November 17, 2019 at 07:50AM
WARWICK — A Warwick Valley Middle School student's cheerleading skills have landed her a spot in Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Ava Sheils, who cheers with CDA Xtreme in Chester, is one of more than 500 junior high and high school cheerleaders and dancers nationwide who have been chosen to perform in the 100th annual parade, the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the nation.
The individuals invited to perform in the 2019 Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade are cheerleading and dance All-Americans selected from Varsity Spirit camps around the country. All-Americans will perform alongside massive floats and giant balloons, as well as favorites from the entertainment world, through the heart of historic Philadelphia. The event is televised in the Philadelphia area and syndicated throughout the United States.
Sheils earned the All-American title via tryouts. Only the top 10 percent of cheerleaders who attend Varsity Spirit camps in the summer receive this honor and the chance to march in the parade. The All-American group will be in Philadelphia from Nov. 26-29, practicing their routine and visiting Philadelphia landmarks.
"It is such an honor to be selected as an All-American," Sheils said. "I started cheerleading when I was in first grade and I love it! I have been working so hard and I'm proud to have this opportunity to represent my gym, my school, and my community at this event. I am so excited to perform our routine and lead the crowd at the parade to show everyone what a great sport cheerleading is."
Jane Anderson
Website for Monroe housing project restored without video
A temporarily deleted website for a 181-home housing project in Monroe was reactivated on Friday after the developer or real estate agents marketing the homes removed a video touting the development's proximity to Kiryas Joel.
The video had promoted the Smith Gardens development as being just a 19-minute walk from the Hasidic village, and it showed that entire walk from the front seat of a car as it drove from Kiryas Joel to the Gilbert Street housing site. Along the way, the video paused and flashed messages in Yiddish to highlight various spots — some recently built homes on Schunnemunk Road, medical offices on Gilbert Street, the ShopRite and post office near the entrance to Smith Gardens. It also offered a tour inside a home, showing every room and touting its two kitchens, a convenience that Orthodox families use during Passover.
The website — smithgardensny.com — had been removed as of Thursday after the Times Herald-Record had repeatedly asked the two Kiryas Joel real estate agents listed as contacts on the site for information about the status of the project, which is still under construction. The site was restored on Friday without the video or any references to Kiryas Joel or Yiddish language. The two agents never responded to the Record's phone calls and emails.
Chris McKenna
Wine, Cheese and Music on the menu in Warwick
WARWICK — Enjoy some of your favorite things at Warwick Historical Society's bi-annual Wine, Cheese and Music event from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at the A.W. Buckbee Center, 2 Colonial Ave. Sample varieties of wine from around the world. Tickets cost $40 per person for members, $50 for non-members and at the door, and are available by calling 845-986-3236.
Jane Anderson
Monticello Manor project focus of next land bank meeting
The Sullivan County Land Bank will hold its next public meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 25.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss an application to the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Cleanup Grant program for the Monticello Manor project, and to address any public comments prior to its submittal.
A draft copy of the application, including an analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, will be available for review at the meeting and will also be available at the Sullivan County Division of Planning office at 100 North St. in Monticello during normal business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Comments may be made at the meeting, or can be sent by e-mail to info@sullivancountylandbank.org prior to Nov. 27.
Michael Randall
Thanksgiving dinner arrives early in Warwick — and it's free!
WARWICK — Everyone is welcome to Warwick Community Kitchen's pre-Thanksgiving dinner from 5-7 p.m. on Friday in the former Pine Island Elementary School, 20 Schoolhouse Road.
There is no charge for the traditional dinner consisting of turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, glazed carrots, corn, stuffing, bread and dessert in continuous seatings.
For more information, visit warwickcommunitykitchen.weebly.com.
Jane Anderson
Veterans Service Agency in Ulster gets new leader
Mark Cozzupoli will be the new head of the Ulster County Veterans Service Agency, County Executive Pat Ryan announced on Friday.
After more than two decades of service, Cozzupoli recently retired as the highest-ranking enlisted person at the 105th Airlift Wing at the Stewart Air National Guard Base. In his most recent rank as command chief, Cozzupoli reported directly to the wing commander on enlisted personnel issues.
Cozzupoli has deployed five times, including tours to Balad Air Base in Iraq in 2005 and Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 2011.
Michael Randall
WARWICK — A Warwick Valley Middle School student's cheerleading skills have landed her a spot in Philadelphia's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Ava Sheils, who cheers with CDA Xtreme in Chester, is one of more than 500 junior high and high school cheerleaders and dancers nationwide who have been chosen to perform in the 100th annual parade, the oldest Thanksgiving Day parade in the nation.
The individuals invited to perform in the 2019 Dunkin' Donuts Thanksgiving Day Parade are cheerleading and dance All-Americans selected from Varsity Spirit camps around the country. All-Americans will perform alongside massive floats and giant balloons, as well as favorites from the entertainment world, through the heart of historic Philadelphia. The event is televised in the Philadelphia area and syndicated throughout the United States.
Sheils earned the All-American title via tryouts. Only the top 10 percent of cheerleaders who attend Varsity Spirit camps in the summer receive this honor and the chance to march in the parade. The All-American group will be in Philadelphia from Nov. 26-29, practicing their routine and visiting Philadelphia landmarks.
"It is such an honor to be selected as an All-American," Sheils said. "I started cheerleading when I was in first grade and I love it! I have been working so hard and I'm proud to have this opportunity to represent my gym, my school, and my community at this event. I am so excited to perform our routine and lead the crowd at the parade to show everyone what a great sport cheerleading is."
Jane Anderson
Website for Monroe housing project restored without video
A temporarily deleted website for a 181-home housing project in Monroe was reactivated on Friday after the developer or real estate agents marketing the homes removed a video touting the development's proximity to Kiryas Joel.
The video had promoted the Smith Gardens development as being just a 19-minute walk from the Hasidic village, and it showed that entire walk from the front seat of a car as it drove from Kiryas Joel to the Gilbert Street housing site. Along the way, the video paused and flashed messages in Yiddish to highlight various spots — some recently built homes on Schunnemunk Road, medical offices on Gilbert Street, the ShopRite and post office near the entrance to Smith Gardens. It also offered a tour inside a home, showing every room and touting its two kitchens, a convenience that Orthodox families use during Passover.
The website — smithgardensny.com — had been removed as of Thursday after the Times Herald-Record had repeatedly asked the two Kiryas Joel real estate agents listed as contacts on the site for information about the status of the project, which is still under construction. The site was restored on Friday without the video or any references to Kiryas Joel or Yiddish language. The two agents never responded to the Record's phone calls and emails.
Chris McKenna
Wine, Cheese and Music on the menu in Warwick
WARWICK — Enjoy some of your favorite things at Warwick Historical Society's bi-annual Wine, Cheese and Music event from 4-6 p.m. Sunday at the A.W. Buckbee Center, 2 Colonial Ave. Sample varieties of wine from around the world. Tickets cost $40 per person for members, $50 for non-members and at the door, and are available by calling 845-986-3236.
Jane Anderson
Monticello Manor project focus of next land bank meeting
The Sullivan County Land Bank will hold its next public meeting at 6 p.m. Nov. 25.
The purpose of the meeting is to discuss an application to the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield Cleanup Grant program for the Monticello Manor project, and to address any public comments prior to its submittal.
A draft copy of the application, including an analysis of brownfield cleanup alternatives, will be available for review at the meeting and will also be available at the Sullivan County Division of Planning office at 100 North St. in Monticello during normal business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Comments may be made at the meeting, or can be sent by e-mail to info@sullivancountylandbank.org prior to Nov. 27.
Michael Randall
Thanksgiving dinner arrives early in Warwick — and it's free!
WARWICK — Everyone is welcome to Warwick Community Kitchen's pre-Thanksgiving dinner from 5-7 p.m. on Friday in the former Pine Island Elementary School, 20 Schoolhouse Road.
There is no charge for the traditional dinner consisting of turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, glazed carrots, corn, stuffing, bread and dessert in continuous seatings.
For more information, visit warwickcommunitykitchen.weebly.com.
Jane Anderson
Veterans Service Agency in Ulster gets new leader
Mark Cozzupoli will be the new head of the Ulster County Veterans Service Agency, County Executive Pat Ryan announced on Friday.
After more than two decades of service, Cozzupoli recently retired as the highest-ranking enlisted person at the 105th Airlift Wing at the Stewart Air National Guard Base. In his most recent rank as command chief, Cozzupoli reported directly to the wing commander on enlisted personnel issues.
Cozzupoli has deployed five times, including tours to Balad Air Base in Iraq in 2005 and Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan in 2011.
Michael Randall