Celebration, Remembrance, Service, Community

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. #4Women4ALL Event Today (Saturday)!
2. School Board Campaign Opportunity Tuesday April 19
3. Work, Eat, Play April 23
4. Celebration of the Life of Dr. Susan G. Gordon April 24

1) #4Women4ALL Event Today (Saturday)!

What: #4Women4ALL Door to Door Canvassing Day
When: Saturday April 16 at 1:30 PM
Where: Gene Levy Plaza, 200 N. Main St. Spring Valley NY (Parking lot near the police station)

Join us as we visit our neighbors to inform them about the May 17 school board and budget vote.

Sign up online: https://www.facebook.com/events/1729595517318054/

Campaign web page: https://eastramapotogether.wordpress.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/2016EastRamapoCandidates/

2) School Board Campaign Opportunity Tuesday April 19

Can you spare a little time on Tuesday? Please sign up online now! 

3) Work, Eat, Play April 23

By: Families for Education, Keep Rockland Beautiful, and the MArtin Luther King Multi-purpose Center

When: April 23 at from 10 AM to 5 PM
Where: Martin Luther King Multi-purpose Center, 110 Bethune Blvd, Spring Valley, NY

Two events in one day:

1. A Community Clean-up with Keep Rockland Beautiful from 10 am-1:30 pm
2. A Community BBQ from 1:30-5 pm.

Performances by:
The World Famous East Ramapo Marching Band
Dance Attitude
The MLK Step Team

Suggested donation/plate fee is $5.00 

4) Celebration of the Life of Dr. Susan G. Gordon April 24

Dr. Susan Gordon was one of the very special people who made East Ramapo a great school district. She served as president of the school board when the district was considered the best of the best. Sadly she passed away earlier this year.

There will be a celebration of her life on Sunday April 24 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm at the Cultural Arts Theater at Rockland Community College.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the CEJJES Institute in honor of Dr. Susan Gordon.

A personal note: I had the pleasure of attending when Dr. Susan G. Gordon and her husband Dr. Edmund W. Gordon were honored as “Living Landmarks” by the Rockland County Historical Society.  They were quite emphatic that the best way to honor their lifelong work is for each of us to become informed, involved and active. I encourage you to take that sentiment to heart. – Steven White, editor

Work, Eat, Play for a Better East Ramapo

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue:

1. Thursday Community Forums Continue
2. #4Women4ALL Saturday!
3. Tender Steps April 17
4. Work, Eat, Play April 23
5. Fire Safety Instruction Reveals Tears in Social Fabric

1) Thursday Community Forums Continue

Join us once again as we continue our community conversation about East Ramapo issues. There will be presentations about the statewide push for all day Kindergarten. Meet the Candidates for School Board. Learn how you can be involved. See you there!

April 14 at 7:00 PM
Martin Luther King Multi-purpose Center
110 Bethune Blvd, Spring Valley, NY

2) #4Women4ALL Saturday!

What: #4Women4ALL Door to Door Canvassing Day
When: Saturday April 16 at 1:30 PM
Where: Gene Levy Plaza, 200 N. Main St. Spring Valley NY (Parking lot near the police station)

Join us as we visit our neighbors to inform them about the May 17 school board and budget vote.

Sign up online: https://www.facebook.com/events/1729595517318054/

Campaign web page: https://eastramapotogether.wordpress.com/
FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/2016EastRamapoCandidates/

3) Tender Steps April 17

Tender Steps of New York, Inc. “Building The Bridge” 3rd Annual Fundraiser

Sunday, April 17th, 2016 : 1PM-5PM at The Nyack Seaport, 21 Burd St, Nyack, NY 10960

Keynote speaker: Dr. Betty A. Rosa- Chancellor of the NYS Board of Regents
Guest Speaker: Mr. Kevin Lopez- Executive Director for LPZ Media ”The Hudson Tribes”
Comedy by Marc A. Gerber (Comic Strip Live comedian)
Honorees: Luis Nivelo, Jaqueline Polanco-Fernandez, and Ana Vila

for more info contact: (917) 447-7187 tenderstepsofny@gmail.com

4) Work, Eat, Play April 23

By: Families for Education & MLK Muti-purpose Center

When: April 23 at from 10 AM to 5 PM
Where: Martin Luther King Multi-purpose Center, 110 Bethune Blvd, Spring Valley, NY

As a community we are coming together and hosting (2) events in one day. A Community Clean-up from 10 am-1:30 pm & then community BBQ from 1:30-5 pm. The purpose of the event is to promote unity within the community and allow the community to meet the candidates who are running for East Ramapo School Board seats in the May 17th election. Come out and support your community. We will have performances by the East Ramapo Marching Band, Dance Attitude, and MLK Step Team. Many donations will be raffled off as well as a 50/50. Suggested donation/plate fee from public $5.00

5) Fire Safety Instruction Reveals Tears in Social Fabric

Whenever children are not doing well, we know the fault lies with us, the adults who shape their world. People are often quick to blame educators, but the truth is we are all responsible. Sometimes you have to get up close to see where the problem lies. This is the case with a fire and safety instructor who ended up learning as much from the children as they did from her. These children are living in a labor camp, in housing over-crowded and under-maintained. While their parents are off cleaning and building houses for those who are better off, the children are impacted by the consequences of exploitation and oppression. We are all used to seeing the new glittering castles and manicured shrubberies of suburbia; the groceries bagged and the laundry done by people whose skin is a shade darker than those who live in the rows of shiny new houses. We rarely get a glimpse into the lives of those from the other side of the tracks, and least of all into the hearts and minds of the children who suffer from the insecurities of poverty in a land of plenty. Thanks to a letter writer whose eyes were open, we get to see a little of what lies hidden in their young hearts.

JN Letter to the editor: Fire safety training reveals concerns of East Ramapo children

Monitor Bill Support is Growing

Power of Ten Update

In This Issue

1. School Board Race Underway
2. Tender Steps April 17
3. Strong-ER gets STRONGER!
4. Nice Work, Nanuet 
5. Correction

1) School Board Race Underway

The Journal News: Slate of four candidates campaign for East Ramapo BOE

News 12: School board seats up for grabs in East Ramapo

Campaign website: https://eastramapotogether.wordpress.com/

#4Women4ALL

2) Tender Steps April 17

Tender Steps of New York, Inc. “Building The Bridge” 3rd Annual Fundraiser

Sunday, April 17th, 2016 : 1PM-5PM at The Nyack Seaport, 21 Burd St, Nyack, NY 10960

Keynote speaker: Dr. Betty A. Rosa- Chancellor of the NYS Board of Regents

Guest Speaker: Mr. Kevin Lopez- Executive Director for LPZ Media ”The Hudson Tribes”

Comedy by Marc A. Gerber (Comic Strip Live comedian)

Honorees: Luis Nivelo, Jaqueline Polanco-Fernandez, and Ana Vila

for more info contact: (917) 447-7187 tenderstepsofny@gmail.com tenderstepsofny.org

3) Strong-ER gets STRONGER!

NEW HYDE PARK IS WITH US — Great news! New Hyde Park-Garden City Park School District has joined the list of the now SEVEN Long Island school districts that have passed resolutions in favor of oversight with veto power for the East Ramapo School District. You can contact Senator Jack Martins’ office at 518-455-3265, letting him know that the New Hyde Park school board is supporting East Ramapo oversight with veto power (Senate Bill 3821), and he should join the bill as a co-sponsor.
Please also send a thank you note for the board to JRoberto@nhp-gcp.org.

4) Nice Work, Nanuet 

NICE WORK, NANUET — The following resolution in favor of East Ramapo oversight with veto power passed the Nanuet School Board in Rockland County last night:
Whereas, with professional guidance from the Superintendent, School Boards are responsible for decision-making and oversight of district funds (in a fiduciary role), infrastructure, resources, personnel, curriculum, and related programs with the overarching goal of providing a high-quality, equitable education for public school students and, as outlined by state law, to provide specific services and resources to private school students residing in the district; and
Whereas, when a Board consistently acts in a manner which diminishes the quality of education for students – public and/or private – stringent oversight is essential; and
Whereas, we concur with the Monitor’s report regarding the East Ramapo School District,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
1. The Nanuet Board of Education supports the appointment of a Monitor with veto power to ensure East Ramapo School Board decisions are in the best interest of all students.
2. The District Clerk is directed to send this resolution to Assemblymember Ellen Jaffee, Assemblymember Kenneth Zebrowski and State Senator David Carlucci.

5) Correction

A previous article was unclear about the new support for the bill for a monitor with veto power. It should have read:

The Rockland County School Board Association has sent a letter to Governor Cuomo and the chairs of the Education Committees of the Senate and Assembly endorsing the legislation for a monitor with veto power.  Six school boards from across Long Island have also expressed support for the bill by passing resolutions (latest news: now it is seven) in favor of East Ramapo oversight. Two County Executives have Joined with Rockland County Executive Ed Day in calling on Senator Flanagan to stop blocking the bill for a monitor with veto power. Senator Flanagan needs to hear from YOU too. Please sign our petition asking him to visit East Ramapo and see first hand that NY State cannot continue to ignore the crisis in governance of our schools.