The team from Wizard’s Wardrobe, the one-to-one literacy program in Albany’s South End, won an Odyssey of the Mind program’s regional competition. And they’ll travel to Syracuse next month to compete on the state level!
If you would like to donate to Wizard’s Wardrobe to defray the additional expenses of travel, please go to the Wizard’s Wardrobe website or send a check to Wizard’s Wardrobe, PO Box 61, Albany, NY 12201. I should note that my wife is the Program Director of Wizard’s Wardrobe.
News and features
‘Cowardly’: NY Times Pummeled for Ignoring NC GOP Nominee’s Hitler and Holocaust Remarks
SCOTUS failing
Boeing: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
The real problem with anonymity
The Death of Peak TV
Grandparents and Their Coresident Grandchildren: 2021
The Advventures of Prisma and Hydrofera Blue
THE ART AND HISTORY OF LETTERING COMICS by Todd Klein, a free online book by Todd Klein and why you might want to check it out
From eerily prescient to wildly incorrect, 100-year-old predictions about 2024
Iris Aptel. renowned New York designer and style icon dies aged 102
How to Move a 1,000-Pound Rescued Manatee (Swimming Isn’t an Option)
Why Peter Pan Needed a Dusting and The Guy Who Flew to School and The Philadelphia Poison Plot and Can Killing Vampires Cure Tuberculosis?
Wikipedia is home to a list of lists of lists.
SMH: Catskill High School
Catskill, NY, is about three-quarters of an hour south of Albany. The basic facts are not in dispute. Choral director Michelle Storrs-Ryan was conducting a rehearsal for the upcoming high school production of Cinderella. Storrs-Ryan said facetiously to the young performers, “Be quiet, I’m going to get the tape!” according to a student named Madison, who said she volunteered. Madison took the piece of tape, put it on her mouth for about 30 seconds, removed it, and everyone laughed.
Well, almost everyone. Someone reported the occurrence, and the district superintendent, Dan Wilson, suspended Storrs-Ryan and school Principal Junait Shah. Several protests and walkouts involving students and parents have occurred over the suspensions. Many want the superintendent to be removed over what most considered a “non-incident.”
Meanwhile, Cinderella is scheduled to premiere on March 15. The show’s choreographer, Marcus McGregor, is trying to hold things together. But would the student actors want to continue without their beloved director? McGregor was quoted in the March 12 Times Union that the show wouldn’t be ready by then, with a dress rehearsal over the past weekend canceled.
Having seen several productions at Catskill High School – my niece Alexa was in them – I can attest that the shows were quite good to excellent and that her students adore her. Unsurprisingly, I have seen universal anger on the Catskill Community Board page on Facebook regarding the treatment of the teacher and principal.
The Board of Education released a statement noting its regularly scheduled board meeting would be March 13. As Frank S. Robinson pointed out, this is an insanity machine.
Albany Public Library trustees
Albany people: Want to be a library advocate for the community? Consider becoming a library trustee!
The APL is looking for three new library trustees this spring. Two seats carry full five-year terms, while one seat carries a partial term of one year.
Albany residents interested in running for a seat on the board need to complete and submit nominating petitions by May 1. Please visit the website for full details and to download a nominating petition.
There will be two information sessions for people interested in running:
You’ll learn more about the nomination and election process, and what it’s like to serve on the APL board. Several current trustees will discuss their experiences. The trustee election is set for May 21.
MUSIC
The San Diego Music Awards voting is open until March 27th at 5pm. I’m voting for #21 Best Video: My Reason by Rebecca Jade and #3 Best Jazz Album: Side Streets- Peter Sprague.
The Jade Element – Move On: Live from Higher Ground Music & Media
Peter Sprague Plays Have You Heard featuring Leonard Patton
Eric Carmen of the Raspberries and a solo career, died at 74. Here are some K-Chuck Radio songs.
American Festival Overture by William Schuman, with Leonard Bernstein conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra.
J. Eric Smith’s favorites: NoMeansNo and The Damned and CAN
Coverville 1478: Cover Stories for Manic Street Preachers, Corinne Bailey Rae and The Alarm and 1479: Cover Stories for The Who and Justin Bieber
The Sirens by Reinhold Gliere
Bob Dylan – Things Have Changed
Scandal in Oz: Was “Over the Rainbow” Plagiarized? Concert Étude, Op. 38 by Signe Lund, played by Rune Alver; Over The Rainbow – Judy Garland
With A Little Help From My Friends – Joe Cocker; I am namechecked!
Steve Lawrence, the Grammy and Emmy winner who made up pop music duo Steve & Eydie with wife Eydie Gormé, has died. He was 88.
Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm is coming to the Portland (ME) Art Museum Opening September 14th, 2024 until January 19th, 2025
Thanks for the voting plug for Rebecca Jade and Peter Sprague in the San Diego Music Awards nominations and spreading the word. Truly appreciated! Folks can vote more than once, even daily, which I am trying to do. 👍🏽🎶🥰🙏🏼🕶️