June 2008 Newsletter Contents: "Understanding Memory Loss": Are you a caregiver to a family member or friend that you believe is suffering from memory loss? Do you worry about your own loss of memory? Meg Boyce, Director of Programs and Services with the Alzheimer's Association Hudson Valley Chapter, will be at the center on Thursday, June 5th, from 6 pm to 7:30 pm to address these very questions. Ms. Boyce will discuss the differences between normal and abnormal memory loss, the ten warning signs of Alzheimer's disease, how to get a proper diagnosis, related disorders, and the medication that is currently available. Seating is limited so please RSVP to Laura Dillon, Saint Francis Home Care Services, Inc. at 845-483-5528. This is a free program funded in part by the U.S. Administration on Aging, the New York State Office for the Aging, and Dutchess County. "The Business of Being Born": On Saturday, June 14th, NECC will be showing "The Business of Being Born", a documentary on childbirth produced by actress Ricki Lake. The film focuses on the different options women have in giving birth to their children and seeks to answer the question, "Should most births be viewed as a natural life process, or should every delivery be treated as a potentially catastrophic medical emergency?" A "must-see movie for anyone even thinking about having a baby", the film seeks to answer that question and includes interviews with pregnant women, obstetricians, experts, advocates, and a midwife about the history, culture, and economics of childbirth. The film will begin at 7 pm and is open to all who wish to attend. For more information, check out the film's website here.
Summer Camp: This summer, NECC and the Village of Millerton will be working together on an expanded Recreation Program for children aged 5 through 12. Beginning on July 7th, kids enrolled in the Rec Program have the option of spending mornings with NECC staff to enjoy educational fun. The morning program will offer a new set of themed activities each week for the first five weeks of camp. From Monday through Thursday, campers can attend the NECC program from 8:30 am to 1 pm at the former Millerton Elementary School for Mad Science Week ( July 7 - 10), Major Marionettes (July 14 - 17), Lego Robotics (July 21 - 24), Junior Archaeologists (July 28 - 31), and Super Sleuths (August 4 - 7). Now kids from Millerton will be able to enjoy the best of both camps. Registration for all campers will be with the Village and held in mid-June. However, for more information, you may contact NECC. May 2008 Newsletter Contents: Get Creative with Our Great New After-School Clubs: Woodworking, Improv Drama and Art will get you exploring your creative side! Three new clubs will begin the week of May 5th and continue through the week of June 9th. On Mondays, the new Art Club will be meeting. Middle school students can explore painting, drawing, and other media. On Tuesdays, John Roccanova, Webutuck's technology teacher, will be teaching woodworking. If you’re thinking of trying woodworking or want to get an extra project in, this is your chance. On Thursdays, come play drama games and learn to act without a script in the Improvisation club. All clubs are free of charge and are held at the Eugene Brooks Middle School. Students can pick up an application at the EBMS office. For more information or to have an application sent to you, contact Erin Jenkins at 518-789-4259 or by e-mail, erin at neccmillerton.org. Also, there is still time for middle school and high school students to join the Marathon project. Please call Erin or Sara for more details. Summer Camp: There are some exciting changes in store for NECC’s summer camp this year! We are working together with the Millerton Recreation program, so that all the children who attend the program at Eddie Collins Field can also participate in the enriching, educational, and totally fun activities we have offered for six years. This years’ themes will include Mad Scientist Week, Archaeological Dig, Robo Robotics, Super Sleuth, and Major Marionette. Information will be sent home with Webutuck Students in early June, and registration will begin after that. Now you can have all the great activities NECC offers and still spend afternoons splashing with your friends at the pool.
April 2008 Newsletter Contents:
Spanish Classes for Toddlers: Early childhood is the best time to start learning a language! Cynthia Font, an experienced teacher of Spanish to very young children, will be offering a sample class on Wednesday, April 2, at 9:30 am at NECC, for toddlers and preschoolers. Preference will be given to families who are current participants in any of our programs. Others may come on a space-available basis, so call to sign up now. This is a fun, relaxed class designed to keep children interested while stimulating their desire to learn more. The class utilizes songs, rhymes, finger plays, games, stories, puppets, role playing, and movement to engage young students. Hands-on vocabulary building using an assortment of props is also part of this learning experience. It’s a delightful way to start introducing Spanish! A second sample class may be offered later in the spring if there is enough interest, so if you are interested but can’t make it to this class, let us know. Thursday Night Jam Session, April 3rd. From 5 pm to 7 pm bring your guitar, bass, singing voice, or whatever instrument you've got and join other teens, ages 14-19 in a jam session. The session will be led by Eliot Osborn, a local musician and teacher best known as leader of Project Troubadour and the Joint Chiefs. Learn something new from Eliot or teach something you know to someone else. Find other people to play with or just have fun and hang out. If music isn't your thing, you can check out the next Teen Night on Friday, April 18th. From 6 pm to 8 pm we will be screening "10 Things I Hate About You" at NECC. Call us at NECC or catch Sara at the high school for more details on either event. The Annual Appeal: Very soon, you will be getting our Annual Appeal in the mail. It tells the story of one young man who is transforming his life, with help from the caring people at NECC. If you have been to any of our programs, you know that we are here to help build on the strengths inherent in each of us, and in our community – our vibrant and unique hometown. This last year has been pretty incredible for NECC: the new Farmers' Market, now going into its second year, the growth of the After-school and Partnership with Schools and Business programs, the tremendous amount of assistance we’ve been able to offer the neediest in our community. (Did you know that we’ve completed over 75 tax returns, at no cost? Returning over $150,000 in refunds to the people who need it most!) How do we do it? With your help! Your gift makes a difference, no matter how large or small! For example, did you know that $25 covers the nutritious snacks we serve in our after-school program for a full week? Or that $2,500 will give a high school student a job for a full year, helping her develop real skills and experience and providing help to a local business that they might not otherwise be able to afford? Don’t wait for the letter to arrive: you can make a secure online donation right now! Midnight Run: For the second year in a row, participants in an NECC program are planning a Midnight Run to New York City. This year, teens in our CPSB internship program will deliver food and goods to those in need through the Midnight Run organization. The "run" will take place on April 14th and the students will supply these gifts to 130 to 150 individuals and require your help to ensure that they have everything they need. The program is asking for donations of food, clothing, toiletries, or money to buy the essential supplies. Needed clothes include adult size jackets and coats, underwear, and socks. Toiletries needed include toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant. The group will be making bagged meals with coffee, hot cocoa, and chili so they are asking for items to make up the bagged meals, such as bottled drinks, bags of chips, sandwich items, styrofoam or paper cups and containers and their lids, plastic spoons, and money to buy anything that is still needed. For a complete and more specific list, please contact Sara and she will be happy to provide you with one. Drop boxes will be available for donations in the main offices of the Eugene Brooks Middle School and the Webutuck High School from April 7th - April 11th. Items can also be dropped off at NECC or picked up by NECC staff with prior notice. The items that are needed are very specific, so please, if you are unsure about anything you want to donate, speak to Sara. Help us make this Midnight Run a success! Free Parenting Workshops: Beginning May 1st, NECC will be hosting a series of four workshops entitled "Understanding Your Adolescent". The first three workshops will be taught by Dr. James Regan, Director of Psychology Graduate Programs at Marist College. Held on May 1st, 8th, and 15th, they will focus on understanding your teens' desire for independence and their need for guidance and boundaries. They will also discuss how to reduce conflicts and create a more peaceful household while developing lasting relationships between parents and teens that are built on trust and understanding. On May 22nd, a follow up session focused on crisis intervention will be presented by the Mediation Center of Dutchess County. The series is free of charge, however, participants must attend all sessions. Workshops will be held at Webutuck High School and will run from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm. Space to participate is limited so call register soon by calling Sara at 518-789-4259. This program is funded by the United Way of Dutchess County. Summer Jobs at NECC: NECC has two unique employment opportunities for summer 2008. The Farmers' Market manager will supervise the dynamic new Millerton farmers' market and work with a group of teenagers to help at the market, visit area farms, and grow their own produce; the Camp Leader will create and lead activities for children ages 5-8 in our summer camp. Call 518-789-4259 or visit www.neccmillerton.org/jobs.htm for complete descriptions and application instructions.
March 2008 Newsletter Contents: Economic Stimulus Package: Let us help you claim your money!HealthWise 2008: Saturday, March 8th. New After-School Clubs: Circus Arts and Cooking. Teen Night: Guitar Hero Tournament! Friday, March 21st. Don't Forget
The sixth-annual HealthWise will be held Saturday, March 8th from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. This community health fair will take place at the Hotchkiss School Main Building in Lakeville, Connecticut. In addition to cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes checks, there will be screenings for skin cancer, glaucoma, bone loss, memory loss, and many more. Complementing the screenings are a series of wellness and life-enhancement activities such as nutritional counseling and massage. Families are welcome and invited to participate in the many children's activities available. Spanish interpreters will also be on hand. For more information, or for directions, call 1-800-666-6855. HealthWise is presented by Noble Horizons and Sharon Hospital. New Middle School Clubs! Beginning next week there will be two new after-school clubs: Cooking (called "SCOOPS") and Circus Arts. SCOOPS will be on Tuesdays, starting March 18 and running through April 22. Taught by Shayna Russo of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, students will learn to make fun, healthy snacks that they can easily make at home.
Also new this spring is the Circus Arts club. Meeting Thursdays, starting March 13 and running through April 24, the club will feature instruction by members of Matica Arts, Mortal Beasts and Deities, and other local artists. Students will learn stilting, juggling, clowning, and lots of other circus techniques.
Both clubs will be held at middle school/high school building. Enrollment in these clubs is limited, so make sure to sign up soon! To register, students must turn in an application--call Erin at 518-789-4259 or e-mail her at erin at neccmillerton.org to request one. Teen Night--Guitar Hero Tournament: On Friday, March 21st from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, NECC will be the site of aspiring musicians all seeking the same title: Guitar Hero. Sponsored by the Dragon's Den of Poughkeepsie, local teens are invited to participate against their peers in a tournament of the popular Nintendo Wii game for prizes and bragging rights. No need to register or sign up, interested teens need only come to the community center and, of course, bring their guitar skills! Call Sara at NECC for more information.
Contents: The Marathon Project: Attend an informal mentors' meeting, TONIGHT TUESDAY, FEB. 5TH.
The Marathon Project needs mentors! This program, which helps students prepare to run races, including marathons, by having them train alongside mentors, is looking for adults to be those mentors, no previous running experience required. What is expected of the mentors? They are expected to train and supervise their students 2 to 3 days a week from April to November, attend monthly mentoring meetings for support and training, and attend and bring their students to races and other special events. Interested? Attend an informal informational meeting at NECC Tuesday, February 5th at 6 pm (the snow date is Wednesday, February 6th). Susanne O'Neil from the Council on Addiction Prevention & Education will be here to explain the program and answer any and all questions. For more information, call Susanne or Rachel at 845-471-0194 or e-mail Susanne at soneil at capedc.org. Students interested in participating may contact Susanne or Rachel or stay tuned for our March newsletter! Free Vision Screening, presented by Prevent Blindness Tri-State: On Thursday, February 21st from 2 pm to 6 pm, NECC will be hosting a vision screening for adults. If you haven't had your eyes checked in awhile, or even if you have, stop by to have your near and far vision checked, as well as be screened for field of vision loss, an indicator of glaucoma. The screening is quick yet advanced and very important given that many cases of vision loss due to eye disease are not noticed until irreversible damage has already been done. For more information on Prevent Blindness Tri-State and their screening processes, visit their website. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program has begun! NECC will be providing free income tax filing to area residents throughout the tax season. The VITA Program is aimed at helping families who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The EITC reduces taxes, supplements wages, and can provide families with up to $4,716. Working families of four that earn less than $39,783 or individuals earning less than $12,590 are eligible for the EITC. If either of these applies to you, we can file your taxes for free! Taxes are done by appointment only and are available days, evenings, and some Saturdays. To make an appointment, you can call us here at 518-789-4259 or call the United Way's 211 information line. For your appointment you will need to bring proof of identity, for you and your spouse, copies of all W-2 forms, the Social Security or Individual Tax ID Numbers for all individuals listed on the return, and any banking information for direct deposit or debit. Make sure you have all of these items handy before you make your appointment. If you do not bring these with you, we will not be able to file your taxes! For more detailed information about the EITC, your eligibility, or documents you will need for your appointment, call us! Growing Together: Due to the popularity of our Wednesday morning group for parents and toddlers, we have added an additional day of Growing Together to our schedule.The Friday group will be identical to the Wednesday group, the same amazing staff, the same fantastic group leader, and snack! However, while the Wednesday group will remain an 8-week session that must be registered for, the Friday group will be on a drop-in basis. Parents can pre-register for several weeks at a time but will need to confirm their attendance by 9:30 am the day of. Nothing about the Wednesday program will change. We hope that this new arrangement will make it possible for everyone to attend this popular program and give those who need it, the chance to come twice a week. For more information, or to have questions answered, give us a call at 518-789-4259. Grapefruits and apples make Grapps, the healthy and fun snack advertised by students in NECC's BRYTE after-school program. Made in collaboration with the Children's Media Project, the video is a counter-advertisement showing an alternative to the sugary snacks that kids so often eat. With help from the CMP staff, the students discussed the techniques advertisers use to hook kids (and their parents) into buying their products as well as learning about the process of making and editing commercials. This project was funded by a grant from the Dutchess County Children's Services Council Children's Health Initiative. To view the video, click here.
Contents: Holiday Helping Hand: Call today for your $50 utility bill voucher.
Holiday Helping Hand: We still have a small number of $50 utility bill gift vouchers available for families who need help with their gas and electric costs. We can help residents of Millerton, Amenia, and Wassaic with their utility bills thanks to a program from the United Way of Dutchess County. To request a voucher, contact Jennie P. at 518-789-4259 by January 10th. Please have your Central Hudson or NYSEG account number, the name your account is in, and your street address ready when you call. Teen Night: On Friday, January 11th from 8 pm to 10:30 pm, the Webutuck High School gym will be open for games and music. Come and join us in our next installment of teen nights after the Webutuck vs. Millbrook basketball game. Come play board games, shoot some hoops, and listen to good music. Admission is free to students with their IDs. For more information, call Erin at 518-789-4259. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program officially starts this month! Beginning Thursday, January 31st, NECC will be providing free income tax filing to area residents. The VITA Program is aimed at helping families who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. The EITC reduces taxes, supplements wages, and can provide families with up to $4,716. Working families that earn less than $39,783 or individuals earning less than $12,590 are eligible for the EITC. If either of these applies to you, we can file your taxes for free! Taxes are done by appointment only and are available days, evenings, and weekends starting January 31st. To make an appointment, you can call us here at 518-789-4259 or call the United Way's 211 information line. For your appointment you will need to bring proof of identity, for you and your spouse, copies of all W-2 forms, the Social Security or Individual Tax ID Numbers for all individuals listed on the return, and any banking information for direct deposit or debit. Make sure you have all of these items handy before you make your appointment. If you do not bring these with you, we will not be able to file your taxes! For more detailed information about the EITC, your eligibility, or documents you will need for your appointment, call us! The Weekend Wilderness Adventure club is going strong! Led by Ed Thorney, the group of middle school students has already been on three trips. All trips have been in the Mt. Riga area of Salisbury. Students and parents have waded through a bog and learned about the plants and animals that thrive in the unique ecosystem. They have also used compasses and maps to find their way to the top of the mountain, in addition to learning about winter survival skills. Their next trip will be an overnight camping trip in Connecticut in February, call us for details. Mr. Thorney will also be starting an outdoor leadership course for students and parents, which is available to anyone, including families not currently involved in the club. To learn more call Erin. Welcome our newest staff member! Sara Ugolini-Scott, who will be coordinating the Partnership with Schools and Business and new teen programs, comes to us with a wealth of experience working with teenagers in Dutchess County, most recently at the Mental Health Association and as an environmental educator with the Fresh Air Fund. Businesses interested in a teen worker, or students looking for a job can give her a call. She will also be launching new programs and activities for teens later this year. Stay tuned for more information! The Marathon Project is coming to Millerton and Amenia! This amazing program started in Los Angeles, where it has been a huge success. Last year, dozens of Poughkeepsie students and adult mentors participated. If you have always wanted to run a road race, whether a 5K, 10k, half-marathon, or full marathon, now is your chance! The Marathon Project, sponsored and run by the Council on Addiction Prevention and Education (CAPE), matches adult mentors with small groups of middle and high school students. You train together several times a week, working towards the goal of one or more races in the summer and fall including the Philadelphia Marathon next October. CAPE provides plenty of training and support both for the mentors – yes you can do this, even if you have no previous running experience!- and for the students, including lots of free stuff – shirts, nutrition, even shoes. More information coming in February. Stay tuned or give Jenny a call to find out more. How did you spend your holiday break? We spent it giving NECC a new look. Staffers Jenny, Jennie, and Jan rolled up their sleeves and put down some coats of fresh paint and lots of improvements. We're not quite done yet, though. We'll be making new curtains, fixing up the ceiling, and more so that NECC will be the most welcoming and friendly space for all our programs and activities and for your events too! Come celebrate your birthday or family reunion here, or share your passion for a craft or hobby. For information on using the space, call Jennie P.
December 2007 Newsletter
Senior Holiday Tea Party! This Friday, December 7th, from 2 to 4 pm, the BRYTE After-School students are hosting a holiday tea party for senior citizens. The students are preparing a delightful play to present and will also provide light fare such as cookies, cider, and, of course, tea. In addition to their play, the students will also be caroling for their guests. If you are interested in attending but need help getting here, transportation can be arranged. Guests are asked to bring a memory of holidays past to share with the students, as they are interested in learning about traditions from other times and places. To arrange a ride or to save your spot, call NECC at 518-789-4259 by Thursday. Holiday Helping Hand: There are still a limited number of $50 utility bill gift vouchers available for families who need help with their gas and electric costs. Thanks to a grant from the United Way of Dutchess County, we can help residents of Millerton, Amenia, and Wassaic with their utility bills. The Holiday Helping Hand program has provided for us to give $50 vouchers to 50 families to help offset the costs of winter utilities. To request a voucher, contact Jennie P. at 518-789-4259. Please have your Central Hudson or NYSEG account number, the name your account is in, and your street address ready when you call. The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program wants to help you! Want to have your taxes done? Over the past two years, our VITA volunteers helped more than 70 families by providing free income tax filing. VITA is aimed at helping those who may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). If your family earned less than $39,783 last year, you may qualify. You may be even be eligible for EITC money from previous years. To qualify, individuals must be working full or part time or be self-employed, meet certain rules, and be filing a 2007 tax return. Unsure if you qualify? Our IRS-trained volunteers will help you sort everything out. Appointments are required and will begin in late January. Questions? Call the center at 518-789-4259 for more information. And speaking of taxes, don’t forget your End of Year Gift to NECC: Do you save up all your charitable donations for the end of the year? Please consider a gift to NECC – we count on your support to enable us to continue bringing these programs and activities to all the members of our community. While sometimes it may seem as though we have grants galore, it’s important to remember how restrictive they are; they don’t allow us to address new needs as they come along, or meet unexpected expenses. It’s the unrestricted donations from individuals that allow non profits such as NECC to be creative, flexible and accountable, too. So visit http://www.neccmillerton.org/donate.htm , or send a check to PO Box 35, Millerton, NY 12546. Seeking New Farmers and Vendors for Summer 2008.The Millerton Greenscape Farmer’s Market is seeking to expand the diversity of farm products we will offer next season. Last year we had meats, vegetables, honey and eggs, baked goods and soups, wool, goat cheese, and more. That leaves plenty of room for new farmers to join our vibrant and growing market! We’re looking for locally grown and produced fruit, cheese, potted plants, and cut flowers – the specific rules and application will be available by March – let us know if you’re interested! November 2007 Newsletter Middle School Clubs! The success of the middle school clubs has been so great all of the clubs will be extending for six more weeks. The clubs are open to all students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade (including homeschoolers) and are free of charge. There are five clubs available: Lego Robotics, Tae Kwon Do, Improvisational Acting, Hip-Hop Dance, and Weekend Wilderness Adventure. Space is limited in Lego Robotics, so only committed and serious students, please. Each club is led by either our experienced staff or equally experienced local teachers. The clubs are a great way for kids who aren't playing sports to keep mentally or physically active during the after-school hours. See our flyer for more details. Students can pick up an application at the Eugene Brooks Middle School office. For more information or to have an application sent to you, contact Jan Brooks or Erin Jenkins at 518-789-4259 or by e-mail, jan at neccmillerton.org or erin at neccmillerton.org. Annual Coat Drive Friday, November 16th: Want to help someone ward off the cold this season? Call or stop by the center to donate new or used (but definitely clean) coats of all types and sizes. Need a coat? Come to NECC between 1pm and 6pm on the 16th to choose the coats that will keep you and your family warm and toasty all winter long. Last year over 100 coats were given away. Letters of donation will be given to those who ask. Need more information? Call Jennie at 518-789-4259. Holiday Helping Hand and the NED Corps: It may not seem like it from the beautiful weather lately, but winter is coming and home heating and electric bills will soon start to mount.The good news: help is here. Thanks to a grant from the United Way of Dutchess County, NECC can help residents of Millerton, Amenia, and Wassaic with their utility bills. The Holiday Helping Hand program has provided for us to give $50 vouchers to 50 families to help offset the costs of winter utilities. To request a voucher, contact Jennie P. at 518-789-4259. Please have your Central Hudson or NYSEG account number, the name your account is in, and your street address ready when you call. In addition, every Thursday (and Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Amenia) Mariella Ribbick, an advocate from the NED Corps of Dutchess Community Action, is at NECC to help families find ways to save on their home heating costs. This includes walking residents through the application process for programs that provide assistance with heating bills, weatherization for you home, or even furnace repairs or replacements. Mariella can also help enroll you in a wide range of other services including food stamps and emergency food, health insurance, prescription assistance, financial help for women undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and much more. To make an appointment with Mariella, call her at 845-235-5713. For more information on how Dutchess Community Action can assist you, call them at 845-877-9272. Parenting Education for Fathers: A parenting group especially for fathers is now in formation at NECC. Experienced parent educator Ed Thorney will be leading the group focused on men trying to improve their relationship with their sons and/or daughters. Participants will learn effective ways of listening and speaking as well as how to be firm without fighting. In addition to sharing challenges, frustrations, and parenting goals, the program will include at least one optional outdoor adventure day for the fathers and their children. The 8 week session will be held Monday evenings from 7-9 pm at NECC. This program is free of charge. To enroll, call us at 518-789-4259 and for more information, call Ed Thorney at 860-435-4680.
Middle School Clubs! Starting this week, NECC is unveiling a new series of after-school clubs for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. The clubs are open to all students and are free of charge. Currently there are five clubs being offered: Lego Robotics, Tae Kwon Do, Improvisational Acting, Hip-Hop Dance, and Weekend Wilderness Adventure. Tae Kwon Do, Improvisational Acting, and Hip-Hop Dance will begin this week and run through the week of November 5th. The other two clubs will extend later in the school year. Each club is led by either our staff or experienced local teachers. The clubs are a great way to pass the after-school hours and are perfect for kids who aren't involved in school sports but don't want to sit around all afternoon. Check out our flyer for complete details. Students can pick up an application at the Eugene Brooks Middle School office. For more information or to have an application sent to you, contact Jan Brooks or Erin Jenkins at 518-789-4259 or by e-mail, jan at neccmillerton.org or erin at neccmillerton.org. Community Meeting for Teens (and Others!) If you are:
then come to NECC on Wednesday, October 10, at 6:30pm. We’ll brainstorm about ideas for new programs and activities for young people. Can we create a “teen center” where they can hang out? An arts mentoring program? A community service club? Field trips and outings? An expansion of the skate park? Why not? Come share your ideas and questions! Fall Fun Day is here again! This year the festivities are on Saturday, October 20th from 12 to 4 pm. Join us for: The usual fun, including:
For more information on anything about Fall Fun Day, call us. Parenting Education for Fathers: Starting October 22nd, experienced parent educator Ed Thorney will be leading a parenting group especially for fathers. It is a men's group focused on men trying to improve their relationship with their sons and/or daughters. Participants will learn effective ways of listening and speaking as well as how to be firm without fighting. In addition to sharing challenges, frustrations, and parenting goals, the program will include at least one optional outdoor adventure day for the fathers and their children. The 8 week session will be held Monday evenings from 7-9 pm at NECC. This program is free of charge. To enroll, call us at 518-789-4259 and for more information, call Ed Thorney at 860-435-4680. Volunteer Income Tax Preparation: Over the past two years, our VITA volunteers, including NECC staff, have helped file over 70 tax returns for families who are eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Even if you aren't a math whiz, you can participate in this meaningful program. A one-day training, held at the center, will show you how to use the online TaxWise software. Each return takes, on average, half an hour. Once trained, you can volunteer for one hour, one hour once a week for the tax season, or whatever schedule suits you best. Appointments are booked based on the availability of volunteers. As an added bonus, you'll be able to prepare your own taxes and those of friends and family, in New York or Connecticut! If you are interested, please call Jennie or Jenny and let us know. We will schedule the training for sometime in October or November when we know how many volunteers we'll have. NECC's Strategic Plan is Complete! What kind of community do we want to live in? What is the role of our community center in bringing that vision to life? In the fall of 2006, the Board and Staff of the North East Community Center set out to take a fresh look at these questions. We interviewed leaders from our schools, service providers, community and business groups, and local government. We listened to seniors, school children, and adolescents. We talked to parents, doctors, fire fighters, and business people. We scoured statistics and studies that revealed the changes and needs taking place... To continue reading the executive summary, click here. The complete strategic plan can be viewed here. Medicare Part D: Looking for information Medicare Part D? We are considering whether to offer intensive training to staff or volunteers in the details of Medicare Part D and want to know whether many people in the community are looking for help and information about it. Maybe they’d like to have someone available here to walk them through enrollment options and other details. Give us a call and let us know! ArtEast Open Studio Tour: Visit working artists in their studios during Artober and the first annual ArtEast Open Studio Tour. Participating artists from Dover, Amenia, Millerton, Pine Plains, and Millbrook will take place on October 13th and 14th from 10 am to 5 pm. Photographers, painters, print makers, mosaic designers, sculptors, fiber artists, and mixed media artists will be on hand in their work spaces and galleries to discuss how a particular piece came to be made, their inspiration, and the techniques employed. For more information, a list of studios with map, and details of the opening reception, call Tilly Strauss at 845-373-7813. or visit www.arteastdutchess.com.
On Monday, September 10th, the BRYTE After-School Program will be opening its doors for another school year, led by our new program coordinators, Jan Brooks and Erin Jenkins. You know Jan as the creative and warm leader of our summer camp and from her wonderful work in our after-school and toddler programs for the last year. Erin is the newest member of NECC’s staff, having just moved to Rhinebeck after graduating from the Harvard School of Education. She is creative and loving and her specialty is improvisational theater - what could be more fun! The after-school program is a great way for elementary and early middle school students to enjoy a safe and fun (while also enriching) environment when school is done. The program encourages learning, socializing, recreation, physical activity, and community service. Features include daily homework help, a nutritious snack, outdoor play time, crafts, creative arts, games, movie days, and just plain fun. BRYTE's home is the Millerton Elementary School and includes three rooms and access to playgrounds and playing fields. New this year NECC is offering transportation to Amenia and Wassaic as well as a lower price structure. This includes discounts for children attending all five days, for siblings, and for families receiving free or reduced-price school lunch. Also new this year, a separate program for middle school students composed of a series of exciting clubs: our tentative fall lineup includes Lego Robotics, Hip Hop, Tae Kwon Do and Improvisational Drama. For more information, visit our website here. While there, you can also download an application. Application packets can also be picked up at NECC, Amenia and Webutuck Elementary schools, and the Eugene Brooks Middle School. Other questions can be answered by calling us at 518-789-4259. NECC is welcoming back the popular children's program Music Together. Led by musician Tom Hanford, the classes will begin Friday, September 14th at 10 am and will continue for a 12 week session. This mixed age class allows children from birth to age 5 to enjoy listening to and making music. In each class children and parents alike sing, dance, play instruments, and learn the basics of melody and rhythm. In addition to the classes, the session includes a songbook and CD so you and your children can enjoy what you've learned throughout the week. The 12 week semester costs $150 and the materials cost an additional $36. To register, you can go to the Music Together of Litchfield County website here and pay by credit card. You can also call Music Together directly at 203-256-1656 to have a registration form mailed to you. The Greenscape Farmers' Market is still growing strong! At the request of patrons and farmers, the market will be continuing for two more weeks. The final day of the market will be Saturday, September 15th. So, stop by and get fresh vegetables and meat from local farms. You can also purchase handmade birdhouses, wishing wells, and local wool. This is just a small sampling of what’s available. The market is held from 10 to 2, next to the Methodist Church across from Herrington’s on Dutchess Avenue in Millerton. September is the last month for your donations to count towards our 2007 annual appeal. If you haven’t yet made your donation, please consider doing so now! As we begin a new school year, we have so many new and exciting programs and activities we’d like to provide for the community but we need everyone’s help to do it! You can always give online at our safe and secure site, here. Maybe you want to donate to the Community Center but don't want to just write a check. The BRYTE After-School may now have an alternative for you! They have recently started a book wish list on Amazon.com which you can visit and purchase desired books for the program and its students. The books on the list will be used with the Fast Forward curriculum, which is tied to the learning goals of each grade, helping students to receive the skills to complete schoolwork. To give the gift of a book, follow these short steps. First, go to the Amazon Wish List page. From there, enter erin at neccmillerton.com to view our list. For more information on the wish list or the Fast Forward curriculum or for help viewing our wish list, call us.
We are hiring! NECC’s After-school program has openings for staff to create and run daily enrichment activities for grades K-5 and to develop a new series of clubs for middle-school students. Full and part-time positions available. Full details are available at our website. NECC’s BRYTE after-school program is available to any students in Kindergarten – 6th grade looking for quality, affordable, and enriching child care during the after-school hours. A balance of activities are offered daily that provide relaxation and recreation as well as projects that enhance academic skills and offer opportunities for community service, physical exercise, and socializing, all under the supervision of caring and experienced staff. New this year, we are offering transportation from Millerton, where the program is located, to Amenia at the end of the program, to assist families who would like their children to participate but cannot pick them up in Millerton. For more details, including fees, please call us. A registration form will be available to download on our website by August 15, or give us a call and we will mail one to you. Have you been to the Greenscape Farmers' Market yet? Come on by, it just gets better and better as the harvest comes in. Right now, you can buy shallots, red onions, and unusual meats like Lardo, from Moon in the Pond Farm, gorgeous salad greens from Sky Farm, fresh eggs and honey from Pine Hill Farm, handmade birdhouses and wishing wells from Rich and Kathy Westfall, unique spice rubs from Doug Westfall, broccoli and carrots from Maple Tree Farm, wool and lamb from Dashing Star Farm, bacon, sausages (English Bangers, anyone?) beef, and chicken from Herondale Farm, and coming soon – pickles, kim-chi, and sauerkraut from Camp Isabella Freedman. Bop while you shop, as Charlie Keil and his pickup band of musicians play New Orleans-style tunes. This is just a small sampling of what’s available – come by Saturdays, from 10 to 2, to the Methodist Church across from Herrington’s on Dutchess Avenue in Millerton. If you haven’t yet made your donation to our annual appeal (you probably got the letter in early July) please consider doing so now! As we launch into a new school year, we have so much we’d like to do for the community and we need everyone’s help to do it! You can always give online at our safe and secure site, here. Stay tuned...next month we’ll tell you about the results of our strategic planning process! And don't forget...get a bag of groceries or assorted meats for a fraction of the cost! To find out this month's Extra Helpings menu, stop by the Center or call to have one mailed to you. Also, we always need volunteers to drive our Care Car and TAP van. Our current volunteers are amazing, but they can't do it all. If you would like to donate a few hours of your time each month or even each week, give us a call. A short application and quick check of your driving record is all that is needed for you begin bringing seniors to their doctors' appointments and anywhere else they may need to go. In addition to helping others, you may get a few new friends out of the deal! So, if you have some free time in your week, consider helping out. Call Jennie P. for more information.
It's Summer in Millerton - Time for Serious Fun!
June 2007 Newsletter
Summer Camp Starts July 9th!
NECC's summer camp, "Around the World in 30 Days", begins Monday, July 9th. This year, a different country (such as Mexico, Japan, and Egypt) will be featured each week. The camp, for children ages 8-13, will run for 6 weeks and be held at the Millerton Elementary School Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. The camp will feature swimming at Rudd Pond, country-themed projects, arts and crafts, sports, hiking, cooking, and field trips. Trips for this year include, among others, a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, to see Egyptian artifacts, and a local Buddhist monastery. The cost is $100 per week, however, there is a sibling discount and scholarship opportunities are available. For more information, including information about fees, or to receive an application, contact us at 518-789-4259. To download an application online, click here. The registration deadline for the first session is June 15th. SUMMER JOBS for teens 14 to 18 years old! If you, or a teen you know, is interested in earning money while having fun, our CPSB program may be for you! We have approximately 30 positions available for the summer months. We are accepting applications and beginning placements at local merchants including summer camps, farmer’s markets, and local cafés. You must apply NOW! Summer work will begin July 2. Some positions may even continue into the school year. Call Shonda Sheppard at 518-789-4259 x102 for more information or come to NECC to fill out an application. Do you have a smoking habit? Do you wish you didn't? Vikki Clark, RN may have the program for you. Starting in June, Ms. Clark will be holding a three-part smoking cessation class at NECC. The QuitSmart program combines hypnosis, a gradual easing off of nicotine called "warm chicken", a realistic cigarette substitute, and the support of friends, family, and others in the class. This program has been utilized by hundreds of hospitals, military health care facilities, and corporations including Apple Computers and the U.S. Air Force Academy. Classes will be held on Friday, June 22nd and Friday, July 6th from 7:30 pm to 9 pm and on Monday, July 9th from 7:30 pm to 9 pm. The class costs $45 and includes a guidebook, the hypnosis CD, and the cigarette substitute. Attendance at all three classes is mandatory for successful completion of the program. For more information, or to register, contact Ms. Clark at 845-705-9184 or e-mail her at quitsmarter at optonline.net. It's almost July and you know what that means...the Family Arts Festival is coming! This year the festival will be held on Saturday, July 14th and will feature 6 diverse acts, including music, dancing, circus arts, and puppets. As with every year, the festivities will be held on the back deck of NECC from 5 pm to 9 pm. This year, our line-up includes puppet theater with the Ivy Vine Players, local Irish fiddle player June Conti, Irish step-dancing from Solas en Lae, the acro-comedic circus of MaTica Arts, world fusion music with Mawwal, and "the Best Latin Band in the Hudson Valley", Soñando. The evening promises to be fun for all ages, including puppet making and circus arts workshops for children and street painting for all. Street painting will begin at 1 pm (weather permitting) and is a great way for amateur artists to work alongside professionals. Preregistration is required (walk-ins will be accommodated, if possible) and colored pastels and sidewalk chalk will be provided by NECC. Individuals and teams are welcome. For more information about the event, or how you can help (we always need volunteers!) call us at 518-789-4259. For more information about street painting, call Tilly Strauss at 845-373-7813 or e-mail tillystudio at aol.com. To download a street painting entry form, click here.
Tom and Kath are back to ring in the summer with their Pre-School Music class! Professional musicians Tom Hanford and Kath Bloom bring their immense experience to NECC for an hour of energetic music-making for toddlers and their parents every week. In each class children and parents alike sing, dance, play instruments, and learn the basics of melody and rhythm. A good time is always guaranteed--even for all of us in the offices upstairs! The new 7-week session starts Friday, June 8th at 10:00am. The cost is $70 per session. To register, or for more information, please call the center at 518-789-4259.
May 2007 Newsletter Contents: Tickets are still available and start at just $40. They are available online at our website, www.neccmillerton.org, where you can also bid on our most exciting auction items, including a trip to Paris with a Saturday workshop at Le Cordon Bleu. This is going to be quite a party - the music, the amazing food, the extraordinary one-of-a-kind auction items – you really don’t want to miss it! The benefit is being sponsored by generous underwriters Elyse Harney Real Estate, Salisbury Bank and Trust Co. and Herrington’s. For more information, or to offer your talents, volunteering or for the auction, give us a call at 518-789-4259. Also on May 5th, The Hammertown Barn, WKZE, and Holy Road Tours will be presenting The Tumbleweed Time Song and Story Hour from 11 am to 1 pm. The event, for children who love to sing and dance, will be held at The Hammertown Barn House in Pine Plains and be performed by Lizzie West and her partner, Baba Buffalo. The Barn will be giving 10% of all its sales that day to NECC. In addition, all of the donations received at the entrance to the performance will also be presented to the center. The suggested donation in $10. For more information about the event, visit Lizzie West's homepage here or visit the Holy Road Tours page here. Students in the B.R.Y.T.E. after-school program are holding their second annual Mother's Day Plant Sale. It's no coincidence that the sale is happening just in time for you to purchase gifts for your mothers, grandmothers, and any and all of the women in your life. On Saturday, May 12, from 9 am to 4 pm, you can stop by and see them in the center of Millerton, across from the Moviehouse. (The rain location is at NECC, 51 South Center Street.) While you're there, you can purchase assorted annuals in pots or hanging baskets and various herbs for the garden of you or someone you love. Students will use all the proceeds of the sale for their end-of-year trip to Lake George. So, stop by and make a woman's day while supporting our students! For more information about specific flowers and herbs available, contact Rhoda at 518-789-4259 or Rhoda at neccmillerton.org. Did you ever watch those amazing athletes who run marathons or do triathlons, and say, 'Wow, I wish I could do that?', says Jenny Hansell, NECC Executive Director. "I never did, until last year, when I decided that I needed to do something drastic to get into shape! So I've signed up for a triathlon, and made it into a fundraiser to replace our aging Care Car, which we use to drive senior citizens to doctor appointments. The event itself, on June 2, is a sprint distance - I'm no Ironman! - which means a 1/3 mile swim, a 12 mile bike ride, and a 3 mile run. The event is a month away and I think I'll be ready! You can read all about it, and pledge your support of the Care Car, by visiting my training blog. There are several ways to pledge - you can click directly on the "widget" that appears there but if it doesn't work on your computer, there is an alternate link, or you can send your check to P.O. Box 35, Millerton, New York 12546. If you just want to pledge now, and not pay until you make sure I actually pull it off, that's fine too - just send me a note! I look forward to sharing my race report and putting a new Care Car into service!" SUMMER JOBS for teens 14 to 18 years old! If you, or a teen you know, is interested in earning some extra money while having fun, we have approximately 30 positions available for the summer months. We are accepting applications and beginning placements at local merchants including summer camps, farmer’s markets, and local cafés. You must apply NOW! Summer work will begin July 2. Some positions may even continue into the school year. Call Shonda Sheppard at 518-789-4259 x102 for more information or come to NECC to fill out an application. From the staff and students in B.R.Y.T.E.: On Saturday, March 3rd, the B.R.Y.T.E. After-School Program went on a “Midnight Run”. Seven children, three staff, and two volunteers loaded up two oversized vans with food, clothing, and toiletries and handed them out to homeless people on the streets of New York City. This was a thrilling and eye-opening experience for the children and could not have been accomplished without the help of their community. Many businesses and individuals donated enough food, clothing, and money to allow us to minister to over 80 people. The children came face to face with the country’s homeless citizens and were shown gratitude for their concern and caring. Without the support of our community we would not have been able to give the children the opportunity to reach out and help others in such a deep and meaningful way. We wanted to thank all those that helped to make this a positive experience that the children will always remember.
Contents: From NE to NO Is a Success! also participated in "mapping" which had them travel to randomly selected blocks in other New Orleans neighborhoods to survey the progress of, or lack of, rebuilding efforts in each area. Because of this, members of the B.I.A. will be able to review the information and compare the progress of Broadmoor's rebuilding to that of neighborhoods with the same socioeconomic background. In one short week, the students got to see much of the city, with both its beauty and friendly residents and with its areas devastated by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. They came away from the experience with a sense of appreciation for what they have and what others need, a desire to help, and new found friends and pen pals in the Bard students! On May 5th, the space at Coyote Point on Main Street (it’s next to Manna Dew, and was formerly Salem Saddlery, formerly the Riley’s furniture showroom) will be decked out like you’ve never seen it before. The whole downstairs will be transformed into a speakeasy, where Michael Brown and Wanda Houston will work their musical magic, including jazz, blues and gospel as well as foot-stomping New Orleans-style dance tunes. Auction items are coming in daily and there are some once-in-a-lifetime items, including a trip to Paris, with a Saturday workshop at Le Cordon Bleu. Other travel packages include a hot air balloon ride, and a trip to California wine country. More locally, you can bid on a weekend in an apartment in New York City, with gift certificates to some of NYC’s finest restaurants and a behind-the-scenes tour of the New York Times; or a cocktail party catered in your home by the new Bottletree Grocery (which, by the way, is catering the extraordinary New Orleans specialties we’ll be serving at the event). We have art and photography, we have food and wine, we have unique gifts and services – need a handyman? Need house painting? Need some interior decorating advice? Get it here, probably at a bargain, and support NECC at the same time! Our celebrity auctioneers, Joe Loverro and Thia Tarrab, are returning for another year of their unique brand of entertainment and salesmanship! Tickets start at just $40, and are available online at our website, www.neccmillerton.org, where you can also bid on some of the auction items. The benefit is being sponsored by generous underwriters Elyse Harney Real Estate, Salisbury Bank and Trust Co. and Herrington’s. For more information, or to offer your talents, either for the auction or just to volunteer, give us a call at 518-789-4259. Summer is approaching and you know what that means...SUMMER CAMP! This year NECC's camp will be called "Around the World in 30 Days" and will feature a different country each week. The camp, for children ages 8-13, will run for 6 weeks, starting July 9th and ending August 17th. Held at the Millerton Elementary School Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm, the camp will feature swimming at Rudd Pond, country-themed projects, arts and crafts, sports, hiking, cooking, and field trips. The cost is $100 per week, however, there is a sibling discount and scholarship opportunities are available. For more information, or to be notified when applications are available, contact us at 518-789-4259. Along with summer also comes the Family Arts Festival! This year the festival will be held on Saturday, July 14th and will feature 6 diverse acts, including music, dancing, circus arts, and puppets. As with every year, the festivities will be held on the back deck of NECC from 5 pm to 9 pm. This year, our line-up includes puppet theater with the Ivy Vine Players, local Irish fiddle player June Conti, Irish step-dancing from Solas en Lae, the acro-comedic circus of MaTica Arts, world fusion music with Mawwal, and "the Best Latin Band in the Hudson Valley", Soñando. The evening promises to be fun for all ages, including puppet making and circus arts workshops for children and street painting for all. For more information about the event, or how you can help (we always need volunteers!) call us at 518-789-4259. Thanks to Cornell Cooperative Extension, NECC will be hosting three energy efficiency and financial management workshops in the months of April and May. The first workshop, Save Energy, Save Dollars will be held on Monday, April 23rd from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. Another opportunity to attend the workshop will be Monday, April 30th from 12:30 to 2:30 pm. The class will focus on low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy and reduce energy bills. Participants will also learn about programs using subsidies, low-interest loans, or even free services that can help them afford energy-efficient improvements. Upcoming May workshops will be Making Ends Meet, focusing on developing and using a household spending plan and Exploring Credit and Debt Management Issues, about understanding all aspects of your personal credit and debt. All workshops are free and open to the public. Pre-registration is required. Door prizes and refreshments will be provided. For more information, dates and times of May workshops, or to sign up, please call NECC at 518-789-4259.
March 2007 Newsletter Contents: CPSB Students Heading to New Orleans for Alternative Spring Break From NE to NO - This April, interns in our Community Partnership with Schools and Businesses program are traveling to New Orleans to help rebuild. Five high school students, some from Webutuck High School and some home-schooled, will travel to New Orleans over spring break to help in the rebuilding effort in Broadmoor, one of the hardest-hit areas of the city during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Students from Millerton and Amenia will team up with a group from Bard College, where students have been working with a local organization in Broadmoor for over a year on rebuilding and community organizing. The students will work on a variety of direct service projects including:
The students will work side-by-side with college students from Bard, who will mentor and guide them. This partnership will open a window onto college life and experience, helping students become better prepared and motivated to chart their own path to college. To read more, click here. NECC is moving into the 21st Century! Thanks to a generous grant from state senator Vincent Leibell, NECC will soon be installing a voice mail system. Don't worry, you'll still hear a friendly human voice when you call, but as of next week, you can now you can leave messages for our staff in their own voice mailboxes. It will be easier for us and will be more convenient for you. Now you'll be sure that the right person will get your complete message - and no one else will hear it! We're pretty excited about this improvement and we hope that you will be too! Also thanks to Senator Leibell's grant, we will be receiving a brand new play set at the end of this month. The new and improved play set will be arriving the last week of March but will be coming unassembled. We want to have it up and ready in time for the toddlers to use in the spring, but we are going to need some volunteers! While we here at the center are pretty talented, we are not necessarily skilled in the area of play set mechanics. If you or someone you know is handier than we are, we'd love for them to come and show us what to do! Give us a call (on our new and improved phone system, of course) and let us know. You can speak to Jennie P. at 518-789-4259. NECC is spreading the word about A Bear Affair, a new project coming to the tri-state area. We're happy to promote this project that aims to showcase local artists, support tourism, and beautify the business districts in the region. Local artists are invited to create unique works of art to be used to decorate one of five different bear forms. The completed bears can be sponsored by local businesses and displayed on their property. The bears will be displayed from August to October 2007 and can either be re-purchased by their sponsors or sold at the A Bear Affair Auction in November. This is a great opportunity to show off your artistic talent while supporting a thriving and healthy community. If you are interested in submitting your design, you can download the Artist Prospectus here or contact the Northwest Connecticut Arts Council at 860-482-6586 or
February 2007 Newsletter Contents: B.R.Y.T.E. and the Midnight Run
The B.R.Y.T.E. After-School Program will be participating in a Midnight Run to New York City Saturday, March 3rd as one of their community outreach projects. The staff and students, in cooperation with the Midnight Run organization, will be bringing donations of food, clothing, and toiletries to give to the city's homeless. They will supply these gifts to 130 to 150 individuals and need your help to ensure that they have everything they need. The program is asking for donations of food, clothing, toiletries, or money to buy the essential supplies. Needed clothes include dark-colored and warm men's coats, pants, shirts, sweaters, underwear, socks, and shoes. Toiletries needed include soap (regular-sized bar), toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, and deodorant. The group will be making bagged meals with coffee, hot cocoa, and chili so they are asking for items to make up the bagged meals, such as juice boxes, individual fruit cups, individual snack cakes, styrofoam or paper cups and containers and their lids, plastic spoons, and money to buy ingredients for sandwiches, chili, or other needed items. For a complete and more specific list, please contact Rhoda Starzyk at 518-789-4259 or Rhoda at neccmillerton.org and she will be happy to provide you with one. If you have anything you can donate, please call or e-mail. Items can be dropped off at NECC or picked up by the B.R.Y.T.E. staff with prior notice. The items that are needed are very specific, so please, if you are unsure about anything you want to donate, speak to Rhoda. Help us make the students' first Midnight Run a success! Our VITA volunteers helped more than 30 families last year by providing them with free income tax filing. This year, we hope to serve more than 50 but we can't do it without help from the community! NECC is looking for individuals and families to take advantage of our service, but more importantly, we are looking for individuals to volunteer to prepare these taxes. Want to volunteer? You must be 18 years of age or older and willing to receive training in computerized tax preparation and electronic filing. Volunteers will receive up-to-date materials straight from the IRS and training can even be done online in the comfort of your own home. You can volunteer once or throughout the tax season. Want to have your taxes done? VITA is open to those whose annual income makes them eligible for Earned Income Credit (this year that amount is $38,348). Appointments are required, so call soon to makes yours. Any questions? Call the center or send an e-mail to Shonda at neccmillerton.org. Our Community Partnership with Schools and Businesses program has been helping students gain work experience for four years and is still going strong. The CPSB program prepares teenagers to enter the work force and, based on students' interests, connects them with mentors at businesses in the area. The students, as paid interns, work 10 hours a week during the school year and gain valuable experience and knowledge while the businesses gain the chance to help a teen explore their career interests and strengthen their working skills at no monetary cost to them (interns are paid minimum wage by NECC). Eligibility requirements vary depending on the different grants we receive. For more information and details, contact Shonda at 518-789-4259 or Shonda at neccmillerton.org. Save the date! May 5th is our annual benefit, featuring Michael Brown and Wanda Houston. This year, jthe theme is "Millerton Celebrates New Orleans". Join us at Simmon's Way Village Inn in Millerton for a New Orleans-style party complete with food and music in the tradition of the city. We will also have our usual live and silent auctions filled with unique and exciting items generously donated by our local supporters. In addition to supporting all our programs, the benefit will help us develop a new partnership with Bard College and Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans. This partnership will allow us to bring a group of our high school students to help rebuild homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Our students will gain new skills and insight and build a connection to higher education and community service that will benefit them now and in the future. Stay tuned for more information or, if you just can't wait, call the center and we'll tell you all we know! Our strategic planning process is steadily moving along and we still need input from our community members to make it as meaningful and productive as possible. We need your thoughts about what programs and activities would be most valuable and enjoyable and would make the biggest difference in the quality of life here. You can always call or e-mail us, but the easiest way to share your ideas and how you feel is to take our short (we promise!), simple online survey. Click here to start the survey. The fifth-annual HealthWise will be held Saturday, March 10th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. This community health fair will take place at the Hotchkiss School Main Building in Lakeville, Connecticut. There will be over 40 free screenings available for participants. In addition to cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes checks, there will be screenings for skin cancer, oral health, bone loss, depression, and many more. Complementing the screenings are a series of wellness and life-enhancement activities such as nutritional counseling, reiki, and massage. Families are welcome and invited to participate in the many children's activities available. Spanish interpreters will also be on hand. For more information, or for directions, call 1-800-666-6855. HealthWise is sponsored by Noble Horizons and Sharon Hospital. Get the education you've been waiting for right here in Millerton! NECC has the opportunity to bring much needed classes to our area. Licensed professionals from B.O.C.E.S. and the American Red Cross will bring their General Education Development, English as a Second Language, First Aid, and CPR classes to the community center provided we receive a minimum enrollment. If you are interested in one of these classes, or know someone who is, call the center. As soon as we receive enough interest, we will have the appropriate class taught right here. Call 518-789-4259 to get your name on the list. The Extra Helpings Food Cooperative is better than ever before! In addition to the usual bag of groceries, the program has added three different specials each month. Now there are four different ways to feed your family and save money. Each bag of groceries costs $20 and includes several types of meat and staple vegetables or fruit. Specials vary monthly in type and price but there is always a "meat box" filled with five different kinds of meat. For the month of February, specials include an 8 lb. pork loin and 5 lbs. of Salisbury steak. For the complete listing of the February menu, call Jennie P. at the center so she can send you a menu and order form. Orders are due to the center by the 9th of the month and orders will be ready for pickup on the 21st. There is no age or income limit for this program and you may order as many packages as you wish. This program is made possible by the Dutchess County Community Action Partnership and the Regional Food Bank of North Eastern New York.
Contents: Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Last year, our VITA volunteers helped more than 30 families by providing free income tax filing. This year, we hope to serve as many as 50 but we can't do it without your help! NECC is looking for individuals and families to take advantage of our service, but more importantly, we are looking for individuals to volunteer to prepare these taxes. Want to volunteer? You must be 18 years of age or older and willing to receive training in computerized tax preparation and electronic filing. Training can even be done online in the comfort of your own home. You can volunteer once or throughout the tax season. Want to have your taxes done? VITA is open to those whose annual income falls under guidelines set by the federal government (last year that amount was $38,000). Appointments are required and will begin in late January. Questions? Call the center or send an e-mail to Shonda at neccmillerton.org. Our Relaxation and Meditation is seeking new participants! The class, lead by acupuncturist and natural health practitioner Karen Kisslinger, is held Mondays at the center from 5:30pm to 6:45pm. The class is free and open to all ages and levels of meditation experience. Many types of relaxation exercises, including guided relaxation, stretching, Chinese health exercises, sitting meditation, and self acupressure are offered. The first half of the class involves a variety of relaxation-promoting activities and the second half of the class involves sitting meditation. If you are interested, simply join us at the center with a blanket and pillow. Late comers are not admitted, so please be on time! For more information, call Ms. Kisslinger at 518-789-6206. Senior citizens living in Amenia, Wassaic, and Dover can now get the doctor and other necessary appointments more easily than ever, in our new TAP (Transportation for Amenia Program) Minivan. Thanks to a generous grant from the Foundation for Community Health, we have just purchased a 2006 Ford Freestar that is both a comfortable and pleasant experience for our drivers and passengers. To arrange a ride, or if you are interested in volunteering, whether it’s only once in a while or regularly, please call Jennie P. at 518-789-4259. Riding in style has never been so easy... Preschool Music with Tom and Kath is back for the new year! Professional musicians Tom Hanford and Kath Bloom bring an their immense experience to the center for an hour of energetic music-making for toddlers and their parents every week. In each class children and parents alike sing, dance, play instruments, and learn the basics of melody and rhythm. A good time is always guaranteed--even for all of us in the offices upstairs! The new 8-week session starts Friday, January 12 at 10:00am. The cost is $80 per session. To register, or for more information, please call the center at 518-789-4259. The Extra Helpings Food Cooperative is better than ever before! In addition to the usual bag of groceries, the program has added three different specials each month. Now there are four different ways to feed your family and save money. Each bag of groceries costs $20 and includes several types of meat and vegetables or fruit. Specials vary monthly in type and price but there is always a "meat box" filled with five different kinds of meat. For the month of January specials include 5lbs. of sliced white American cheese and 10 lbs. of boneless, skinless chicken breast. For the complete listing of the January menu, call Jennie P. at the center so she can send you a menu and order form. Orders are due to the center by the 9th of the month and orders will be ready for pickup on the 24th. There is no age or income limit for this program and you may order as many packages as you wish. This program is made possible by the Dutchess County Community Action Partnership and the Regional Food Bank of North Eastern New York. The staff of the B.R.Y.T.E. After-School Program are hosting a parent advisory meeting January, 29th from 6:00pm to 7:00pm. The meeting, being held at the Millerton Elementary School (5833 South Elm Avenue, Millerton), is open to all parents of B.R.Y.T.E. students as well as any and all individuals who are interested in the program. Staff will discuss the various community projects and activities that are being implemented as well as explain the program as a whole and its schedule according to the different grants that fund it. The meeting will also provide an opportunity for parents to express their feelings, concerns, and ideas about the program. If you are interested in attending, please RSVP to Rhoda Starzyk, Assistant Program Director, by Thursday, January 25th. If you have an event or activity that you would like us to promote to the community, let us know. This newsletter goes out once a month and we'll be happy to mention any other events that benefit our community. Our paper newsletter is distributed quarterly (the next one will be in the spring)- we'll include your late spring or early summer event in our community event calendar. Contact the center to give us the details and we'll include you next time!
December 2006 Newsletter Diabetes Forum December 7th The Eastern Dutchess County Rural Health Network is sponsoring a community-wide diabetes education/screening event on December 7th. Entitled "Diabetes Forum: Making Healthy Choices", the free program will be held at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Amenia from 10am to 1pm. There will be informational sessions led by health care professionals as well as lunch, health screenings, and a free raffle. There are still spaces available but registering soon is important. Those interested in attending should call Hudson River Health Care and speak to Maureen Paul at 845-373-9006 ext. 7630. For more information and a complete itinerary of the event, see the full brochure here. |
