In a Walt Disney movie, the aging woodworker Geppetto sees a falling star. At that instance he wishes that, Pinocchio, the wooden puppet he just finished, could become a real boy. In the night, the Blue Fairy grants Geppetto his wish, and asks Jiminy Cricket to serve as the wooden boy's conscience. However, the naive and trusting Pinocchio falls into the clutches of wicked Honest John, who leads him astray to the sinful Pleasure Island. In the movie they have a song When You Wish Upon a Star. The words to the song are very uplifting:

When you wish upon a star

Makes no difference who you

are

Anything your heart desires

Will come to you.

If your heart is in your dream

No request is too extreme

When you wish upon a star

As dreamers do.

Pinocchio also wishes that he was a real boy, and not a puppet. At the end of the story Geppetto and Pinocchio are granted their wish.

We don’t always need a star to make a wish upon. On her way to the Emerald City, in the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy meets, and befriends the Scarecrow, the Tin Woodsman, and the Cowardly Lion. They decide to join her to ask the Wizard for a brain, heart, and courage respectively, though in truth they each have what they want (the Scarecrow shows signs of wisdom, the Tin Man is very sentimental, and the Lion shows signs of bravery).

After some danger, they meet the Wizard who agrees to grant their wishes. He grants their wishes by giving the Scarecrow a diploma, the Lion a medal, and the Tin Man a heart-shaped pocket watch.

When the Wizard leaves Oz without Dorothy, Glinda, the good witch, soon arrives, and tells her that she can still return home by clapping her heels together three times, and repeating, "There's no place like home." Dorothy returns home to her family.

The world is filled with people who are continually wishing for something. I was at a performance of Swan Lake and I heard several young women say to each other, “I wish I could dance that good”. On another occasion, I was camping, and while we were sitting around the campfire several people were singing, and a talented person played the guitar. In the background, I heard someone say, “I wish I could play a guitar”.

Wishes may come true in movies and books but it takes more than just a wish to achieve a goal. Even Pinocchio had to have a conscience to overcome the temptations of Pleasure Island.  Although the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and Lion already had reached their goals they had to be shown that what they wished for they already possessed.

Each time I hear that lament, I wish, I am reminded about the very young girl who had an accident and lost her right arm. Some of you might remember this story because I have told it before. While in the Shriners Hospital she was very sad and confided to one of the staff that she was sad because she wished to be a baton twirler. They asked her, “Why can’t you do that?” She welled up in tears, and said that she couldn’t because she only had one arm.

The rest of the story shows the difference between wishing to do something and working hard to achieve that goal. Following a lot of encouragement, and hard work on her part, the staff worked with her to help her achieve her dream. The work paid off because she entered the Miss America contest and won for her state. Her talent was twirling the baton.

She went on to become one of the five Miss America finalists making her family, state, and everyone who knew her very proud. Then President Clinton even recognized her hard work, and asked her to be a youth ambassador representing the United States. She traveled around the world explaining to young people that they can do great things if they put their mind to it, and work hard to achieve their goals.

Just recently, there was another young woman who ran in the Boston Marathon. She was not near the front with some of the faster runners, however, she did finish. She was also in the race last year and had her legs blown off during the explosion. She was faced with an important decision about her future; she could lie in a bed, or sit in a chair for the rest of her life feeling sorry for herself, and wishing the explosion had never happened. The other choice was that she could put some hard work into training, and continue to face life as it is given to her, and not let anyone take her pride and self-respect away.

We just celebrated Memorial Day, and the news media turned out in force to tell the heroic stories they heard about men, women, and even dogs who have given their all, their life, to fight for the good things our country stands for, and upholds. There is an endless supply of stories about these wounded warriors and how they became wounded and what pride they instill in others who hear their stories of valor.

As we recall, the heroes who gave their lives for the freedoms that we enjoy in our country, let us also remember who makes our country so different from other countries. The United States of America is a nation made up of people who were citizens of every other country in the world before immigrating here. We have citizens who practice every known religion in the world. Everyone comes from a different background, but we are willing to learn from each other, and enjoy the food, music, and art of other cultures and backgrounds.

Our mothers and fathers have the same goals regardless of their background, to house, feed,

and love their children. A loss in one family is no greater than in another family.

Let us say thank you to all who strive for peace, and love all around the world, and as the famous song starts out let us sing in our heart, “God Bless America”.

Pillsbury Throwboys

Congratulations are extended to the Pillsbury Throwboys for winning the sixth annual  

Guilderland High School dodge ball tournament, this past February. Through their efforts, the team was able to give  a donation of $3,870 in support of  the Altamont food pantry.

Camp Invention

The Guilderland school district has announced, that the Camp Invention Program for children entering grades one through six will again be held this summer. The camp will run from July 21 through July 25, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Farnsworth Middle School.

For additional information or to register for the program, go to www.guilderlandschools.org.

Mud mania

It's not too late to register for the town of Guilderland's Mud Mania planned for Saturday, June 14. The Mania will again be held at Tawasentha Park from 11:30 a.m.  to 2 p.m.

What is Mud Mania?  It is an opportunity for children and adults to participate in an obstacle course, while running in the fun mud. This is truly a fun run advertised as "Get Dirty With Us".

For additional information or to register on line go to www.zippyreg.com. 

Summer camp

The Tawasentha Adventure Day Camp program, sponsored by the town of Guilderland Parks and Recreation Department is currently accepting registration for this summer's program to be held in the park.

The camp will run from June 30 to Aug. 8.  There will be no camp on Friday, July 4.

This program is open to children ages five to 13, and includes children entering kindergarten in the fall, and children who are living in the school district.

Transportation to and from the park is provided by bus. Registered campers will be picked up beginning at approximately 7:30 a.m., with drop-off close to noon. 

The cost per each two week session is $150 and must be submitted with each registration.

Registration for the Adventure Day Camp program can be done by completing the form that can be found in  in the town's brochure, or applications can be obtained from the Parks and Recreation Department located at 181 Route 146 in Altamont. More information or to register can be done by going on line too www.guilderlandrec.com.

Class officers

Freshmen, sophomores, and juniors at the Guilderland High School elected their class officers for the school year 2014-15 this past week.

Sports physicals

All students interested in playing a sport this fall at the GHS are reminded that sports begin Aug. 18.

Students who need sport physicals are notified that physicals will be available in the nurse’s office on the following Mondays:  June 9, June 16, and Aug. 4, from 4:00 to 5:45 p.m. 

All students must complete the school and sport packet form, the athletic form, and the health history form. The completed packets can be returned in person or mailed to the Guilderland School District, 8 School Road, Guilderland or mailed to P.O. Box 37, Guilderland Center, NY 12085.   The forms can also be faxed to the nurse's office at 518-861-5151.

Early stage ad

The Guilderland Public Library is holding a one hour to 90 minute  program  for  persons with early stages of AD,  caregivers, or family, and friends who are will be caring for a person with early stages of AD.  The program will be held on Monday, June 9, at 3 p.m.

Advance care

On Thursday, June 12, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m., Patricia Spreitzer, a community nurse liaison for the Community Hospice, will speak at the Guilderland Public Library. This education program is designed to provide information and resources to assist individuals in having the conversation. 

For additional information or to make a reservation, please call the library at 456-2400. 

Anniversaries

Happy-anniversary wishes are extended to:

— Sue and Ed Rosa celebrating their special day on June 6;

— Sue and Dave Spiak on June 7; and

—Sylvia and Bill Aylward, and  Rose and Ray Martinon on June 8.

Birthdays

Happy-birthday wishes are extended to:

— Simon Marsh, Kaitlin Murphy, and Abigail Peck on June 6;

— Jennifer Annetzberger, Wendy Connors, Donna Richmond, and Phil Walton on June 7;

— Eric Brown, Terry Hubbard, Tim Hubbard, and Matt Pickering on June 8;

— Agnes Armstrong. Yumiko Chiba, and Don Filkins on June 9;

— Tara Hubbard, Faith Pratt, and Tommy Spellman on June 10;

— Brian Dineen, Jennifer Heidinger, Corey Kitto, Diana Levin, Paul Pollard, and Michael Urban on June 11; and

— Kerry Peters and Kristen Strand on June 12.