BEACON – The Howland Chamber Music Circle (HCMC) closes its 2024-2025 chamber series with Imani Winds, at the Howland Cultural Center on Sunday, May 18, at 4 pm. Following the concert, audience members can meet the musicians and enjoy complementary refreshments. All ticket holders are invited to the reception. To purchase a ticket, visit www.howlandmusic.org The Howland Cultural Center is at 477 Main Street in Beacon The quintet is widely celebrated for its embrace of traditional classical repertoire and re-arrangements of contemporary greats Imani Winds will play works by Valerie Coleman (a founder of the quintet no longer performing with them); Kalevi Aho (a contemporary Finnish composer); Paquito D’Rivera (composed for the quintet); Stevie Wonder (arranged by a member of the quintet); Fazil Say (a contemporary from Turkey); and Simon Shaheen (a contemporary Palestinian-American arranged by a former member of Imani Winds) HCMC now offers tickets at prices to include music lovers who may have been unable to afford our tickets in the past A limited number of tickets will be available on a pay-what-you-wish basis These tickets will be released one week prior to each concert HOWLAND — The Howland SCOPE Center will be closed starting Monday for a $219,000 remodeling and renovation project to the two floors of the building Today is the last day the center will be open for an expected 90-day project Programs and classes have been relocated to other Howland locations or SCOPE centers Howland Planning Director Kim Mascarella said the project includes redoing the entire kitchen with new equipment installing a new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant door and interior painting and cleaning of walls “The project should take three months This will modernize the inside of the center and provide needed improvements,” she said DeSalvo Construction is the project’s main contractor Mascarella said community development block grants from the county are covering project costs She said the project is expected to be completed by early May Mascarella said the project was expected to begin in 2024 with the center closed for a period but was delayed due to some engineering issues The center has been reopened since November She said the center has had roof work and some flooring work in the past Members of SCOPE who use the Howland site can go to other locations during the renovation said the Shepherd of the Valley in Howland local churches and the Howland Public Library have offered to be locations for some classes and dancing will be scheduled at Shepherd of the Valley Reventlow said many of the programs at the Howland center are also available at the other centers She said carpeting will be installed on the second floor Reventlow said people indicated they do not mind the center being closed but look forward to returning in the spring to a new center “They understand the situation and say they look forward to seeing it when they get to come back,” she said said people are excited about what is planned and look forward to returning to a new modernized center He said people do not mind attending the programs they like at other locations “We have classes being held at the Cortland and Niles centers,” Ezzo said The following construction projects are anticipated to affect highways in Trumbull County this week WARREN — A Trumbull County grand jury recently returned 34 indictments CHAMPION — With heavy continuous rainfall in the past weeks flooding has become a common issue for many .. Mike DeWine published an open letter last week to promote legislation supporting Delphi Corp.’s salaried .. LORDSTOWN — Since the village no longer is doing a community newsletter officials are looking at another option .. | https://www.tribtoday.com | 240 Franklin Street SE We're sorry; the page you're looking for is either offline now Please use the search options to find what you're looking for http://www.howlandculturalcenter.org/ information@howlandculturalcenter.org The American Artists Professional League presents its third-annual Realism Show opening March 1 at the historic HowlandCultural Center A vibrant celebration of traditional realism this year's show promises to be a captivating showcase of small works by the finest representational artists from across the nation The exhibition will feature nearly 100 juried entries displayed in the Howland Cultural Center's stunning Northcutt Hall Gallery with each work measuring no larger than 20 inches by 20 inches Artists from every corner of the United States will display their mastery of realism across multiple genres The exhibition will run from March 1 through April 13 with an opening reception on March 1 from 1–3 p.m This is a wonderful opportunity to meet the artists and be among the first to view the stunning works on display Stay tuned for details on a demo event with signature artist Brian McClear on March 22 the works on display will be available for sale Whether you're a seasoned collector or a first-time art buyer this is your chance to own a piece of exceptional American realism and sculpture tells a story and embodies the artist’s dedication to craftsmanship and beauty dba Destination Dutchess All rights reserved By visiting this site you agree to our Privacy Policy. The programs provided by this agency are partially funded by monies received from the County of Dutchess Discrimination is prohibited by Federal Law Complaints of discrimination may be filed with USDA Thank you for reaching out to Dutchess Tourism please call our main line at (845) 463-4000 Don't forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter to receive the latest news, top attractions and upcoming events in Dutchess County. For more travel inspiration, view our digital Destination Guide Two new exhibitions opening in just the last week – yes brings back the annually loved Howland Community Open and shows Emilee Cha’s contemporaneous exploration of traditional Hmong textile art too This month also brings a prospectively magical Second Saturday and an intriguing call to artists for 2026 if you have kiddos – there’s an opportunity for a Spring Break Arts Camp the rundown of all that’s TAC for February… the Jim and Ruth Howland Community Open returns – we’re talking about over 300 artworks installed by a hearty team of volunteers The annual tradition is an opportunity for everyone in the greater Corvallis area to exhibit artwork in The Arts Center Main Gallery Artists of all ages and experience levels have been encouraged to submit one piece of original art for display The folks at TAC wish to remind everyone: you get to vote for the Howland People’s Choice Awards. The last chance to vote is during the Corvallis Arts Walk, on Thursday, February 20, until 7 pm. Click here for more information explores traditional Hmong textile art called “Paj Ntaub” and its symbolic language through present day exploratory methods The exhibit highlights the meaning and origins of Paj Ntaub while also examining how cultural traditions The artwork showcases the fusion between American and traditional Hmong aesthetics by the use of traditional motifs and American fabrics and patterns The vibrant geometric patterns demonstrate how traditional motifs and symbols are exhibited on our clothing The use of multiple colors highlights the versatility within the use of traditional symbols For more information, click here If you are looking for a fun, creative outlet for your kids and teens during Spring Break this March, TAC’s Spring Arts Adventures offers comic creation and film photography classes all week long. For more info, click here Interested in having an art exhibition at The Arts Center in 2026  TAC annually accepts proposals from US artists working in all visual mediums you can apply to exhibit in the Main and Corrine Woodman Galleries in 2026 Main Gallery exhibition proposals, click here. Corrine Woodman Gallery exhibition proposals, click here Do you have a story for The Advocate? Email editor@corvallisadvocate.com the arts and artist activity in eastern Dutchess County This arts service organization has a gallery and offers workshops and special arts events to artists and the public Arts Mid-Hudson promotes and coordinates all cultural activity and development acro.. Promoting artists and facilitating creative experiences through programs that promote a vibrant community and enrich the lives of local citizens Their goal is to promote and nurture Beacon's multi-fa.. Howland Cultural Center's Gallery in the Great Room is a well-established resource for visual and live arts providing year-round artistic programming and supporting local artists and community organiz.. KuBe (an acronym for Kunsthalle Beacon) is comprised of 48 artists' studios This new non-profit performance venue in Pine Plains is a hub of the regional community in the heart of a small .. The Art Effect (formerly Mill Street Loft and Spark Media Project) is committed to being a catalyst for youth empowerment and community engagement through the arts and media across the Hudson Valley By visiting this site you agree to our Privacy Policy. http://www.howlandculturalcenter.org BeaconLitFest@gmail.com The second-annual Beacon LitFest at Howland Cultural Center is a three-day celebration of the literary arts The idea of this festival is to expose audiences to outstanding writers and introduce fresh literary voices This year's event will run June 7 – 9 Click here to see the festival schedule and to purchase tickets The festival opens on June 7 with a party with food drinks and entertainment featuring Core Improv and local writers Caroline Eisner The main program on June 8 will feature a curated program that include readings and a special focus on dramatic adaptations and interpretations of written work The formidable group of participating writers will include Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Egan; attorney and multi-award winning author Jode Millman an acclaimed author of fiction and memoir; Edwin Torres a performance poet and audience favorite; Timothy Liu (Lui Ti Mo) an award-winning poet and editor of "An Anthology of Gay American Poetry;" Tina Cane YA author and past poet laureate of Rhode Island; and a special appearance by David Herskovits multiple OBIE award-winner and founding Artistic Director of Target Margin Theater in NYC The day will end with book sales and signings hosted by Stanza Books and will include a cocktail party meet-and-greet Three workshops are planned for June 9: "Imagination Belongs in Memoir Too!" at 10 a.m.; "Building Blocks of Fiction" at 12 p.m.; and "Poetry Live Writing" at 2 p.m BEACON – The Howland Cultural Center will hold a memorial celebration October 13 in honor of Florence Northcutt still a member of the Howland board of directors on which she had served for decades many of them as president and the chief volunteer “Please join Florence Northcutt’s family and friends with an afternoon of music songs and stories celebrating the legacy of this extraordinary woman who dedicated her life to supporting the arts wherever she went,” said Theresa Kraft This occasion will also launch the Northcutt Legacy Fund to benefit the center’s work in perpetuity Discussions have begun with the Community Foundations of the Hudson Valley to establish a Designated Fund the income will support the Howland’s operations and preserve the 1872 historic building that is the center’s home Florence’s family has donated many of her collected treasured artworks to be purchased in a silent auction at the Oct Donations will also be welcomed to help this cause Florence Northcutt moved to Beacon in 1984 and said she was loving every minute of it She retired after 36 years as an educator and became involved with the arts which have always been a major part of her life She joined the Howland Cultural Center board in 1988 and served as its president from 1996 to March 1 she developed a series of monthly art exhibitions a program that became one of the major features at the center providing an opportunity for both accomplished and up-and-coming artists of the Hudson Valley to have their work presented to the art-loving public The Howland Cultural Center said it was grateful to Florence’s family for sharing her generous heart with them They thank her son William and his wife Rosemary and daughter Vicki and her husband Joel Reiff Her beloved grandchildren Frances (Noah Green) Martha (Ayberk Ozturk) and Jed Reiff (Mirella) Cherished great-grandmother of Naomi and Joanna Green Berk and Taner Ozturk and Yara Kalea Reiff As space is limited and many have already registered, those who plan to attend should RSVP in advance via the center’s website, howlandculturalcenter.org, or by going to bit.ly/FNmemorial The event is from 1-5 and the memorial starts at 2 PM Read on to learn more about each Collaboration Award of Distinction finalist Big Gay Hudson Valley: Big Gay Hudson Valley has been building queer community since 2008 We know that a community’s success is the sum of its parts We create experiences and promote resources that empower people to make new connections explore the Hudson Valley and live as their authentic LGBTQ+ selves.  Spirits & Cider: We are a nationally and locally award-winning retail wine and spirit shop that features a curated selection of products including a large collection of local items We are strategically located near over 10 hotels nestled by the north/south 9 corridor and the east/west I-84 highway We are the only liquor store in NYS that has a 13-tap system for growler fills and sampling featuring a 15-foot tree sculpture with a tap in the trunk We have the largest collection of hard cider on the East Coast that attracts customers to our store from as far north as Maine Our staff holds multiple certifications in wine cider and tequila as well as in tourism as Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA) and Certified Guest Service Professionals (CGSP) ensuring a well-informed customer experience East Coast in 2023 by the American Cider Association Howland Cultural Center: The Howland Cultural Center (HCC) owns and operates the historic 1872 Howland Circulating Library building in Beacon Serving as a cornerstone of cultural collaboration for area residents and attracting thousands of visitors annually known as "the Jewel of Beacon." Originally erected by Joseph Howland as a library and designed by his brother-in-law the renowned architect Richard Morris Hunt our building is the first site in the City of Beacon to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places with a mission to preserve the building’s rich heritage and transform it into a vibrant hub for art The Howland Cultural Center exemplifies the community’s deep-rooted artistic and cultural traditions hosting over four dozen performing arts events and six juried art exhibits annually Big Gay Hudson Valley: Big Gay Hudson Valley has always believed in the power of community collaborations are at the core of the work that we do. In 2024 Big Gay Hudson Valley worked with a number of local organizations to create the first-ever LGBTQ+ Pride event on the iconic Walkway Over The Hudson This was made possible thanks to a series of collaborations between Big Gay Hudson Valley The Walkway Over The Hudson Friends Group and New York State Department of Parks. In addition to our three core organizations there were also countless other collaborations that made this possible This includes collaborations that were initiated between New York State Police Troops F and K as well as the Dutchess and Ulster County Sheriffs to ensure safety and security; Dutchess Tourism Ulster County Tourism and I LOVE NY to promote the event and support economic development in our region and then dozens of small LGBTQ+ Community Groups that helped to activate and engage our local communities. Our efforts were successful in bringing together more than 3,000 participants for Pride In The Sky on Friday night The event was so successful that we've scheduled the event for next year on Saturday night Spirits & Cider: We enjoy collaborating with local  Some we did in the last year or two include: Howland Cultural Center: Our commitment to collaborating with the community is evident through two monthly "open mic" events focusing on literature providing space and support for creative arts Our recent adult performance with Steve Burns of Nickelodeon's "Blue's Clues" over a three-day run was a huge success as was the sold-out Bannerman’s theatrical production we have a longstanding partnership with the Howland Chamber Music Circle bringing twelve classical concerts to our venue each year This is complemented by the engaging "Classics for Kids" program We also serve as a sought-after venue for recitals hosting performances by private music studios and senior public recitals by Bard College Vocal Arts Program students Our goal is to enrich the lives of all who come to the center by providing something for everyone to enjoy Big Gay Hudson Valley: I have always enjoyed talking to strangers and over the course of my life I've learned that so many of us share similar thoughts I've realized that by asking questions about common goals and working collaboratively to bring those ideas together with shared resources, anything is possible. Pride In The Sky came to be as a result of a cold call that I made to the Friends of The Walkway organization Their new Executive Director had been interested in establishing a LGBTQ+ Pride Night on the Walkway Big Gay Hudson Valley was looking for new ways to engage our community — at sites that appeal to the community's interest in arts It was the perfect combination to create a successful event Spirits & Cider: We learned that so many other small businesses We enjoy working with other businesses to get a unique external perspective about the market it is about building relationships and community Howland Cultural Center: We've learned that collaboration can inspire new ideas and creative outcomes When people with different perspectives and expertise share their ideas it can lead to innovation and problem-solving We’re always open to new possibilities Howland Cultural Center The Howland Cultural Center rings in the new year with “Celebrating Animals." is a culmination of 30 artists who explore the existence of animals not only in nature The result of their reflection is unique works ranging from photos to drawings to paintings and sculptures Humans relationship with animals is deep and complex whether it brings joy remembering a childhood pet innate fear of a creature from a storybook or curious awe of the majestic wild Each of these works is a celebration of the relationship between man and animal.  Travel: Stewart Airport resumes international flights Dateline: Hyde Park library was built for FDR's father Taking a counter clockwise turn around the gallery visitors are eased into an encounter with the many varieties of animals in the exhibit fish and frog; a photograph of a muddy pink pig at a farm; an oil on canvas dark horse that is highlighted as if by lightning; and a pair of paintings of a chicken and a rooster that delightfully go about their business by the time you make it to the first corner of the gallery you stop in your tracks by Jane Cassetta’s “The Vanishing Wolf.” This oil on canvas work embodies the strength and protection of the wolf looking into the distance with background colors blending with the wolf’s fur Are its eyes set on its next meal or guarding its family Amusement parks: Legoland NY announces reopening date Movies: Hallmark Christmas movie filming in Dutchess, Orange counties Entertainment: Plunging temps mean outdoor fun. Where to skate, find ice castle The following panels reveal more animals from the wild with their families including monkeys and hawks bring viewers into this incredible ecosystem “The Gaze,” acrylic on canvas features a mysterious owl with eyes gazing “Faces of Mickey” tells the story of a pup who Kiernan adopted from Hudson Valley Animal Rescue and Sanctuary in Poughkeepsie This digital photo collage is an endearing look at this older southern gentleman who found Kiernan in the height of the pandemic and continues to bring joy Rounding out the final corner of the room are illustrations from the “Hello My Name is Bunny” series Bunny is actually a black cat with piercing green eyes and a white paw color wash drawings enchant the viewer with her adventures across Manhattan The story by Matt Bloom and Shelley Simmons-Bloom features a small kitty with a big heart who’s finally found her fur-ever home A portion of the funds of every book sold is donated to KittyKind in New York City where Bunny was adopted experience in nature or fantasy created in our minds “Celebrating Animals” will bring you to every season Contact: 845-831-4988; howlandculturalcenter.org Current COVID precautions will be observed Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas is the director of development and marketing for Arts Mid-Hudson Art From Here appears every other week Sunday Contact her at 845-454-3222 or melissa@artsmidhudson.org Cultural Center celebrates National African American History MonthTimes Herald-RecordBEACON - During the month of February 2021 the Howland Cultural Center once again joins the National Celebration and Recognition of African American History Month  “In Our Lifetime,” the art of seventeen African American artists will be featured in a month-long exhibit which opens on Feb. 6 and will hang through Feb. 28 Gallery viewing hours are every Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Exhibiting artists are Jean Benoit Oliver Spearman and Donald Whitely. Artists work to be shown consists of paintings photography and illustrated children’s books. Josephine Green is the exhibit curator.           The Howland Cultural Center requires all visitors to wear a face mask use the hand sanitizer provided in the hall lobby prior to entering the art gallery practice social distancing while viewing the art work and a limit of ten visitors are permitted into the gallery at approximately fifteen minutes intervals,   The Howland Cultural Center is at 477 Main Street, in Beacon.  For questions and/or further  information call 831-4988.  A new addition is coming to Howland High School The school district announced plans of a new fine and performing arts facility that will eventually be connected to the high school district officials tell 21 News it will be for the entire community to enjoy as well "It's the idea of knowing of a community spot for everybody to come together to that one place," explained Kevin Spicher Superintendent of Howland School District. "This is something important for the community because it was once a place for people to come together and gather and that's what we're really trying to work to make happen." The Howland School District is establishing plans for a state of the art fine and performing arts center The district hasn't had a performing arts facility for several years.  the Tiger community got their first glimpse of the architectural layouts and designs The facility is handicapped accessible and features an auditorium that seats 800 people "Currently they [students] need to share the space with athletics," explained Andrew Bednar, NCARB with Baker, Bednar, Snyder & Associates kicking the athletes out of the gym to be able to have a band or choral performance This will allow for that to occur in a much better setting that's acoustically designed The new facility would compliment the current facility as well as take us into the future." Spicher tells 21 News once this is eventually completed it won't be just for the student's of the district He said anyone within the Howland community or anyone who wants to rent out the space will also be able to utilize it we wanted to be able to have everything else in there for the opportunities of the community to be able to use it," Spicher said Spicher added investing in their fine and performing arts is important and the feedback from students and alumni has already been positive Howland students were able to give their input on the designs "Some of the suggestions they made was to be able to allow for a variety of performances to happen in a variety of spaces," Bednar added music departments and speech and debate team have all been participating in all of this up to this point," Spicher said Officials are still unsure the cost and time line of the project they hope to approve the project and work out cost estimates Stay connected with us on our 21 News App as these plans continue to be unveiled HOWLAND — More than 100 alumni from the late 1960s to 2018 donned orange and joined the Howland High School Band on Lombardo Field on Friday night for a performance of “Sweet Home Alabama” during the halftime show of the school’s homecoming game it was a reminder of the importance of the arts — something the Howland school district wanted to celebrate as it officially introduced its proposed Fine and Performing Arts Center and kicked off the fundraising campaign for the building Halftime included a short video in which Superintendent Kevin Spicher — who was also playing in the alumni band — walked spectators through a rendering of the new building and set that night’s fundraising goal at $2,500 Thanks to donations from the alumni band and fans that goal was met within minutes of play resuming in the second half Spicher said that an auditorium built in 1926 served the Howland students and community well for decades until its demolition in the early 1990s “Although the vision was to build a new auditorium to restore the void left sadly it is yet to come to fruition some 30 years later,” Spicher said “The time has come to build a bigger and better auditorium — in fact The video was met with applause from those in the stands and former and current band members on the sidelines the fine and performing arts center would be attached to the high school’s gymnasium by a corridor that could be closed off to separate athletic events and performances when necessary The space would include an 800-seat auditorium with a stage equipped with an area to raise and lower backdrops as well as catwalks and a lighting grid mutli-purpose lobby and an outdoor stage for student use While the final estimate for the project is not solidified “But it’s one of those things that we could cut back anywhere we need to if we’re not able to get to that area so we could still build an auditorium regardless,” he said Funds raised will go into a 10-year earmarked account If in that time the district doesn’t get enough to build an auditorium that money would go back to the students and would still be geared toward supporting the arts He’s aiming to raise the money in five years or less Some $36,800 of proceeds from a personal property auction at North Road Intermediate School earlier this year is already designated for the construction of the auditorium Should that unoccupied North Road building be sold those proceeds are also expected to go to the fine and performing arts center or Partners Advocating and Working for Students The organization started in 2019 when the former stadium foundation shifted gears to raising funds for all students “Only a very small percentage (of students) are into athletics and (athletics) have their own fundraising fundraising for the whole district improves all of our schools — not just high school this is Pre-K through 12,” Gebhardt said a tent was set up with screens displaying renderings and information about the fine and performing arts center Activities Director Andrea Ferenac and Howland High School cheerleaders handed out free sugar cookies packaged with a machine-readable QR code that linked to a website with information on the fine and performing arts center A similar video to that which played at halftime also posted on the school’s social media pages around 8:30 p.m Spicher said he has already had people reach out and express their interest in supporting the fine and performing arts center “I believe the community will support it,” Spicher said HOWLAND — The celebration of the nation’s 243rd birthday will be remembered by the family of John D Emanuel because of what the township did in his memory dedication and love that Emanuel provided to the township in his many years of service Emanuel is credited with initiating the first Fourth of July parade in the township Thursday’s parade had approximately 200 units Howland’s parade has been called one largest in the area celebrating Independence Day including the construction of the new administration building then working as the township administrator that convinced the trustees to purchase the former Grange building so it could be used as a senior center,” township Trustee Rick Clark said The township bought the building in 1998 for $105,000 the center has an average 26,000 visitors per year as a senior center It also is the home of Howland’s American Legion Post 700 “It combines his passions for the elderly “This has been a huge honor for the community to do this to honor my father and our family He truly loved Howland and would do anything he could for it.” Emanuel worked as an administrator with the Social Security Administration Emanuel served on the Howland Board of Education for six years the Howland Zoning Board for four years and as a Howland trustee for 12 years He served as the Howland Township administrator for eight years Army veteran served Howland Township in various capacities for 28 years who supported her husband throughout his efforts The new sign in front of the building was completed as part of a Eagle Scout project by Justin Shorts The American Legion Post 700 and other organizations worked together to get the project done who have been attending the Howland Parade at least 11 years “We’ve been coming to this parade since around the time my daughter “Even before that,” Charles said said his family spends most of the morning each July 4 along the street watching the parade going to friends’ homes and watching fireworks in the evening “It is time we’re able to spend together as a family,” Miller said Niles resident DeVon Owens said he and family would spend some time cooking barbecue and relaxing members of the Second Brigade Motorcycle Club have ridden into Howland on Independence Day to cook hot dogs and hamburgers and give them at no cost to any veteran who may want something to eat The club also serves breakfast to veterans every Memorial Day in Warren’s Perkins Park looking at the names of fallen military veterans engraved in several wood panels on display outside the high school building “I don’t know any of these men but my parents have always raised me to recognize what they’ve done to allow me to live and go to school here,” she said especially seeing the dancers do flips as they walked passed us but I know there is a deeper meaning to this day than us simply having fun.” Jacksonville City Council member Nick Howland is pitching the Jacksonville Aviation Authority on bankrolling an aviation training center that would prepare people to work as aircraft maintenance technicians and air traffic controllers The aviation authority has an "unsurpassed opportunity" to be a leader in workforce development support higher education and bolster the aviation industry in Jacksonville Howland said in a presentation during it board meeting this week But aviation authority officials say the current level of cash reserves is needed because the agency has about $2 billion of airport system construction and upgrades on its plate through 2035 There also is a question of whether federal regulations would even allow the aviation authority to put its money into the proposed training center without jeopardizing the authority's ability to get grants that are the lifeblood of airports Aviation authority spokesman Michael Stewart said the agency strives to be a good community partner "but there are certain things we can do and we can't do" based on the FAA limitations Howland asked the authority to request an opinion from FAA He said he's been in talks with Florida State College at Jacksonville about what the college could do to expand its aviation courses FSCJ already provides such courses for 60 graduates a year and could ramp up by another 200 students if it can create a training center in a hangar at Cecil Airport "I have no doubt there are 200 Duval County students and active-duty military members ready to transition to the private community that could take advantage of vocations that are in high demand for decades to come," Howland said Board member Bill Gulliford said if Howland wants to secure funding for a training center it would be better for him to go to the airlines which employ aircraft maintenance technicians or the federal government that hires air traffic controllers "The authority does not employ either," Gulliford said He said his responsibility is to ensure the aviation authority runs the airports and does all it can to give passengers the best service and travel experience possible reflected by the recognition our airport receives," Gulliford said "So the fundamental question is how does an expenditure of this nature bring benefit to the authority and I'm grappling to find a positive answer to that question." Howland's presentation to the board is the latest in long-running talks between him and the aviation authority about whether the authority can steer some of its money toward new programs and initiatives Using aviation authority money to raise power lines not allowedDuring City Council's budget hearings in August, Howland said he was interested in seeing if the authority could put some of its funding into a workforce development with FSCJ and also pay part of the cost for raising high-voltage power lines that span the St JaxPort wants the higher power lines so there's more room for big cargo container ships to reach the Blount Island terminal The city's Office of General Counsel said in a Sept 20 memo that because of FAA restrictions attached to federal grants for the airport the aviation authority can only use its revenue for facilities and operations that are "directly related to its core purpose of providing air transportation of passengers and property." General Counsel Michael Fackler's memo said that restriction would prevent the authority from using its money to raise the power lines because that does not involve an airport facility a contribution for a workforce development program geared solely for "airport operators" might fall within what FAA allows we would recommend requesting an opinion from FAA to confirm that this is an appropriate expenditure," the memo says Planes and automobiles: Jacksonville International Airport expanding gates and parking New mascot: Say hello to Florida State College at Jacksonville's new campus-wide mascot: The Manta Ray Howland told the authority's board that FAA believes the aviation authority could spend money on a vocational program on airport property training people for jobs in airport operations He said he talked with an FAA administrator in the agency's Office of Government and Industry Affairs who told him his proposal for a training center would "likely be permissible" for such funding it's already done at airports around the country," Howland said But the FAA said in response to a Times-Union question the agency did not commit to a training center "The FAA provided Councilman Howland with general information about revenue-use requirements and did not make any commitments to the city or airport on future plans for a training facility," the agency said in a statement The aviation authority board did not take any immediate action on Howland's request and will bring it up for more discussion at a future meeting another board member said he supports Howland's plan Aviation Authority board member Andy Hofheimer wrote in an email to Howland that having fully trained FAA-certified aviation mechanics is vital to airports "Count me in for energetic support," Hofheimer wrote Business Journal Daily | The Youngstown Publishing Company Ohio – Southwoods Health has opened its newest location at 9371 E orthopaedic and imaging services to Trumbull County It is the latest addition to Southwoods’ expanding network of physicians specialists and facilities throughout the Mahoning Valley The Howland facility introduces the first 3T MRI to Trumbull County offering the most advanced imaging technology available to patients The new machine produces the highest-quality images with the most enhanced anatomical detail “When you combine state-of-the-art technology with the medical expertise of our specialists it creates an unbeatable combination to accurately diagnose and treat a wide range of disorders,” said Ed Muransky patient care in Howland is delivered with a focus on quality and compassion – something you’ll find at all Southwoods locations.” For information, call 330 965 5090 or go to SouthwoodsHealth.com/Howland Just $99/year or $10/month will get you full access to all of our articles every month Stay up to date with all of our latest news STARKVILLE – The long wait to return to play is nearly over for Mississippi State men's basketball coach Ben Howland and his players The Bulldogs haven't been on the court in competitive action since March 7 when they beat Ole Miss by 25 points in the regular-season finale The SEC and NCAA tournaments were canceled shortly after because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Howland said they cannot wait to tip off Nov 25 against Clemson in the Space Coast Challenge in Melbourne "Our guys are tired of beating up on each other and can't wait to play other people," Howland said.  Howland said it is going to be "a real baptism" for many of the players on his roster who lack college experience Teams across the country have lost the luxury of exhibition games and scrimmages.  It's the real deal when the ball goes up.  "The only way you get experience is by going through it and getting out there," Howland said "We're going straight from practice to the fire Those are always good things to have in a normal year because it gives you a little information and also guys get used to playing under the lights."  both of whom are hopeful to be picked in Nov The loss of guards Tyson Carter and Nick Weatherspoon did not help that cause either.  Howland said senior center Abdul Ado has been more aggressive offensively than he's ever been to try to make up for the 40-plus points Mississippi State lost with the four aforementioned players leaving but most of the scoring duties will fall on the shoulders of sophomore guards D.J Javian Davis (Alabama) and Jalen Johnson (Louisiana) are all expected to make contributions in rebounding and on the scoreboard as well Howland said true freshmen Deivon Smith and Cameron Matthews have impressed in practices Howland couldn't put his finger on one thing Mississippi State must really key in on between now and the start of the season He said the Bulldogs have to get a little bit better at everything in the next two weeks.  "Starting with defense and just doing a good job with the basic fundamentals We spend a lot of time talking about blocking out every day jumping to the ball and being ball-side and being in help We want to do a great job in transition defense playing inside-out because we have two bigs Contact Tyler Horka at thorka@gannett.com. Follow @tbhorka on Twitter. To read more of Tyler's work, subscribe to the Clarion Ledger today The work of 24 member artists of the Howland Cultural Center is featured in an exhibit that runs through April 26 sculptures and ceramics from artists Luz Ahumada John Twohig and Theresia Winterleitner.  BEACON: 'A Quiet Place': Film says 'thank you' to Dutchess, Ulster HOUSING: Beacon proposes ordinance on short-term rentals like Airbnb Many of the artists have previously exhibited at the Howland while others are showing for the first time. The group show includes professional artists in the Hudson Valley other artists who are pursuing their interest in art since retiring  and those who have returned to their craft later in life.  She has been drawing and painting since the age of 5 according to her daughter, Patricia Barth Berner’s six oil paintings are scenes of historic Beacon primarily old factory buildings standing along Fishkill Creek (once called Matteawan Creek) They were created from original historic photographs taken by her circa 1958; several of the buildings no longer exist The gallery at 477 Main St., Beacon, is open to the viewing public from 1-5 p.m., Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Call 845-831-4988 or visit www.howlandculturalcenter.org for more information LANSING — Sherry Larner was eight months into her job as a 911 dispatcher with the city of Lansing when she found herself on the phone with a man who was distraught and suicidal Twenty-four years later she still vividly recalls it as one of the most traumatic calls she’s ever taken Libby Howland knows firsthand the trauma Larner suffered — and how it affects dispatchers — after working the night of a mass shooting at Michigan State University in Eaton County's dispatch center Howland was in downtown East Lansing with her husband and two boys 19 for “Spartan Sunday” to hand out handmade key chains and bookmarks to students dealing with the aftermath of the Feb the totality of the hours she spent dispatching first responders to campus hit her As she crossed Grand River Avenue “there was a police car that went down the road with its lights and sirens on and I just immediately froze and started crying,” Howland said who knows all too well the wounds his wife’s job as a 911 dispatcher inflicts steered their children away from her and “let me have that moment,” she said Dispatchers say their work is unpredictable but immensely gratifying because they have the chance to save lives daily But the mental wear and tear often leads to burnout high-stress levels and mandatory overtime because of chronically understaffed dispatch centers in Michigan and across the U.S contribute to short careers in the profession for many Dispatchers say the solution to recruitment and retention is complicated and must include supporting their mental health and work-life balance and reclassifying dispatchers on a federal and state level as the first responders they’ve always been what do we need to be doing?” Ingham County 911 Director Barb Davidson asked “We need to make folks feel like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.” Kyla Carranco sat at her desk inside Eaton County’s 911 Central Dispatch Center facing four large computer-aided dispatch screens Dispatchers use them to help locate where a call is coming from record information from incoming callers and first responders While every call is different — and many last only three or four minutes a supervisor who’s been doing the work for 14 years but they also make second-by-second judgment calls about the seriousness of an emergency how dangerous it could be for the first responders and whether they should stay on the line with a caller until help arrives There’s even a program that takes a dispatcher through questions they should ask in a medical emergency then provides them prompts to help instruct someone through saving a life including performing CPR or delivering a baby Carranco was studying criminal justice at MSU when a neighbor suggested she consider 911 dispatch “I liked being somewhere where I was a part of solving the emergency and getting people the help being on the front line without being out there in the elements,” she said but the desire to help people is what drives most of them “You have to have that ability to manage a super-high level of stress and while you're doing that communicate very clearly and calmly,” she said “You have to have a servant's heart to be able to continue to do it.” "Just suck it up and move on," Carranco remembers thinking to herself after a difficult call in 2009 She was less than six months into her job at Ingham County 911 Central Dispatch and still in training when she experienced one of her first traumatic calls as a dispatcher she pushed it to the back of her mind and left it there for years “I wasn't even the call taker or the dispatcher for it,” she said about the incident in which police and co-workers dealt with the immediate aftermath of a mother killing two children before taking her own life “I was sitting at a different desk that day and so the officers were yelling on the radio a lot and there was a lot of activity in the room,” she said Don't let yourself feel anything about it.’” when the incident surfaced during a session with her therapist “It was something that came up out of nowhere and I thought ‘I shoved that way down in the recesses of my mind,’" Carranco said Prioritizing mental health is one of the job’s biggest challenges Dispatchers must set their own emotions aside when they’re working but they need to process them once their shift is over and then go home at the end of the day,” Howland said Our job is serious preparation for how to handle these situations both physically at the console and mentally as a person to be able to deal with someone else's trauma and not have it affect you in that moment.”  dispatchers didn’t talk about the calls they struggled with for fear it would be seen as a weakness “Then a few really brave people started talking about it," she said Now dispatchers and their leaders receive training to recognize and address mental health issues state 911 administrator for the State 911 Office but in the last few years has come to the forefront of the profession Supervisors now regularly check in with staff after traumatic calls inform them of an incident’s outcome and talk through emergencies after the fact “You get an opportunity to talk about the incident,” Eaton County 911 Director Kelley Cunningham said “Sometimes just being able to talk to others that were involved in the incident allows you to get that off your shoulders and then on top of it.” said she knew what she was getting herself into when she started working as a 911 dispatcher in Ingham County “My grandma was a dispatcher for Flint Township so it was kind of one of those times things came to full fruition,” she said stretches spent without a day off and mandatory overtime might have been “a shock-and-a-half,” otherwise “I’m on a seven-day stretch right now,” she said when she spoke to the State Journal in late April "but I’ve gone stretches where I work 15 or 16 days in a row Hilburn says she worked 470 hours of overtime between June and the end of December 2022 That's because there are six vacant positions in Ingham County’s 911 Center “In the amount of time I've worked in this profession we were fully staffed once for about a week,” she said which puts centers like hers in “a vicious cycle.” meaning I have to have 11 people and a supervisor out there every day 24/7,” Davidson said which means your work-life balance is probably bad We have to continue to get the numbers up in the staffing and then get people trained.” There are an estimated 2,200 public safety telecommunicators in Michigan handling “an average of 6.4 million emergency calls and texts” to 911 a year according to a resolution passed in the state Senate last month urging Congress to reclassify dispatchers from office and administrative support to first responders Many of the centers those dispatchers work in who works for the National Emergency Number Association She's the organization's 911 and public safety answering point operations director 911 centers that are fully staffed and fully trained are “unicorns,” she said In the U.S. 70% of public safety telecommunicators are female, according to Data USA a website that uses public government data to compile statistics New dispatchers spend six months to a year learning an area’s geography and the nuances of the job before they sit at a console by themselves who was hired to work 911 dispatch in 2001 said even though the completion rate has improved one in four new hires in Ingham County don't make it through training Understaffing issues prompted the Capitol City Labor Program Inc. the union representing Ingham County’s 911 dispatchers to send a letter outlining the issue to State Sen “Chronic understaffing creates undue stress as well as operational and personal challenges,” read the letter “In 2022 our members worked more than 35,000 hours of overtime with the median being 832 hours per dispatcher.” overtime and the mental challenges associated with the job haven't helped with turnover at the state's 911 centers The average length of time dispatchers stay in the profession was but I would say it’s an average of one to three years," Harvey said "Staffing 911 has been very difficult for at least 10 years Dispatch center leadership in the state is actively talking about recruitment and retention "But there's absolutely no easy fix for it," Harvey said isn’t fully staffed either — the center has two open positions Eaton County's is fully staffed for the first time in Cunningham’s career The staffing has allowed the center’s dispatchers opportunities to take part in more outreach within the community and spend more time with their families and loved ones After MSU shooting, legislators look to get 911 dispatchers classified as first responders in Michigan Can new apartments spur business growth in downtown Lansing without state workers returning? $4M food incubator with 6 on-site restaurants coming to downtown Lansing's Knapp's Centre Advocates are pushing to reclassify 911 dispatchers currently deemed "office and administrative support" staff in Michigan and the U.S. funding and counseling services after emergencies they had a hand in responding to have been looking since February at changes that would benefit 911 dispatchers including whether to propose amending a state statute though Singh said nothing has been introduced yet The statute allows first responders access to binding arbitration during contract negotiations and that's an option 911 dispatchers at consolidated centers don’t have right now director of operations for Capitol City Labor Program Including dispatchers in the statute would give dispatchers in unions more bargaining power and could lead to pay increases in the profession The median hourly salary across the country is between $18 and $22 Ingham County pays the highest rate locally The job tops out at $29.89 an hour in year eight on the job Efforts to reclassify dispatchers on a federal level also haven't progressed She expects the measure to be re-introduced this year The MSU shooting shed light on how crucial 911 dispatchers are in an emergency and could provide a new understanding of why it’s important to designate them as first responders “I feel like it gave people maybe their first glimpse of what it's like to be a 911 dispatcher,” she said it woke them up that there's this group of mostly women who are handling these crises so that the first responders can get where they need to go.” Despite the long hours and inevitable stress of the job the profession has grown on Ashley Pasikowski who started working as a dispatcher for Ingham County in March of last year I got a couple of higher priority calls right off the bat and I just kind of knew this is something I'm good at and this is something I can see doing long term," Pasikowski said "No one calls 911 because they're having a good day They call because it's possibly the worst day of their life and getting them the help that they needed at that moment it makes me feel good to help somebody else and that's something that I've always wanted in a career." The Howland Cultural Center and Beacon LitFest’s “Hudson Valley Poets Present” - a program that will feature six award-winning Hudson Valley poets who will read and discuss their new work - is coming on April 19 Some writers will be introducing work from their debut publications while others have numerous books and chapbooks in print All have won awards for their publications The reading will showcase the range and depth of literary talent up and down the Hudson Valley “You’ll hear poets of the page and poets of the stage,” said Ruth Danon curator and founder of Live Writing: A Project for the Reading “It’s also a great opportunity to have a few refreshments and meet with the poets to discuss their work and pick up copies of their latest collections.” The LitFest is planned for the weekend of June 17 and 18 Beacon LitFest also presented a sold-out performance of the award-winning play “The Vagina Monologues” at HitHouseCreative HCC is a nonprofit organization run by a fully volunteer board and staff Housed in the historic former Howland Library in Beacon it offers a wide array of cultural and community programs throughout the year Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in advance via howlandculturalcenter.org or at the door Ohio – Mercy Health plans to cut the ribbon April 5 to open its $14.5 million Howland Medical Center at 1932 Niles-Cortland Road NE The 50,000-square-foot outpatient center brings together physicians imaging and lab services in a single location Ground was broken last May for the construction project Among those scheduled to make remarks at the ribbon cutting are Kathy Cook Southwoods Health has opened up a new location in Howland Suite 2 and will bring expert pain management orthopaedic and imaging services to Trumbull County.  the Howland Facility introduced the first 3T MRI to Trumbull County providing patients with the most advanced imaging technology available in medicine The system's capabilities ensure the highest quality images with the most enhanced anatomical details "When you combine state-of-the-art technology with the medical expertise of our specialists it creates an unbeatable combination to accurately diagnose and treat a wide range of disorders," said Southwoods Health CEO The location has been open since November of 2022 BEACON – During the month of September the Howland Cultural Center proudly celebrates its 23rd annual art exhibition of Latino American Artists of the Hudson Valley The exhibit will show from September 1 through 30 featuring nineteen artists representing their Hispanic heritage from seven Spanish speaking The artists provide a diversity of expression and creativity with their artworks of paintings Many of these artists are well-known in the Hudson Valley and have been the recipients of awards as prestigious as the Dutchess County Executive’s Award and consulates nationally and internationally The formal recognition of Hispanic Americans began in 1968 when Congress authorized President Lyndon Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week expanded by President Ronald Reagan to a month-long recognition and celebration honoring the nation‘s Hispanic heritage and culture The 2010 Census reported that people of Hispanic and/or Latino origin numbered 50.5 million or 16% of the national population as compared to the 2000 Census which registered the Hispanic population at 135.3 million or 13% of the total U.S population indicating Hispanics are the nation’s largest minority group The Statistics Portal estimated in 2017 the Hispanic population for Dutchess County was 295,568 from the New York State statistic of 3.748 million ranking New York State third in the largest population nationally The Howland Cultural Center takes pride and pleasure in drawing attention to the diversity and talents of Latino-American artists cultural traditions of generations of the Hispanics which have had profound and positive influences on the development Visitors may view the art exhibition every Friday Exceptions to this schedule are on Sundays when the art gallery will be closed to the viewing public for concerts: Julliard String Quartet & Telegraph Quartet please call the Howland Cultural Center at (845) 831-4988 or visit: www.howlandculturalcenter.org or facebook.com/howlandcenterbeacon The annual African-American Artists of the Hudson Valley is on exhibit at the Howland Cultural Center featuring the creative expression of 22 artists With more than 80 individual pieces of art on display in a wide variety of media visitors will enjoy exploring this jewel-box exhibition space There are several painters exhibiting their approach to portraiture such as Jean Benoit’s “Bel Kreyol.” Benoit commented as a participant in the show: “It was an amazing experience to be a part of the art exhibition at the Howland Cultural Center The artworks were strong and as diverse as the attendees.” In another approach to portraiture Richard Outlaw’s painting “Coltrane” depicts the revered jazz musician in a composition with a train and his saxophone in reference to his extraordinary album "Blue Train." Several artists created works that celebrate musicians such as the “White Hot Guitar,” by Robert L Lynne Toye’s dreamy landscape paintings are nearly abstracts In “Vineyard Marsh,” the series of horizontal swaths of color allow the viewers to see these abstractions as a sunset over Martha’s Vineyard "It was an honor to be invited to show my work along with such a diverse and talented group of artists doing amazing expressive work in all mediums." Lesley Koenig’s abstract paintings show her love of color magenta and red that make up the painting seem to have deep personal meaning including the orb framed and centered in the painting “The act of painting is a blissful practice that releases me from the everyday 'noise' of life it's unquestionably the endeavor that enables me to give my best self to the world.” Kyra Husbands is one of the youngest artists featured in the exhibit “It's an amazing feeling to have my work shared alongside so many other talented artists in the community for Black History Month this year,” she said viewers can see the depth of talent in this young artist in “Red Sun” viewers will see a pen-and-ink drawing of a bare-chested youth The arms are folded awkwardly across the chest The sole bit of color is a deep vermillion circle indicating the sun The exhibit includes a variety of photography including the documentary street portraits by Don Whitely of the 2016 Afro Punk Concert and the casual family portraits by Helen Douglas Photographer Josephine Green exhibits three flower prints that at first glance appear to be realistic paintings Three-dimensional art is presented by Ronald Brown who has created a body of work around masks each with its own personality and reminiscent of the traditions of Mardi Gras masks and costuming Linda Marston-Reid is the president of Arts Mid-Hudson The column appears every other week in Enjoy Contact her at 845-454-3222 or lmr@artsmidhudson.org African American Artists of the Hudson Valley is on display at the Howland Cultural Center, 477 Main St., Beacon, through Feb. 26. Gallery hours are 1-5 p.m., Friday through Monday. Call 845- 831-4988; email information@howlandculturalcenter.org; visit www.howlandculturalcenter.org