Funding for schools meeting Jan. 17

CANAJOHARIE — The public is invited to an informational meeting on advocating for rural schools at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, in the Canajoharie High School Library.

The meeting is designed to inform the public about the inequities in school funding and action they can take.

Chad Collins to appear on TV

Canajoharie High School graduate Chad Michael Collins will appear in a guest starring role on the fantasy series “Once Upon a Time”, Sunday, Jan. 20.

The show will air on ABC at 8 p.m.

Collins will play Gerhardt Frankenstein, the idealistic younger brother of Dr. Whale/Victor Frankenstein, played by David Anders.

The episode will also star Emmy-nominated actor Gregory Itzin as their father, Alphonse.

On February 26, Collins can also be seen in the lead role of Sony’s new WWII action franchise “Company of Heroes”, based on the THQ video game series of the same name.

Collins will play a young Army private who sets out with his comrades, played by Tom Sizemore, Vinnie Jones and Neal McDonough, on a seemingly impossible rescue mission in the heart of Nazi Germany.

Chicken barbecue is planned Jan. 27

FORT PLAIN — The Friends of Fort Plain will sponsor a chicken barbecue at the Haslett Park gazebo on Sunday, Jan. 27, from noon to 3 p.m.

A half chicken will be $6, and ribs $7.50. Take out only. Proceeds will support the 47 Main St./Diefendorf Hall renovation project.

Benefit for Tyson Fowler is Feb. 24

CANAJOHARIE — A benefit for lifelong local resident Tyson Fowler will be held on Sunday, Feb. 24, at the Canajoharie High School. Tyson, inflicted with a debilitating disease, must travel for medical treatments and the proceeds of this benefit will be put toward those costs.

The benefit will take place at 6 p.m., and will feature silent and live auctions, several vendors, music, a chicken barbecue, bake sale, basket ball tournament, and a reading of the “911 quilt story”.

For more information, or to find out how you can help, contact Brotherhood Antiques at (518) 636-6076, or (518) 848-0289, or Mark Fowler at (518) 523-8417.

All donations and raffle items can be dropped off at Brotherhood Antiques, 41 Church St., Canajoharie.

Frt Plain mid-terms and finals are set

FORT PLAIN — January mid-term and final exams at Fort Plain Jr./Sr. High School will start Tuesday, Jan. 22. Students in grades 7-8 will not have school Thursday, Jan. 24 and Friday, Jan. 25. For a schedule of exams, please visit the district website.

Wine and cheese benefit Feb. 6

FORT PLAIN — A wine and cheese tasting to benefit Ayres Animal Shelter will be held at Dome49, Hancock St., Fort Plain, Wednesday, Feb. 6 from 5:30-8 p.m. Wrath of Grapes will be offering wine samples, and Palatine Valley Dairy will have cheese samples available. Raffles will be held to benefit the shelter.

Masonic Temple dinner Jan. 20

ST. JOHNSVILLE — A fundraising spaghetti dinner will be held at the Masonic Temple, Bridge St., St. Johnsville, Jan. 20, from 3-6 p.m. Served will be spaghetti, homemade meatballs, Italian sausage, salad and dinner rolls, along with coffee, tea, cold drinks and desserts. Tickets at the door are $8. Under 12 tickets are $4.

Bordieri named to Florida dean’s list

MELBOURNE, FL — Nicholas Bordieri, of Sprakers, was among the students from Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne who were named to the Dean’s List for the fall semester, which ended in December.

Bordieri is majoring in Oceanography.

To be included on the Dean’s List, a student must complete 12 or more graded credits in a semester with a semester grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.4.

Gonnelly returns from abroad

LOUDONVILLE — Siena College student Ryan Gonnelly, a Fort Plain resident, recently returned from studying abroad in London, England. Gonnelly spent the fall semester attending classes and experiencing London through the college’s Study Abroad program.

Gonnelly is a Junior Economics major at Siena College. Gonnelly was one of 77 participants in the study abroad program this semester, which sent students to countries all over the world, including several in Europe, South America and Latin America as well as Jordan, Uganda, Ghana and Tunisia.

Coach Rich Johns brings message

FORT PLAIN — Act with respect always.

That is the message Rich Johns spread when he spoke to the Fort Plain Central School District students this week and last.

Johns, who recently retired from teaching elementary, middle school and coaching tennis at Saratoga Springs High School for 38 years, spreads the “Act with Respect Always” message to schools around the region. The goal of the program is to help build strong characters in students, and during his presentation, Johns speaks about the importance of respect in both the classroom and on the athletic field.

According to his website: “building a strong student and athlete now and for the future, with the incorporation of character education, is my goal. Character education is a vital aspect we must bring into our daily teaching and learning environment. Developing a well-rounded person by stressing basic core values will help tremendously to maintain the integrity of the sport and classroom.”

Johns spoke to FPCS students in grades 9-12 Friday, and grades 4-8 Monday.

Locals named to HCCC dean’s list

HERKIMER — The following local Herkimer County Community College students were named to the fall 2012 Dean’s List for earning grade point averages from 3.25 to 3.8:

Danielle A. Dager, of Saint Johnsville, a Human Services major;

Mackenzie L. Ferguson, of Saint Johnsville, a Non-matriculated major;

Mikayla A. Gros, of Nelliston, a Liberal Arts and Sciences: General Studies major;

Paul M. James, of Fort Plain, a Computer Network Technician major;

Brittany M. Koch, of Fort Plain, a Medical Coding-Transcriptionist Certificate major;

Richelle Renee Lyons, of Fort Plain, a Liberal Arts and Sciences: General Studies major;

Veronica N. O’Brien, of Canajoharie, a Liberal Arts and Sciences: Childhood Education major;

Tiffany Lynn Ouderkirk, of Fort Plain, an Early Childhood major;

Sarah E. Palmer, of Fort Plain, a Business: Fashion Buying and Merchandising major;

Theodore A. Raux IV, of Saint Johnsville, a Business: Accounting major;

Jack D. Sekel, of Fort Plain, a Liberal Arts and Sciences: General Studies major;

Travis L. Vance, of Nelliston, a Criminal Justice: Cybersecurity major.

Students named to president’s list

HERKIMER — The following local Herkimer County Community College students were named to the fall 2012 President’s List for earning grade point averages of 3.8 and higher:

Marie L. Cronin, of St. Johnsville, a Paralegal Studies major;

Jessica L. Herringshaw, of Palatine Bridge, a Photographic Technology major;

Rebecca Nichole Jordan, of Fort Plain, a Criminal Justice: Forensic Investigations major;

Kirsten M. Krause, of St. Johnsville, a Liberal Arts and Sciences: General Studies major;

Taylor A. Lynch, of St. Johnsville, a Business: Fashion Buying and Merchandising major;

Tamara L. Shafer, of St. Johnsville, a Liberal Arts and Sciences: Science major;

Laura Rose Wozniak, of St. Johnsville, an Early Childhood major.

Area residents on Potsdam dean’s list

POTSDAM — The State University of New York at Potsdam recently named 380 students who excelled academically in the fall 2012 semester to the Dean’s List.

The local students with high marks who made the SUNY Potsdam Dean’s List were: Abby Cretser, of Saint Johnsville, a History major; and Tara Schuyler, of Fort Plain, a Criminal Justice Studies major.

To achieve the honor of being on the Dean’s List, each student must have satisfactorily completed 12 numerically-graded semester hours, with a grade point average of between 3.25 and 3.49 in the given semester.

Clarkson students end internships

POTSDAM — The following local Clarkson University students completed internships during the summer of 2012: Alexander Shuster, of St. Johnsville, a sophomore majoring in Engineering and Management, interned at Burrows Paper Corporation in Little Falls; Lucas Winsman, of Palatine Bridge, a junior majoring in Engineering and Management, interned at GE Transportation in Erie, Pennsylvania; Morgan Shuster, of St. Johnsville, a senior majoring in Engineering and Management, interned at General Electric-Trans in Erie, PA.

Top Potsdam students listed

POTSDAM — The State University of New York at Potsdam recently named nearly 900 students to the President’s List for the fall 2012 semester in recognition of their academic excellence.

SUNY Potsdam President Dr. John F. Schwaller honored a total of 884 students for earning the highest marks in Fall 2012.

Among the local students who made the SUNY Potsdam President’s List were: David Riley, of Canajoharie, a French major; Chelsea Stanley, of Canajoharie, a Studio Art major; and Bradley White, of Canajoharie, a Music Education major.

To achieve the honor of being on the President’s List, each student must have satisfactorily completed 12 numerically-graded semester hours, with a grade point average of 3.5 or higher.