Main Street News

Cold Spring Early Learning Center in Stanfordville, NY, hosted its second annual Cub Cafe on Thursday, February 29. 

The Cub Cafe is an idea born from Renee Shea, the building’s secretary and building principal, Kristen Fischetti, and from there they worked closely with Food Service Director Larry Anthony and Cold Spring Nurse Jenn Heath to get the event off the ground. 

The Cub Cafe is a celebration to round out heart health month, which is celebrated in February. It kicked off with all of the pre-k, kindergarten, and first grade students at Cold Spring making their way to the cafeteria to sit down and have breakfast together. 

Cub Cafe Kickoff 

“We’re here to celebrate Heart Health Month, which means making healthy food choices, which means healthier bodies, and creating a healthier world!” said Fischetti in her opening remarks. 

Breakfast was then served by the Pine Plains FFA Chapter and some of Cold Spring’s staff. Breakfast consisted of a french toast bake made with local bread, scrambled eggs made with eggs from Feather Ridge Farm in Elizaville, milk from Hudson Valley Fresh, and apples from local orchards. 

While the kids were eating, the first demonstration came from Anthony, who blended up a yummy green smoothie for the kids and talked about the importance of feeding our bodies healthy foods while he did so. 

Following breakfast, Katie Sheehan, the Dutchess County Representative of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, did an interactive physical activity with the kids where they played true or false regarding a variety of heart health facts. 

Finally, Nicole Clanahan from the Rural Center Refillery in Pine Plains helped usher in spring with a plant-your-own seed demonstration. She showed the kids how to fold paper towel rolls to create seed starters and each child then got to plant their own snap pea seed to grow! 

Jim Davenport from Hudson Valley Fresh also brought two-week-old calf Bonnie, who arguably stole the show with her sweet demeanor. Bonnie comes from Tollgate Farm in Amenia. 

Also in attendance was Senator Michelle Hinchey, who is the Chair of the Committee on Agriculture for the New York State Senate, County Legislator Chris Drago, and the Executive Director of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Mary Lou Carolan. 

The importance of eating together

“My favorite part of it, as a parent and an adult, is that you get to slow down, sit, and talk with your family,” Shea said. “It’s a conversation starter and not everyone has the time to sit down together, so not every kid gets the opportunity to do that.”

“Yes, I agree,” Fischetti said. “Food brings people together. Sitting down and having breakfast together – what better way to start your morning? With your awesome teachers, your friends in your class, and trying new foods!”