforts. “This activity was a great way to get students
to brainstorm, design and experiment using collaboration and communication skills in
a way that was both fun and educational,” said Mr. Fogarty. His goal is to make sure
students are excited to come to class every day, and projects like the Marshmallow
Challenge create a lively learning environment.
Besides the initial team challenge, students were introduced to the Touch Tank which
allows students to learn first-hand about ocean creatures, ecosystems and environmental
concerns. Using the tank, the students have the opportunity to delicately handle sea stars,
urchins, and hermit crabs, learning through experience of their fragile nature and needs.
The brown trout eggs from NYSDEP will arrive soon to kick off our Trout in the
Classroom Project. This rewarding experience provides our students with the opportunity
to raise, monitor and research issues concerning water quality, NYS watersheds, and
conservation efforts. Trout in the Classroom Project culminates in May with a trip to
the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum in Livingston Manor, where students help release the
fingerlings they have raised and receive direct instruction on environmental matters from
local experts.
The Ashokan Center Trip creates an opportunity for students to experience exciting
hands-on learning in nature’s classroom. This trip is set for December 2nd – 4th. Student
experiences include learning about the outdoors, team
building skills, craft making, life in colonial times, and
respecting nature and the environment. “It’s a great time
for the students. They have a full three days of wonderful
programs and experiences that last a lifetime. Students come
back to visit me years later to tell stories of how much fun
they had, and what they learned,” says Fogarty. “It’s very
rewarding to know that what is done in the classroom has
such an impact on the students.”
Submitted by: Darren Fogarty, Seward’s Grade 6 Science
Teacher
Mathematics adds up- Concepts previously covered will apply to new concepts all the
time. Mathematics is cumulative and gaps in foundational knowledge will affect your
ability to understand new concepts.
Look forward to more math information in our next article which will focus on useful
math websites.
Please send questions, suggestions or comments regarding Math Counts! to Dana
Castine, Florida Union Free School District’s Director of Technology, Math, Science at
email: dcastine@floridaufsd.org or voice: 651-3095 x30015.
Students in Mrs. Allen’s Seward Humanities class began a mask unit. While introducing
the unit, students had the opportunity to wear a traditional Venetian Mask made from a
master mask maker from Venice. Now, students are challenged with creating their own
authentic mask.
The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 13
On The Road
Things To Not Do While Traveling
by Nick Biblis
Often times you’ll run across articles that tell you
how to travel, where to travel, when to travel, and
generally what the best practices of travel are. Now
while I’m a major proponent of every one has his or
her own style of travel, I do draw the line somewhere.
For me, the line of what not to do starts with these
tips which can be applied to anywhere in the world
that you go.
Don’t Avoid Tourist Attractions
I can’t count the number of times that I’ve sat in a
hostel dorm and listened to somebody moan on and
on about how they hate doing “touristy” things and “don’t want to go where everyone
else does.” While sometimes that is all good and well, the reason something has been
called a tourist attraction is because it’s worth seeing. Angkor Wat in Cambodia was
just named the top destination to visit in the world by Lonely Planet. And guess what. It
was one of the most incredible things that I’ve ever seen. Watching the sun set and rise
over the ancient complex are two sights that I’ll never forget.
Don’t Sleep In
Sleeping in is great. It’s one of my favorite things to do in fact. On a Saturday or a
Sunday there is nothing like sleeping well into the afternoon. But when I’m traveling I
try and get up and at ‘em as early as I can. This is the best way to see as much as you
can in the little time that you have. If getting up early and being active is an issue for
you, try and plan all your travel early in the morning. There’s no motivation to move
quite like a bus ride that will leave without you if you aren’t there on time!
Don’t Rely Only on Plastic
Many people are comfortable carrying around credit cards and that’s it. Carrying cash
can often make people feel uncomfortable. I get it. If the cash gets lost there is no
getting it back. If a credit card gets lost, you call and cancel it and there is no harm and
no foul. Unfortunately, a lot of places in the world won’t always take your credit card.
This is especially true in the more remote and exotic locations that you travel to. You
don’t want to be in a cab that only takes cash when you only have a card.
Don’t Go 100 Miles an Hour
It isn’t worth rushing through museums or sites so that you can see more. A lot of
times its great to just pick a couple of sites or things to do in a day and slow down.
Travel should be a relaxing­­­— it isn’t a race. I spent an entire day in Angkor Wat and I
wouldn’t change that decision for anything. When it comes to being on the road, quality
experiences trump the quantity of experiences every time.
Don’t Stay Comfortable
Get out of your comfort zone! I can’t say this enough. While traveling, most things are
generally new and different and strange. What’s adding a couple of more things to the
list? Don’t like eating weird things? Find the weirdest thing you can and eat it. Don’t
like talking to strangers? Talk to everyone you meet. Pushing your comfort zone and
expanding your mind and boundaries will make for some of the best experiences you’ll
ever have and never forget.
When Nick isn’t out on the road, he’s hanging out trying to soak up as much culture
as he can through music and books while planning his next adventure. You can check
out more on travel and culture at his blog, www.sureshotvagabond.com or if you have
any questions about planning an adventure or just want to chat you can e-mail him at
nick@sureshotvagabond.com.
Florida Volunteers Take Time for Some
Class Work on Incident Scenarios
The latest multi-unit drill night was used to test the knowledge of the firefighters by
going over three scenarios of incidents that may be encountered at any given time. Some
members were taken out of their normal role and had to run the scene. Many were able
to showcase true and impressive leadership abilities. Captain Thomas Andryshak, Safety
Officer Robert Cook, Deputy Safety Officer Lisa Valentin, and Auxiliary Officer Joseph Patti
oversaw the training.
PAGE 14 • The Florida Focus • October 2015
October 2015
4 Cohen Circle Florida, NY 10921 (845) 651-7659
REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR PROGRAMS
www.floridapubliclibrary.org
A member of Ramapo Catskill Library System and Orange Library Association
Rhymetime for Toddlers
Continues through Oct. 22 ~ our weekly library hour with Miss Sara
for toddlers from 18 to 35 months old with a parent or caregiver.
Please make other arrangements for siblings in order to enjoy this
one-on-one time with your toddler. We’ll read books aloud, enjoy rhymes and
sing songs together to help build reading readiness. Thursdays at 10 a.m.
Weekly Clubs for Kids & Tweens
Books & Beyond ~ for Kids in Grades K - 3 ~ Tuesdays at 4:15 p.m.
During the month of October, we will “travel” to Latin America with stories,
movies, crafts and food from countries in South America and Mexico.
Tween Club ~ for Kids in Grades 4 & 5 only. Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Oct. 6 & 13 In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we will go into the
kitchen and learn some simple traditional Hispanic Recipes.
Oct. 20 We will learn about a Mexican holiday called Day of the Dead and make
masks which are a traditional part of the celebration.
Teen Time
For Young Adults in MS & HS~Mondays at 2:30 - 4 p.m.
Drop in Monday afternoons after school for a snack at 2:30 and
activities such as book discussions, arts & crafts, cooking projects, Wii games,
music and more! Bring a friend or meet a new friend! Oct. 5 Banned Books Week
Film Series continues with a 2010 movie version starring Johnny Depp of the
challenged teen book, Alice in Wonderland.
Threads Through South America
Dyeing, spinning and weaving of textiles are important parts of many
cultures of the world. We continue our Hispanic Heritage Month
celebration with an exploration of the native traditions of textile
making in Latin America. See a demonstration of wool carding,
dyeing & spinning on a real spinning wheel. Children will then
get a chance to weave the wool. Due to intricacy of the weaving, this program
is for families with children in Grade 3 & up only. Wed., Oct. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Family Movie Matinee See the delightful animated family
film Home on our BIG screen. Popcorn & juice provided.
Saturday, Oct. 10 at 2 p.m.
Dusty the R.E.A.D. Dog
Dusty is eager to hear children read! He is a certified R.E.A.D.
(Reading Education Assistance Dog) dog. who inspires confidence in reading
skills by “listening” to your child read, Beginners and advanced readers welcome.
Call for personal reading time. Saturday, Oct. 17, 11 a.m. - noon
Library Hours & Meetings in October
Create Your Own Family Picture Book
Bring your family and join and our favorite guest artist Heidi
Bilezikian, who will be here to help us discover the art techniques
of picture book author & illustrator Eric Carle. As a family, you will create your
own picture book about your family in Carle’s artistic style. All supplies included.
All children must be accompanied by a parent. Sunday, Oct. 18, 2 - 3:30 p.m.
Day of the Dead & Halloween Party
Celebrate Halloween and the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead at FPL.
We will decorate cookies and craft a Day of the Dead Treat Bag. Fun
for families with kids in grades K & up. Sunday, Oct. 25 at 2 p.m.
JUST FOR ADULTS AT THE LIBRARY
Fractured Fairy Tale Fun Join the Black Dirt Storytelling Guild in FPL’s latest
Spoken Word presentation. Founding guild member Eileen Stelljes will provide
a lighthearted workshop on Fractured Fairy Tales. Lean the history of parodies
and politically correct versions of classic tales & try your hand at building a tale.
Adults age 16 & up. Thursday, Oct. 8, 7:30 p.m.
Organizing Basics Professional Organizer Hope Stuart of Apple A Day will share
her secrets of how to organize any space using a very simple process she developed.
Grab a friend, come to the library and bring home a little H.O.P.E. (Helping
Organize Possessions Efficiently!) Thursday, Oct. 15 at 6:30 p.m.
Poetry Café Open mic, guest poets Elaine Koplow & Hayden Wayne, & emceed
by Robert Milby. Coffee & snacks. Adults over 16. Friday, Oct. 16, 7 p.m.
Knit & Crochet Circle Join our friendly circle. Lessons for beginners and help
for more seasoned needleworkers provided by expert Kathleen Braun. Mondays,
October 19 & November 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m.
Social Security - Your Best Options Are you nearing retirement age
and thinking about social security? Explore your options and learn how
to maximize your benefits with advice from advisors Darren McCarthy
& Roger Pikul of Quest Financial Services. Wed., Oct 21 at 6:30 p.m.
Page Turners Book Club Pick up a copy of this month’s selection,
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende and join us for a casual and fun
discussion. Desserts and coffee served. Thursday, Oct. 22, 6:30 p.m.
iPad Class Learn how to navigate your iPad. Topics include touch
screen techniques, settings, managing apps, and how to use the basic
apps that come with your iPad such as the App Store, Safari, Camera,
Mail, & Maps. Adults only. Bring you iPad or iPhone to class for a truly
hands-on experience. Friday, Oct. 23 at 10:30 a.m.
Monday-Thursday 10-8 Friday & Saturday 10-5 Sunday 12-5
Closed Monday, Oct. 12 for Columbus Day
Oct. 5, 7:30 p.m. Board Meeting
Oct. 13, 7 p.m. Friends Meeting
The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 15
Florida Public Library Check it out!
www.floridapubliclibrary.org
Solarize Your Home
Get answers from the experts about going
solar! Sustainable Warwick is partnering with
Solarize HudsonValley to provide discounted
installations and will come to the library with
vetted installation companies to provide you
with facts about your options during this
informative program Learn more about
the benefits at SustainableWarwick.org.
Thursday, Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m.
Happy Anniversary, FPL!
Celebrate 15 years in our “new” building!
Friday, Oct. 2 through Sunday, Oct. 4
Used Book Sale Hours
Friday (for Friends members only) 5-8 p.m.
Saturday & Sunday
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
Anniversary Party
We are proud to be Florida’s community
center for personal growth and life-long
learning. So join us to celebrate our 57th
year in the village & the 15th year in our
present location. Bring a friend and bring the family!
Drop in and have a cupcake, make a craft, share a
book, and play games on our Xbox & Wii. Enjoy
YOUR library!
Assemblyman Brabenec Announces District Wide
Constituent Meet and Greet Events
Warwick, NY - New York State Assemblyman Karl A. Brabenec (R,C,I - Deerpark) has scheduled district-wide
constituent meetings where local residents can speak with him and his staff to report any concerns or issues in an
informal setting.
The following meetings have been scheduled [for October]:
•Saturday, October 10th from 10 am to 12 pm - Tuxedo Train Station, Route 17
•Thursday, October 15th from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Greenwood Lake Village Hall, 18 Church Street
•Saturday, October 17th from 10 am to 12 pm - Greenville Town Hall,
1537 US Route 6, Port Jervis
•Thursday, October 22nd from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm - Wesley Hills
Village Hall, 432 Route 306, Monsey
“I am very excited to meet many of the residents of the district,” said Assemblyman Brabenec. “It is important that
everyone has access to their elected representatives and it has always been my number one priority to provide the very
best constituent service.”
Residents can also call the Assemblyman’s office during normal business hours at 845-544-7551 or visit the district
office located at 123 Route 94 South in Warwick.
From Our Mayor
For the past several years, The Village has been
experiencing higher than normal repair costs for
both our water and sewer systems. This has been
particularly obvious with the increase in our water
rates.
sewer. This increase in revenue will be a boost to both
funds and help offset the cost of repairs to the Randall
Street waterline replacement project. It will also
help us pay the bond on the Glenmere Lake Dam and
Spillway project.
In addition to the repairs, we know our share of the
repair of the dam and spillway at Glenmere Lake
will be over $1,000,000.00. Even though the County
is helping with the initial cash outlay to pay the
contractors, the Village will be paying a bond on the
project over a period of about twenty years.
As with every other entity we supply outside the
Village, the agreement with MilMar Food Group will
be cancelable, at our option, if we experience a critical
water shortage or an issue with sewer capacity at our
treatment plants. Should that happen, MilMar (or any
of the others) will revert back to their current well and
septic systems, at least until our crisis has passed.
At present, we have an opportunity to supply MilMar
Food Group on Route 17M in Goshen, with water and
Saturday, October 3 from 1 to 3 p.m.
Library Staff: Standing (l to r) Paisley, Liam,
Barbara, Ashley, Marie & Madelyn. Seated
(l to r) Martha, Eileen, Sara, Meg & Annette.
Missing from photo~Maria, Patty, Amy & Beth
Runners assembling at the start line for the 5K4Paws race that the Warwick Valley Humane Society hosted on
September 20, 2015.
PAGE 16 • The Florida Focus • October 2015
FPL Fundraisers Feature Local Art and Food
The Florida Public Library has many
opportunities for library lovers to show
support for their hometown library during
the month of September & October.
Pick up a coupon at FPL and dine at the
Copper Bottom Restaurant at 162 North
Main Street in Florida, NY during the month
of October and owner Marco Solari will
donate 10% of your total bill to the library!
You must have an original coupon from the
library and present it to your server upon
ordering. Copper Bottom offers guests a
creative menu filled with contemporary,
seasonal American cuisine, and upscale
comfort food and is open seven days a
week; Monday through Thursday until 10
p.m., Friday & Saturday until midnight, and
Sunday until 8 p.m.
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month
in September and October, FPL is holding
a drawing for an original oil painting of La
Catrina, the iconic Mexican symbol of Día
de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrated
on November 2 and an original ceramic
sculpture of a Mexican Tree of Life, a part
of the pottery and ceramic tradition of the
central highlands of Mexico. Tickets may be
purchased at the front desk of the library
for $2 per ticket and $10 for six tickets.
A drawing for the winners will be held on
October 31.
has collected Day of the Dead images on her
travels in Mexico. Intrigued by the melding
of Aztec, Spanish and modern Mexican
influences in the development of La Catrina
as a symbol of both death and beauty, Claire
has painted numerous images of La Catrina,
also known as La Muerte, in her series
focusing on strong women in myth and
history. The painting also features colorful
monarch butterflies as symbols of spiritual
transformation. Her paintings can be seen
on ClaireLegacyArt.com
La Catrina is an unframed
24” x 36” oil portrait in vibrant colors
painted by Claire Legacy, a Pine Island
native now living and painting in Canada.
She is a graduate of SUNY Albany where she
majored in Art History and French. Born on
Halloween, she has always had a fascination
for spooky themes and transformations and
The Mexican Tree of Life is a
9” x 6” sculpture created by Judy Duboff, a
practicing potter and sculptor and owner of
the Amity Arts Pottery in Florida, NY. She
is a graduate of NYU with a Masters Degree
in Art Therapy. Judy first painted as a child
with her grandmother and later painted
from nature. She attended Rhode Island
School of Design where she discovered clay
and pottery. Judy created the Under My
Sombrero project for local migrant workers
and has curated their artwork at the library
for several exhibits. Judy’s complete bio and
artwork can be found on AmityArts.com.
Coupons for the Copper Bottom Restaurant
and tickets for the Hispanic Heritage Month
prize drawing are available now at the
Florida Public Library. FPL is open seven
days a week; Monday – Thursday from 10
a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday & Saturday from
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon
to 5 p.m. Visit www.floridapubliclibrary.
org for more information about the library
or call (845) 651-7659. Programs for all
ages celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month
are scheduled throughout September &
October.
St. Joseph’s CYO
Basketball 2015-2016
Registration
St. Joseph’s CYO Basketball season is just around
the corner. The program is open to boys and girls
in grades 1-8.
REGISTRATION DATES are from 9:00 AM to
12:00 PM at Golden Hill Elementary School:
Saturday, October 3rd and Saturday, October
17th.
Registration fees are $105.00 (Travel) and $50.00
(In-House/Instructional). Discounts are given
to parishioners and families with two or more
players. Two checks will be needed at registration.
Registration (one per family) will also include
a $50 donation in raffles. The proceeds from
the raffle support the CYO program and facility
upgrades.
(Left) “La Catrina” – oil painting by Claire Legacy
(Above) “Mexican Tree of Life” – sculpture by Judy Duboff
We look forward to an awesome basketball season.
Please direct program questions to Steve Nicolas
at 914-329-5351 or visit our website at www.
stjoeshoops.org/contact_us See you at registration!
The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 17
Focus on Wellness
A Foe Named Phytic Acid
by Paula Aston, CHC, edD
If you have not heard of “phytic acid,” and the
damage it can do, this column is for you!
I want you to try this at home: at least 24 hours
before you plan to eat rice (grains), nuts, seeds,
beans, and other legumes, soak them in water.
Next day, while prepping for dinner, dump the
soaking liquid and rinse the food thoroughly,
several times. Then carry on with your recipe.
Why should you do this? Because many of
our favorite foods contain phytic acid and
that inhibits the absorption of the important
minerals. Read more details about the impact
of phytic acid in “Living with Phytic Acid” from
www.westonaprice.org. Minerals may not get
as much press as vitamins but they are just as
essential to good health. Macrominerals that
our bodies require include calcium, iron, zinc,
and magnesium.
What is calcium good for? Among other things:
Strong bones and balanced blood pressure!
Contrary to popular advertising, you get more
calcium from cooked dark, leafy greens than
from dairy products. What is iron good for?
Energy! Iron transports oxygen through the
blood. Anemia comes from a diet that is ironpoor, causing fatigue and lethargy. The richest,
most absorbable sources of iron are red meat,
poultry, liver, eggs yolks, and seafood. For
best absorption, take a little vitamin C along
with your iron source. What is zinc good for?
Among other things, immune system support!
Zinc is especially important for men’s prostate
health. Best sources include beef, lamb, sesame
seeds, pumpkin seeds, lentils, etc. Read more
at www.whfoods.com. What is magnesium
good for? Among many other things, nervous
system support! Magnesium calms and
soothes the nervous system and helps with
migraine headaches. It is a great supplement
to take at night before bed. “High magnesium
foods include dark leafy greens, nuts, seeds,
fish, beans, whole grains, avocados, yogurt,
bananas, dried fruit, dark chocolate, and more,”
according to www.healthaliciousness.com
You can also read “The 5 Minerals You Really
Need,” at www.self.com for more information.
Phytic acid can “bind” with the minerals we
need, making it impossible for our bodies to
absorb them. “A 2003 study examined the
change in iron absorption when phytic acid
was removed from various grains… participants
absorbed 1160% more iron when phytic acid
was removed from wheat. Iron absorption was
improved about twelve times.” Read more
about phytic acid at www.phyticacid.org. In the
meantime, ask yourself if the manufacturer of
“convenience” food goes through the trouble
of getting rid of phytic acid in the foods that
you eat. I wonder, for example, if almond milk
makers soak nuts overnight before processing
them. I sure do. I don’t want to lose valuable
magnesium. Phytic acid… just one more reason
to purchase whole foods and cook your own
meals so you know what you’re getting. Happy
Halloween Everyone!
by Al Sanza
Knights of Columbus
Toy Drive
The Knights of Columbus is a 133-yearold fraternal men’s benefit organization
founded on the principles of Charity, Unity,
Fraternity, and Patriotism. The Warwick
Valley Knights of Columbus Council
4952 members have worked diligently
in distributing boxes to local merchants,
collecting donated toys and distributing
them locally to needy children throughout
Warwick Township for the past 19 years.
The Warwick Valley Knights supply toys
to families in need. That need quite often
is temporary, for example an illness in the
family or the recent loss of employment by
the main breadwinner. A person may have
a nice home, a nice car, and until recently
a nice job. Suddenly (3 – 12 months in the
past) they are out of work and must now
decide between putting food on the table
and buying toys for their children. We have
many of these situations, especially under
today’s economy, and we try to help.
Since 1996, the Warwick Valley Knights of
Columbus Council 4952 has collected and
distributed over 22,400 toys LOCALLY to
needy families. Many of our members look
forward to being a part of giving needy
children a toy they might not otherwise
receive.
Last year we distributed over 2,470 toys,
LOCALLY, to children and families in need!
You can help us by donating a NEW AND
UNWRAPPED TOY at one of the local
merchants who are collecting in a box
marked “CHRISTmas-for-Kids Toy Drive.”
Former Florida Resident
Working in the Community
Jim Pawliczek of Village Realty is pleased
to announce that Sharon Pehush has
joined the firm as a new real estate sales
associate. Sharon resided in the Village of
Florida for several years before moving to
the Goshen area. She lives with her husband
George, and daughters Elizabeth and
Jessica who attend the Goshen schools. Akins Pharmacy
Café a la Mode
Central Deli
Chester Cinema-6
Chester Diner
Edward Jones Investments
Etched in Time
Florida Fire House
Florida Library
Galloway Dental
Golden Hill Elementary
Goshen Diner
Guardian Self Storage
Headlines
Henry’s Deli FloWick
Jockey Hollow Veterinarian
Pennings Market
Price Chopper
Quaker Creek
Roe Brothers
S.S. Seward High School
ShopRite - Chester
ShopRite - Warwick
St. Joseph’s Church
St. Stanislaus Church
St. Stephen’s Church
St. Stephen’s School
Sterling Bank - Florida
Sterling Bank - Warwick
Valley View Nursing Home
Walden Bank - Florida
Warwick Dry Cleaners
Winslow Riding Academy
Final Pickup is Thursday,
December 17, 2015.
PAGE 18 • The Florida Focus • October 2015
Psychic Moments
Team
Shak
Update
Anxiety and The Telltale Signs
We were so close to this vehicle spinning
out of control that we could have actually
been involved in the accident. It was a
situation that was far too close for comfort.
by Psychic Cyndee
How many people have experienced
overwhelming anxiety? Fear is usually
a normal reaction to something that
is a potentially harmful situation.
But sometimes a person can become
overwhelmed with anxiety and have no idea
what is causing it. They may not see an
obvious connection.
What does cause the sudden onset of
anxiety? Often time’s a person’s anxiety
can come from a psychic knowing. The
anxiety can be an unprocessed warning of
impending danger.
Last week I was a passenger in a
friend’s car. It was very late, we were
both exhausted and I started to feel
overwhelmed with ANXIETY. I wanted
him to stop the car and let me out. But I
said nothing and tried to calm myself. I
kept thinking that I wanted the ride to be
over. Suddenly I jumped out of my seat and
lunged forward. I had visions of bloody
faces on the road. The driver was very
startled and yelled, what is it? I told him
that I saw something on the road. He said,
“There’s nothing there. I tried to explain to
him what I saw and how it frightened me.
A few moments later we noticed the cars
in front of us were stopping in the middle
of the road. We were on a sixty-five mile
per hour highway and it was very dark out.
We slowed down to discover that a car had
apparently rolled over and flipped several
times. It was leaning on the concrete
meridian between two lanes of highway.
One of the car’s doors was ripped off and
dangling on its hinge. As our car slowed
down we peeked inside the mangled and
destroyed vehicle. The passengers were
covered with blood and unconscious.
I was witnessing the accident before it
occurred. It was sheer terror as it filtered
through my subconscious mind and
manifested into feelings of overwhelming
anxiety. Our psychic selves see and feel
more than we can consciously process.
We process energy through our emotional
bodies. It may have appeared as though
I was hallucinating, but what I saw was
real. It was real and existed in the time
space continuum. It was happening on a
different level and I was plugged in. It was
so horrific that my experience was that
of sheer terror. How often do we get an
ethereal glimpse of something right down
the road? I needed to steer clear and out of
its path.
Precognition is the ability to witness or
sense something that is about to occur in
a future reality. Now if you take it one step
further you can understand why taking
anti-anxiety medicine can often times do
more harm than good. We need to be able
to “feel” and process our feelings­­— not
block them. The medicated “zombies”
often think that taking a pill will solve
their problems. I am not referring to people
who actually live in a war zone and need
to temporarily take medicine to slow down
their traumatized nervous systems. I am
referring to the people who use and abuse
anti-anxiety medicine as an immediate
solution without looking deeper to pinpoint
the root cause. We need to learn how
to process our feelings, acknowledge
the telltale-warning signs, and react
accordingly.
Psychic Cyndee’s book “THE ANGEL
DIARIES” is available on kindle and nook.
Psychic Cyndee is available for private and
group sessions.
(845) 537-1279
cyndee@psychiccyndee.com
www.psychiccyndee.com
Facebook psychiccyndee
Twitter.@psychiccyndee
Team Shak members Joann
Andryshak, Janice Harter,
Ed O’Connell, and Tom
Orr completed the Lehigh
Valley Marathon and Tom
Andryshak completed
the Lehigh Valley Half
Marathon on September
13. That brings Tom &
Jo’s current mileage total
to 1831 on their quest for
2015 in 2015! The Florida Family Fun Fest
invites you to
Join the Fun!
Hello to the Florida Community!
Thank you again for another successful year—
we could not do it without your help and support.
The Florida Family Fun Fest Committee is still
actively looking for new members to help plan
and organize various activities for Fun Fest. If you
are interested in helping with Fun Fest or would like
to find out more about Fun Fest, please call
Jim Goodrich at 845-651-3529.
Please come and Join the Fun of planning and
organizing this wonderful community event.
Hope to hear from You !
The Florida Focus • October 2015 • PAGE 19
Tips for a Healthier Halloween
by Gina McAteer, MS, RD
There’s something pretty scary for a lot of parents
on Halloween, and it isn’t ghosts or goblins; it’s
FREE candy. How do we promote moderation when
our kids are filling up on sugary treats? How do we
allow our kids to experience one of the biggest joys
of childhood - a night of costumes and free goodies
- and still teach them what it means to be healthy?
Halloween isn’t going away anytime soon (and let’s
be honest - do we really want it to?), but luckily,
there are a few tricks parents can learn to keep
their kids both happy and healthy on the scariest
night of the year.
When your kids go trick-or-treating, consider these
tips:
1.Give out healthier snacks and see if other neighborhood parents would be willing to do
the same. Here are some ideas:
•“Treasures” (non-food items) like bouncy balls, crayons, spinning tops, or stickers
•Whole-grain pretzels or mini bags of low-fat popcorn
•Freeze-dried fruit or mini boxes of raisins
•Pre-packaged apple slices or natural applesauce
2.Scale back on other less nutritious snacks around this time of year so the candy is
essentially the only unhealthy treat eaten.
3.Make it a rule to donate a certain percentage of candy they get. Some options for
donating include:
•The military (overseas service men and women)
•Local food pantries and food banks
•Some schools and dentists
•Nursing homes and children’s hospitals - some even have programs for reverse
trick-or-treating, where you and your children can dress up to hand out Halloween
candy to patients.
4.Turn it into a contest with siblings or friends: who can make their candy last the
longest? 5.Use some of the candy to conduct kitchen experiments like the acid test: crush
candies to dissolve in no more than ½ cup water, then add baking soda; see which
candies have the most acid (which ones make the most bubbles)! What other fun
ideas can you think of?
When your kids go to Halloween parties, consider these tips:
1. Take the focus at the party away from the food:
•Encourage active party games to help kids fit in their 60 minutes a day
•Hold a costume contest
•Let kids carve or paint miniature pumpkins
2. Make fun, but healthy, treats for snacking
In the end, the most important thing to remember is that each child is different. Some kids
will pace themselves with unhealthy food, while others, if given the opportunity, would eat a
whole bowl of candy in one sitting. Different children benefit from different types and levels of
rules and guidance, so it may take some experimentation to find a strategy that works for you
and your family. Have a Healthy, Safe & Happy Halloween! DID YOU KNOW: Shop Rite of Warwick offers FREE nutrition service by a Registered
Dietitian? Gina McAteer, MS, RD, is available for grocery store tours, individual counseling,
product information, health events, and community programs. Contact her at (917) 6127425 or email her gina.mcateer@wakefern.com
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Volume 6 • Number 5 • October 2015
Orange County’s annual Pumpkin Festival
set for October 17th at Hill-Hold Museum
Goshen, N.Y. - Orange County Executive
Steven M. Neuhaus and Commissioner
Richard L. Rose of the Department of
Parks, Recreation and Conservation
announced that Orange County’s annual
Pumpkin Festival will be held from noon
to 4 p.m. on Saturday, October 17 at
Hill-Hold Museum.
Guests are invited to enjoy a funfilled afternoon of activities, including
pumpkin rolling and painting, scarecrow
making, face painting, and a hay ride
through the historic grounds of the
Hill-Hold property to the pumpkin patch.
If you look carefully, you may find a
scarecrow lurking around to assist you
in picking the best pumpkin for painting.
Built in 1769, Hill-Hold farm was home
to the Bull-Jackson family for more than
200 years. Now a part of the Orange
County Parks system, Hill-Hold depicts
life circa 1830, when the homeowners
relied on candles, fireplace heat,
homegrown food, and homespun clothes.
Hill-Hold is located on Route 416 in
Campbell Hall, across from Thomas
Bull Memorial Park. Admission is $3
per person for the event. For more
information, please contact Orange
County Parks at 845-615-3830, through
email to parks@orangecountygov.
com, or visit our website at www.
hillholdandbrickhouse.org. Special
events are co-sponsored by the Friends
of Hill-Hold and Brick House and the
Orange County Department of Parks,
Recreation and Conservation.