New & Notable
Ten local advocates of public education were honored by the Ulster County Boards Association for their commitment to education.
The honorees, each representing a different school district in Ulster County, were honored at the association’s second annual Distinguished Friend of Education Award Dinner on May 25 at the Stonehedge Restaurant in West Park.
The award recipients, who were selected by their local board of education, were:
• Maxine Chapin, Ellenville Central School District. Chapin is a longtime member of the Ellenville School Board, a renowned social studies tutor and served on the Ulster BOCES Board of Education for many years.
• Alan Barone, Highland Central School District. Barone donates his time to the volunteer fire company, town sports program and is a decade-long member of the Highland Board of Education.
• James F. Shaughnessy Jr., Kingston city school district. As a member of the Kingston School Board since 2006, Shaughnessy has helped steer the district through many changes, including the transformation of the high school to a closed campus, the renovation of the Carnegie Library and the current renovation of the high school’s main building.
• John Cantone, Marlboro Central School District. Cantone, who works at IBM, is a volunteer dedicated to bringing technology and engineering resources into the classroom. He is also a Cub master, serves on several committees and regularly attends school board meetings.
• Mark Masseo, New Paltz Central School District. Masseo, owner of a landscaping company, is known in New Paltz for his Arbor Day program and tree identification walks with students, his generous donations of trees and other landscaping supplies, and, most recently, his efforts to build an amphitheater at Lenape Elementary School.
• Levon Helm (in memoriam), Onteora Central School District. Helm, famed drummer for The Band and host of the fabled “Midnight Rambles” at his barn, held several successful fundraisers for Onteora schools, raising thousands of dollars.
• Nancy Taylor, Rondout Valley Central School District. Taylor was instrumental in the 2005 creation of the Rondout Valley Education Foundation, which raises money and provides grants to fund programs and facility needs not met by the district’s annual budget, such as field trips, theater costumes and technology gear.
• Mary Buehl, Saugerties Central School District. Buehl, a special education teacher, was recognized for her commitment to education and her work with students with autism.
• Sherry Palen, Wallkill Central School District. Before retirement, Palen held three posts in the Wallkill Central School District: Secretary to the principal, secretary to the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, and secretary to the superintendent of schools. She was lauded for her expertise, work ethic and the help she gave beginning teachers in their efforts to become certified.
• Ian Winter, Ulster BOCES. Winter is a passionate advocate of Ulster County’s public schools, especially the Career and Technical Education programs at Ulster BOCES. His “Breaking the Cycle” program encourages students to resolve conflict by forgiving transgressions and building relationships and has been presented in schools throughout the county, state and nation.
Krista Barringer, Ulster County School Boards Association president, said the awards are an opportunity to recognize the people who give their time unselfishly to their students and schools. ••• Rhinebeck-based author Ann E. Burg won a Christopher Award for “Unbound,” (Scholastic Press/Scholastic).
Written for young adults, it is one of 12 books for adults and young people by 16 authors and illustrators celebrated, along with the writers, producers and directors of nine feature films and TV/Cable programs, on May 16 at the 68th annual Christopher Awards in New York.
The awards were created in 1949 to celebrate writers, producers, directors, authors and illustrators whose work “affirms the highest values of the human spirit.”
The Christophers, a nonprofit organization founded in 1945 by Maryknoll Father James Keller, is rooted in the Judeo-Christian tradition of service to God and humanity. The ancient Chinese proverb— “It’s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness” — guides its publishing, radio and awards programs.
Awarded
• Navy Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Michael Hahnrauch of Red Hook received a Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal for his quick actions in saving someone from drowning at Commander, Fleet Activities Sasebo, in late May is Sasebo, Japan.
Hanhrauch, assigned to the Avenger-class mine countermeasure ship USS Chief, worked in tandem with another service member to render aid.
“I didn’t think, I just acted,” Hahnrauch said in a press release. “I saw someone in trouble and I did what needed to be done.”