Carolyn and Charlie Dodd may have lost family heirlooms, furniture and photographs to Hurricane Sandy, but they still have their sense of humor. So “Dock Party at the Dodds’” is how she titled the picture of her backyard deck that ripped off its foundation, floated atop floodwaters to rest against their boathouse. Besides the crawlspace [...]

Today I’m in Prattsville. Just because schools are out, doesn’t mean work stops. Members of the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Support Staff work this week to make sure schools are ready for students when they come back from break, just like schools all over the state. I’ve got another reason to go. The school serves an area ravaged by [...]

Normally Felix Regalado drives his fifth-grade students at PS 65 in Queens to excel. On Sunday he was driving a U-Haul truck filled to the gills with TVs, VCRs, DVDs and carts all the way north on the Thruway to Albany and west to Schoharie. With him was Marilyn Manley, the UFT District Rep and [...]

Thanks for understanding that current events have kept us from updating the continued great reaction to the needs in flood-affected areas. Since our last update, and October 31 update, here’s the activity we’ve heard of: Led by Gina Valenze of the UFT, the Habitat For Humanity Club and UFT members at the Queens High School [...]

Here’s three more updates about what locals and members are doing to benefit flood victims. The Middleburgh Central Schools Teachers Association, with 92 members, raised just over $10,000 to benefit the flood victims of the Middleburgh school community.  Members voted to match the $5,500 donation made by The Rolphie Fund to Middleburgh students. The Rolphie Fund [...]

Dear readers: After a phone interview with Emily Morse about the loss of her home in early November, I emailed her the rough draft of the article that appears on page 14 of NYSUT United’s December issue. Here is the letter she sent  in reply: Dear Betsy, Yes, it is true there is no going [...]

Tim Brisley is one of the many teachers who are without jobs due to budget cuts. He last taught earth science in the Albany city schools. He went back to school last year to get certified in elementary education as well. He substitute teaches when he can (even though that impacts unemployment.) What he’d really like [...]

Raw FlipCam and iPhone video documenting union volunteers hard at work rebuilding a community ravaged by flooding.

Not sure how the weather has been where you are, but this will be the first rain-free weekend in the Capital District since Sept. 17-18. Better yet, a whole cadre of NYSUT locals are doing good this weekend. We’ve got unions from all over. Here’s a list so far: Not sure whether to list alphabetically [...]

Folks, the Schoharie Teachers Association is being overwhelmed with phone calls about this weekend’s work. They can not possibly return all the phone calls so please, if you have a question, and it’s not answered here, please comment on this blog and we will get the answer for you. They expect more than 200 volunteers both [...]