Cambridge board showed gumption
Caterpillars are really making a mess
The Front Page
Morning Update
Monday, June 21, 2021
By Ken Tingley
This is what bravery, and gumption, and community service looks like all rolled into one gutsy decision.
Last week, the Cambridge Central School Board of Education voted 3-2 to reject a compromise and retired its “Indian” mascot and emblem.
Board of Education President Neil Gifford and board members Caleb Breault and Jessica Roosevelt voted for what I’m guess was an unpopular measure for many. What I think we all should appreciate is that these three individuals stood up for what they believed was right.
Small towns become very attached to their mores and traditions and are slow to change. I’m not sure why the mascot of a sports team should have such stature. I was a Wildcat, a Colonel and a Huskie during my academic career, but I don’t recall ever identifying with any of them.
What is more important here is that this issue has been percolating on the backburner of school districts all across the country for decades, and the reality is that it does nothing but distract from far more important issues.
The Cambridge board discussed a comprise last week that would have changed the mascot emblem, but kept the “Indian” nickname. That would have been just kicked the can down the road for another time.
This issue took on such importance to some people that one current board member was elected on a “Keep the Indian” platform. I’d be more impressed if someone was elected on a “bring back civics” platform.
I was a sports editor for a couple decades and don’t really see the need for any school to have a nickname or mascot, especially if some find it offensive.
The decision has been made and Cambridge can now move on so the community can talk about how it can help its students better prepare for a life in a complicated world. Other school boards - Glens Falls still calls itself the Indians - have not addressed the issue. Maybe it is time they did.
YUK!
Caterpillar problem
I’ve noticed in recent weeks that many trees along the Northway and around Queensbury have had their leaves picked clean by caterpillars. I’ve been seeing Facebook posts for sometime about stained picnic tables and patios. When I walked down my tree-lined driveway this morning, I found a squishy mess of caterpillar excrement and chewed up leaves from one end of the driveway to the other. It was not the best way to start my day.
Summer solstice
Yesterday was the longest day of the year, so in honor of my late pessimist father, I will lament the end of summer instead of the beginning. Starting today, each day will get a little bit shorter as we hurtle into winter. Today is the longest day of the year.
NBA star on the rise
It seems like only a couple years ago I was watching Kevin Huerter lead his Shenendehowa boys basketball team to the state championship at the Civic Center. Last night, I watched him being interviewed on national television after leading the Atlanta Hawks into the Eastern Conference finals with a 27-point effort. It looks like he has a great career ahead of him.
Tweet of the Day
Hurray for Cambridge for removing Mascot name!