Altamont

As a young girl, when my family and friends wanted to go to an exciting adventure park, we would pile in the car and go to Lincoln Park near New Bedford, Mass. This was a family owned amusement park similar to Hoffman’s Playland.

As I got older, my interests at Lincoln Park moved more to the roller skating rink that was inside the park, and attracted the area teenagers. It seemed that all of the kids managed to learn how to stay erect when on skates rather than being a floor mop, as they fell and slid in front of the other skaters.

Our daughters learned to skate at Roll a Rama with their 4-H friends. It was always fun to fill the car with kids, carry them to the rink, watch them having fun with their friends, and then go next door for some pizza after they got too tired to stand up.

As they laughed and ate their meal they would hum the tunes that they had danced to while the organ played and the lights changed colors on the roller rink floor.

Times have changed, and young people now use in-line skates on the sidewalks, driveways, and parking lots. You can still find roller rinks where couples will wear matching sweaters and dance to the organ, but there are not as many around as there were when I was young.

Another change that has taken place is the size and style of amusement parks. The small parks have given way to mega theme parks such as Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Legoland Park. No longer do we ride to a park and home again the same day. We are more likely to book a stay at a hotel located on the park property. This allows you to enjoy all of the activities and displays a few days longer.

We can recall the children saying "just one more time".  Staying on the park property allows the fair goers the opportunity to repeat their favorite ride. We can enjoy the games and rides for as long as we want before collapsing onto our beds on the property.

Legoland Park is an interactive theme park on 150 acres in Florida. Like most of the new parks they have thrill rides, shows, attractions, restaurants, shopping, gardens, and a water park geared to families with children. In their Imagination Zone and LEGO City youngsters can learn how to drive by freely navigating their own boats and LEGO cars.

In 2014 Warner Bros. Pictures distributed a computer animated adventure comedy film called the “Lego Movie.”  The movie featured the voices of many well-known actors and actresses, such as Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Liam Neeson, and Morgan Freeman. It was based on the Lego line of construction toys and tells the story of an ordinary Lego mini figure who was prophesied to save the universe from the tyrannical Lord Business as he gains different allies along the way.

Lego has joined the ranks of building toys such as Lincoln logs and Erector sets that were popular when Jim and I were young. They took the simple building and construction set idea a step further with the little figures and project sets. The movie, and larger than life animals and flowers, that have traveled the country, and have been on display in places like botanical gardens; shows what the imagination can create.

They have again taken their creativity a step further with "The LEGO Ideas Book," which is divided into themes chapters — transportation, buildings, space, kingdoms, adventure, and useful ideas.  Each chapter has a basic template of key models and spreads to inspire you to create your own.

Hints and tips from Master Builders can help you turn your classic car into a racecar or add a bridge to your castle. "The LEGO Ideas Book" will keep kids of all ages creating for hours.

Some people do not need an idea book. They have inquisitive minds and can create amazing projects on their own.

This story is about a seventh grader from Southern California. Shubham Banerjee, age12 needed a science fair project and created a Braille printer out of Lego pieces. He came up with the idea after researching Braille online and realized that printers for the blind cost $2,000 or more. Concerned it was too expensive for most people to afford, Shubham wanted to make an inexpensive version. With his father’s help, he bought a Lego robotics kit that cost about $350 (with his father’s help) and built a model in about a month.  

He wanted to make it very cheap, and to be a do-it-yourself project. He then shared the plan online in an open source format so that anyone could build it.

Today, Braigo Labs, his new company’s name using a combination of Braille and Lego, has hired several professionals to work on the project and has enlisted an industrial design firm to help develop a product that can be manufactured inexpensively in order to be affordable by everyone.

This was an important story for me to tell because it is imperative that we listen to our children. Even at an early age, and while playing with toys they may come up with the next great idea that can change life, as we know it today. They can make life easier, happier, less expensive, or better in ways that we can only imagine today.

Our young people are our future leaders. Let’s listen to them, and perhaps they can be our leaders today, tomorrow, and into the future.

Spirit Week

The Student Council at the Farnsworth Middle School is holding its annual Spirit Week at the school now through tomorrow, Friday, March 27.

During this week, staff members, as well as students, are wearing various outfits representing selected themes.

Today, the students and staff participated in PJ/Lazy Day wearing appropriate outfits. Tomorrow, Friday, March 28, the theme will be red and white, the school colors. All activities this week were held in the cafeteria from 3:30 until 5:30 p.m.

Admission is free with a charge for refreshments.  The event will include board games, along with the showing "Big Hero 6". Those students remaining for the after school activities must provide their own transportation.

Food drive

In conjunction with the above-mentioned FMS Spirit Week, the student council will continue with its second annual Farnsworth Middle School Spirit Week food drive. The drive is ongoing and will run through Wednesday, April 1.

Students are asked to donate non-perishable food items. These donations will be given to the Capital Region Food Pantry. In addition to all donations of food, personal cleaning items such as soap, toothpaste, and shampoo can be left in the boxes provided in the front of each house office near the reception area. 

Suggested food donations include beans, peanut butter, soups, and stews. The FMS is attempting to beat last year's figure of 400 pounds donated in 2014.

ACT

Tenth graders at the Guilderland High School are reminded that the practice ACT is scheduled for Saturday, March 28. Additional information can be obtained from the counseling center.

Aspire Test

    Students at GHS have been informed that the Aspire Test recorded on the district calendar  scheduled for March 25 will not be offered.

Potentate ball

Thomas Abraham, Illustrious Potentate of Oriental Shriners in Troy, has announced that the Potentate's Ball will be held on March 28. The event will be held at the Courtyard Marriott in Saratoga Springs. 

AES yearbook

As announced by the Altamont Elementary School, the cost for the yearbook is now $15.  Questions should be directed to Ruth Anne Burby at 861-5892 or Rachel Fraterrigo at 380-1798.

Class, thank you

The Class of 2018 expresses its appreciation to all who supported their fund-raiser at Pizza Gram Plus on March 22.

Anniversaries

Happy-anniversary wishes are extended to:

— Judy and Arnie Rothstein of Bozenkill Rd. who will celebrate their special day on April 2; and

— Diana and Bruce Shank of Main St. who will celebrate on April 5. 

Birthdays

Happy-birthday wishes are extended to:

— Morgan Alexa  Bachus on March 27;

— Mitchell Blackman, Tom Schuhle, Zachary James Tanzman, and Nancy Twadell on March 29; 

— Anthony John Capuano and Lori Coons on March 30;

— Christine Altemus, Carolyn Charon, Dan Chestnut, Sam Genovesi, Judy Rothstein, and Paul Tymchyn on March 31; and

— Ann Burton, Carmella Genovese, Paul Mayan, and Eileen Wintle on April 1; 

Don't be fooled on April 1st.

 

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