Thom Johnson, Bannerman Castle Restoration (Aired Jan. 28, 2011)

Thom Johnson

Thom Johnson

Thom Johnson, author and historian, discusses the fascinating history of Bannerman’s Castle, a dramatic ruin located on an island in the Hudson River in the Hudson Highlands State Park. Travelers on Hudson Line trains are familiar with the view of the remaining portions of the imitation Scottish castle, built in 1901. The nonprofit Bannerman Castle Trust, Inc. is restoring the castle as well as its exquisite original gardens. The Trust is dedicated to preserving Bannerman Castle as an educational, cultural, historical, and recreational facility that promotes heritage tourism in the Hudson Valley. Several ports along the river provide enjoyable, informative cruise tours to the castle by kayak or passenger boat. Mr. Johnson relates many interesting little known facts about the history of it island and castle as well as bonus information about the Catskill Mountain Railroad.

Learn More:
Bannerman Castle
Catskill Mountain Railroad

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January 28, 2011 · Posted in History, Hudson Valley  

Rotary Community Corps at Peekskill’s Keon Center for Adults with Disabilities (Aired Jan. 21, 2011)

Rotary Community Corps

(L to R) Seated: Sharon Irving, Lisa-Marie Birdsall; standing: Co-hosts Jonah Triebwasser, Sarah O'Connell

Sharon Irving and Lisa-Marie Birdsall of Cortlandt Manor Rotary (District 7230) discuss their club’s sponsorship of a Rotary Community Corps (RCC) at the Keon center in Peeksill, NY. A Rotary Community Corps is an organization for non-Rotarian men and women who share Rotary’s commitment to service. Although the Cortlandt Manor Rotary is less than a year old, with Sharon Irving as its founder and first president, it has been able to start the RCC at Keon. Cortlandt Manor Rotary and the RCC of Keon work on projects together. For example, Ms. Birdsall discusses how the RCC team helps her rescue-dog adoption program, which has placed over 1,600 dogs in 18 months, and Ms. Irving discusses how the RCC helps the Salvation Army with food distribution.


Learn More:
Rotary Community Corps (RCC) – Powerpoint
Rotary Community Corps – Handbook
Cortland Manor Rotary Club
Cortlandt Rotary welcomes Keon to the club

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January 21, 2011 · Posted in Humanitarian Service, Rotary Club Close-ups, Volunteers  

Schools to End Poverty (S.T.E.P.) from Spring Valley Rotary (Aired Jan. 14, 2011)

Ed Frank & Howard Goldin (STEP)

Seated L to R: Ed Frank, Howard Goldin. Standing: Co-hosts Jonah Triebwasser and Sarah O'Connell.

 

Vietnam veterans Edward Frank and Howard Goldin (Spring Valley Rotary), co-founders of Schools to End Poverty (S.T.E.P.), describe how their mission–to provide children of the world with an opportunity to an education–has helped them find closure to this early period in their lives. To date, they have made several trips to Vietnam to establish schools, which have made education possible for thousands. Their story is an amazing journey that will warm your heart.

 

 

 

Learn More:  www.springvalleyrotaryny.org

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January 14, 2011 · Posted in Education, Humanitarian Service, International Programs  

Habitat for Humanity and Rotary Partner to Strengthen Communities (Aired Jan. 7, 2011)

Steve Biolsi

Steve Biolsi

Habitat for Humanity builds and restores homes for low-income families. Steve Biolsi, Project Manager of Putnam County’s Habitat for Humanity, tells of how the organization is supported by local Rotary clubs and other community organizations. Mr. Biolsi also corrects misinformation about Habitat for Humanity. Their projects are not free handouts but help low-income families build, own, and maintain simple, decent, affordable homes–families pay for their homes with zero-interest mortgages and hours of sweat equity.

 

Learn more:
www.habitatputnam.org
www.habitat.org

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January 7, 2011 · Posted in Housing Assistance, Humanitarian Service, Volunteers