New cabins debut at state park
Sterling State Park’s first-ever cabin lodging opens Friday, just in time for Memorial Day weekend.
Construction began last spring on 10 permanent waterfront cabins. Work has just been completed, said Nick Sparks, lead worker at the park.
“Lodging was not previously offered,” said Sparks. “This is the first of any lodging for Sterling.”
The first reservations are for this weekend. Many weekends this summer are booked, but weekday dates are still open.
Cabin rental is $170 a night, and there is a two-night minimum.
Nine of the cabins sleep seven and have two bedrooms. One bedroom has a queen bed; the other has a full bed with a bunk above. A futon in the living area allows for two more occupants.
Professor discusses Jewish literacy, writing
An English professor discussed literacy and education in the Jewish culture Tuesday in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month.
Michelle Toll from Monroe County Community College spoke virtually to about 20 area residents Tuesday morning. A Jewish American, Toll once lived in Israel.
Her topic was “Writing and Literacy in American Jewish Culture,” and the program was offered by MCCC.
Children, she said during a 45-minute slideshow, begin to learn Hebrew in preschool. Education takes place both in the synagogue and at home.
“A lot of literacy takes place at home, not just in a formal setting,” said Toll. “At the family Passover Seder, all read the religious text supposed to be read at home, the stories of the Exodus from Egypt and the 10 Plagues.”
Monroe priest from India: In my village, many have died
Father Kishore Babu Battu is making daily phone calls to India.
The parish administrator at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Church in Monroe is a native of India and still has relatives in the country that has been ravaged with COVID recently.
India has experienced extremely high rates of COVID infections and many deaths. Hospitals are full and medical supplies are running low. Lockdowns were reinstated.
The Rev. Kishore lived in Andhra Pradesh, in the southern part of India, until 2012. His 69-year-old mother, six siblings and many nieces and nephews still live in India. He, like other local residents from India, worry about their health.