'Hudson Reads' Moves from Tea to Spiders

The HCSD community reading program 'Hudson Reads' completed its journey through Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea with a group reading by local political, educational and cultural leaders Monday evening at the Hudson Opera House. Next, the group will read E.B. White's Charlotte's Web.

At the same event, Montgomery C. Smith Intermediate School Teacher Theresa Moran announced, to a drumroll, that the schools have raised $457.84 through their "Pennies for Peace" program to support the building of schools in underdeveloped countries.

ABOVE: Waiting their turn at the podium are Jim Campion, Luisa Kildiss, Eileen Halloran, Marc Molinaro and Jack Howe, along with event organizer Lisa Dolan.

BELOW: Dan Region.

 

Three Cups of Tea is about finding ways to build schools in Afghanistan. Assemblyman Marc Molinaro, R,C,I-Red Hook, said the book illustrates the well-known saying that "we should never underestimate the power of one person to change the world; it's the only thing that ever has." Register-Star Advertising Director Pam Geskie thanked the school district and opera house for doing this project, which she enjoyed together with her nephew, and urged them to continue such endeavors. HCSD Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Development Maria Suttmeier said the book shows "how important and what a privilege it is to have an education in a school." Columbia-Greene Community College President James Campion congratulated Superintendent Jack Howe and his colleagues for "bringing this wonderful project to our community."

 

 

 

LEFT: Principal Brenneman and Third-Grader Nazim Ali take their turn reading from Three Cups of Tea.

 

 

 

 

 

Other readers included Howe, Montgomery C. Smith Intermediate School Principal Mark Brenneman and third-grader Nazim Wali, Chatham Librarian Luisa Kildiss, early childhood educator Eileen Maloy, After School Coordinator Kathy Clark and her niece, Emmy-winning scriptwriter Jill Cozza-Turner, Hudson City Treasurer Eileen Halloran, HCSD Account Clerk Diane Konderwich, and actor Dan Region.

LEFT: Kathy Clark and Jill Cozza-Turnerread as Pam Geskie follows along. RIGHT: Marc Molinaro