<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Governor Kathy Hochul signed key legislation sponsored by Senator Shelley B. Mayer and Assembly Member Carrie Woerner to require every school board and Board of Cooperative Education Services in New York State to appoint at least one student ex-officio member.&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Through Mayer and Woerner’s legislation,</span><a href="https://fblf5liab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001H1FnJ0k1qGiJIMJUhOsfzdqn1XqjVg8-oyc0QTF-wJupSXeinWROd8HgKYnA7NvF24e4PJPB9ktfEochGcGQfs2RU2DMIvsjHudLxI4lUOa2gehnekXqZXquAZEdvcPAd1rISn9xTr2N8aUg3Ud5jJE6wRi3W2x2Exm622m_9tZZucP3mxxEGnAWpxS-OqlkJLQmjeg08ivP9m7YVYL5RR42mzJ2LKRH&amp;c=gvz6XroZD_PVoU1JyDdRq0HCkONpxUrRcBN5tTVvzNUe8Bsf_kR20Q==&amp;ch=DCUSkS98UXV281sNZn4JKHllBKDaFFrdoLLZCAooFgxH9prNm3Aj4g==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;</a><a href="S.9018A" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">S.9018A</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">/</span><a href="https://fblf5liab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001H1FnJ0k1qGiJIMJUhOsfzdqn1XqjVg8-oyc0QTF-wJupSXeinWROd9pgK9oSs6IhClKonpkwhloSB4_6CcPJlQ0lx44MUPOVWsdx8UyyWxmU5EqU3YdIocnFnc73Oq_bV5Owwc3PpXqKUa0jyeE4IQRcWePStCORbbZ1C5LQAKhqxmCICjP2vQ==&amp;c=gvz6XroZD_PVoU1JyDdRq0HCkONpxUrRcBN5tTVvzNUe8Bsf_kR20Q==&amp;ch=DCUSkS98UXV281sNZn4JKHllBKDaFFrdoLLZCAooFgxH9prNm3Aj4g==" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">A.9855A</a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, school boards will now be&nbsp;</span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">required</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;to appoint at least one student ex-officio member who may participate in all public meetings and sit with the other board members. These student members will be non-voting and will not be entitled to participate in Executive sessions or any other non-public proceedings.&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Prior to this law, districts were&nbsp;</span><em style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">allowed</em><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;to appoint an ex-officio student member, but had to seek approval from voters in their district via a referendum. This legislation simplifies the process, removing the referendum requirement and giving districts greater flexibility about how they appoint members. Further, it will expand opportunities statewide for students to participate in their school board by ensuring every district has at least one student member.&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Senator Shelley B. Mayer said,&nbsp;</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">“I am proud my bill to require school districts and BOCES to appoint at least one student non-voting school board member has been signed into law by Governor Hochul. Today, students navigate a myriad of challenges in their lives at home and school. Some of these challenges are familiar to those of us who were high school students decades ago. Others may not be ––&nbsp;the impact of social media, experience of social isolation since the pandemic, or fear and anxiety about the climate crisis. This legislation will ensure that students have a seat at the table where decisions that shape their educational opportunities and experience are made and that members of the Board hear and benefit from their insights as students.&nbsp;I want to thank Assembly Member Woerner for sponsoring this legislation in the Assembly and Governor Kathy Hochul for signing it into law.”</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Assembly Member Carrie Woerner said,</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;“As a former high school student School Board member, I know first-hand what a wonderful experience it was to be my school’s student representative and to be able to offer students’ perspectives on all School Board-related topics. Students are important stakeholders and I’m pleased to have partnered with Senator Mayer in ensuring they now have a place and a voice at the table in School Boards across the state.”</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Grace Evans, a former Ex-Officio School Board member for&nbsp;Jamesville-DeWitt School District in Syracuse,&nbsp;said,</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;“Education is a means to understanding and knowing the world. The spaces that it occupies are meant for exploration, invention, and creation. That these environments are thoughtfully and intentionally constructed is imperative to creating positive learning and living experiences. This legislation ensures that the student voice is centered in making decisions about the detailed and broader ongoings in districts, which, in turn, affect both the daily and longer-term lives of students. My own experience as a Student Board Representative gave me a layered and developed perspective on the education system and social issues that play into it, as well as important skills that continue to guide the way that I communicate, collaborate, lead, and live, on the largest scale. It has given me more opportunities than I could've ever imagined, including this one, to aid in making sure that all students have access to the same meaningful and impactful experience that I had.”</span></p><p><br></p><p><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Assemblyman Steve Otis, a cosponsor of the new law, said,</strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">&nbsp;“Providing students with an ex officio seat at the table at school board meetings has several benefits. A student perspective may provide important information on an issue where student knowledge would be helpful towards reaching the best decisions. Public participation of a student representative should also increase the flow of information to all students on issues affecting their education. The experience will also enhance the education of the student appointed. Congratulations to Governor Hochul and to lead sponsors Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner ex officio for moving this legislation.</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">This law will take effect July 1, 2025.&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The requirements of this bill apply to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Yonkers, all Union Free School Districts, Central School Districts that operate a high school, Central High School Districts, Small City School Districts, and Boards of Cooperative Educational Services. New York City does not have a school board; but current law requires both Community Education Councils and the Citywide Councils to give students the opportunity to participate as non-voting members.&nbsp;</span></p><p class="ql-align-justify"><br></p><p><br></p>

<p><strong>Sheriff Kevin J. McConville reports the arrest of four individuals after an attempt to</strong></p><p><strong>illegally access a customer’s account at a local bank.</strong></p><p><strong>On September 11, 2024, at approximately 9:50 am, a deputy was dispatched to the Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union in Southeast for a report that a female had entered the bank and presented fraudulent documents in order to attempt to withdraw money. An astute teller was able to quickly realize that the documents, including the photo, did not match the customer whose account the female was attempting to withdraw from and the suspect then fled</strong></p><p><strong>the bank. With the assistance of Sheriff’s BCI investigators, they were able to get a description and license plate of the vehicle that the suspect left in, and an alert was put out to all police departments in the area. At approximately 1 pm officers from the Carmel Police Department spotted the vehicle on Route 6 near Baldwin Place Rd and made a traffic stop. Sheriff’s personnel responded to the scene and took the occupants into custody and brought them to the Sheriff’s Office for questioning. It was learned that the suspects had made attempts at other</strong></p><p><strong>banks earlier in the day and were successful in two transactions in the Town of Poughkeepsie</strong></p><p><strong>for $12,000. </strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>The following charges were lodged: Onaj E. Leonard, 23 years of age of the Bronx was charged with Attempted Identity Theft 2nd degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 5 th degree, both misdemeanors.</strong></p><p><strong>Rashad A. Newton, 21 years of age of Syracuse was charged with Attempted Identity Theft 2nd degree and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 4 th degree, both misdemeanors . Kirk K Neufville Jr, 22 years of age of the Bronx was charged with Attempted Identity Theft 2nd degree and felony Criminal Possession of Stolen Property 3rd degree. Dawn M. Petruny, 49 years of age of Woodbridge, CT was charged with misdemeanor Attempted Identity Theft 2 nd degree and felony Possession of a Forged Instrument.</strong></p><p><strong>Leonard and Newton were issued appearance tickets for a future court date and Neufville and Petruny were held pending arraignment.</strong></p><p><strong>Sheriff’s Office investigators were assisted by detectives from the Town of Poughkeepsie Police Department and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the investigation is continuing.</strong></p>

<p><strong>Putnam CAP (Community Action Partnership) is currently seeking volunteers to assist with its food pantry distribution on Mondays from 12:00 – 2:30 pm and Wednesdays from 3:00 – 6:30 pm. Volunteers must be able to bend, lift and carry up to 15 lbs.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Anyone interested should contact the CAP office at 845-278-8021 for information.</strong></p><p><strong>Putnam CAP is located at 121 Main Street in Brewster, NY.</strong></p>

<p><strong>Local Jeweler and supplier to ABC's "Dancing With the Stars" Anne Koplik is holding a Showroom Sale today and tomorrow, September 14 &amp; 15 at their location, 173 Main Street in the Village of Brewster, NY.</strong></p><p><strong>Sale hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days.</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>All of their jewelry is handmade in Brewster and you will find a huge selection of one of a kind pieces at up to 75% off their regular everyday prices.</strong></p><p><strong><em>Parking is available in the front and rear of the building</em></strong></p>

<p>Ridgefield Theater Barn's production of The Prom is a heartwarming and thought-provoking celebration of individuality and acceptance. The talented cast, led by Audra James as Emma, Marilyn Olsen as DeeDee Allen, Anthony Laszlo as Barry Glickman, Rachel Rosado as Angie Dickinson, and Michael Valinati as Trent Oliver deliver standout performances that captivate the audience from start to finish.</p><p>The show tells the story of Emma, an Indiana high school student that just wants to take her girlfriend to the Prom. The local PTA steps in to protect "The Children...." and it makes it to Twitter. Meanwhile, In New York City, a quartet of self-absorbed Broadway performers, coming off a horrendous opening night, decide to find a cause to polish up their images. One scroll</p><p>through Twitter (Now X) lands them in small town Indiana coming to "rescue" Emma and be her champions. Things do not go to plan, and everyone, from the ensemble to the stars, travel growth arcs of action with beautiful toe tapping music by Matthew Sklar, and a sweet parable in the book and lyrics by Chad Beguelin/book by Bob Martin.</p><p>Ms. James’ Emma anchors the show with her midwestern charm and vocal chops, reeling us in one great song after another. The duet "Dance With You" with Ms Sussman's Alyssa, is poignantly beautiful.</p><p>The Broadway "Stars" are hilarious, with all four of them at the top of their game. The</p><p>juxtaposition of their lives and narcissisms play so well against the midwestern small town, and in the end, all of them grow, and find their empathic humanity.</p><p>Mr. Laszlo as Barry Glickman walks the tightrope of camp and humanity expertly, and Ms. Olsen's Deedee is Faith Prince incarnate, with a powerhouse voice and depth of feeling that keeps this role, which could be played as a two-dimensional caricature, firmly rooted in a three dimensional tour de force.</p><p>Speaking of powerhouse voices, it is not until the 10th number and just two from the end of the first act before we hear Mr. Hawkins played by Fred Rueck sing. But sing he does in the number "We Look To You" with one of the warmest baritones around, serving tenderness and strength simultaneously.</p><p>Michael Valinati as Trent Oliver takes the ensemble to school with his hilarious 2nd act number, "Love Thy Neighbor" and Ms. Rosado in her duet with Ms. James "Zazz," is breathtaking. I would be remiss if I didn't mention Sarah Pascal's Mrs. Greene. the PTA head spearheading the opposition to Emma's participation in the Prom.</p><p><br></p><p>As antihero's go, she does a yeoman's job of being the villain while at the same time, revealing the grey areas of the heart. The ensemble’s energy is infectious, with highlights including Zach Hudson as Sheldon Saperstein, Sarah Paschal as Shelby, Zoe Anderson as Kaylee, David Chuba as Kevin, Robert Failia as Nick, and Kristin Aug as Mrs. Greene's Friend. The supporting cast, both adult and teen, brings an incredible level of talent and enthusiasm to the stage, including Heather Burlant, Garrett Levine, Liza Kaplan Montanino, Benjamin Olsen, Carlie Zucker, Matthew Donovan, Denise Hubbard, Katie Kelly, Craig David Rosen, Jasmin Salas, Kimberly Shay, and Charlotte Walsh. Every single member of the Ensemble has a distinct character that carried through all their appearances, and just the logistics of having them all on stage dancing shows the commitment to the piece and the respect for the choreography. Director Debra Lee Failla's inspired direction, Bonnie Gregson's on-point and technically impressive choreography, and John Failla's perfect musical direction of the talented live</p><p>orchestra create a seamless and exhilarating production. The show's energy is palpable, and the cast clearly pour their hearts into every number.</p><p>Overall, The Prom at Ridgefield Theater Barn, now in its 60th season, is a must-see for fans of the classic musical. The talented cast, combined with the energetic direction and choreography, create a truly unforgettable experience celebrating love, acceptance and the power of change.</p><p>Performances take place Friday and Saturday evenings from September 6th through September 28th at 8pm, with Sunday matinees September 15th and 22nd at 5pm.</p><p>SPECIAL PERFORMANCES: Friday, September 13 - Family Night! (no alcohol), including</p><p>Pre-Show Community Panel on Resources for LGBTQ+ Youth; Sunday, September 15th, Pay-What-You-Want matinee. Tickets are $40 for adults, $35 for seniors/students/veterans. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. Tickets can be purchased at</p><p><a href="ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ridgefieldtheaterbarn.org.</a></p>

<p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Recently nominated for </span><strong style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><em>Best Jazz Club of the Hudson Valley</em></strong><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">, </span><a href="https://www.unclecheef.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Uncle Cheef</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> and live music promoters, </span><a href="https://hearitthere.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">HearItThere.com</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> are honored to introduce Rock/Americana songwriter, </span><a href="https://www.alexcanomusic.com/video" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">Alex Cano</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> on Thursday, September 26, 2024.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Performing as a trio, Cano along with Jason Robins on upright bass and Kevin Myers</span><strong style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </strong><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">mandolin and steel guitar</span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> will deliver two sets of raw, high energy music at 7:30 PM &amp; 9:00 PM.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hear It There Founder, and live music enthusiast, Elisa Zuckerberg is continually on the lookout for new music. </span><span style="color: rgb(34, 34, 34);">Alex is a rock star! I’ve been following his music career for many years and always felt that he’s a rare talent, both as a songwriter and musician. I’m thrilled to provide Alex the opportunity to perform in this beautiful venue, introduce himself to a new audience and also for his loyal fans.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">The music, food and service at Uncle Cheef are all top notch. Advance reservations via the </span><a href="https://unclecheef.turntabletickets.com/shows/4207/?date=2024-09-26" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(17, 85, 204);">online Turntable System</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> are encouraged, as they are instrumental when preparing&nbsp; for the evening’s success and your enjoyment. If you’ve never used Turntable, there will be a one-time set up process which automates the check out procedure for settling your bill.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Navigation settings for Uncle Cheef are, 988 NY-22, Unit C, Brewster, NY 10509. Located 56 miles north of New York City in the Village of Brewster, the lounge is Hudson Valley’s number one home to exciting live music curated by Tonight Show musician and five-time Grammy award winning saxophonist, </span><a href="https://ianhendricksonsmith.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Ian Hendrickson-Smith</a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> (aka Uncle Cheef.)</span></p><p><span style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Hear It There promotes original songwriters at Uncle Cheef and is a web-based resource. Offering an accompanying weekly newsletter, HiT reaches over 2,800 subscribers. The platform is FREE of charge. Musicians and live music venues are welcome to upload graphics, text and links to seamlessly promote their upcoming live music events! For additional information contact (914) 236-4572 or send an email to </span><a href="mailto:info@hearitthere.com." rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="background-color: transparent; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">info@hearitthere.com.</a></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>