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Skaneateles Schools Alumni Association
INDEX PAGE
Alumni Association Scholarships ...... 5 & 6
Alumni News ...... 6 & 7
Association News ...... 5 & 9
Association Committee Members ...... 9
Deaths Reported Since Last Newsletter ...... 8
Faculty Retirements ...... 5
Information about local events and discounts
...... 9 & 10
Reunion Information & Registration ...... 2 - 4
Association News:
Communication: The Skaneateles Schools Alumni Association may be reached in the following ways:
U.S. Mail: Skaneateles Schools Alumni Association, PO Box 577, Skaneateles NY 13152-0577
Email:
Alumni Web Site: www.skaneateles.org/alumni/
[Our web site is provided and managed by a generous alumnus.]
School Web Site: www.skanschools.org
Please include a subject such as “address change,” “newsletter,” “reunion” and such on the envelope or email subject.
Cafeteria – Some might remember a cafeteria with burnt pizza, overcooked veggies, and mystery food. Others may remember boring and tasteless meals. The cafeteria at SCS is nothing like that – it is closer to a quality restaurant. The school lunch program has been praised by Fran O’Donnell coordinator of child nutrition for NYS Education Department as “… really a combination of two efforts: homemade meals and nutrition education … From pizza to soups, the kitchen staff uses fresh ingredients to make the day’s meals. If the menu includes roast beef, staffers roast the beef. If it’s soup, they use fresh vegetables.” The cafeteria has “… a takeout menu for faculty … [that] includes more gourmet items such as seafood salad wraps, calzones and Oriental chicken salad.” Quotes from “A Fresh Approach to Lunch,” Diana LaMattina, January 26, 2007 Post Standard
HELP! Like similar alumni groups, the committee has decided to ask members for voluntary dues to pay for communication and unplanned expenses. Previously these expenses were met by donations from generous alumni, but such gifts are decreasing. We send out over 7000 newsletters to alumni and others. Each newsletter edition cost about $5,000. This includes postage, printing, address correction service and re-mailing.
We would like to publish yearly, but without additional funding this will not be possible. For example, since this reunion is scheduled for November, it would have been desirable to send a Spring Newsletter so everyone would know our plans. A later follow-up edition with reunion details would have followed, but available funds did not permit it. If we do nothing, in 2 to 3 years we may not have the funds to publish a (continued)
Newsletter Summer 2007
(HELP!) newsletter. Since the newsletter is our primary means of communication, this implies that it might be difficult to hold future reunions. Additionally, the Post Office provides address corrections for changes in the past 18 months; therefore, yearly mailings will result in a more accurate mailing list.
In an attempt to improve our financial state the board has adopted the following measures:
1. Reunion, Communication and Contingency are in separate accounts in addition to a separate Scholarship Fund account.
2. We are requesting annual dues of $5.00 from each alumnus primarily to support communications and contingency expenses.
3. To insure maximum affordability and attendance for reunions, we intend to keep reunion costs as low as practical.
4. Donations for scholarship funds will be kept separately and used solely for that purpose.
On the reservation form you will note separate places for Dues, Reunion fee and Scholarship fund. We hope you will donate to dues and scholarship funds. We suggest $5.00 dues but donations to dues and scholarship may be for any amount. Reunion fees are on a per attendee basis.
News – Faculty Retirements:
SCS Retirements in June, 2006:
Gail Sullivan 36 years [High]
Sandra Mealy 35 years [Waterman]
Doug Armstrong 34 years [State Street]
Sara VanNostrand 30 years [Waterman]
Susan Rourke 17 years [Waterman]
SCS Retirements in June, 2007:
Ruthann Parker 33 years [Middle]
Ruthann Parker also received an Outstanding Teacher Award from the Technology Alliance of Central N.Y. (TACNY)
Jan Caldwell 23 years [Middle]
Kendra Witter 20 years [Waterman]
Mary (Croucher) Sinnott
16 years [Waterman]
Kathryn Carlson 30 years [Assistant
Superintendent -- See also article below.]
News – Scholarships:
The Alumni Association bestows a yearly scholarship to a student or students who are the child or grandchild of an SCS alumni, show good character and display citizenship and leadership. The candidate must write a one-page essay on one of three subjects: “being a member of the SCS community,” “being in the same school as their parent or grandparent,” or “how attending SCS has benefited the student personally.”
2006 Alumni Scholarships
Heidi I. Fey (2006), daughter of Elaine and Richard Fey (1980) of Skaneateles, received her scholarship at the 2006 Commencement. Heidi was chosen because of her involvement in the community through 4H, the New York State Fair exhibits and the SCS softball team. Heidi earned two endowment scholarships and the Skaneateles PTC Lynn Dodson & Susan Ciabotti Memorial Scholarship Award. Heidi is currently an Agriculture Science major at Cornell.
(Scholarships continued on page 6)
Skaneateles Schools Alumni Association
Eleanor L. Greenfield (2006), daughter of James (1971) and Caroline Greenfield of Mandana, received her scholarship at the 2006 Commencement. Eleanor was chosen because of her involvement in many activities in the community and school. She was captain of the Skaneateles Lakers Girls Varsity swim team and helped lead them to the Class C Sectional Championship. She participated in the BOCES New Visions Program for business and media communications during her senior year. She is employed by the Town of Skaneateles as a lifeguard at the Skaneateles Community Center. Eleanor was also awarded the Skaneateles Society of Business Women Merit Award at the commencement. Her grandparents are also SCS alumni. She is majoring in business at the University of Buffalo.
2007 Alumni Scholarships – This year there were seven (7) very good applicants and the committee would have liked to award a scholarship to each of them. Narrowing it down to two recipients was extremely tough.
Meghan M. Hares (2007), daughter of Ernest {1977) and Pamela Hares of Skaneateles, is a descendent of a long list of SCS Alumni. She has managed to maintain a position on the Honor Roll even though she often worked as many as three part time jobs. One of these is at the Partners Trust Bank,where she once helped resolve a major glitch in their computer system. Meghan also finds time to volunteer on weekends at the Salvation Army and the SS Peter and John soup kitchens in Auburn.
Joseph M. Pratt (2007) is the son of Jeanne Cox Pratt (1981) and Mike Pratt of Skaneateles. Joe was a member of the wrestling team and played football for the last three years. Joe has volunteered to help on the Big Truck event at the stone quarry and on construction of the new Waterman School playground. He is now training as a Junior Volunteer Firefighter with the Borodino Fire Department. Joe's supervisor at the P&C states that he is a great employee with a good personality who is willing to fill in on an emergency and do any type of work. He wants to continue his education and become a math teacher. When he was only ten years old he was helping his grandmother greet and register former students who attended our first All School Reunion in 2001.
News – Alumni:
SCS Scores at Odyssey of the Mind – Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. SCS had 22 entries this year and 18 placed first, second and third in the regional. Eight teams competed in State finals and two went on to world finals. At world finals one placed 3rd in division 1 and the other team placed 16.
SCS Environmentalists win award – The Envirothon Team from the SCS Environmental Club won regional competition and then placed second in the New York State competition. Advisor Rick Garrett said SCS teams won the five-county regional Envirothon in 1997, 2000, 2001 and 2004 as well. After October, 2006, the team planted 200 mixed bulbs near the SCS sign and nearby trees – now everyone is enjoying the surprising results.
SCS Courtyard Project – When Project 2000 left a large gravel “hole” between new wings of the high school and middle school, students vowed to turn the empty space into a beautiful courtyard. After more than two years of hard work, their dream became a reality this spring. The courtyard, which can be seen from the new Commons area as well as from many classrooms, now includes gardens, picnic areas and a special water feature.
Led by students in the Environmental Club, the effort drew physical hands-on support from throughout the community. Donations and pledges of about $25,000 by individuals and groups often in memory of loved ones – contributed greatly to the success, (Continued)
Newsletter Summer 2007
Courtyard) said Rick Garrett, environmental club advisor. Additional donations will go toward maintenance, upkeep, lighting and picnic tables.
Stenger Named Engineering Dean – Harvey G. Stenger, Jr. (1975), a Ph.D. and of a professor of chemical engineering, was named dean of Engineering and Applied Sciences School at the University of Buffalo, effective Aug. 1, 2006. He is former dean of the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science at Lehigh University. Stenger's appointment was announced by UB President John B. Simpson and Satish K. Tripathi, Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs.
Trisha Kules Heads Land Surveyors – SCS alumni Patricia Sauer Kules (1969) was elected president of the Vermont Society of Land Surveyors. She is married to Bill Kules, a licensed professional engineer, and they formed the Little River Survey Company in Stowe, Vermont. She is an avid skier and an instructor at Mount Mansfield ski resort in Stowe.
Skaneateles Artisans Adopt McLaughlin Building – A thirty-plus person cooperative opened a showroom and retail gallery for member wares. Among the cooperative members are Ellen Leahy (1973), photography and Linda Bishop (1976), jewelry.
Karin Jurgensen Morabito (1980) Inventor – Morabito is the inventor and manufacturer of a new product: “Drink-a-Dinxs” sold nationally in over 500 party stores, groceries and drug chains as well as numerous boutiques and liquor stores. For more information see www.drinkmarkers.com.
Businesses Compete on TV Show – Creekside Books and Coffee owner Erika Bonnivier Davis (1985) competed on the WCNY reality show “Mind Your Own Business” this spring. She was among 27 businesses competing for $50,000 award.
Bobbett Preps for Skinnyman Triathlon – Debbie (Dewitt) Bobbett (1994) has organized two local fitness teams through Moms in Motion, an international women’s fitness organization, to prepare for the 2007 Skaneateles Labor Day Race.
Robin North (1997) Opens Store – Bella Blue Boutique, 6 Jordan St. features clothing not found elsewhere in the area. The boutique’s merchandise is not over-the-top or flashy just elegant and stylish.
Alex Angelillo (2007) Attends Annapolis – Congressman James Walsh nominated Angelillo to the U.S. Naval Academy. He left for the academy shortly after graduation.
Janette Marshfield (2005) in Thailand – Marshfield is participating in Hartwick College’s “People and Places of Thailand” program. She and other participants will stay with families in the northern hills of Thailand to teach villagers about optimal nutrition and treatment of water pollution. They will also study the villagers’ culture and beliefs.
Kathryn Murphy (2007) to Study Medicine – Murphy will attend Daemon College to become a physician’s assistant. She plans to go to medical school after her undergraduate studies are complete. In her senior year Murphy participated in the “New Visions” program at Cayuga-Onondaga BOCES. She was head of community relations and resource officer for Four Towns Junior Corps. She volunteered at AMH, the Red Cross, Matthew House and Finger Lakes Center for Living. She hopes to combine her enthusiasm for oncology, emergency medicine and paramedics in her future studies and career.
Kristy McNeil (1999) Honored for Publication – Kristy McNeil earned a National Publication Award. On July 3, 2007 the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA), named McNeil’s “2006-07 Colgate Women’s Ice Hockey Media Guide” the best in the nation in the single sport contest. Kristy is in her third year as a member of the Colgate athletic communications staff and is (Continued)
Skaneateles Schools Alumni Association
(McNeil) responsible for all publicity concerning the women’s ice hockey, men and women’s soccer, tennis and rowing and men’s golf teams.
Please contribute to our dues and scholarship funds.
Datz Art Work Featured – In May, 2007, Grove Gallery at 347 Main St. in Aurora, NY presented “Art In The Family” or it could be called “Datz Five”. Featured was a landscape, abstract, whimsical/muralist painter and a found object sculptor all from the Datz family. The artists are Margot Datz (1971), George Dugan husband of Nina Datz (1972), Stephen Datz (1974) and his wife Rachel Harms and their 7-year-old daughter Lilly. Steve was also featured this spring at The Gallery at the Ann Felton Multicultural Center at Onondaga Community College with his restoration of found objects.
Renee Marchand McCall (1976) Awarded Grant – McCall, an adapted physical education teacher, has been awarded a CVS Pharmacy community grant to fund her training in the Yoga Kids Tools for Schools program and materials needed to facilitate the program. The CVS grant targets effective and innovative programs that have a positive impact for children under 18 with disabilities. The program creates opportunities for greater access to physical movement and play in school and extracurricular programs. McCall will incorporate what she learns into lessons for the physical education curriculum. Skills that children of all ability levels learn will benefit them throughout their lives.
Kevin Morrissey (1977) Opens Restaurant – Kevin Morrissey has opened a new restaurant called “Mo’s Pit BBQ & Cowboy Cuisine” located on Route 90 north of the village of Cayuga, NY.
Scott Winkelman (1979) “Volunteer of the Year” –Winkelman was chosen for this year’s award by the Finger Lakes Land Trust. He played a key role in efforts to conserve Carpenters Falls and other land within the Skaneateles watershed.