o To the Foothills Performing Arts Center for promoting reading through other art forms.
Foothills is one of 127 centers nationwide participating in The Big Read and will be hosting events through May 31. Presented in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and Key Bank, The Big Read is "a way to bring the region together," said Dianne Elliott, executive director at Foothills.
Big Read events at Foothills began Monday with a performance of a trial scene from Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird."
Upcoming events include discussions on the novel and a showing of the film.
"To Kill a Mockingbird" is a novel many of us remember from our youth, and it's worth sharing with younger generations as well as re-reading ourselves.
We're happy Foothills is promoting such a worthy event and we encourage the community to participate in one "" or all "" of the remaining events.
The Big Read is on. Don't let it pass you by.
o To Aaron Galluser, the Oneonta High School senior sending used soccer equipment to Africa.
Galluser, 18, collected two boxes of gear, which included cleats, shin guards and a girls' uniform set.
Each box weighs about 40 to 50 pounds. Galluser said it will cost between $400 and $500 to send the boxes to Cameroon.
Galluser played varsity soccer at Oneonta for four years and was the team's captain for the past two years.
We think it's great he's going out of his way to share his love of soccer with people in Africa.
Galluser said he is hoping people in the community can help defray the cost of sending the soccer equipment he has collected to Cameroon, and we hope so, too.
o To the students who participated in the New York State History Day competition at four sites in Cooperstown.
Students from 12 regions around the state presented their award-winning work reflecting this year's theme: Conflict & Compromise in History.
More than 400 students took part in the event. One area student earned recognition "" Alexandra Rheinhardt of Cooperstown High School.
Rheinhardt was recognized in the area of Senior Individual Documentary and awarded the Freeman's Journal Award for "Sounds of Conflict: A Cultural Divide."
We congratulate Rheinhardt for receiving such an honor.
o To the decorated bicycle parade in the city of Oneonta as part of Step It Up Oneonta 2008, an event intended to raise awareness about global warming.
Mayor John Nader proclaimed the day "Step It Up Oneonta Day," encouraging residents to learn what they can do to lower their greenhouse-gas emissions. We believe every bit counts, and one step at a time, we can make the world a greener, better place in which to live.