News and Perspective for the Amsterdam, NY Community

An opportunity for dogs to enjoy the last “dog days of summer”, and to help other dogs still awaiting their forever homes, will be available at the Montgomery County SPCA 8th annual Pooch Plunge, sponsored by Beckmann Converting, Inc. on Sunday, August 19 from noon to 4pm at the Veterans Park swimming pool on Locust Avenue in Amsterdam. The fundraising event will benefit the homeless pets of the MCSPCA Animal Shelter.

Greeting participants and prospective adopters will be the “MCSPCA Ambassador Dogs” who are awaiting adoption at the MCSPCA Animal Shelter. Admission is $10 per dog. The public is also welcome to bring a lawn chair or blanket and watch the dogs enjoy their plunge – a $2.00 per person minimum donation is requested.

The pool is closed to the general public, and only dogs are allowed to swim. Wading pools and sprinklers will also be available. Toys will be provided for the dogs to play with their people and each other both in and out of the water. The canine playground will offer additional activity for the dogs.

For the enjoyment and safety of all participants, dogs must be dog-friendly and people-friendly. Dogs may play off-leash in the fenced area, but must be leashed outside the fencing, and must be under their owner’s control at all times. Owners must be willing and able to enter the pool as necessary. Owners are also reminded to bring bags and be prepared to clean up after their dogs.

“Big Splash Sponsor” Beckmann Converting, Inc., of Amsterdam, will be on hand to welcome dogs and showcase their business. They will be joined by “Plunge Partner” sponsor Bloomingtail’s Dog Boutique of Amsterdam, with a sampling of its services and products. Providing lunch for sale throughout the afternoon will be the Amsterdam High School varsity swim team.

The Pooch Plunge fundraiser will also feature raffles baskets, and the MCSPCA information booth will be available to learn more about the Animal Shelter, pets available for adoption, and the programs and services the MCSPCA offers to the animals and residents of the community.

The Montgomery County SPCA is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the welfare of homeless, abandoned, neglected and abused animals in the Montgomery County area. Funded primarily by public donations, nominal fees and municipal service contracts, the MCSPCA receives no regular funding from governmental agencies nor from national animal welfare organizations such as the ASPCA or Humane Society of the US.

For more information on the MCSPCA, visit www.mc-spca.org or Facebook, or email info@mc-spca.org.

The 27th Annual Not Just for Kids Storytelling series brings regionally, nationally, and internationally known storytellers to Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site to share their tales!

9/9 Nancy Marie Payne, Ruslan and Ludmila: Alexander Pushkin’s saga of majesty, magic and mayhem, Oh, My!

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Writing the Watershed: A Literary Arts Festival Featuring Literature, Stories, and Writers from the Mohawk Region, August 24-26, 2018. Writing the Watershed has as its goals
• To bring attention to the idea of a “watershed” as an organizing principle
• To highlight writing about “place” and the environment.
• To provide an opportunity for local writing and verbal artistry to be recognized
The two-day festival offers workshops on memoir writing and poetry; storytelling, opportunities for public participation through open mike sessions, a concert of Spoken Word poetry featuring 518 spoken word artists Souly.had and friends, and guest speakers. The line-up of guest authors and speakers include Amsterdam historian and radio personality, Bob Cudmore; poet Daniel Bowman; and Mohawk storyteller Kay Olan Ionataie:was. John Cronin, Senior Fellow at the Dyson College Institute for Sustainability and the Environment of Pace University will serve as a keynote speaker. Participatory workshops (pre-registration required) include memoir writing workshop (Helen Condon) and poetry (Dan Bowman). A nature writers’ workshop for children, “Field Notes and Story Lines,” will be offered by Mary Cuffe Perez. The festival is an event for the entire family. A complete schedule and line-up of artists can be found at www.schoharierivercenter.org. Two-day festival tickets will be $10.00 each or $25.00 for a family of 3 or more. Saturday’s concert of Spoken Word Poetry (8/25/2018) is a family friendly event, with an admission of $5.00/person.