Ticonderoga Historical Society Essay Contest: Grades 10-12

For Immediate Release

July 24, 2017

Contact: William Dolback or Diane O’Connor, 518-585-7868 or tihistory@bridgepoint1.com

Cash prizes to be awarded

Historical Society Invites Students to Enter Essay Competition

Ticonderoga, NY – The Ticonderoga Historical Society invites high school students in New York and Vermont to participate in its “Steamboats in the Champlain Valley” Essay Contest. This contest is designed to foster an understanding of the importance of steamboats in the development of the Champlain Valley as well as foster excellence in research and writing through the use of primary sources.

Participation is open to any student within Vermont or New York State who will be in the 10^th, 11^th or 12^th grade (or equivalent for home schools or independent study) as of September 2017. Cash prizes of $300, $200 and $100 will be awarded in both fiction and non-fiction categories. The deadline for receipt of entries is Friday, October 1, 2017, 5 p.m. EST.

The essay topic should address steamboats and their impact on the Champlain Valley. The Champlain Valley includes Lake Champlain, Lake George and the Champlain Canal, as well as the shoreline communities that touch those bodies of water. Possible topics could include: How steamboats spurred economic development; Steamboats and their impact on tourism; the life of a steamboat captain, or; the challenges of women steamboat captains. Students, however, are encouraged to think creatively and choose a unique topic related to steamboats.

Additional information regarding the competition may be obtained at:

http://steamboathistory.ticonderogahistoricalsociety.org/index.html

Funding for the project was made available in part by a grant from the Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership and sponsorship from the Lake George Steamboat Company.

Founded in 1897 and chartered in 1909, the Ticonderoga Historical Society advances the preservation and interpretation of history through its collections, programs and community outreach. The Historical Society makes area history an integral part of community life by connecting past and present.

Homeschool Soccer- Vermontville Team

Fall 2017 Homeschool Soccer Information! Here are the details, and I will post a link to the sign-up form in a few days.

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**Note the field location change**

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The North Country Homeschool Soccer Team is for all ability levels and focuses on skills development and healthy fun. For the age 12+ kids, we will have one (or possibly two) games against another area team. We're also going to try to organize one game for the 9-11 age group.

All kids must wear sneakers and shin guards and have a water bottle. Cleats optional.

COST: About $20/child for the season, hopefully a little less. I won't know the final cost until we have all our kids signed up because the cost of the insurance varies depending on the number of kids. Last year we only charged $8/child to cover the cost of insurance, but this year we need to buy fresh first aid supplies, goalkeeper equipment, more pop-up soccer goals, and kids also really wanted team t-shirts last year. All the balls, pinneys, and cones are donated to us by the Saranac Lake Youth Soccer Association so that's a big money saver.

WHO: Ages 4-18. Siblings older than 18 are very welcome to participate as assistant coaches! We generally divide the kids into groups by age, but if your child would like to be with a different age group, there will be a place to indicate that on the sign up form. Last year a few younger kids who had well-developed skills wanted to be with older kids, and some older kids who were still just learning wanted to be younger kids. It can all be accommodated, and no one should feel uncomfortable, though parents should be certain that their child is safe to play with larger or smaller-sized people.

WHEN: 7 Saturdays, September 9-October 28 (no practice October 14 due to a really neat pumpkin trebuchet festival at the park). Ages 4-11 practice from 2-3pm, Ages 12-18 practice from 2-4pm.

WHERE: Kate Mountain Park, Rt. 3, Vermontville, NY. About 40 minutes from Plattsburgh, 20 minutes from Saranac Lake.

I changed the location so that it was closer to our house. I hope you'll still want to participate with us! But, if the distance is a problem for some families, please know that we won't be offended if you want to organize your own team at the Cadyville Rec Park. We can play games against each other! If there is someone who wants to organize this, I can provide you with the name of the Town of Plattsburgh Athletic Director and how to purchase team insurance.

Sunita and Steve Halasz

sunitahalasz@gmail.com

(518) 891-6440

Homeschool Camp: Camp Cherokee (August 20-August 25)

Dates: August 20th - 25th, 2017. (Sunday, August 20th (dinner time) through Friday, August 25th (morning))

Location: Camp Cherokee (Lake Saranac: 433 Gilpin Bay)

Cost: For the week will be $471/family (not person) plus a meal for everyone including staff and being a helper at additional meal.

          Note: If you are interested in bringing another adult with you for the week (Grandparent), it is an additional $127.  Foster children are considered family children and included in the price.

Deposit: I am collecting a $100 deposit which is non-refundable to help the camp know the number of families that will be attending so they can determine the required staff. You may mail me your deposit: Tammy Neureuther 11 Carriagehouse Lane, West Chazy, NY 12992

Interested or Questions: Contact Tammy Neureuther (home 518-563-7036 or cel518-569-3327 or email tamneureuther@yahoo.com). We'd love to have you join the fun:)

This is my children’s favorite week of the year!

Extra details:

Sunday night’s pot luck dinner or we order pizza (everyone splits the cost); last year, we had enough families and Kari supplied Sunday’s meal. In addition, your family will be a helper at another meal. Depending on the number of families, I may ask everyone to contribute something towards a breakfast (box of cereal or gallon of milk) and help cleaning up for one extra meal. In the past, people have been incredibly helpful so clean-up is pretty easy with all the hands at work. As the number of teenagers increase, I will be asking them to help a little extra this year!

Activities (all included in the cost):

Ø  Pool with lifeguard

Ø  Horseback riding

Ø  Archery or Knife throwing

Ø  Ping Pong

Ø  Small Sand Pit (little boys liked it there!)

Ø  Vollyball/Sand area

Ø  Playground area

Ø  Motorboats with almost everything imaginable behind them (staff drives the boats)

Ø  Boat Area - includes kayaks, canoes, paddle boats (this is open all day but we need an adult on land and everyone needs to sign the boats out)

Ø  Chapel time

Other things you may want to know --

·        The kitchen is vegetarian; hence no meat – milk, eggs & dairy are fine.

·        You bring your own bedding, towels, etc (beds and bunks are provide). I’ll let you know what beds/bunks you will have in your room before you go.

·        Every family supplies a meal - so food is mostly covered. You can put the food you bring in the main kitchen where there is a walk in fridge and area to store food. (You may also want to bring extra snacks for your family in a plastic container if you store where you sleep or you can store anything you want in the kitchen)

·        Due to allergies, we have only allowed peanut butter in the kitchen and asked that an adult makes the sandwich, then they watch the child while they eat it. Afterwards, please wash everyone’s hands. If you have other allergy concerns, or this policy is not acceptable, please notify me and we will work together to insure everyone is safe!

·        You may want to bring stuff for s’mores – they are a hit on nights we have a campfire!

·        Bring your favorite board game - kids love to play games together on rainy days or in the evening.

Feel free to contact me with questions. You can email me at tamneureuther @yahoo.com or call me at (h)518-563-7036 or (c) 518-569-3327. My kids are looking forward to an amazing time with their friends, both new and old, and I’m looking forward to the peace and friendship I enjoy each year.