Contributed photo Retired NYC firefighter Pat Welsh visits with Damascus School eighth graders Mike Lehman, Zach Vanatta and Jackie Guglielmo. (Click for larger image)

NYC firefighter visits area students

DAMASCUS — Retired NYC fireman, Pat Welsh talked to an eighth grade class at the Damascus School on March 27 about his recent experience working with recovery efforts at the World Trade Center’s South Tower.

Welsh explained the mission of the New York Fire Department, and the philosophy that has traditionally guided firefighting efforts in high-rise complexes; a philosophy, he claims, that may have to be revised, given the tragic loss of life on September 11.

When asked how he felt while working in the pit at ground zero, he replied that he was ever mindful that he was walking on the ashes of his friends.

Kids’ poetry party

LIBERTY — The Liberty Public Library will host an afternoon of poems, riddles, rhymes, and songs in a Kid’s Poetry Party on Thursday, April 18, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Lois Weinstein from Liberty Elementary School will be the poetry leader.

Children in kindergarten through fourth grade are welcome to attend.

Space is limited, and registration is required.

For more information call 845/292-6070.

Music festival encore

HANCOCK — Fresh from their appearance at the 2002 North American Music Festival in Washington, DC, held April 13, the Family Foundation School’s award-winning chorus and show choir will present an encore per­formance Friday, April 19 at 7:00 p.m.

The evening presentation of song and dance, held under the direction of Paul Ceer and Tom Kovaleski, is free of charge.

The Family School is located off Rt. 97, on Whiting Road.

For more information call 845/887-5213.

	Contributed photo The Liberty Middle School Band, led by Director of Music and conductor of the groups, Gary Siegel, performed in March at the Empire State Plaza in Albany as part of “Music in our Schools Month” celebration sponsored by the New York Legislature State School Music Association (NYSSMA). (Click for larger image)

Liberty School awarded for music program

LIBERTY — Liberty Middle School Band students filled the lobby of the Empire State Plaza in Albany with the sounds of music on Tuesday, March 19.

The Liberty Middle School Band and Jazz Ensemble were selected to travel to Albany to perform in the Plaza. The performance was part of the “Music in our Schools Month” celebration sponsored by the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA). Thirty-nine parent chaperones and three volunteer “roadies” accompanied the eighty-eight fifth, sixth and seventh graders on the trip.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Music in our Schools Month celebration, which originated in New York State as Music in our School Day in 1972.

The concert program took place in the lobby of the South Concourse of the Empire State Plaza and consisted of a variety of music including Prelude to a Festival, Jefferson County Overture, programmatic composition entitled Legends of the Ghost Dance, themes from the recent Harry Potter motion picture, The Sorcerer’s Stone and a traditional march entitled March of the Patriots.

Senator John Bonacic attended the performance and presented The Liberty School with a Legislative Resolution from the NYS Senate commending the LCS music program.

After the concert, the students and chaperones toured the New York State Capitol and Museum. Some of the band members had the opportunity to meet state assemblyman Jake Gunther who also presented them with a Legislative Assembly Resolution commending the band, school district and community.

The Albany trip was funded by contributions raised at fundraisers that took place in February and March. The funds raised will also pay for the band trip to Carnegie Hall in May as part of the CarnegieLink program co-sponsored by BOCES.

Cornell development conference

SYRACUSE — To assist community leaders, development professionals and government officials in finding solutions, Cornell University’s Community and Rural Development Institute will hold a conference, “Everything Old is New Again: The New Approach to Community Development,” on May 22 and 23.

The conference will focus on how communities can accelerate and sustain healthy development. Through 16 workshops, the conference explores how growth efforts can avoid common pitfalls and utilize resources within their reach.

This workshop is designed for: community development professionals, planning boards, state agency representatives, government officials and community leaders and citizens

James Howard Kunstler, author of “The Geography of Nowhere: The Rise and Decline of America ‘s Man-Made Landscape,” will be the keynote speaker at the May 22 dinner.

For more information call 607/255-9510, or log on to www.cardi.cornell.edu /events/02STOC/index.cfin.