Years Ago

This column is a revitalized weekly addition to the paper.  The following moments in history are selected, researched, and edited by Skaneateles High School students enrolled in Kate Hardy’s 10th grade Honors English class. For the next school year they hope to celebrate the past and remember the days from years ago. Thank you to the Skaneateles Library and the Historical Society for providing the Press archives.

20 Years Ago

… the Skaneateles School lunch menu was published into the Skaneateles Press. The lunch menu on March 18, 1999 consisted of shake and bake chicken, whole wheat bread and mashed potatoes. An example of a Skaneateles School lunch from February of 2019 is, chicken tenders, baked beans, assorted fruit, and a tossed romaine salad. The school has made an effort to strive towards healthier meals recently due to laws enforced by the government. According to the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the ideal lunch in 2019 includes chef salad, cooked corn, baby carrots, and skim chocolate milk. In recent years, there have been national efforts in making school lunches healthier and more affordable. The goal of these laws is to combat childhood obesity and create a healthier environment in school cafeterias.

40 Years Ago

… an article in the Skaneateles Press was published regarding the Skaneateles PTC speaking at Waterman Elementary School about the Feingold Nutritional plan which is a no refined sugar, white flower, or additives diet.  This meeting was designed to reach out to parents with kids whom are affected by hyperactivity problems and other related learning disabilities. Recently the PTC hosted the Harlem Wizards game, which was a fundraiser for teachers and faculty for grades K-12 raising BLANK dollars. Additionally, the PTC hosts other events in order to raise money for the school such as family reading night, “discover your talent” day, and Run for Funds. The Skaneateles PTC remains an important part of our school community.

60 Years Ago

… a conflict between Russia, Germany, and the United States had citizens convinced that there was bound to be another world war involving nuclear weapons. An article published in the 1959 Press, informed readers that Russia had backed out of an anti-missile agreement with the United States. As readers know, fear of a nuclear war continued all the way until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1991. Unfortunately, the end of the Cold War did not end fear of a nuclear conflict. Within the last month, denuclearization talks between President Trump and Kim Jung-un ended abruptly and images of nuclear missile sites being built in North Korea were released.  Tensions ran high between Pakistan and India which if escalated could embroil their allies. And U.S.-Russian relations ended abruptly in 2014 with the eruption of the Ukraine crisis and continue to be on poor footing due to potential election tampering. With all of the conflicts happening in the world today, it’s important for all people to reflect on former wars and conflicts, and choose peace instead!

80 Years Ago

… the Press described a comedic story of a Brookhaven town officer teaching kids about the dangers of thin ice. In the story, Officer Trywusch of Brookhaven, Long Island yells at local kids to get off the ice, but then falls in himself. As temperatures rise in Skaneateles, it is especially important to be careful when dealing with ice on the lake, or nearby ponds. General guidelines to avoid falling in would be to make sure that the ice is at least 4 inches thick before walking, however, given recent events, you can never be too cautious. Experts state that ice is never 100% safe, and you should always go out in pairs.

100 Years Ago

… Typhus haunted Russia and Eastern Europe. Generally associated with war, the disease spread rapidly on the Eastern Front of World War I. An estimation of 3,000,000 people died from the illness due to poor living conditions like minimal fuel for heat, malnutrition, and close living quarters. Unlike today, there were no medicines and few doctors who could help the suffering populations. Today, a local health crisis is on the rise. As of Jan. 28, 2019, Onondaga County reported 480 cases of Influenza, and New York State has reported that 786 patients have been hospitalized. It has been almost 2 months since this data was taken, so the numbers should have dramatically increased. This flu season has been one of the worst, so it is important to take necessary steps to protect yourself. Wash your hands often, eat a well-balanced diet, exercise regularly, and try to get a minimum of 8 hours of sleep every night. By taking these steps to stay healthy, we can help limit the spread of illnesses like the flu.