By Connie Berry
Sun editor

   This Thursday beginning at 5:30 p.m. at Pensabene’s Casa Grande on State Fair Boulevard, a group of supporters of Unity Acres will gather to celebrate the contributions of Bob and Betty Belge, Mark Capone and Mary Klein Maples.  The event is an annual fundraiser offering dinner and a silent auction.

   Unity Acres, a house of hospitality for men, has provided a home for the homeless for more than 40 years. It was founded by the late Father Ray McVey and Kate Stanton, both had been active in the Syracuse area feeding the homeless before the Acres was founded. A living example of the Gospel works of mercy, Unity Acres still serves the homeless today. It is situated in Orwell, New York in northern Oswego County. The compound is a former tuberculosis sanitarium that houses 70 to 80 men. They grow vegetables and care for livestock. Now days the men do much of the work it takes to keep the place running.

Latin @ Ludden
Schools partner to bring Latin to
students

By Katherine Long
Sun associate editor

    Father Dan Muscalino has been teaching for 31 years and has taught Latin for more than 25 of those. But this year, his 23rd at Bishop Ludden Jr./Sr. High School in Syracuse, he's teaching Latin III like he never has before: simultaneously to five students in his classroom and, via video conferencing, to two more at West Genesee High School in Camillus.

  West Genesee superintendent Dr. Christopher Brown and Ludden principal Michael Sandore discussed a possible distance learning collaboration between their schools after a budget gap led to the elimination of West Genesee’s Latin program, among other cuts.

   “We looked to make cuts in areas that would have the least impact on the fewest number of students,” Dr. Brown said, “and because of the small number of students being serviced by the Latin program, it was eliminated this year. With every cut we made, however, if we could find a different way to offer the service, we wanted to do that.”

   “I knew we were going to have the [Latin] program,” said Sandore. “We were in a position where we could extend ourselves and help out a neighboring district. I knew it would be good for [West Genesee’s students] and for our kids, too.” That sentiment is shared by diocesan superintendent Christopher Mominey, who said that “any time we can collaborate with our public school partners, it’s a great opportunity that benefits our students and theirs.”