Thursday, September 30, 2021

EQUITY, DIVERSITY, INCLUSION--THE CONSEQUENCES: COMMON SENSE WITH BARI WEISS---WHY I AM SUING UCLA, GORDON KLEIN

Why I Am Suing UCLA--I refused to discriminate against my students. Then the problems began. BY GORDON KLEIN

Recently, I was suspended from my job for refusing to treat my black students as lesser than their non-black peers.

Let me back up: I teach at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, and I’ve been doing this for 40 years. I’ve taught 15 different courses, in finance, accounting and law. CNBC has had me on; I’ve been quoted in The Wall Street Journal.

My saga — which nearly led to my firing — began on the morning of June 2, 2020, when a non-black student in my class on tax principles and law emailed me to ask that I grade his black classmates with greater “leniency” than others in the class. “We are writing to express our tremendous concern about the impact that this final exam and project will have on the mental and physical health of our Black classmates,” the student wrote. (There was no project in this class, and it was unclear to me who the “we” in this case was. I suspected the student simply used a form letter he found online and neglected to change the subject.) “The unjust murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, the life-threatening actions of Amy Cooper and the violent conduct of the [University of California Police Department] have led to fear and anxiety which is further compounded by the disproportionate effect of COVID-19 on the Black community. As we approach finals week, we recognize that these conditions place Black students at an unfair academic disadvantage due to traumatic circumstances out of their control.”

The student then requested that the final be a “no harm” exam — meaning it should be counted only if it boosted one’s grade. “This is not a joint effort to get finals canceled for non-Black students, but rather an ask that you exercise compassion and leniency with Black students in our major.” (As I noted in my legal complaint, the student clarified, in a subsequent conversation with a university investigator, that he “intended that the requested adjustments apply to Black students and not the class generally.”)

To try to make his case, the student drew on UCLA’s “Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion” agenda, which directs professors to grant preferential “equity” to students belonging to “underrepresented groups.”  READ MORE HERE.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT---A NEW SERIES----A PERIODIC RE-CAP OF SOME RECENT LETTERS YOU SHOULDN'T MISS---#1

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

SOME RECENT LETTERS TO THE EDITOR YOU MAY HAVE MISSED:

--EQUITY TEAM CONCERNS, A LETTER FROM THIS WEEK'S GAZETTE, JESSICA DIECKMAN; to read it, click here.

--PARKING LOT A, A LETTER FROM THIS WEEK'S GAZETTE; CAROLYN WHITING; to read it, click here 

--ALL CROTON RESIDENTS SHOULD HAVE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS...A LETTER FROM THIS WEEK'S GAZETTE; PAUL STEINBERG; to read it, click here. 

--CLEMENCY FOR COP-KILLERS, A LETTER FROM THE AUGUST GAZETTE; to read it, click here 

--ON THE STATE OF OUR ROADS: A LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM CANDIDATE FOR CORTLANDT SUPERVISOR LAURIE ABBATE RYAN - RIVER JOURNAL ONLINE, AUGUST; more here

--A LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM CROTON'S PETER MARENGO - 2021 CANDIDATE FOR TOWN OF CORTLANDT, RECEIVER OF TAXES, assorted publications; August; more here

--WHAT A DEAL! CROTON POINT AVE., A LETTER FROM JOEL GINGOLD; JULY; more here 

--SEPT. RIVER JOURNAL: TOWN CLERK CANDIDATE FITZGERALD-BERNARD PRESENTS HER QUALIFICATIONS; read more at  https://riverjournalonline.com/letters/letter-to-the-editor-town-clerk-candidate-fitzgerald-bernard-presents-her-qualifications/26392/THERE WILL BE MORE..............

CORTLANDT PUMPS THE BAKES ON SOLAR FARM PROJECTS

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

CORTLANDT PUMPS THE BAKES ON SOLAR FARM PROJECTS 9/29, RICK PEZZULLO

The Cortlandt Town Board voted unanimously last week to pass a nine-month moratorium on Tier 3 Ground Mounted Solar Farms.

Although board members maintained the move was not targeted at slowing down a controversial solar farm within a nearly 58-acre forest on two parcels along Red Mill Road and the end of Mill Court, the public hearing that preceded the vote was dominated by passionate neighbors of the project proposed by CVE North America that urged the board to stop it in its tracks.

“People are outraged at what is being proposed,” said Rick Ribeiro, a 25-year resident of Mill Court whose backyard abuts the 58-acre forest where at least 2,800 trees would be clear cut to make room for the farm and its 9,504 solar panels.

“It’s just not right. Something is not adding up,” Juan Ramos, an eight-year resident of Mill Ct., remarked. READ MORE AT https://www.theexaminernews.com/cortlandt-pumps-the-brakes-on-solar-farm-projects/

REMEMBERING JAMES DEAN

Who died this date in 1955...James Byron Dean (February 8, 1931 - September 30, 1955) was an American actor.  He is a cultural icon of teenage disillusionment and social estrangement, as expressed in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause (1955), in which he starred as troubled teenager Jim Stark. The other two roles that defined his stardom were loner Cal Trask in East of Eden (1955) and surly ranch hand Jett Rink in Giant (1956)--click on the photo. Dean's enduring fame and popularity rest on his performances in only these three films. READ MORE HERE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Dean

SEE A FABULOUS POST ABOUT DEAN FROM OUR FRIENDS AT EUROPEAN FILM STAR POSTCARDS AT https://filmstarpostcards.blogspot.com/2018/03/james-dean.html

AND ALSO DIED ON THIS DATE: THE AMAZING SIMONE SIGNORET https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2019/09/remembering-amazing-simone-signoret.html

Wednesday, September 29, 2021

MORE CROTON MUST TRY THIS FOR YOUR TASTING PLEASURE:

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

MORE CROTON MUST TRY THIS FOR YOUR TASTING PLEASURE:

---THE PUMPKIN PANCAKES AT THE CROTON DINER; MORE HERE. 

--THE RASPBERRY SCONES, APPLE MUFFINS, AND THE LATEST SPECIALTY CHEESECAKES AT JUNCTION JT'S; MORE HERE 

--THE CORN CHOWDER AT THE CROTON DINER; MORE HERE 

--105-TWENTY WON THE CROTON ROTARY CAR SHOW CHILI CONTEST! MORE HERE. 

--THE BUTA KAKUNI, BRAISED PORK BELLY AND SCALLIONS, AT ASAGAO SUSHI; SEE THEIR ENTIRE MENU AT  https://crotonsushi.com/#menu

--AND BACK AT VAN WYCK WINES & LIQUORS: 1911 Established hard ciders from Beak & Skiff are back! From “tree to bottle”, this New York fifth generation family operation is a cut above the rest.   Each handcrafted, small-batch hard cider contains over 100 years of history and heritage. We are carrying the Original, Raspberry and Rosé. A sweetness scale is included on each can to ensure you choose your best fit! @1911established @beakandskiff https://www.facebook.com/.../pcb.../4501682513226470/

--PUMPKIN SPICE BOWL AT NELLA'S https://www.facebook.com/nellasnutribar/photos/a.154836779468795/382471263372011/

SEE THE LAST EDITION OF MORE CROTON  MUST TRY THIS FOR YOUR TASTING PLEASURE AT  https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/08/more-croton-must-trys-for-your-tasting_23.html

OBITUARY AND SERVICE INFO FOR THOMAS ANDREW JOHNSON

Thomas Andrew Johnson II of Croton-on-Hudson, NY passed away surrounded by family on September 26, 2021, at the age of 95. Thomas was born to the late Samuel and Kathryn (Nash) Johnson on November 4, 1925, in Pittsfield, MA. In 1943, Thomas enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was part of the V-5 Aviation Cadet Training Program, attending flight school in Pensacola, FL. After the Navy, he entered the seminary at the School of Theology at Weston College in Massachusetts and studied to become a Roman Catholic priest. In 1957, he was ordained into the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. During his time as a Jesuit, he earned his Ph.D. in Theology from Gregorian University in Rome, Italy. He taught English and math at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan, and later theology at Fairfield University in Connecticut where he was a professor. After he returned to the lay state with dispensation from the priesthood, he worked for the New York Stock Exchange and met Nancy Beer, at a dinner party in Manhattan. Thomas and Nancy married in 1967. In 1973, they moved to Croton-on-Hudson, NY where he ran the Manhattan Publishing Company, which specialized in international law journals. Thomas was an active member of the Croton Lions Club.

He loved skiing, swimming, tennis, reading, gardening, and vacationing in Cape Cod with his extended family. Thomas is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Nancy, loving sons, Alexander Johnson and his wife, Stacey, of Mill Valley, CA, and Gregory Johnson and his wife, Kelly, of New York, NY, his grandchildren, Elizabeth and Thomas, and many nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his brothers Samuel Johnson and Paul Johnson and was predeceased by his brother George Johnson. Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 2, 2021, from 10:00 AM -12:30 PM at Edward F. Carter Funeral Home, 41 Grand St., Croton-on-Hudson, NY. Immediately following the visitation, a funeral service will be celebrated at 12:30 PM also at Edward F. Carter Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery, Croton-on-Hudson, NY. https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/croton-on-hudson-ny/thomas-johnson-10373452

THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA, MGM, 1954, ONE FOR THE BUCKET LIST

John the Count, our resident authority on everything 1950's, reminds us that....

ON THIS DAY IN 1954 "The Barefoot Contessa" directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, starring Ava Gardner and Humphrey Bogart premiered at the Capitol.  CLICK ON THE PHOTOS AND LINKS.

While there have been the latest nonsensical demands to "cancel" this movie for whatever reasons are fashionable with  the mob this week, your editor highly recommends it for your bucket list. There's solid direction, universal and still relevant themes in today's world, and some really fabulous acting.

The film centers around the life and loves of fictional Spanish sex symbol Maria Vargas. It stars Humphrey Bogart, Ava Gardner, and Edmond O'Brien. The plot is focused on social positioning and high-powered politics within the world of film and high society. For his performance, O'Brien won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the corresponding Golden Globe. Mankiewicz was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.  

There's also a strong and effective performance later in the film by Rossano Brazzi, of THREE COINS IN A FOUNTIAN FAME, ROME ADVENTURE AND SOUTH PACIFIC fame to name just a few.

You can read more about THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA here. 

OUR FRIENDS AT EUROPEAN FILM STAR POSTCARDS also have some excellent posts on:

----HUMPHREY BOGART; click here. 

----AVA GARDINER; click here. 

----ROSSANO BRAZZI; click here.

THE BAREFOOT CONTESSA is available on AMAZON here.

***************

JUST A FEW MORE MOVIE SUGGESTIONS FOR YOUR BUCKET LIST; a more extensive index will be posted soon:

--WUTHERING HEIGHTS; MORE HERE

--BARBAROSA; MORE HERE

--(1962) THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE, now more than ever; CLICK HERE

--HACKSAW RIDGE; more here 

--A WONDERFUL MOVIE TO WATCH ANY TIME---BUT ESPECIALLY DURING THE "VALENTINE SEASON"--A WEDDING FOR BELLA, A.K.A. "THE BREAD, MY SWEET", SCOTT BAIO, KRISTEN MINTER; click here

--CLASSIC SERGIO LEONE, ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST  https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2020/01/yes-its-true-we-love-that-classic.html

--THE BRIDGE ON THE RIVER KWAI  https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/10/on-this-day-in-1957-bridge-on-river.html

--SPARTACUS https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/10/on-this-day-in-1960-spartacus-premiered.html

Note: All content on this blog is Copyright (c) by Maria Cudequest and by the posters who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content or photos may be republished or sold, without prior written from your editor and the individual who contributed the content in question. For permissions or questions about this policy, please contact the editor.

SERVICE INFO & OBITUARY FOR WILLIAM D. COLBERT

William D. Colbert, 84, a native of Croton-on-Hudson, passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2021.

Born to Esther (McMeen) and William O. Colbert on March 26, 1937, Bill graduated from Croton-Harmon High School in 1955. He spent 41 years as an engineer for the railroad, retiring from Metro-North in Croton-on-Hudson. Like his father before him, Bill proudly served in the US Navy.  Bill met his future wife Carmella Soricelli at the Peekskill Roller Rink. Once they were married they settled in Mohegan Lake where they raised their four children. As a family, they spent countless vacations traveling in their various motor homes. Bill was especially proud of the charter bus that he converted into a motor home and was surprised to most recently find it is still in use in the Midwest. Bill also enjoyed riding his motorcycle and had the chance for a final ride in the local September 11th Memorial run a few weeks ago. Bill was well known to be able to fix just about anything, and he stayed active up to his final days, working out regularly and participating in Town of Cortlandt Senior Events.

A graveside service with military honors will be held Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Bethel Cemetery in Croton-on-Hudson. Arrangements are under the direction of Straub, Catalano & Halvey Funeral Home, 55 E. Main Street, Wappingers Falls, NY 12590. To send a personal condolence, please visit www.StraubCatalanoHalvey.com.

REMEMBERING TONY CURTIS

Who died this date in 2010.

Many readers will remember Curtis from Sweet Smell of Success or Some Like it Hot, but your editor will always think of him as the Great Leslie--from Blake Edwards' THE GREAT RACE with Peter Falk, Natalie Wood and Jack Lemmon as Professor Fate!
And let's not forget Keenan Wynn as Hezekiah.  

Curtis was very good at both drama and comedy.

Click on the photo to see a very young and handsome Curtis. 

Our friends at European Film Star Postcards also have a wonderful detailed post filled with fabulous vintage images at  https://filmstarpostcards.blogspot.com/2021/05/tony-curtis.html

Tuesday, September 28, 2021

TONIGHT, BOARD OF EDUCATION, "EQUITY" RECOMMENDATIONS, OTHER ASSORTED AGENDA ITEMS, WORK SESSION, MEETING WILL NOT BE TELEVISED, EXECUTIVE SESSION PORTIONS, TWO

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON

YOUR EDITOR HAS RECEIVED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION....K-12 ALERT

Dear Members of the Croton-Harmon School Community: 

Tonight, September 28, 2021, the Board of Education will meet for a scheduled Work Session at 7:00 PM.  The meeting will now take place in the auditorium at Croton-Harmon High School.  It is anticipated that the Board will have an Executive Session at the beginning and at the end of the meeting.  

The meeting will not be streamed live.  A transcript and recording will be made available shortly thereafter.  Even though all Board meetings are open to the public, there is no hearing of the public at Work Session meetings. 

To access the agenda, use the following link: Board Docs

Sincerely, The Members of the Croton-Harmon  Board of  Education

OR YOU CAN SEE THE AGENDA BELOW:

1. Opening of Meeting

1.1 Call to Order

1.2 Approval of Agenda

1.3 Executive Session (enter)

1.4 Executive Session (leave)

2. Consent Agenda

2.1 Consent Agenda Approval

2.2 2021-2022 Board Meeting Calendar - Amendment

2.3 Overnight Trip - Explorers Club - Harriman State Park

2.4 Agreement for Services - Happy Hearts

2.5 Tax Certiorari Consent Judgment- RAA Realty Corp. v. Town of Cortlandt

2.6 Budget Increase

2.7 Non-instructional Personnel - Recommendation

2.8 Non-instructional Personnel - Resignation

3. Work Session

3.1 Equity Stakeholders Recommendations

4. Closing of the Meeting
4.1 Executive Session (enter)

4.2 Executive Session (leave)
4.3 Adjournment

*********

AND IN CASE YOU MISSED IT 

--EQUITY TEAM CONCERNS, A LETTER FROM THIS WEEK'S GAZETTE, JESSICA DIECKMAN; to read it, click here.

--A LINK TO THE EQUITY STAKEHOLDERS PRESENTATION  IS HERE.

SEPT. 24TH PIZZA PARTY, CROTON SENIORS CLUB, AT THE CROTON YACHT CLUB, A FEW PHOTOS

The Croton Seniors finally had a party!  It was held at the Croton Yacht Club. This was the first post covid shutdown event for the seniors. Special thanks to Dennis Kooney from the yacht club for all his help in making the party a success.  President Janet Meyer welcomed almost 50 club members to enjoy pizza, beverages and a great view.  Pizza was supplied by Pronto Pizza and there were no leftovers!  CLICK ON THE PHOTOS, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, BOB ANDERSON

The Senior Club will meet at the Harmon firehouse on Friday October 1st, from 11-1.  The guest speaker will be Bryan Healey, our new village manager.  New members are always welcome.  The club meets every Friday from 11-1 at the Municipal building unless noted otherwise.

FOR MORE ABOUT:

THE CROTON YACHT CLUB, VISIT http://www.crotonyachtclub.org/

PRONTO PIZZA, VISIT https://www.prontorestaurantny.com/ 

CROTON SENIORS, VISIT  https://www.crotononhudson-ny.gov/seniors/pages/croton-seniors-club

THE LATEST FROM THE CRITICAL RACE TRAINING CRT FILES

For all of the deficiencies of our ruling class, their overwhelming hubris is one of their most obvious and off-putting. In the absence of genuine honesty, this arrogance allows us to get a pulse on how elites across sectors truly feel about the most pressing issues of the day as they increasingly boast of their prejudices and derisively mock their opponents with a startling degree of openness. READ MORE AT THE FEDERALIST HERE.

THIS POST IS CLOSED TO ALL COMMENTS.  QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS MUST BE REFERRED TO THE MEDIA SOURCE(S) CITED.

MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE WEBSITES, FINDS, ETC. FROM EVERYTHING CROTON

As always, some wonderful new finds, oldies but goodies, special requests and more....click on the photos and links.

First up, amazing repros of wonderful vintage and qntique Halloween cut-outs---a true taste of nostalgia from BLUMCHEN HERE.

NEXT---Courtesy of Suzee Que, another outstanding ladies cabinet card from her collection, most likely pre-1920's and French; we love everything about this one--from the hand applied tinting to the lace details.  And ALAS, we don't know the name of the beautiful woman shown.

She's followed by a photo--an oldie but goodie--a close-up of the "French" Christmas Tinsel tree castle putz--2014; the large cathedral is by Howard Lamey of littleglitterhouses.com; with internal LED lighting for all the windows. 

The smaller castle is a reproduction of a 1920's-1930's putz by Karl Fey; the "Frenchified" porcelain figures are vintage made in Japan, while the Marie Antoinette ornaments are newly made using vintage components whenever possible. 

The three foot plus tinsel tree--only partially shown--was purchased from Gumps.com.

This tree may make an appearance again this year but is in need of serious reinforcement at certain joints once it is festooned.

And finally one of our favorites from Howard---the Halloween Clock Tower Castle. Again, click on the photos and links.

GARDEN RAILROAD HAPPENINGS THIS OCTOBER FROM FAMILY GARDEN TRAINS; some fab photos and more---for the fb page, CLICK HERE

EVERY PUTZTOWN NEEDS A GAS STATION! MORE HERE  

THE LATEST BUILDS FROM BRIGHTON LAKE STUDIO---fantastic putz houses and more---SOME WONDERFUL THINGS---fab details too; see MORE ON FB HERE. 

SEE THE LAST EDITION OF MORE FABULOUS VINTAGE WEBSITES, FINDS, ETC. FROM EVERYTHING CROTON BY CLICKING HERE

Note: All content on this blog is Copyright (c) by Maria Cudequest and by the posters who have contributed specific content. All material is for your personal use only. No content or photos may be republished or sold, without prior written consent from your editor and the individual who contributed the content in question. For permissions or questions about this policy, please contact the editor.

CROTON ROTARY CLUB 2021 AUTO SHOW WINNERS--2021 ROAD KNIGHTS TOP AWARDS LIST

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CROTON ROTARY CLUB 2021 AUTO SHOW WINNERS--2021 ROAD KNIGHTS TOP AWARDS---CLICK ON THE IMAGE.  SEE MORE AT  https://crotonrotary.com/rotary-auto-show/

FOR THE 2021 ROTARY TROPHY WINNERS LIST, CLICK https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/09/congratulations-to-croton-rotary-club.html

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CROTON ROTARY CLUB 2021 AUTO SHOW TROPHY WINNERS

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CROTON ROTARY CLUB 2021 AUTO SHOW TROPHY WINNERS

CLICK ON THE IMAGE.  SEE MORE AT  https://crotonrotary.com/rotary-auto-show/

A SEPARATE LISTING FOR THE ROAD KNIGHTS TOP 2021 AWARDS IS AT https://www.blogger.com/blog/posts/787750143375798683

AND THE WINNER OF THE CHILI CONTEST WAS..... https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/09/congratulations-105-twenty-winner-of.html

Monday, September 27, 2021

CONGRATULATIONS 105-TWENTY, FIRST PLACE WINNER OF THE 2021 CROTON ROTARY CHILI CONTEST

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

CONGRATULATIONS 105-TWENTY, FIRST PLACE WINNER OF THE 2021 CROTON ROTARY CHILI CONTEST -  SEE MORE AT https://www.facebook.com/Rotary-Club-of-Croton-on-Hudson-130964137093077/photos/pcb.1780979595424848/1780981355424672

EQUITY TEAM CONCERNS, A LETTER FROM THIS WEEK'S GAZETTE, JESSICA DIECKMAN

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON

Many thanks to all the residents who brought the following letter from this week's Gazette to your editor's attention.  It is re-printed here with the permission of the author, Jessica Dieckman. SEE BELOW:

 To Dr. O’Connell, Mr. Griffiths and The Croton Harmon School Board,

I didn’t attend the equity World Cafe Night because I don’t agree with the recommendations. I noticed a portion of my review was included (without permission) in the Croton Connections email on the equity work. My June review, which was specific to that night and included the suggestion for us to move away from NYU Metro and their ideas, expressed how little time the team had to actually discuss the recommendations put forth, recommendations not generated so much by team members but installed by NYU Metro and Natalie Zwerger. 


Many community members and fellow Croton Harmon parents immediately recognized that my quote from that email doesn’t accurately represent my views of the equity team recommendations. These parents shared their awareness of a frenzied push in education occurring nationally, and have gone out of their way to contact me and thank me for being brave enough to speak out against ideas they see being forced-through here in Croton.


NYU Metro promotes an 'Anti-Racist' program, which I and others here in Croton oppose based on the understanding that the Anti-Racism movement intends to install a far-left political direction into schools. I feel we were pressured into accepting all of these political stances as fact and not as opinion, with no real discussion. Not all parents, students and teachers will agree with this political direction, which is why many people often refer to this work as indoctrination. There are many ways to talk about fighting racism in America, the Anti-Racism movement only allows for one way of thinking. It is not inclusive at all and people can sense this when they are exposed to it.


My main concerns about the equity team recommendations are as follows:


• Regarding the hiring practices recommendation:

I don’t believe we should focus on hiring people with emphasis on race, gender, or sexuality (which may not even be legal under New York State or federal anti-discrimination laws), but rather on their qualifications and credentials for teaching our children. The idea that a child can relate only to people that look like them is an absurd philosophy. Color and background are factors that should have little bearing when a class finds a teacher engaging as an individual, interesting, authoritative, and deeply knowledgeable about subjects of common interest. I strongly fear we will pass over excellent candidates  while looking for someone to fit a particular profile because of these misguided ideas. The concept that students are better off learning only from, and around, people that look like them recently lead an Atlanta, Georgia school principal to create 'white and black' classrooms, whereby children were completely segregated by skin-color, an outrageous and disturbing idea in the year 2021.


• Regarding the curriculum recommendations:

As a certified classroom teacher with a Master’s degree who worked in public schools (including Croton Harmon), and as a parent, I strongly oppose these too. An audit (the definition and parameters of which has not been made clear) of teachers' lessons and library books by a zealous group of people from an equity team, with no qualifications or background in education or childhood development, is a horrible idea. I’m against critiquing everything in our schools to determine if it is politically correct. Problematizing teachers’ activities and duties by entering all classrooms to micromanage them with an audit of this nature is completely inappropriate and threatens to break some of the trust with teaching faculty (who have worked very hard to build trust and establish themselves as the professionals that they indeed are). 


I also feel it was inappropriate to hold an equity meeting this Summer with the far-left political activist from Yorktown for Justice, Marisa Ragonese, who presented guidance on how to avoid discussions with people who don’t agree with a far-left push in education. She made many assumptions that it is exclusively conservative parents against these ideas when, in fact, people of all political backgrounds have disagreed with the ideas coming from the equity team. Interestingly, once she became acquainted with some of the trainings we got from NYU Metro, Ms. Ragonese explained that these trainings were actually not intended for people like parents and teachers, but were specifically prepared for far-left activists. Her important observation makes me feel even more strongly that we need to go back to the drawing board completely with much of this work. Heavy politicization detracts from the efforts to protect and raise up the strengths of our students. 

 

I have had so many people approach me this Summer to discuss the equity work (church, the supermarket and the town pool being some of the settings for these interactions) and all of them find it either very concerning or they completely disagree with the recommendations. Their frustration has been palpable within these conversations, and gives me cause to reflect: I have been on this team for a year now and wonder if my concerns and critiques, along with those of the fellow Croton Harmon parents who have approached me, are going to be completely ignored. Was my time wasted; are peoples' concerns with this being addressed anywhere; where is the impact of that being shown? Please slow this process down! Haste makes waste. We have excellent and highly regarded schools made up of amazing teachers and staff in a caring community! Let’s maintain those strengths and build upon them instead of damaging or stalling them, and move forward considerately, slowly and carefully and approve nothing at the September 28th meeting. Demand we go back and discuss all of the different ideas in due time.


In my June review I also mentioned how the scheduled-times during which the equity meetings took place limited people from different socio-economic backgrounds from participating, because all meetings took place during conventional business and working hours. That is an improvement-factor to consider. In a similar vein, one consistent complaint I have received from other parents is that the World Cafe night, which had an undetermined number of potential attendees, was arranged to happen in-person, while the back to school nights, with a reasonably fixed and forecasted number of attendees, have been arranged to be online-meetings.  In terms of equity, an in-person back to school night, where parents are immersed with their child's teacher, fellow parents and classroom learning materials, would have been extremely helpful for all Croton families and students.

 

Our kids have been stressed out significantly with Covid and don’t need an education that abruptly becomes race-centered or political in nature to add to the pressure. Students today are at risk for substance abuse problems, mental health disorders, and physical health problems at an increasing rate. We should be focusing on mitigating these issues as a top priority for leveraging greater educational successes.

 

Please read this letter at the September 28th Board of Education work session meeting. I really don’t want to be ignored or taken out of context. If not read, I ask that this letter go on the board's record and please let me know at which meetings coming up I will be able to comment on this.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

 

Sincerely,

Jessica Dieckman 


UPDATED: https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/10/croton-harmon-school-district-equity.html

CONDOLENCES TO THE RAPOSEIRO FAMILY

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON.

A NOTICE FROM THE CROTON FRE DEPARTMENT FACEBOOK PAGE: The Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department extends our sincere condolences to the family of Steven Raposeiro and his mother, Judith Marie Raposeiro, on their sudden passing. 
 
Steven, and his father, Frank, were both members of Harmon Engine Company No. 3 prior to moving south a couple of years ago. 
 
Visitation is Friday, September 24, 2021 from 4PM to 6PM at The Good Samaritan Funeral Home.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at 11AM at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 537 North Highway 16 (Business) Denver, NC 28037. Interment at Northlake Memorial Gardens, Huntersville, NC.
 
Please keep Frank, Amy and the rest of their family & loved ones in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you.

MORE FROM THE GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEE BUT NOT FOR ME VIRUS CHRONICLES

TWO ARTICLES:

#1 The rich play by the rules they like for themselves and seek to make the rest of us live by the rules they wish to impose.

Which side of the velvet rope are you on? Are you one of the cool kids? Were you born on the right side of the tracks? Did your ancestors come over on the Mayflower? Are you on the Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans? And now another question to test your social standing: Do you have a high enough status so that you don’t have to wear a face mask?  

MORE AT https://www.breitbart.com/entertainment/2021/09/25/pinkerton-the-mask-comes-off-in-a-two-tier-society-where-theres-one-rule-for-elites-and-another-for-the-rest-of-us/

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#2 FAKERS, THOSE TONY AWARD PARTIES Tony Awards partygoers bragged about forging COVID tests to attend soirees

SEE THE LAST EDITION OF MORE GOOD ENOUGH FOR THEE BUT NOT FOR ME VIRUS CHRONICLES AT https://everythingcroton.blogspot.com/2021/09/in-news-updated-emmy-awards-skewered.html

REMEMBERING THE ORIGINAL "IT" GIRL: CLARA BOW

Who died this date in 1965. The original "It" Girl. Gorgeous eyes. Star of silent films--and said to have matchless magnetism on screen. Read more about her here, with a video clip too http://bit.ly/1WquKqh

You can also read a great 1923 article on Clara Bow here, courtesy of one of our favorite sites, IMMORTAL EPHEMERA http://bit.ly/1iCL8oB

And while we're at it, Croton had its own actresses from that era...You may also have an interest in:

--Gloria Swanson, The Croton Connection; click here.
--Lenore Ulric, The Croton Connection; click here.

& NOW A WORD---AND PHOTOS--FROM THE CROTON-HARMON BOOSTER CLUB ON HOMECOMING WEEK 2021 & YESTERDAY'S FOOTBALL GAME

Welcome to Everything Croton, a collection of all things Croton--our history, our homes, our issues, our businesses, our schools, our houses of worship--in short, EVERYTHING CROTON. 

& NOW A WORD---AND PHOTOS--FROM THE CROTON-HARMON BOOSTER CLUB FB PAGE ON HOMECOMING WEEK 2021 -- 11 HOURS AGO -- The Tigers may not have gotten the win they were looking for on the field but they certainly won in the stands!!! Great night for our kids and the community and the sponsors and alumni that made it happen. https://www.crotontigers.org/contributing-sponsors.html It's been a tough couple of years for these kids and this week of support gave them memories to last a lifetime! Go Tigers!!! Tiger Pride baby!!! #crotononhudson #crotoncommunity #crotonathleticdept #crotonsmallbusinesses #crotonharmonschooldistrict

SEE PHOTOS HERE AND HERE AND HERE AND HERE AND HERE.

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AND AGAIN, MANY THANKS TO SPONSORS AND ALUMNI FOR MAKING IT HAPPEN:

PLATINUM SPONSORS:

--MIRACLE HOME IMPROVEMENT https://www.miraclehomeimprovements.com/

--BEACON HILL STAFFING https://beaconhillstaffing.com/

--CKO KICKBOXING https://www.ckokickboxing.com/ny-croton-on-hudson/

--ROBBINS PHARMACY https://robbinscrotonrx.com/

--THE WESTCHESTER BALLOON COMPANY https://thewestchesterballooncompany.com/

--LNI HOMES  https://www.lnihomes.com/

GOLD SPONSORS:

--KITSON & SCHUYLER PC https://kitsonschuyler.business.site/

--FRANZOSO CONTRACTING https://franzoso.com/

--CAPRICCIO PIZZA https://www.capricciopizza.com/ 

--CALDWELL BANKER, HOME ON THE HUDSON TEAM https://www.suzannewelch.com/

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SEE ALL THE SILVER SPONSORS HERE

SEE ALL THE BRONZE SPONSORS HERE

SEE ALL THE ORANGE SPONSORS HERE 

SEE ALL THE ALUMNI AND FRIENDS SPONSORS HERE