SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER

North Broad Huskies hustle to raise school funds

VERONA, N.Y. » The North Broad Street Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization joined with local businesses and athletes to raise funds, and school spirit, Saturday morning at Verona Beach State Park.

The Husky Hustle is a combination race and walk designed to raise funds for school trips and student supplies. North Broad Street hosts students from Kindergarten through fifth grade. The school’s mascot is the Husky.

“We try to cover as many expenses as we possibly can,” PTO President Amy Bishop said. “We want to help students pay for trips.”

The money was made through a combination of runner registration fees and business sponsorships. Bishop said the PTO had aimed for between $1,500 to $2,000, but the event raised $4,618 and would amount to $3,800 after expenses. “We did better than we expected,” she said.

The school has taken a few trips recently, including one to the Cazenovia Art Park. Bishop said a trip is being planned for ether the Utica Zoo or The Wild in Chittenango this spring.

Bishop said the trips help enhance learning and per

formance of the students. It has also helped them get back to life before the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The kids are very happy that they no longer have to wear masks,” Bishop said. “They are getting back to normal, being with their friends and not having to worry about social distancing.”

The Federal Centers

for Disease Control lifted mandatory mask wearing in schools and other public places on April 18. The CDC still recommends frequent handwashing, and for students to stay home of they feel ill.

The Husky Hustle included

a 5K, or three-pointone mile run for adults, a run for kids and also a walk.

Oneida residents Mike and Krislyn Flint took their children Lilly and Liam to participate in the first race. Liam’s best friend, Aiden

Calcarra (“They call themselves brosies,” Krislyn said), joined them. Before the race Mike Flint gave some advice.

“This is a race over three miles,” he said. “Don’t try to win it in the first mile.”

The students lined up

alongside the 40 or so adult runners. A final word of admonition from Krislyn.

“You have been training for this race, but it’s longer than anything you’ve run before,” she said. “Remember to pace yourselves.”

And then the race began.

ROGER SEIBERT — MEDIANEWS GROUP Do the Hustle: Runners begin their 5K run Saturday morning at the Husky Hustle race. The event doubled organizer fundraising goals.

Family Fun: Aiden Calcarra, far left, joins the Flint family in Saturday’s Husky Hustle event. left to right: Liam Flint, Lilly Flint, Mike Flint, Krislyn Flint.

Many hands make light work: North Broad Street PTO member Jessica Kirley, far right, was hard at work with her daughter Allyson, eight, and son Ethan, seven, at the Madison County Dept. of Social Services table Saturday morning.

ROGER SEIBERT — MEDIANEWS GROUP Taking it easy: Oneida resident Megan Dunn joins sons Xander Brown, six, center, and Justis Brown, 13, during the walk portion of Saturday’s Husky Hustle.

Break a leg: VVS graduate Tim Collins, a professional actor, teaches elementary school students exercises to teach them focus and energy while on stage.