Authors Visit Daly

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Authors Visit Daly

Friday, 01 March 2013 00:00

As part of its Specials Week, which promoted this year’s school-wide theme, “Write On, Right On,” Daly welcomed two celebrated authors, Tad Hills and David Paterson.

On Feb. 5, New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, Tad Hills, visited Daly School and delighted students as he read his book, (which, is also Daly’s book of the year), Rocket Writes A Story to them. The students were fascinated to learn how he uses basic shapes to convey different emotions. In response to student questions about how Mr. Hills gets his ideas, he shared many wonderful stories of inspiration, igniting sparks in the students’ imaginations. A second-grade student, Sam Rothenberg, age 7, commented that he was excited to meet “the author of the book of the year and to learn how he comes up with his stories.” Many left the presentation eager to start creating characters and stories of their own.

Left to right: Lauren Neches (holding her future Daly student), Jennifer Rothenberg, author Tad Hills, Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Mooney, Principal Drew Graves and Heather Borriello.

Later that week, on the evening of Feb. 7, which was Daly’s “Special Night,” the students enjoyed a second important visitor, this time, the screenwriter of the 2007 film, Bridge to Terabithia, David Paterson, an established playwright who has written numerous plays, including several that have been performed on prominent New York stages. The original award-winning book, Bridge to Terabithia, was written in 1977 by Mr. Paterson’s mother, Katherine Paterson, and was written to help him cope with a tragic event during his early childhood, which resulted in the loss of his best friend. The children were intrigued to learn that the story was based on his childhood and that he was “the original Jess” in the story. Mr. Paterson told the audience that he chose to write the screenplay for the movie as he wanted the story to remain as close as possible to the book. Mr. Paterson shared with Daly students the emotional and exciting process of bringing the imaginary and mystical world his mother created in the book to life on film.

News

Ed Balcourt Leads Memorial Day Parade

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Attendees of the Port Washington Memorial Day parade might see a familiar face waving from the American Legion convertible this year. 90-year-old army veteran Ed Balcourt will be this year’s Grand Marshal.

Balcourt, who was raised in Brooklyn, was attending medical school at the height of the U.S. involvement in World War II. He was deferred from the draft, but at 19, decided to join the army.

“All my friends had been drafted. When I walked outside, I could feel all the women looking at me. I felt a little guilty. I wanted to go fight,” Balcourt said.

Port VFW Selects Ripullone As Co-Grand Marshal

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

The Port Washington Veterans of Foreign Wars has selected Peter Ripullone, a decorated soldier and architect, as Co-Grand Marshal of this year’s Memorial Day Parade. The Ripullone family has a long tradition of military service, which dates back to World War I.

Ripullone followed the family tradition and entered military service as a second lieutenant in the army, in 1966. After completing his combat engineering training, he was certified as a combat engineer unit commander. Prior to his service in Vietnam, he spent three months with the 91st Combat Engineers, assisting in the training of West Point cadets at the U.S. Military Academy, for various combat engineering missions, including various types of bridge construction, building and fortification structures, road and runway construction, mine warfare and demolition training.

Sports

Schreiber’s Girls Softball Team – Better Shape Than Ever

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Elimination in the first-round of the county playoffs, though disappointing, can’t take anything away from what the Schreiber High School girls softball team accomplished this year, according to coach Eric Sutz.

A comparison between what happened to the team last year and what the team did this year is a study in contrasts. “Last year we didn’t win one league game,” Sutz explained. “This year we were undefeated in the league.” The Vikings won all 14 of their league games and were 15-4 overall. They were conference champions for the first time since 2004.

“PYA Never Stops…It’s For The Kids”

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

The fact that Port Washington Youth Activities (PYA) is celebrating its 50th year of working with area boys and girls is quite an accomplishment. Ron Henderson, its executive director for the past 20 years, also has a long history with PYA’s Lions Field that extends all the way back to 1958.

“I played in the first games ever held at the field back then when it was the Port Washington Little League,” said Henderson. “That was before the field was renovated.” The renovation, which began in 1999 and forced the PYA to relocate for two years from its Glen Lane site, now features four Little League fields and one major league field, all on pesticide-free, natural grass. During the fall, the fields are converted for lacrosse and football programs.