2 | May 20, 2017 • The Valley News Sun (CV)
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Baby chicks hatch learning in Westport first grade By Jill Lobdell
jill@suncommunitynews.com
WESTPORT — First grade students here had the unique opportunity to welcome 16 new additions to their classrooms over the past couple of weeks. DaCy Meadow Farms in the Westport donated 24 chicken eggs, along with incubator and candle, to the first grade class so they could see the eggs develop. “It usually takes 21 days from start to
finish,” said teacher Amy Welch. “They children observed the eggs and took notes in their journals. By May 9, 16 out of 24 eggs hatched. The kids were really excited about it.” The purpose of the lesson was to see the opening phases in the lifespan of the chicks and learn about the egg and how they develop. “We also talked about food and farms and what chickens do,” Welch said. “DaCy Meadows volunteered this project last year when we were working on a dif-
ferent project.” Welch is planning on keeping some of the chicks so the kids could watch them grow, while the others will go back to the farm. “We can’t touch the chickens until they are a little bit older,” student Kendra Lyon said. “They eat chicken food and drink water. I named one Caramel and one Fluff Ball.” “They are really cute and fluffy,” said Keir Furman. “They run around and try to get out of the bin. They come out of the eggs so they can breath and so they
can have fun and run around. We get to pick out names that we write in our journals and we get to vote on the names for the chicks. I picked out Butterball.” “They try to fly out of the cage and they open their mouths,” Kaya Olcott said. “There is a really cool black one that is really cute. I picked out the name Dandelion because it is a spring thing.” BELOW: First grade students in Amy Welch’s class at Westport Central School have had the opportunity to watch baby chicks hatch thanks to DaCy Meadow farm. Photo by Jill Lobdell
Local students to unveil walking trail guide LAKE PLACID — Three Cornell graduate students have developed a “Guide to North Elba Walking Trails” as part of a public service exchange project. The students will present the guide and explain how promoting local trail systems can improve the quality of life for residents and the economy of the area on Monday, May 22 at 7 p.m. at the Lake Placid Conference Center.
Published by Denton Publications, Inc.
www.suncommunitynews.com
(CV)
The Valley News Sun • May 20, 2017 | 3
Published by Denton Publications, Inc.
www.suncommunitynews.com
(CV)
The Valley News Sun • May 20, 2017 | 13
Merger board seeks members Four residents each from ElizabethtownLewis, Westport Central wanted for panel
WESTPORT & ELIZABETHTOWN — The Elizabethtown-Lewis and Westport Boards of Education are seeking four residents from each school district to serve on the Merger Study Advisory Committee. Those wishing to represent the Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School District on the committee must be committed to attending monthly meetings from August 2017 to April 2018. Those wishing to represent Westport Central School District must live in that district and be available for the same meetings. Committee meeting dates are: Aug. 23, Sept. 27, Oct. 25, Dec. 6, Jan. 24, Feb. 28 and April 25. Meetings will alternate between Elizabethtown-Lewis and Westport locations, and specific time and locations will be announced soon. Those interested in being considered as Elizabethtown-Lewis representatives on the committee are asked to submit a letter of interest by June 1 to Scott Osborne, Superintendent, Elizabethtown-Lewis Central School District, PO Box 158, Elizabethtown, NY 12932. Those interested in representing Westport Central School District are asked to submit a letter of interest by June 1 to Scott Osborne, Superintendent, Westport Central School District, 25 Sisco St., Westport, NY 12993. Those chosen by the Elizabethtown-Lewis School Board to serve on the committee will be officially appointed at the June 13 school board meeting. Those chosen by the Westport School Board to serve on the committee will be officially appointed at the June 8 school board meeting. The Elizabethtown-Lewis and Westport Boards of Education voted unanimously November 30 to do a merger consolidation study. They have hired the Castallo & Silky Associates of Syracuse to conduct the study, beginning in August and concluding with a final report in April 2018. The study will cost $44,000, which will be shared equally by the two districts.
Memorial Day festivities slated ELIZABETHTOWN — The Elizabethtown American Legion Post is currently in the process of organizing Memorial Day events to take place in Elizabethtown and at the Essex County Veterans Cemetery near Wadhams. At 9 a.m. on Monday, May 29, a contingent of Legionnaires will conduct a brief service at the Veterans cemetery. Afterward, they will return to Elizabethtown to take part in a parade — set to start at 10 a.m. The parade participants will line up on Hand Avenue with lead units forming up between the Stone Church and the museum — the parade will end by the Cobble Hill Golf Course. At approximately 10:30 a.m., the American Legion will conduct a Memorial Day service in Windsor Park, across from Top’s Friendly Markets.
Elizabethtown-Lewis Central students participated in a walk to raise awareness for children’s mental health issues on May 12 in Elizabethtown. Photo by Jill Lobdell