The Family Times September 2009 Archive
Stop Drilling! DEP tells Cabot Oil & Gas
More than 8000 gallons of chemical-laced fracing fluid from a gas drilling site in Dimock, Pa. poured into nearby Stevens Creek on Thursday, September 24. This was the third chemical spill within nine days to occur in Dimock as a result of …
Firemen to Host Hancock Fall Festival
The Hancock Fire Department has taken the reigns for this year’s Hancock Fall Festival. Residents will converge on Fireman’s Field on October 10 and 11 to celebrate the end of summer and the turning of the leaves. Kids can expect …
Not-So Ordinary Labor Day at FFS
This Labor Day at the Family Foundation School, bounce houses, dunk tanks and waterslides were available for an afternoon of fun. The carnival followed the annual race where the students and staff cheered on runners around the campus.
During a recent phone conversation with my father, he piqued my interest in President Barack Obama’s plans for educational progress by telling me about the president’s “back to school” speech to the young people of the United States.
As I sat down to write my second column of the semester, I had so many thoughts and ideas about what I could say but I didn’t know how to express them. I mean, with the thought of graduating in a few months, the stresses of managing …
Last Christmas, a distant relative of mine announced that he was divorcing his wife. They had been separated for a few months, and the divorce would be finalized within the next year. When the Christmas celebrations were over …
Among the arguments in favor of drilling in the Marcellus Shale is that it’s somehow patriotic; that landowners who sign leases are just doing their part to put the U.S. on the road to energy independence. The battle cry at last month’s pro-drilling …
“Hancock Central, we salute you, school we loved so well. We, thy sons and daughters faithful, ever your praise will tell.” Several Family Foundation School staff members took part in a blast from the past by recording …
Family School Reevaluates Students’ Looks & Books
Recently the students and staff at the Family Foundation School noticed that the dress code had become slack. At the same time they realized that the students’ choice of reading material was not always appropriate for The Family School.
FFS has hired a new Health office Director. Robin Morgan-North, RN, started the job on September 28. She was chosen over several applicants for the position. Welcome, Robin! A meeting of the girls and female staff took place this month …
Fathers Ralph and Liz Groskoph, Episcopalian priests, have been hosting dinners for the Episcopalian students every first Tuesday of the month in Whiting Hall. The dinners allow Episcopalian students to get together and discuss school-wide …
After June graduation at the Family Foundation School, the number of girl students in the school declined. The houses were unbalanced, with 11 girls in some families and only four in another. In some houses, there was also only one …
In the Spotlight -Robin Morgan-North
Robin Morgan-North didn’t have any idea how close of a fit the position of Director of Nursing would be at the Family Foundation School. A resident of Livingston Manor, Morgan-North has been nursing for many years in psychiatrics …
Though she graduated with a degree in biology, Dawn Finlay has taught math for the past eleven years. Recently, she was promoted to the head of the mathematics department at the Family Foundation School. When asked how she ended up …
Natalya Kuchukov, a Russian teacher, and her husband Yuri, the Family Foundation School art teacher, returned from their trip to Russia in early September. Their time in Russia was eventful. Natalaya took care of her mother and spent time …
Every other Monday night in Betton House, dinner topics are replaced by a student getting up to teach the 12 steps of AA. “We’ve been doing this ever since Betton house, (formerly Family One), started,” said Family Leader Robin Ducey.
After a three-week absence from the Family Foundation School, Father Stephen returned refreshed and spiritually invigorated. Father Stephen, who underwent painful back surgery, had been on bed-rest at his Pennsylvania home. He could barely …
I just found out that I’m not scheduled to graduate in June. I have been banking on a June graduation since I got to the Family Foundation School, and now I am really upset because it’s been put off for six more months. I feel like giving up.
Quo Vadis: A First Step Experience
Sometimes I have a difficult time remembering past events. It’s not the event itself that is the difficulty, but how I thought or felt about a particular event. For instance, my wife and I have very different memories of the chronological …
Family Foundation School staff and students have chosen Paul P. as the September Student of the Month. “It is an honor. I’m happy people think that I’m worthy of it. I have only done what people tell me to do,” said Paul. Until coming to …
I knew exactly what I was doing this time
Using drugs and drinking was a way of life. It didn’t matter who I stepped on and it didn’t matter the level that I would succumb to. I would stop at nothing to get what I wanted. As a result of my reckless lifestyle I was sent to The Family Foundation …
I was born into a healthy, Roman Catholic family eighteen years ago. As a young kid, I was always easily angered. One of my first memories is in Chicago where I lived until I started school. My two older brothers were playing on the street, and …
Water Contamination in Philadelphia
People in Philadelphia are encountering problems with their well water. Researchers say that the natural gas drilling operations taking place near by may be the cause of this mishap. Hydraulic fracturing, “fracking”, is a technique …
For those who don’t know, the Marcellus Shale lies beneath the entire southern half of upstate New York and runs through Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio. Within the Marcellus Shale lies an enormous amount of natural gas. But, unlike …
Seeing is Believing: HBO Series
Richard Russo, a Pulitzer prize- winning author, is involved in a new HBO series based on drilling for gas in the Marcellus Shale in upstate New York. The series is set in the Catskill Mountains, believed to hold the largest reservoir of natural …
Seeing is Believing: Split Estate
“Split Estate” is a new movie that provides insight into gas drilling operations around the country. The movie was filmed in the western U.S. and features landowners in conflict with drilling companies. Brian Egolf, New Mexico …
As the natural gas drilling debate continues, nearly 60 Town of Hancock residents gathered together for the “Light Up the Delaware” party on Sunday, September 6. The residents were protesting natural gas drilling that could result in …
Betton House’s strength was tested this month by being given many new students. “Some people see new challenges as a bother, but I am enjoying reaching out and helping our newcomers,” says Dave K. Their new students are Andrew G. from …
Lake House ran hard in the Labor Day race with Erika C., Nadine N., Matt S., Diego N., Brett K., and Lily G. pushing themselves to the end. Though they ended up in last place, the entire house was rewarded with waffle sundaes after lunch.
With Labor Day festivities and the fall musical, September has been a busy month for Mann House. Several Mann House students participated in the musical, “My Favorite Year,” including Rebecca B., Josh W., Phil P., Chris L., Brian O., …
The month of September has been eventful for Smith House with the addition of new students and the departure of five family members. As the school realized the imbalance in the number of girls per House, many ideas for changes were …
Wilson House has been keeping it together for the past month.“We’re doing well; we have a few struggles every day, but we get through them,” said Sam F., a senior girl in Wilson House. “We’ve had some changes, we’ve gotten some new …
With a lot of things to do and so little time, this month has been a strenuous one for Talbot House. With the play and other events, like working in the gardens around campus and 12-Stepping new additions to the family, Talbot House has been …
Solar Energy – Its Use for the Future
According to the recent New York Times Op-Ed Columnist Thomas L. Friedman, “Applied Materials is one of the most important U.S. companies you’ve probably never heard of.” Applied makes the machines that make microchips for …
Even when I was getting high, I had this infatuation with beautiful places. There is a waterfall by my house beautiful, hidden, and quiet–and I would escape there whenever I needed some time to think and be alone. Although my mind was …
I recently transferred as a junior to George Mason University in Northern Virginia and am slowly acclimating to a large and diverse student body. I am majoring in marketing and am enjoying my classes for the most part. I live in a house in …
Louis L. came to the school a few days before June 07’ graduation due to his insane ways of doing things which revolved around substance abuse, constant isolation, and out-of-control behavior. When he came to the school, he had no …
Tyler W. was an all- around brat. He lost his drive for doing the right thing by isolating from the people around him, and fell onto a dark path before arriving at The Family Foundation School on April 25, 2007. For six months he did …
Family Foundation School alumnus, Andre G., visited the school for an AA speakers’ meeting with three other alumni on September 13. The entire student body gathered in the gym for an hour to ask the former students questions. Andre …
Family Foundation School former student, Pat P., recently visited the campus for the September Family Day play. Pat was a member of Family One, now known as Betton House, for 20 months. He was a high school dropout, depressed, and …
Nick arrived at the school on April 6, 2006. He was enrolled in Family Two, now known as Lake House. While at the school, Nick participated in extracurricular activities such as drama, chorus, and dog training and yearbook. He was …
Shari M. graduated from The Family Foundation School in June 2009 and was in Family Three. She is enjoying life and staying sober. “Life is fantastic,” said Shari. Shari is currently living at home with her parents and attending classes at …
Megan R. came back on September 13 to speak at an AA meeting. After graduating in June, Megan traveled throughout Boston, NYC, and Washington DC. She has been working at a restaurant and recently started school at Hunter College.
Jordan S. arrived at The Family Foundation School a scared pre-teen girl. After months of fighting and being resentful, she gave the program a try and got to know the girls in her family. She was in Family Four (Mann House) for her entire …
Steve W. was sent to The Family Foundation School for abusing drugs and alcohol and not being there for his family. After many vain attempts to get out of the school, and eight wasted months, he gave up and began to take his …
Alena T. was sent to the school for the way she acted at home towards her family. She was disrespectful, manipulative, abused substances, and was very untrustworthy. On August 31, 2007 Alena arrived …
About fifty years ago, the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports began to initiate in-school programs to promote healthy lifestyles and encourage physical fitness across the nation. One idea was the Presidential Physical Fitness …
186 golfers teed off in the second annual Fallen Heroes Golf Tournament held at the French Woods Golf and Country Club on September 6, 2009. 100 hungry other guests joined the tournament for the barbecue and chicken dinner, which …
Close, but no cigar! On September 15, a chilly but sunny Tuesday, the Lady Falcons matched up to Chapel Field but lost 2-1. “It was one of the best games we have played, and even though we lost, everyone gave it their all and …
The Family Foundation School Falcons beat Eldred in their first league game on a sunny Thursday afternoon by a score of 7-1, giving them their fifth win for the season. At the 31-minute mark, forward Yves K. took a pass from …
