Published: November 14, 2009 01:32 am      

EVENING NEWS CHEERS & JEERS: Nov. 14, 2009

CHEERS

... to all those who participated in or attended a Veterans Day service — or simply thanked a veteran — this week.

Also, cheers to area residents and businesses who supported these events with money or manpower.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



JEERS

... to the sudden resignation of Frank Collesano from his post as chief financial officer at Greater Clark County Schools after just a few months on the job.

Don’t misread this as a jeer to Collesano personally, as he seemed to be finding ways to save a financially struggling district money. Also, selfishly speaking, he was very accessible to the media during his short time at Greater Clark, which we’ll miss.

Rather, it’s a jeer to the circumstances which led him to become fed up so quickly, around which there is much speculation.

Hopefully, he’ll tell his side of the story soon.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



CHEERS

... to the merger of Regional Youth Services Inc. and Noah’s Ark Children’s Village.

Noah’s Ark is truly a unique venture in the area, in that it allows foster parents to move into a home and receive rent, food and transportation in exchange for their parenting skills to children in need. Noah’s Ark’s infrastructure includes five homes sitting on 86 acres on Allison Lane in Jeffersonville.

It’s a lot to oversee, and officials for it and Regional Youth Services agreed that the latter’s management skills and diverse funding base will help area foster families.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



JEERS

... to me — again. In last week’s cheer to Rock Creek Christian Academy in Sellersburg for passing another hurdle on its way toward achieving charter school status, I failed to mention there already is a charter school in the area — Community Montessori Charter Public School, in New Albany.

It’s sort of spelled out for me in the name, huh?

The creative folks at Community Montessori have been teaching kids for 11 years, according to its director, Barbara Burke Fondren, who was very kind in pointing out my error in an e-mail.

Also, Community Montessori was among the first group of charter schools in Indiana when the program began in August 2002. The school has more than 520 students from six different countries, Fondren said.

Yea, Community Montessori! Boo, me!

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



CHEERS

... to members of Jeffersonville Main Street Inc. who on Friday won awards from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs in Indianapolis.

Congratulations go to:

• Jay Ellis, executive director — staff member of the year;

• Pam Thomas and Sonny Brewster — outstanding board members; and

• The organization’s Wine Walk and Shop — Downtown Retail Special Event of the Year.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



JEERS

... to the loss of a more than 100-year-old family business in Clarksville. Baird Ice Cream recently ceased production of ice cream and soft-serve mixes, owner Randall Baird said.

He added, “It’s hard for small business to compete nowadays.”

He’s right, and that’s too bad.

— Editor Shea Van Hoy



READER CHEERS

... from the Utica Elementary School Fall Festival Committee to the Jeffersonville High School girls and boys basketball players for volunteering their time to help work the festival Nov. 7.

The kids loved seeing the high school players at their school. These players jumped right in and oversaw some game stations and played with the kids. It was great to see teenagers who are athletic leaders being involved in community events.

Their coaches and parents should be very proud of each of them. I know we are! Thank you all very much.

— Sally Stock, Utica Elementary School Fall Festival chairwoman



READER CHEERS

.... to Applebee’s in Clarksville for saluting our veterans by providing free meals on Veterans Day. Your staff was amazing to serve so many veterans and their families. The service was excellent.

As my husband and I waited for our table, it was great to hear other veterans talking of where they served, which branch of service they were in, which war they served and to listen to all the wonderful stories.

What a great way to honor those who have served our country to ensure our freedoms.

— Janet Crum, Jeffersonville