At the February dinner meeting of the Rotary Club Of Shady Brook, Jonathan Vada Keth from Maple Point Middle School was introduced as the Rotary’s “Student Of The Month.”
Pictured are Shady Brook President-elect Irv Pearlstein (left) and Jonathan.
Shady Brook Rotary ‘Student of the Month’
April 29, 2013 By
Maple Point basketball team wins tourney
April 26, 2013 By
The Maple Point Middle School eighth grade basketball team won the tournament championship against Armstrong Middle School on March 13th.
Pictured is the team wearing their first place medals and holding the team trophy: front row, Jake Jones, Sean Kelly, Luke Diferdinando, Matt Tarity, Sean Stewart, Eric Rotteveel, Ford Bowman, Nick Edwards, and Sean Gilmore; back row, Zach Tredway, Andrew Note, Brian Saglimben, Hayden Rooney, Dylan McDonald, Corey McGarry, Mason Jones, Coach Skip Mason, and Team Managers, Patrick Gawro, Megan Campbell, and Emily Alexis.
YOBC spring concerts feature Concerto Competition winners
March 20, 2013 By
The Youth Orchestra of Bucks County (YOBC) presents its annual spring concerts, featuring two winners of the Concerto Soloist Competition held last June.
The concerts, which take place on Saturday, March 23rd will showcase trumpeter Andrew King and violinist Caitlin Williams. The concerts take place at Maple Point Middle School, Langhorne at 2:00pm (Junior/Intermediate Divisions) and 8:00pm (Advanced Division).
The soloists will perform in the evening concert. Tickets will be available at the door.
Andrew King, a senior at Neshaminy High School, will be performing “Sonatina for Trumpet” by Keith Kennan with the YOBC Wind Ensemble.
Andrew has been playing trumpet for seven years. He has participated in Neshaminy High School’s Wind Ensemble, Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Marching Band for the past three years where he received the sophomore music award. This past school year Andrew also performed in Neshaminy’s all-student pit orchestra for “The Phantom of the Opera.”
In 2012 he performed in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association (PMEA) All-State Wind Ensemble and this year he has been selected to play in the PMEA All-State Orchestra in April.
Caitlin Williams is a homeschooled senior who lives in Morrisville, and is the concertmistress for YOBC’s Symphony Orchestra. She will play the “Intermezzo” from “Symphonie Espagnole, Op. 21″ by Edouard Lalo.
Caitlin has been playing the violin since age five, two years after she began piano lessons. In addition to violin and piano, Caitlin plays guitar, clarinet, and percussion. She sings alto and soprano in the Princeton Area Homeschool Choir. She has been involved with YOBC since her family returned to the area in 2005.
Caitlin has performed solos for events at Cairn University; at her church, Westerly Road Church in Princeton, NJ; and other regional events.
YOBC creates opportunities for young musicians to achieve artistic excellence through enriching classical music experiences. Currently over 260 students each year, in grades 3–12, representing 27 school districts in Bucks and surrounding counties, come to YOBC every week to hone their skills and achieve their musical goals.
In over 20 years, YOBC has enriched the lives of over 1,500 students.
For more information contact Office Manager Diana Nolan at 215-945-5105. Also visit their website at www.yobc.org.
PHOTO CAPS: 1. Andrew King
2. Caitlin Williams
Maple Point students honored by Shady Brook Rotary
March 1, 2013 By
At the January 23rd dinner meeting of the Rotary Club of Shady Brook at Piccolo’s, two students from Maple Point Middle School were honored as “Students of the Month” for December and January.
Pictured are students Katie Miller and Brendan McGoldrick, along with Rotary Club President Henry Garcia.
Yasmeen Malik honored as Student of the Month
December 29, 2012 By
At a dinner meeting on November 7th, the Rotary Club of Shady Brook honored their November Student Of The Month, Yasmeen Malik from Maple Point Middle School.
Pictured from left are Henry Garcia, Club President, Yasmeen, her mother Perla, and her father Gurraiz.
YOBC’s fall concerts to feature Concerto Competition winners
November 12, 2012 By
The Youth Orchestra of Bucks County’s (YOBC) fall concerts will take place Saturday, November 17th, at Maple Point Middle School in Langhorne.
The Junior and Intermediate Division Concert will be held at 2:00pm featuring three string ensembles, including the new Ripieno Strings, as well as Wind Symphony, Flute Choir, and Clarinet Ensemble.
The Advanced Division concert, at 8:00pm, includes the YOBC Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra, as well as the Chamber Flute Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, and Honors String Quartet. The evening concert will also feature two YOBC Concerto Competition winners.
The annual competition was held in June to offer YOBC members the opportunity to perform as soloists with the Advanced Division ensembles. From a large field of musicians, four soloists were selected by audition – two will perform in November and two in YOBC’s spring concert in March.
The fall program will feature Daniel Gift, performing the Weber Concerto No. 1 with the YOBC Wind Ensemble; and Joshua Carey performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 with the Symphony Orchestra.
Daniel is a senior at Council Rock South High School in Holland. He has been playing clarinet for eight years. He has participated in the Bucks County Music Educators Association (BCMEA) festival for the past five years, and this past year was also part of PA Music Educators Association District, Regional, and All-State ensembles.
Daniel was recently selected to take part in the Army All-American Marching Band and will play at halftime of the 13th annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl in Texas on January 5th, 2013.
At school, Daniel is the principal clarinetist of the orchestra and participates in the marching and symphonic bands.
Joshua Carey began playing the piano 10 years ago, at age seven, and has been playing the bass for three years. In that time, he has participated in two BCMEA music festivals, and the PMEA District and Regional festivals.
Joining YOBC as a bassist in the Symphony Orchestra for the 2011–12 season, he recently participated in the Mediterranean tour with the YOBC tour ensemble.
Josh is a senior at Neshaminy High School, where he is actively involved in the orchestra, jazz band, and choir. He plans to continue to study piano and bass in the future at a conservatory for music performance.
Tickets for the concerts are $12 for adults and $6 for seniors and students. They will be available at the door.
Details about all YOBC events are available on their website, www.yobc.org.
PHOTO CAPS: 1. Daniel Gift
2. Joshua Carey
Neshaminy School District hopes to cut costs by using solar energy
July 31, 2012 By
by June Portnoy
In today’s economy, the cost to warm large buildings using gas heat can be astronomical. As a result, Neshaminy School District has turned to solar energy as a possible cost-efficient option to heat Neshaminy High School and Maple Point Middle School.
“I started considering solar energy because I wanted to save the district money on our utility bills,” says Paul Minotti, Director of Facilities and Operations at Neshaminy School District. “They fluctuate so much from year to year, and we are always at the mercy of the utility company.
“I figured if we could use solar power, we would could curb our costs and get a better estimate of future costs.
“With solar energy you have a fixed rate based on the number of kilowatts you use. The cost can only go up a certain percentage, so you know what the costs will be in a given year.
“With a fixed budget, we won’t have to raise our school budget, which means taxpayers, as well as the environment, will benefit.”
The idea of using solar energy began in 2009 when Neshaminy High School got a new roof with a 20-year warranty. Two years prior to this, Maple Point Middle School received a new roof. Energy provider, Sunlogic, was looking for a large service area and expressed interest in servicing these two large buildings.
“These two schools alone will probably generate 90% of what the entire school district needs,” says Paul.
“This means with solar energy, we will have a fixed cost for power and will only have to buy 10%.
“The greatest benefit is that whatever power we generate, we can sell back to the utility company.”
Sunlogic and Weatherproofing Technologies, a subsidiary of Tremco Inc., developed a partnership to install 400,000 square feet of solar panels on the roofs of Neshaminy High School and Maple Point Middle School. Neshaminy plans to enter a 20-year agreement to keep Sunlogic as its solar energy provider.
“At a time when school districts are trying to do more with less, this is a sustainable clean energy solution that will allow for affordable electricity through a fixed power rate over the next 20 years,” says Dean Bekas, Philadelphia area Tremco manager.
“It will be less than the projected market rates now and into the future, and will provide a cost savings that welcomes fiscal control and proactive budget planning.”
The projected estimate for the solar energy is about $15 million, but there will be no cost to the school district or taxpayers. Instead, Sunlogic, on behalf of Neshaminy, applied for three solar grants back in the fall of last year. The applications were submitted by Sunlogic because it will be the actual owner of the Solar System.
Neshaminy will be providing the roof space for the project and be purchasing the energy from Sunlogic. This project will also be funded through investors, federal tax incentives and state and local grants.
“Senator Robert Tomlinson has been extremely supportive of this project,” says Dean. “The Neshaminy School District applied for grants in PA through the Economic Community Development and his office is working with us to secure these grants.
“These grants are essential in the project moving forward.”
Unfortunately, during the May Commonwealth of Financing Association (CFA) meeting, the CFA cancelled the Solar Energy Program for review. It is currently uncertain why the program is being reviewed, but it’s probable that changes will be made.
“Currently, we are waiting to see if the CFA will open the Solar Program back up,” says Sean Schafer, Executive Assistant to Senator Tomlinson. “If that occurs, we have to see what changes they make to the program itself.
“With that said, when Sunlogic and Neshaminy School District does put in an application, Senator Tomlinson will strongly advocate on their behalf in Harrisburg. The Senator believes this is an innovative idea and is glad to work with Sunlogic and Neshaminy School District on the upcoming grant application process.”
“When funds are released, we are hopeful that the installation of these panels will begin within 30 to 90 days,” says Dean. “It will take approximately 10 months to complete this project.”
“We are hopeful that these grants will come through,” says Paul. “Our goal is that by this time next summer, solar energy will be fully operational at Neshaminy School District.”
Rotary Student of the Month for June
July 3, 2012 By
At their June 13th Meeting, The Rotary Club of Shady Brook presented their “Student of the Month” award to Dennis Pierson, an eighth grade student at Maple Point Middle School.
Pictured are Pam Pierson (Dennis’ mother), Dennis, and Mark Nath, Club President.
Dennis received a certificate and a check for $100.
Council sponsors town hall meeting on underage drinking
May 22, 2012 By
Individuals who start drinking before the age of 15 are more than six times more likely to develop alcohol problems than those who don’t drink until after they are 21.
The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania, Inc., invites parents and other community members to “Start Talking Before They Start Drinking” on Thursday, May 31st, from 7:00pm until 8:30pm at Maple Point Middle School, 2250 Langhorne-Yardley Road, Langhorne.
This town hall meeting on underage drinking will feature, “This Place,” a 15-minute film that dramatically captures today’s youth drinking culture and the impact of underage drinking.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more young people use alcohol than any other drug, including tobacco and marijuana. In 2010, some 10 million 12- to 20-year-olds, or more than one in four, reported drinking.
The program will also include a panel presentation and question-and-answer period. The panel will be comprised of representatives from law enforcement, the medical community, a prevention specialist, a person in recovery, a parent and a concerned youth.
The program is sponsored by The Council of Southeast Pennsylvania and hosted by Neshaminy School District. Funding is provided by SAMHSA.
The program is free, and the public is invited.
For information, contact David Fialko, prevention specialist, at 215-230-8218, ext. 3162, or email dfialko@councilsepa.org.
For more information on the SAMHSA town hall meetings, visit www.stopalcoholabuse.gov/townhallmeetings/.
Gabriel Moon honored as Student of the Month
April 25, 2012 By
Gabriel Moon, of Langhorne, was recently honored by the Shady Brook Rotary Club as their Student of the Month. This honor is awarded to students for academic excellence and outstanding contribution to the community.
Gabriel is an eighth grader at Maple Point Middle School who enjoys reading, basketball, soccer, and lacrosse. He also teaches a religious education class to first graders at St. Andrews. Gabe was honored last year by the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University for high achievement on the SAT. He hopes to attend high school next year at George School.
Gabe is the son of proud parents Kevin and Joanne Moon.
