Dance4theEnd of child abuse this Sunday at MAC Fitness in Kingston
The Rainbird Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to the end of child abuse – by which it means alerting and mobilizing people to take effective actions to rescue children from dangerous situations of neglect or harm. Founders of the organization envision a global movement that will end the systematic physical and/or emotional abuse of children on the planet: a result requiring a veritable paradigm shift in the way we think.
A noble cause, one might say, but one seemingly insurmountable. By definition, child abuse can include violence perpetrated in cases of addiction, rape, child sexual trafficking, neglect, bullying, suicide, starvation, drug and alcohol abuse and associated crimes, school shootings, patricide, matricide, mass murder and war. How does one even dream of putting a dent in the whole of suffering endured by children worldwide, when we lean on the premise that nothing can really be done about it, and that it’s none of our business what people do to their kids, anyway?
Rainbird founder Hanna Roth dreams big. Out to wake us up and alter the culturally embedded conversation about child abuse, she thinks about issues that most of us would rather ignore. She points to how abusive conditions exist only in the “white noise” around us, where the welfare of children falls below the radar. The foundation organizes communities and puts pressure wherever it’s needed to call attention to abuse. With an emphasis on educating people as to what actions can and should be taken to protect children, it also generates direct financial support for those actions.
Rainbird now operates in three countries – the Philippines, Uganda and the US – to develop partnerships with people and other organizations with like goals. Independent fundraising events are held around the country to support the work being done worldwide. “We came up with the ‘4theEnd’ events so that people can do any kind of event they choose,” says Roth, “to raise funds and support the actions: Eat4theEnd, Run4theEnd, Game4theEnd, Walk4theEnd. And when they come to these events, they begin to confront the issue. It’s all about empowerment and activating the community,” she says. “The greatest untapped resource we’ve got is our community.”
This Sunday, April 10, you can dance your way to the end of child abuse at MAC Fitness in Kingston. “Dance4theEnd” is being hosted by local dance aficionados Sherrill Silver, Diane Hussey DeChillo and Deborah Cohen to raise funds for this important work. Come shake it with some swing, Cajun, rock, Latin and Zumba – plus prizes, a silent auction with works of art being donated by local artists, raffles and lots of food.
Big Joe Fitz will emcee the action, with live music provided by Krewe de la Rue (Roger Weiss, Karen Droll, Buffy Lewis and Maggie McManus), the Saints of Swing (bandleader David Winograd, Linda and Chester Freeman doing a swing lesson) and the NY Funk Alliance (led by drummer and producer Ruperto Ifil). Lordes Cruz will teach a salsa lesson. Parrots for Peace will make an appearance for photo ops. Mac Fitness will be leading a Zumba class for anyone buying a ticket to the event. Each type of music and dance will be demoed for the uncertain, so don’t be bashful about trying something new.
“Rainbird is making a huge difference, one kid at a time,” says event volunteer Emmy Josephs. She and the other volunteers talk about their commitment to contributing in large and small ways to promote Rainbird’s cause. “And we vetted the organization,” says Deb Cohen. “We know all the funds go to rescuing and protecting children.” One hundred percent of the proceeds go to the Rainbird Foundation, so dig deep into your pockets and join the fun! Tickets cost $20 in advance, $25 at the door for adults, $10 for youth aged 6 to 16, and kids under age 6 get in free.
– Ann Hutton
Dance4theEnd, Sunday, April 10, 11:30 a.m.-6 p.m., $25/$20/$10, MAC Gym, 743 East Chester Street (Route 9W), Kingston; (914) 466-8024, d4tekingston@gmail.com, www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=dance4theend, www.crowdrise.com/dance4theend, www.rainbirdfoundation.org.
Boughton Place hosts movement learning workshop this Sunday
The Mid-Hudson Association for the Education of Young Children and Boughton Place in Highland will be hosting a free workshop on Sunday, April 10 titled “Games and Activities: Learning through Movement,” a presentation by Eric Gidseg for parents, teachers and caregivers of children aged 3 to 7. The presentation will take place at Boughton Place at 150 Kisor Road in Highland from 2 to 3:30 p.m.
For more information, contact Lexi Langley at (845) 691-7578 or at boughtonplace@gmail.com.
Historic Huguenot Street hosts Tea Time with American Girl author Valerie Tripp
If you have a young daughter, you are doubtless familiar with the American Girls Collection (now known as BeForever™) of high-end character dolls that come with storybooks about their adventures at various times and places in American history. And if your daughter owns one (or more) American Girl® dolls, you may have spent many an hour combing eBay and Craigslist for affordable secondhand historically accurate costumes.
Valerie Tripp, author of many of the American Girl® books, including the ones about Felicity (1774), Samantha (1904) and Molly (1944), pays a visit this Saturday to Historic Huguenot Street in New Paltz, where fans can join her for tea and chat. Tripp will speak about her creative process and the joys of writing while guests enjoy tea, tea sandwiches and pastries from Bridge Creek Catering. Tripp will also answer questions about her stories and sign guests’ books.
A raffle will be held, and one lucky winner will receive a Maryellen Larkin™ doll, complete with accessories and books about her life as an American Girl in the 1950s. And Tripp will announce the winners that she selected in a competition to write an original Huguenot Street Girl story from the perspective of Maria Hasbrouck, the daughter of two of New Paltz’s original Huguenot settlers. Two winners – one in the 7-to-9 and one in the 10-to-12 age group – will have their stories read aloud at the event and will each take home a prize.
Registration is required to attend Tea Time with Valerie Tripp, which takes place at Deyo Hall from 2 to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 9. Tickets cost $25 for adults and $20 for kids aged 12 and under. To register and view the menu, visit www.huguenotstreet.org/teatime. For more info, call Historic Huguenot Street at (845) 255-1660.
Saugerties High School screens I Dream Too Much with director Katie Cokinos
Among the locally shot films screened at the 2015 Woodstock Film Festival was I Dream Too Much, a new fiction feature about intergenerational friendship starring two-time Oscar nominee Diane Ladd. Ladd plays Vera, the artistic great-aunt of Dora, a romantic, unfocused recent college graduate portrayed by Eden Brolin (above), daughter of Josh Brolin. Fleeing her New Jersey home, where her practical mother is pressuring her to study for the LSATs, Dora takes refuge with Vera in her upstate home, assisting her when she becomes housebound after breaking her foot. In the time that they spend together, Dora and Vera both learn that no matter your age, now is always a good time to follow your dreams.
I Dream Too Much is the sophomore feature from director/screenwriter Katie Cokinos, an indie from the Austin area who now lives in Saugerties, where the movie was filmed. The cast also includes Danielle Brooks, James McCaffrey and Casper Andreas, and Richard Linklater (Boyhood) is the executive producer.
This Friday, April 8, I Dream Too Much will be screened at Movie Night at Saugerties High School, sponsored by the school’s PTSA. Filmmaker Cokinos will be present at the event for a live question-and-answer session after the screening, which begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the door and cost $7 general admission, $5 for students and seniors. All proceeds will benefit the Saugerties Central School libraries.
Monroe’s Museum Village reopens this Saturday
Museum Village will open its doors for the season in Monroe this Saturday, April 8. On that day, every building of the living-history museum will be open and a staff of interpreters will be your guides to the past from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Museum Village was the vision of Roscoe William Smith, an electrical engineer, entrepreneur, philanthropist and collector who made his fortune as founder of the Orange and Rockland electric company in 1905. Smith would sometimes accept farm tools or artifacts as forms of payment for electricity. His wealth and his diverse collection of textiles, horse-drawn carriages, tools and mechanical devices allowed for the creation of Museum Village, which opened its doors on July 1, 1950.
Today, Museum Village still pursues its founder’s vision of educating generations of Americans about the work and life of their ancestors. Through educational programs, hands-on-exhibits and special events, Museum Village is dedicated to exploring and interpreting 19th-century rural life as well as inspiring an appreciation for the evolution of industry and technology in America.
Museum Village is located at 1010 Route 17M in Monroe. For more information, call (845) 782-8248 or visit https://museumvillage.org.
“Celebration of Lakota Culture” at Oakwood
Indigenous musician, activist and nationally syndicated radio host Tiokasin Ghosthorse will lead a free public “Celebration of Lakota Culture” at the Oakwood Friends School’s A. H. Lane Auditorium on Tuesday, April 19 at 7 p.m. For more information, call (845) 243-2340, extension 445, or e-mail jokoniewski@oakwoodfriends.org.
Ghosthorse will perform on the red cedar Lakota flute and will discuss “Living in Relativity,” the philosophy and cosmology of the Lakota Nation. He has been a major figure in preserving and reviving the ancient cedar wood flute tradition and combines spoken word and music in performances.
Ghosthorse is from the Cheyenne River Lakota (Sioux) Nation of South Dakota and the bands of Itazipco/Mnicoujou and Oglala. He performs worldwide and has been featured at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and at the United Nations. He is the host of the First Voices Indigenous Radio program originating on WBAI-FM.
Together with two Lakota students, cousins Shai Black Bird, a sophomore, and freshman Natalie Bordeaux, Ghosthorse will conduct a three-day Oakwood Friends students-only residency, painting an 18-foot tipi on campus with traditional Lakota symbols.
Join the family! 
