Archive for the 'A Dover Dilemma' Category

A Lasting Impression

Published
by
Richard Mondello
on September 8, 2008
in A Dover Dilemma, Dover, Press Appearances and Ricky
. 2 Comments

Twelve days ago, I left Dover Plains and arrived at Tufts University in Boston. My experience thus far is beyond belief - I’m having a blast, meeting so many great people, and am learning so much. Unfortunately, this post isn’t about my experience here in Boston, it’s about life back in Dover. I’ll write about Tufts soon though, trust me.

The efforts I took at bettering the Dover community last year are well documented on this blog. At the time, my friends and mentors appreciated my work. I wrote and said what everyone was thinking, but alas, it didn’t bring about much change by itself.

Since I left town, this may have changed. I’ve been hearing vague reports from anonymous sources that things I had written on my blog in the past have hit the desks of important people in the Dover community. The focus of my first month at Tufts was to become a member of my new community, a challenging task when there’s so much going on back home. For instance, a Google Alert I have to track the term “Richard Mondello” just alerted me that I was in the Harlem Valley Times this last week:

Frame said that she had recently been reading Dover Valedictorian Richard Mondello’s blog with great interest and had taken to heart when Mondello said that he felt that the “community leaders weren’t listening to the youth.”

“It’s a shame,” Frame said and offered to begin meeting with the Dover student council and the board of education on a regular basis.

Galayda mentioned Mondello’s work in organizing the “Register for Change” event and applauded the youth’s determination.

I didn’t know this until just now, four days after the article was published. If I wasn’t proactive about tracking my reputation, I may have ever known!

So, to my friends and mentors back home, I need a favor from you. If you hear and read anything related to me, the Dover Dilemma, or Register for Change, please send me an email and let me know. I’d really appreciate hearing anything you know, whether it be fact or rumor.

While I’m at it, if you’re a Dover student who’d like to continue down the path I set on last year, writing about injustices in Dover High School, you’re welcome to email me an anonymous report that I’ll guest post here.

Thank you. Really.

Awesome Feedback

Published
by
Richard Mondello
on July 24, 2008
in A Dover Dilemma, Computer Academy, Dover, Dover Carnival, Feedback and Ideas
. 2 Comments

If you’re a Dover resident or a frequent visitor, you’ll find this post a particular treat. If not, it may be less relevant.

I’ve been so busy working at the Computer Academy and planning future endeavors that I haven’t had time to address the many awesome comments that you all, my readers, have posted. I always appreciate feedback, so I’ve made some time to highlight the recent comments on my blog. Individuals all across the spectrum have been leaving me their insightful thoughts, people who have been moving through my life this last year, and people who I have yet to meet in person.

Feel free to skip to the comments about the Dover Carnival Incident. If not, let’s get started.

…

Day One, Year Two, Computer Academy

Rick (without a Y) wrote:

I was searching for the DCC Academy website and I came across this. Now I get to read up on Dover Drama! Woot! But if it makes you feel better, I was always blown away by how much Dover students were able to get away with. I subbed there for about six months (I think I subbed one of your classes once), and rarely did a day go by that my jaw didn’t hit the floor after seeing a student say or do something that I wouldn’t have DREAMED of doing.

I feel real old saying that, and I had to check myself before I typed it. Was it really that different for me? Or am I just remembering the good parts? That’s probably the case to a certain extent, but when a student jumps out of one of the windows in the middle of class and doesn’t even get a lunch detention… Well, something smells rotten. My mother vents to me aboutn it often.

Anywho, it’s good to have you in the program. Our approach seems to evolved into team-teaching, which is a fantastic method. Now we just pray that they all bring their parts in by Tuesday and it’ll be a perfect class.

-RT

Rick is the gentleman who taught the Computer Hardware class at the Computer Academy during the first two-week session. For those two weeks, I was his Teaching Assistant. We had a great time and got a lot of work done. I look forward to working with him again in the future.

It doesn’t make me feel better that it’s seemingly common knowledge about what “Dover students (are) able to get away with”. It’s just sad, really. I’m sure everyone agrees.

…

AP Scores

Mike wrote:

Getting a 5 on either Calculus Exam is literally easier than passing it. For some odd reason, about 65 of the 110-or-so are necessary to get a 5 each yeah, though the results are always heavily skewed toward the high-grade end. The tests with more common results have about 10% 5’s, 30% 4’s, 30% 3’s, 20% 2’s, and 10% 1’s. Calc AB has about 30% 5’s, with more than 60% getting a 4 or 5. Calc BC is “worse”, with about 50% 5’s.

To me, this seems to be a grading contradiction on part of College Board. If I get a normal percentage score (earned/possible) of 80% on both my Calc BC and Language Exams, why do I get a 5 of the former, but a 3 on the letter.

That’s interesting, Mike. But, all tests have their own rules and curves - that’s just a part of life for an American mainstream test-taking student. I don’t mind.

…

Kim wrote:

I’ve never seen a college accept 5s but not 4s. Granted I only actually looked into a few schools’ policies.

And the AP, like other College Board exams, is curved, which is why there’s a difference between the scores earned by different percentages on different exams. Whether or not that’s a good policy is another issue.

I saw a school or two who had an AP policy of only accepting “fives”, and I’ve heard of others, but they don’t really matter now. I wasn’t upset because I thought I wouldn’t get credit, entirely. I just felt that I had studied too long and too hard for the score I got; I was wrong, obviously.

…

Reflections on the Dover Carnival Incident

J wrote:

Ricky,

I’m glad that someone is reporting about how the so-called “gangs” are popping up in this neighborhood. Quite frankly, I feel that this issue is being overlooked in our community, and I believe this is because nobody can take teenagers seriously these days. When people hear the word gang, they think of Bloods, Crips, Latin Kings, and so on. I believe that these “gangs” aren’t taken seriously because there have not been any issues. Until now. I believe the incident was a wake-up call, and it’s proof that something needs to be done now to prevent this from happening again, although it should have been prevented from happening at all.

Hello J! Welcome to my site; I encourage you to come back. Although I assume posting as “J” is to keep you anonymous, feel free to email me to claim your identity. I’d love to have a chat with you, really. This goes for any commenter in the community, always.

I agree with J’s contention that this issue is being overlooked in the community. I too have noticed that people have a hard time taking teenagers seriously. I’ve made it my last year’s work to change that perception, but there’s only so much one person can do in isolated incidents.

And really, if this vocal minority of teenagers keep causing public trouble, this misconception will never be changed.

If a Dover student finds the need to affiliate himself or herself with a “gang” of any type, it’s a sad statement on his or her life. That isn’t to say it’s his or her fault; the nurture side of the nature v. nurture debate comes to mind. All I know about the psychology of gangs comes the book Freakonomics and episodes of This American Life, which isn’t much.

These students should and must be taken seriously. They must never be dismissed as people not worth our time. That’s all I know - I’m not sure where to go from here.

…

John Morello wrote:

What a tragedy! The violent acts both immediate and brewing. To see a beautiful thing deteriorate like that…To feel helpless. Awful.

Thinking of you Ricky and wishing you and your community well.

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
Surely some revelation is at hand; ”

THE SECOND COMING
W.B. Yeats

Despite the somber mood running throughout the threads of my website’s discussions recently, I was so glad to see John’s comment. For anyone who doesn’t know, John spoke at the Dover High School “Leadership Rally” earlier this year. I fought for several months to secure the funding for this normally-routine assembly to be held. The fact that John and I have been keeping touch after the ordeal is rather impressive.

Finally responding to John’s comment, I couldn’t put it any better. Watching something I’ve loved so much crumble in front of my eyes was painful. I appreciate your thoughts and wishes, John.

…

Christopher S. Penn wrote:

Dover is not alone.

As the economy goes in a capitalist nation, so goes the society.

My condolences still to the community breaking apart.

I’ve been giving this a lot of thought and I’m starting to think that Chris is right. My generation has grown up in a time of relative prosperity and safety. It’s only now that I’m starting to internalize that this can change, will change, and is changing. Knowing something and internalizing it are two different concepts.

Within hours of reading Chris’ comment, I had a phone conversation with one of my former history teachers. We talked about AP scores and the Carnival Incident. Not surprisingly, he said exactly the same thing. If the United States’ economy reflects the peace in Dover Plains, we’re in for a rough decade.

…

Meg wrote:

I agree with what you wrote. The carnival use to be a fun place to go and hang with friends, meet up with family and have a good time but this year it did feel different. Walking around with my 2 younger sisters, 9 and 13, I felt like I needed them by my side at all times. It never use to be like that, I could take them and let them go off with friends and enjoy themselves but this year it just felt very unsafe. From the mexican’s who stood around and starred and checked out a 9 year old as well as myself who is clearly very pregnant to the drunken teenagers fighting with each other, I just felt like I could have spent my money elsewhere. Its really sad but this town is slowly becoming a place I do not want to be associated with But how do we, and the town as a hole turn things around?!?! There really is no way and that is horrible. The event on Saturday was the last straw. I returned to see the fireworks like I always do and then to witness a stabbing only 50 feet from where I stood was incredible. I can not stop thinking of what would have happened had I walked that way a few moments earlier. We shouldn’t have to fear our town or watch our backs at a place that is suppose to bring joy and excitement. This year marks the last year of the carnival for me and sadly I think for quite a few others.

Hey Meg! It’s nice to see another new face around here.

I obviously agree with Meg’s belief that this carnival was tangibly different than those of the past, but again, I don’t have the answers for turning it around.

Regardless, I’m willing to throw out some ideas. We need to keep doing what we do. We must move through our daily lives propping ourselves up in society while never forgetting to help others. Over time, things may improve. If they don’t, I’m not sure if it’s feasible to think our actions can change the lifestyles and values of others. It may be, but I have my doubts.

I hope I will attend the carnival again. I look forward to writing about my joy on the fairgrounds sometime in the future.

…

Anne Castro wrote:

Why doesn’t the Dover community promote AA rather than open another liquor store? It has been to my observation that Dover and the surrounding communities are socially reclusive, impoverished, and in denial. Been here six years, can’t wait to move because there is no productivity or prosperity. I’ve been noticing that the general consensus of the neighborhood is “alcoholism, and compulsive television/video game involvement!” Not a very intelligent community, VERY LAZY.

Welcome, Anne! Yet another new face? You commenters have me overjoyed.

These thoughts are very insightful and I think there’s some merit here. I’m not quite sure how a community “promotes” Alcoholics Anonymous over opening another liquor store. Doing some research, I’ve learned that there are AA meetings in our community and in nearby communities. The open market dictates the opening and closing of stores, so any liquor stores that open will be regulated by capitalism.

You’re hinting at something that’s always disturbed me about the Dover Carnival, which is its dependance on alcohol. I don’t mind when adults get together for a few drinks in public, but I clearly saw my former classmates, those who I just graduated with, drinking during the four nights. I doubt they brought their own beer.

I had a chat with a coworker of mine today about Dover’s social problems, and Meg’s comment came to mind. We talked about shifting populations and the eventual influx of new residents as a result of future residential projects. Will these new populations, likely coming from wealthier districts of the nation, clash with the “VERY LAZY” community? Again, I don’t have the answers, but I bet that social dynamic will be interesting.

..

I love my blog’s community. I can always count on you guys to have an intelligent conversation that I can’t find elsewhere.

“Info sought on stabbing at Dover fair”

Published
by
Richard Mondello
on July 22, 2008
in A Dover Dilemma and Dover Carnival
. 0 Comments

The Poughkeepsie Journal is running a short article today about what I’ve dubbed the “Dover Carnival Incident“. I quote it below:

DOVER PLAINS - The Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help regarding a stabbing at the annual J.H. Ketcham Hose Co.’s Fireman’s Fair Saturday night.

At around 10 p.m., a fight broke out at the carnival. One person, whose identity police have not released, was stabbed four times by an unknown man.

“At this time, investigation is going into trying to identify and track down the subject responsible for this violent assault,” sheriff’s Detective Gerard Pfitscher said.

The victim is in stable condition at Saint Francis Hospital. He received emergency surgery for a punctured lung, police said, and is recovering.

Anyone with information about the stabbing is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 845-486-3820. All calls will be kept confidential.

If you have any information whatsoever, I urge you to give the Sheriff’s Office a call.

Dover Carnival Incident Update

Published
by
Richard Mondello
on July 21, 2008
in A Dover Dilemma and Dover Carnival
. 0 Comments

I wrote that I’d keep everyone posted on the Dover Carnival Incident. Unfortunately, I haven’t heard anything by word of mouth and today’s Poughkeepsie Journal didn’t mention the incident. I’m assuming the weekly Harlem Valley Times will run a story, but I can’t be sure.

Until then, keep your hopes with those affected.

Reflections on the Dover Carnival Incident

Published
by
Richard Mondello
on July 20, 2008
in A Dover Dilemma, Dover, Dover Carnival and Rants
. 6 Comments

Three days ago, I wrote this.

In the last paragraph, I predicted that the carnival would be “uncomfortable”. Last night, a kid was either physically assaulted or “mugged”. Although I don’t know all of the details, it’s really unfortunate. To add onto this, the hooligans who started Dover High School’s (much talked about) decline traveled around together in packs. It was unsettling.

Although I’m enjoying myself, this year’s carnival feels different so far - different in a bad way.

I hope I’m overreacting.

Regrettably, it seems I wasn’t overreacting at all. In fact, I’m now outraged. Last night, during the final evening of the 2008 Dover Carnival, there was an incident. I won’t go into detail here, but in brief, a resident of Dover Plains was stabbed in public. I’ll let the newspapers handle the details, which I’ll link to at some point. (Edit: One person told me it would be appropriate to say that the perpetrators of the act weren’t Dover residents. This is true, but I don’t think it changes anything.)

Let me emphasize this: Last night, at the Dover Carnival, a person was stabbed in public. The person was then taken to the hospital by ambulance.

A year ago, I’d flat-out deny this as being possible in my town. Now, I’m not all that surprised. I have no reason to reserve myself on this topic anymore. This town is falling apart, piece by piece. Gradually, it’s transforming from a safe and comfortable place to raise a family into a degenerating hellhole. It’s unacceptable, and I feel that it’s the climax of a trend that I’ve written about over the last few months.

From my perspective, I first had a personal crisis with a disrespectful young man. I then ran into problems dealing with my high school’s administration. Finally, I began to butt heads with the ideas and values of the so-called “gangs” that have popped up in the community.

If it isn’t clear by now, I love the Dover Carnival. Most Dover citizens enjoy spending a night or two there, but I have decided to use the word “love”, have chosen to go all four nights, and have dedicated myself to blogging about it. No, I don’t think I’m crazy, and no, I’m not addicted to carnival rides or carnival food.

I love the Dover Carnival because I love people. Every year, the local fire department puts together a wonderful venue for everyone to go out and have a good time. Not only do I get to catch up with people I don’t see all that often, but I can watch others do the same, which naturally makes me happy. The Dover Carnival is a place for friendly people to get out and enjoy their right to a safe and fun time.

Now, like everything else that I have ever valued in this town, the Dover Carnival is seemingly under attack. It breaks my heart to say this, but I don’t think there’s anything we can really do except to watch out backs.

…

My thoughts are, of course, with those affected by the events of yesterday evening.

Dover Carnival 2008, Night One

Published
by
Richard Mondello
on July 17, 2008
in A Dover Dilemma, Dover Carnival and Ricky
. 0 Comments

Wow! That was an interesting first night of what’s shaping up to be the most uncomfortable Dover Carnival in history. Personally, I had a great time. It was really wonderful to see many of my friends again; I’ve realized just how much I miss them. Working non-stop has its downsides, it appears.

In the last paragraph, I predicted that the carnival would be “uncomfortable”. Last night, a kid was either physically assaulted or “mugged”. Although I don’t know all of the details, it’s really unfortunate. To add onto this, the hooligans who started Dover High School’s (much talked about) decline traveled around together in packs. It was unsettling.

Although I’m enjoying myself, this year’s carnival feels different so far - different in a bad way.

I hope I’m overreacting.