In response to those sounding off and writing letters in support of the PCS music program, I understand the passion you have for music. I, too, love music and feel it has a place in our schools So does reading.  However, in the tough economic times we are facing, we must remember that the PCS music program is just that ... a program. It is not a curriculum for which our students and teachers are being held accountable. Much of the music offerings at our school are not mandated, simply a luxury. Top notch, don’t get me wrong, but a luxury. Private voice lessons ... really?

POTSDAM -- SUNY Potsdam hosts its fifth annual Relay for Life tonight at 7 p.m. in Maxcy Hall Fieldhouse. The opening ceremony for the American Cancer Society-sponsored event begins at 8 p.m.

Relay for Life gives people in communities across the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and raise funds to fight the disease.

The theme for this year's SUNY Potsdam relay is "Viva Las Vegas: What Happens at Relay, Stays at Relay," and promises to be a night filled with celebration, memories, fun and laughter.

The state Senate has a Women of Distinction program, to single out the extraordinary people who every day make life better, and State Sen. Patty Ritchie is soliciting nominations for the next round of awards.

The top winners from across the state will be honored by the Senate at a special Albany reception where their photographs and biographies will be placed on exhibit to highlight their remarkable contributions.

CANTON – The Children’s Art Academy of the First Presbyterian Church, will hold a show on Sunday, April 3, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 17 Park St.

Works on display will include Japanese paper marbling, animal sculptures, Seurat pointillism pictures, ink paintings and more. The students and instructors will be on hand. There will also be several brief performances from the dance, drama and musical classes. Each group will perform for 5 minutes and display talents and techniques learned in the classes.

GOUVERNEUR – A pancake breakfast to benefit Judy Bush will be held at First United Methodist Church, 34 Grove St., Sunday, April 3 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cost for adults is $6, children over 5, $4, children under 5 free. Donations may be sent to the church. Make checks payable to 1st UMC in Judy’s name.

For more information contact the church at 287-2440.

WADDINGTON – Virginia “Toot” (Pemberton) O’Brian of Waddington recently celebrated her 80th birthday with over 100 friends and relatives.

At the mere age of sixteen, Virginia was crowned the “Queen of Waddington” in Waddington’s first and only beauty pageant.

She married Mason O’Brian on June 20, 1949.

Pictured are four generations of the O’Brian family.

St. Lawrence NYSARC (www.slnysarc.org), the non-profit organization dedicated to people with intellectual and other developmental disabilities announced that Doug McIntosh was selected as a Joslin Outstanding Performer for work on NYSID (New York State Industries for the Disabled, Inc.) Preferred Source contracts.

The Obama presidential address had a Republican response. This is standard practice. Most mass media have been treating the “Tea Party” as a legitimate party. It is not. It is a lobbying group that from day one has received top publicity in all media. We need third parties in our political debates, but the tea party is not on any ballot as far as I know. The presidential Debate Commission does not allow third parties to debate even though they are on nationwide ballots. The Tea Party is not a party.

Is it me or is the number of people who live like pigs going up? I can understand poverty; I can sympathize with the poor and the disabled. But being poor or disabled is not license to be filthy. I know plenty of very clean economically disadvantaged people. Yet it really disgusts me when I go out for drive and see garbage piled up in and around people’s houses, garages and barns. I’m not talking about junk collectors or salvage yards; I’m talking about long duration garbage piles, not someone cleaning out the attic or basements, but places with year round growing piles of crap.