Libraries and kids welcome Drag Queen Story Times

by DEBBY MAYER

KINDERHOOK—Drag Queen Story Hour in Kinderhook, which follows the guidelines of the national organization of that name, and Drag Queen Story Time in Hudson, are just what they sound like. A drag queen comes to the library and leads a story hour for children.

“They read stories, from books on anti-bullying, on inclusivity,” said AnnaLee Giraldo, director of the Kinderhook Memorial Library. “They sing songs, do a craft—it’s very much what we do in any story hour.

“It’s not sex ed for toddlers,” she added. “We don’t discuss sex.” Read more…

Familiar face returns to lead ICC during super search

by EMILIA TEASDALE

KINDERHOOK–The Ichabod Crane School Board officially accepted the resignation of Superintendent Michael Vanyo and appointed Lee Bordick interim superintendent at a special meeting June 28.

Mr. Bordick served as interim superintendent in the district from 2010 to 2012. He was head of the district when the board decided to close the two elementary schools in the villages of Valatie and Kinderhook and move all the students to the main campus on Route 9. During his time in the district Mr. Bordick also worked on a consolidation study with the Schodack Central School District.

The board appointed Mr. Bordick starting July 1 through December 31, 2019. Board President Matthew Nelson said at last Friday’s board meeting that Mr. Bordick’s contract was flexible and Mr. Bordick would leave before the end of the contract if the board found a superintendent or would stay longer, if needed. Read more…

Johnson easily wins Dem nod in Hudson

by STAFF

HUDSON–Alderman Kamal Johnson won the Democratic Party primary for mayor in Tuesday’s

primary election. He easily secured the party’s ballot line in November by defeating incumbent first term Mayor Rick Rector by 678 votes to 354.

Unofficial primary election results from the county Board of Elections appear below. Read more…

Hudson BOE moves meetings to Tuesdays

by JEANETTE WOLFBERG

HUDSON – The Hudson City School District Board of Education has decided to change its usual meeting day from Monday to Tuesday. In general, meetings will take place the first and third Tuesday of every month unless otherwise specified. The next meeting will take place Tuesday, July 2, at the Hudson High School library.

The July 2 meeting will start at 6 p.m. and be the board’s organizational meeting for the 2019-20 school year. Going forward, most meetings will start at 6:30 p.m. The next meeting after July 2 will take place July 16 at 6 p.m. at the Junior High library. The August 6 meeting will take place in the Elementary School and the August 20 meeting in the Junior High. Starting in September, meetings will return to the High School library. Read more…

Hudson school board head offers her valedictory

by JEANETTE WOLFBERG

HUDSON–“I really love living in Hudson. It has been a pleasure devoting time to the District,” said Maria McLaughlin, who is departing from the Hudson City School District (HCSD) Board of Education after serving on it for five years—including one as board president and time as vice president. She spoke by telephone on June 24.

In 2014, after living in Hudson for about a year, Ms. McLaughlin decided to run for the board, because “I feel that good schools are important for a free society.” She added, “You can’t complain about something unless you’re willing to help to make it better.”

She had previous experience working with children, youth, and in a situation with “consensus-based decisions.” Read more…