Poughkeepsie Journal from Poughkeepsie, New York • Page 4B

4B OBITUARIES MID HUDSON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2002 POUGHKEEPSIE JOURNAL DEATH NOTICES Christian, Alma 92. of Pough keepsie. died Saturday, Sept 28, 2002 Arrangements by Joseph Harrow Sr. Funeral Home (845) 152 1840. Durkin.

William 88, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, died Tuesday, Oct l. 2002, Arrangements by Quat tlebanm Molleman Hurse Funeral Home, (561) 832 5171. Gmeiner, Paul, 81. of Rhinebctk. died Tuesday.

Oct. 2002. Arrange menLs by Burnett White Funeral I lomcs, (845) 876 3193. Gordon, Scott V. R4.

of Newburgh. entered into rest Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002 at Cornwall Hospital. Arrange ments bv Brooks DiDonation Funeral Home, (845) 501 83(H) Hirsch, Howard 84, of Wap pingers Falls, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002.

Arrangements by Straiib Miner aj Home (845) 297 2610. Klein, Maria, 89, of Wappingers Falls, died Friday, Sept. 27, 2002. Arrangements by Allen Funeral Home, (845) 635 2124. Lasher, Margaret 77, of Hyde Park, died Tuesday, Oct.

1, 2002. Arrangements by Sweet's Funeral Home (845)229 2624. Morris, Madeline R. Cole, 89, of Germantown, died Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002.

Arrangements by Sweet's Funerak Home (845) 229 2624. Penzato, Carol 58, of New Paltz" died Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2002. Arrangements by Copeland Funeral Home (845) 255 1212. Petroccitto.

Mario 48, of Pough keepsie, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002. Arrangements by Michael Torsone Memorial Funeral Home (845) 452 7700. Poluzzi, Mary 82, of Lakeland, died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2002.

Arrangements by Michael Torsone Memorial Funeral Home (845) 452 7700. Velie, Ruth 81, of Hyde Park, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002. Arrangements by Sweet's Funeral Home Itl.i.; Alma M. Christian Mario A.

Petroccitto Ruth H. Velie Margaret B. Lasher j)QflL BRIEFS Voelker, Raymond, 60, of the Town of Poughkeepsie, died Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002. Arrangements by William G.

Miller and Son Funeral Home (845) 485 0241. Carol I. Penzato NEW PALTZ Carol I. Penzato, 58, of New Paltz since 1967 and formerly of Poughkeepsie, died Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002 at home.

Mrs. Penzato was a homemaker, she worked for many years at Villa Baglieri as a waitress. Born on Dec. 24, 1943 in Poughkeepsie, she was the daughter of the late Ralph and Ruth Plain Pudney. She married Joseph Penzato who survives at home.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by a son, Mark Penzato of New Paltz; a daughter, Sheila Penzato of New Platz; a sister, Mary Lou Marshall of LaGrange; five grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by a brother, David Pudney. Calling hours will be held Friday, Oct. 4, from 2 4 and 7 9 p.m. at Copeland Funeral Home 162 S.

Putt Corners Road, New Paltz. Funeral services will be held 8:30 p.m., FYiday, from the funeral home. Burial will be private. Mary Bridget Herlihy AMITY HARBOR Y. Mary Bridget Herlihy, 90, residing with her daughter in Amity Harbor, and a former resident of Sussex, N.J., died on Sunday, September 29, 2002.

Mrs. Herlihy was a homemaker and a member of St. Monica's Roman Catholic Church in Sussex. Born in Co. Kerry, Ireland on February 13, 1912, she was the daughter of Patrick and Joan Dillane.

On June 2, 1934, she married Michael J. Herlihy. Mr. Herlihy died on February 4, 1987. She is survived by her son and daughter in law, Patrick and Kathleen Herlihy of LaGrange; a daughter and son in law, Margaret and James O'Neil of Amity Harbor; nine grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, she was also predeceased by a daughter, Joan Marie; three sisters, Julia, Joan and Narrie; and two brothers, Patrick and Bart Dillon. Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, October 2, 2002 and Thursday, October 3, 2002 at the Boyd Spencer Funeral Home in West Baby A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. on Friday at St. Martin of Tours Roman Catholic Church in Amityville, NY. Burial will follow at St.

John's Ceme tery, Queens, NY IN MEMORIAM In Loving Memory of My Dear Husband, Our Dad And Grandfather MARIO L. MANFREDI October 3, 1992 We thank (tod for giving us His beautiful and special gift, We love you today. Tomorrow and forever. You were Our guiding light always. (tod Bless You liove, Jo, John, Janet, Bob, Kathleen.

Carlo, Sherri and "Major" Alma Christian, 92, of Pough keepsie. died Satur day. Sept. 28, 2002 at St FYancis Hospital, Poughkeepsie. Mrs.

Christian worked at Central Hudson fer vears. retiring in 1982 She formerly owned Alma's Lunch, which was family ran and had southern cuisine, in Pough keepsie. She was a 60 year local resident, formerly of Jamaica, L.I. Mrs. Christian was a member of the Eastern Star.

Bom June 2, 1910 in Eads, she was the daughter of Willie and Julia Verlean Willis Wilson. On Aug. 8, 1928 in Jamaica, she married John tsacc Christian. Mr. Christian died in 1958.

Survivors include her daughters, I)r Sylvia C. Watkins of Mamaroneck, Johanna McKinney of Poughkeepsie; Margarete' E. Thompson of Burlingame CA; a son, Armsted R. Christian of Medford. a brother, Robert Wilson of Eads, 18 grandchildren; 25 great grandchil dren; and 7 great great grandchildren.

She was predeceased by a daughter, Mary Verlean in 1975; brothers. Eddie Hugh Wilson and Raymond Gardner, and sisters, Fannie Willis and Katherine Perkins. She is survived by several neices nephews, cousins a host of friends. Calling hours will be 10 11 a.m., Friday, at Beulah Baptist Church in Poughkeepsie. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Friday, at the church with Pastor Lena White officiating.

Entombment will be in the Community Mausoleum in Poughkeepsie Rural CemeteryArrangements by Joseph J. Darrow Sr. Funeral Home, tnc 39 South Hamilton St Pok, NY Paul Gmeiner RHINEBECK Paul Gmeiner. 81, of Rhinebeck, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002 at Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck For many years, until his retirement in 1986, Mr.

Gmeiner along with his wife were the proprietors of the United Smoke Shop in Rhinebeck Previously, he had worked as an engineer with IBM for 24 years at various locations throughout the Mid Hudson Valley. Mr. Gmeiner served in the United States Navy during World War II. He was a member of Montgomery Post 429 American Legion in Rhinebeck and Rhinebeck Post 9255 VFW He also was a member of the United States Navy Cruisers Association. He was an avid hunting and fishing enthusiast.

Born in LaCross, WS, on May 13, 1921, he was the son of Joseph and Jennie Kampstra Gmeiner. On June 1, 1945 at Greta Lakes Naval Stations, Mr. Gmeiner married Lucille C. LaCasse. She survives at home.

Along with his wife, he is survived by sons, Donald Gmeiner of Kahton ah, NY, and Raymond Gmeiner of West Lake, CA; sister, Marie Water of White Water, WS; four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. A brother, Donald Gmeiner predeceased him. There will be no calling hours. Graveside services with military honors conducted by Montgomery Post 429 American Legion of Rhinebeck will be held 11 a.m., FYiday, Oct. 4, at Rhinebeck Cemetery, Route 9 South, Rhinebeck.

The American Legion Chaplain will officiate. Interment will be in Rhinebeck Cemetery, Rhinebeck. Arrangements are by Kenneth G. Giek, Burnett and White Funeral Homes, 91 E. Market Street, Rhinebeck Madeline R.

Cole Morris GERMANTOWN Madeline R. Cole Morris, 89, a longtime area resident, died Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002 at home. Prior to her move to German town, she had resided in South Carolina. Mrs.

Morris was a seamstress for the former Joy Art Decorators, Poughkeepsie. When Joy Art closed, she went into business for herself. A highlight of her career came when she was a seamstress for the draperies during a restoration project at the Vanderbilt Estate, Hyde Park. She enjoyed traveling, particularly in Europe, where she went several times. She was a member of the Church of the Resurrection, Germantown.

Born in Highland on Sept. 13, 1913, she was the daughter of the late Gae tano Patti and Margaret Oellerich Patti. On June 26, 1971 at Netherwood Baptist Church, Salt Point, she married Frederick Morris. Mr. Morris died June 24, 1992.

Survivors include two sons, George Cole and wife, Diane of Germantown, NY, and Richard Cole and wife, Jean of Myrtle Beach, SC; two grandsons, Jacob and Joseph Cole; several nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by three sisters, Mary, Iena, and Katherine. Calling hours will be Friday, oct. 4, 2 4 and 7 9 p.m. at Sweet's Funeral Home Route 9, Hyde Park.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Church of the Resurrection in Germantown. Father Theodore (Jerkin will officiate Burial will be in the family plot at Union Cemetery, Hyde Park To send a condolence or for directions, please visit www.sweetsfuneral homecom Mario A. Petroccit to, 48, of Itmghkeep sie, died suddenly on October 1,2002. A lifelong Pough keepsie resident, he was employed as an OEM Operations Team leader for IBM in Poughkeepsie.

He also was a mechanic for North Road Shell in Ioughkeepsie early in his career. He was a member of the Mt. Carmel Sportsman Club and the Pirate Canoe Club, both in Poughkeepsie. He was also a member of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Poughkeepsie.

His famous quote was "For the love of God He was a professional drummer and played for many bands throughout the Hudson Valley. Born on March 11, 1954 in Poughkeepsie, he was the son of Frank and Letteria Pino Petroccitto His mother survives in Poughkeepsie. He graduated from Poughkeepsie High School and was a graduate of Marist College. On August 23, 1975 at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church in Poughkeepsie, he married Sandra Periik Mrs.

Petroccitto survives at home in Poughkeepsie. In addition to his wife and his mother, he is survived by a daughter, Rachel A. Petroccitto at home; three sisters, Teresa Lynch, Connecticut; Lucy Salvo, Colorado; Nina Querques, Putnam Valley; two brothers, Raymond Petroccitto, Poughkeepsie; Frank Petroccitto, Delaware; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Calling hours will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2002 from 4 8 p.m. at the Michael Torsone Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.

218 Mill Street, Poughkeepsie. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, October 4, at 9:30 am at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Poughkeepsie. Entombment will take place at the Community Mausoleum at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery. Mario was a loving husband, father and friend who will be greatly missed by all. Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 229 Manchester Road, Poughkeepsie, NY 12603.

Howard J. Hirsch WAPPINGERS FALLS Howard J. Hirsch, 84, a 43 year resident of Wappingers Falls and formerly of Rhinebeck. died Tuesday. Oct.

1, 2002 at Vassar Brothers Medical Center, Poughkeepsie. Mr. Hirsch was a plant operator for the Town of Poughkeepsie's Water and Sewer Department and later worked for Bottini Fuel Company. He was a member of the American Legion Lafayette Post 57, Poughkeepsie. Mr.

Hirsch served in the United States Army during World War II. Born in Brooklyn on June 2, 1918, he was the son of Martin and Emma Silverstone Hirsch. He attended New York City schools. On Feb. 28, 1941 in New York City, he married Dorothy L.

LaPlant. Mrs. Hirsch died in 1995. Survivors include a daughter, Eileen Nash of San Diego, CA; six sons, Stanley Hirsch of Poughkeepsie, Douglas Hirsch of Wappingers Falls, Wayne Hirsch of Fishkill, Bradley Hirsch of Marlboro; Martin Hirsch of Red Hook, and Joseph Hirsch of Magnolia, NJ; one brother, Norman Hirsch of Phoenix, AZ; 18 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. He was predeceased by a son, Michael C.

Hirsch, in 1998. Calling hours are 10 11 am, Friday, at Straub FUneral Home 55 E. Main Street, Wappingers Falls. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m., Friday, from the funeral home. Interment will be private.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 45 Reade Place, Poughkeepsie NY 12601. William T. Durkin PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL William T. Durkin, 68, of Palm Beach Gardens, FL and formerly of Wappingers Falls, NY, died at his residence on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002.

He worked for IBM for 41 years in Poughkeepsie, NY, and in the Palm Beaches, he was employed with Palm Beach Chauffeur Service. Mr. Durkin was a veteran of the United States Army; and his interests included wood working, reading, and computers. He is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Durkin of Palm Beach Gardens, FL; two daughters, Mary Ellen (Todd) Caster of West Palm Beach, FL, and Anna Marie (Tom) Moran of Bridgeport, CT, and four sons, William M. Durkin of Highland Mills, NY, Patrick J.

(Cheryl) Durkin of Pleasant Valley, NY, Thomas (Amy) Durkin of Wappingers Falls, NY, and Steven D. (Vicky) Durkin of Miramar, FT Addi tiOnal survivors include his sister, Patricia Martin of Cynthina, KY; 13 grandchildren, Christopher, Seree, Nicole, Bridget i e. Justin, Katelyn, Jeremy, Siobhan, Sara, Seth, Casey, Julia, ad Savannah; and seven greatgrandchildren. MR. Durkin was preceded in death by his brother, Martin J.

Durkin in 1997. The family will receive friends on Friday, Oct. 4, from 2 4 and 6 8 p.m. at Quattiebaum Holleman Burse Funeral Home, 1201 South Olive Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL, with a Scripture Service to be held at 7 p.m. A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated 10 am, Saturday, Oct.

5, at St. FYancis of AssLsi Catholic Church, Riviera Beach, FL In lieu of flowere, Contributions may be made in Mr. Durkin's memory to Hospice of Palm Beach County, 5300 East Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL HYDE PARK Rulh H. Velie, 81, a longtime resident of Hyde Park and for merry of Schenectady, died Tuesday, Oct 1,2002 at home. Mrs.

Velie was a homemaker and a member of the Reformed Dutch of Hyde Park. Born in Schenectaday on March 18. 1921, she was the daughter of the late Fedor and Olive Holton Ledwith. On March 25, 1959 in the Reformed Dutche Church of Hyde Park, she married Howard Velie. Mr.

Velie survives at home. In addition to her husband, survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Dianne Farnum Schroder of Myrtle Beach, SC, Mrs. Janet Farnum Pagano of Hopewell Junction, and Mrs. Linda Velie Germano of Columbia, TN; step son, Howard Velie of Wappingers Falls; step daughter, Anne Ferenz of West Palm beach, FL; 10 grandchildren, Karen Schroder Jakubek, Susan Schroder, Richard Schroder, Rod Schroder, Tanya Germano, Shaine Squillante, Kaycie Anderson, Kristi Anderson, Sarah' Germano, and Heidi Germano; eight great grandchildren; brother, Robert Ledwith and wife, Betty of Wisconsin; and several nieces and hephews.

One hour of visitation will be held from 9 to 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 5, at Sweet's Funeral Home Route 9, Hyde Park. A funeral service will follow at 10 am, Saturday, at the funeral home. Rev. Church Kramer will officiate.

Burial will be in the family plot at Union Cemetery, Hyde Park. To send a condolence or for directions, please visit www.sweetsfuneral home.com. HYDE PARK Margaret B. lusher, 77, a longtime Hyde Park resident and formerly of Reading, PA, died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002 at St.

Francis Hospital, Poughkeepsie. Upon arriving in the Hudson Valley, she worked for a period at the former DeLaval. While raising a family, she learned to be a travel agent and worked for a time at Hyde Park Trav el All the while, she made significant contributions to the success of Lasher's Hyde Park Market. Her passions included investing in the stock market and colled mg 202 Maria Klein WAPPINGERS FALLS Maria Klein, 89, of Wappingers Falls, died on Friday, September 27, 2002 at the Hudson Haven Nursing Home. A 47 year resident of Dutchess County, she had previously resided in Austria.

She was employed as a cook by Mary Rockefeller Sardana. She was a member of St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church in Pleasant Valley. Born on April 2, 1913 in Yugoslavia, she was the daughter of Jakob and Rosina Mayer Gross. In November 1932 in Heufeld, Banat, Yugoslavia, she married Peter Klein.

Mr. Klein predeceased his wife in 1984. She is survived by a daughter, Rosa Newman of Wappingers Falls; three sons, Hans Klein of Salt Point; Henry J. Klein of LaGrange; and Peter J. Klein of Indianapolis, 13 grandchildren, 17 greatgrandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

She was predeceased by a brother, Anton Gross; a sister, Rosalia Gross; and a grandson, Peter A. Klein, who died in the World Trade Center Disaster. There are no calling hours. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2002 at 11 am. at St.

Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church in Pleasant Valley. Burial will follow in St. Peter's Cemetery, Poughkeepsie. Memorial donations may be made to the Bethel Baptist Church, 511 Shenandoah Road, Hopewell Junction NY 12533. To sign our guest book or for directions, please visit our web site at www.parmeleallenfuneralhome.com Mary Poluzzi LAKELAND, FLA.

Mary T. Poluzzi, 82, of Lakeland, died on Sunday, September 29, 2002 at Highlands Lake Center in Lakeland. She was a lifelong resident of Poughkeepsie before moving to Lakeland 11 years ago. She was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church.

She was born in New York City on October 10, 1919. She was married to the late Harold Poluzzi. She is survived by two daughters, Anne Marie Moran of Lakeland, Fla; and Jessica Bronwyn of Tampa, Fla and one grandchild. There are no calling hours. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, October 3, 2002 at 1 pm at St.

Peter's Cemetery, Poughkeepsie. Arrangements are under the direction of the Michael Torsone Memorial Funeral Home, 218 Mill St, Poughkeepsie. Raymond Voelker TOWN OF POUGHKEEPSIE Raymond Voelker, 60, of the Town of Poughkeepsie, died Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2002 at home. Mr.

Voelker was a flight instructor for the United States Air Force. He served in the United States Air Force during World War II. Born in Long Island on July 30, 1942, he was the son of Raymond and Ethel Voelker. He is survived by several friends. Calling hours are 9 10 a.m., Friday, at William G.

Miller and Son Funeral Home 371 Hooker Avenue, Poughkeepsie. Funeral services will be 10 am, Friday, at the funeral home. Burial will be in veteran's section at ttmghkeepsie Rural Cemetery, Poughkeepsie. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a member of the Reformed Dutch Church of Hyde Park.

Born in Stroudsburg, PA, on March 20, 1925, she was the daughter of the late Joseph and Mae Alger Burns. She was a 1942 graduate of Reading High School, Reading, PA. On Aug. 31, 1946 in Hyde Park, she married Howard 'Chub' Lasher. Mr.

Lasher died Oct. 16, 2001. Survivors include a daughter, Alicia L. Learn and husband, Michael of Odessa, NY; son, Roy B. Lasher and wife, Kathleen of Mansfield, MA; grandson, Andrew Lasher Learn and wife, Alice of Norfolk, VA; granddaughters, Elizabeth Susan Learn of Odessa, Molly Jane Lasher of Mansfield, MA; grandson, Tavis Wagner Lasher of Mansfield, MA; niece, Karen Adams of Reading, PA; and nephews, Kevin Howard of Sinking Springs, PA, and Carl Seltzer Jr.

and Temple, PA. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased two sisters, Patricia Howard, and Catharine Seltzer, both in 2001. Calling hours will be Friday, Oct. 4, 2 4 and 7 9 p.m., at Sweet's Funeral Home Route 9, Hyde Park Funeral services will be Saturday, Oct 5, at 10 am at the Reformed Dutch Church of Hyde Park, Route 9, Hyde Park. Rev.

Thomas Fiet will be officiating. Burial will be in the family plot at Union Cemetery, Hyde Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Reformed Dutch Church of Hyde Park, 4408 Albany Post Road, Hyde Park, NY 12538. To send a condolence or for directions, please visit www.sweetsfuneral home.com. Injections kill breast cancer in mice study City library to observe National Fire Safety Week National Fire Safety Week will be observed at 1:30 p.m.

Sunday at the Adriance Memorial Library, 93 Market Poughkeepsie. Families are invited to learn tips on fire safety through stories, songs and other activities. Registration is required. The event is free. For information, call (845) 485 3445, extension 3329.

School prepares for Founder's Day Saturday Poughkeepsie Day School's Founder's Day will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday at the school's Elizabeth C. Gilkeson Center, 260 Boardman Road, Poughkeepsie. This year's Elizabeth C. Gilkeson lecture will be presented by Leon Botstein, president of Bard College, and Leonard Levy, professor of Arts in the Humanities at Bard.

A reception for parents, alumni, trustees and members of the Poughkeepsie area community will take place at the event. For information, call (845) 462 7600, extension 109 or go to www. poughkeepsieday.org Oktoberf est coming to city church Saturday The First Lutheran Church will host its annual Oktoberfest at 6 p.m. Saturday at 327 Mill Poughkeepsie. There will be a pork roast and sauerkraut dinner and musical entertainment by Joe Unger and the Germania Society Singers.

The cost is $12 for adults and $6 for children. Proceeds will benefit the music ministry of the church and maintenance of the church organ. For information and reservations, call (845) 452 6050. City church to host yard Injections designed to spur the body's immune system to attack tumors cured breast cancer in mice, a new study states. Researchers inoculated six mice with genetically modified dentritic cells, an important immune system component.

A single injection directly into breast cancer tumors in the mice destroyed the tumor in five mice and reduced the sixth's tumor to barely discernible size. The researchers later injected the mice with more live breast cancer cells. None of the mice developed any new tumors. "This suggests that the treatment not only fights rumors but generates a long lasting immune system memory, which should protect the host in the same way that anti infection vaccines do," said Zoya R. Yurkovetsky, the study's lead researcher and a doctoral candidate in the department of molecular genetics and biochemistry at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.

The study was presented at last weekend's "Era of Hope" forum in Orlando, Fla. The forum was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense's Breast Cancer Research Program. Just a trial Dr. Jay Brooks, chief of hematology and oncology at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans, cautions it's too early to get overly hopeful about a cancer vaccine.

"Research like this is very exciting and very encouraging to clinicians like myself," Brooks said. "The problem is that breast cancer in mice is not the same as breast cancer is in women. To translate this work in patients is a gigantic leap of faith at this time." Breast cancer in women is far more complex, usually developing over a long period of time and affected by a variety of factors, from genetics to environmental contributors. The mice, to contrast, had artificially induced breast cancer caused by a specific agent, Brooks said. "There's been many cases in the past where we found drugs that were very effective in mice, but in humans they didn't hold up." Gender equity champion dead at 93 A fall yard sale will take place from 9 a.m.

to 2 p.m. Saturday at St. Paul's Church, Mansion and North Hamilton streets, Poughkeepsie. Items for sale include furniture, books, jewelry and more. Lunch will be available.

The Small Blessings Thrift Shop will be open featuring new fall clothing for adults and children. The event will take place rain or shine. offered at Casperkill The automobile group AAA will offer a driver improvement program from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Casperkill Country Club on Route 9 in Poughkeepsie.

The course is geared to help Dutchess County residents improve their driving, lower their insurance premiums and reduce violation points on their driver's licenses. The cost is $25 for AAA members 55 and older, $35 for AAA members under 55 and Casperkill Country Club members, and $45 for the general public. Reservations are required. For information, call (914) 948 4600, ext. 2381 or (516) 873 2381.

Historical group offering book sale Saturday A book sale sponsored by the Dutchess County Historical Society will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 pm. Saturday at the Clinton House, 549 Main Poughkeepsie. Author George Lukacs will give a talk on his book, "Poughkeepsie Potters and the Plaque." The sale will feature both new and used books. For information, call (845) 471 1630.

Walk for of community day Sunday Crop Walk Community Day will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Jewish Community Center, 110 Grand Poughkeepsie. The annual Crop Walk collects money for hunger relief and is sponsored by the Dutchess Inter faith Council. In addition to the walk, community day will take place at the center featuring local organizations, a blood and bone marrow drive, child safety activities and a pancake breakfast from 9 to 11 am.

Admission is free and open to the public. For information, call (845) 471 0430. Kingston photo event to BOISE, Idaho Mary Maxine "Sally" Reed, whose challenge to Idaho's law favoring men over women as estate administrators prompted the U.S. Supreme Court's first decision extending equal protection to women, has died. She was 93.

Reed died Sept. 26 at a Boise care home. Alan Derr, the attorney who represented Reed in the case that led to the Supreme Court's historic 1971 decision, called her a reluctant hero who did not crave the spotlight but felt strongly about human dignity and fairness. The Associated Press KINGSTON A slide show featuring a day's worth of photographs from Palestinian towns, villages and refugee camps as seen through the lens of photographer and activist Andrew Courtney will be shown on Sunday at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Catskills on Sawkill Road in Kingston.

The event is sponsored by the Mid Hudson Tikkun Community, a national Jewish organization that advocates social and economic change in the Middle East. For information, call (845) 246 5781..