Rochester Teacher Escaping From Alcatraz This Weekend: Good Luck

On Sunday, Brian Dalton will swim from Alcatraz Island before biking and running 26 miles around San Francisco. Here's why.

Brian Dalton is nervous and excited and ready to put his endurance to the test. The West Middle School teacher will compete Sunday in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon. It's a 1.5-mile swim from Alcatraz Island in the frigid, choppy San Francisco Bay, then an 18-mile bike ride and 8-mile run through Golden Gate Park.  He is one of 2,000 athletes competing in the race. And he's doing it for his Rett girls.  "It’s important for my students and my own children to learn that whenever given the opportunity to help another person or cause, it feels wonderful," Dalton said Thursday. "There is no greater reward." Rochester Patch told Dalton's story earlier this year. (Read Rochester Teacher-Triathlete Takes On Alcatraz, All for Rett's Girls) …

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Rochester Teacher-Triathlete Takes On Alcatraz, All for Rett's Girls

All the while, Brian Dalton's eighth-graders are learning an important lesson in compassion, charity and the possibility that they can help cure a cruel disease.

Between the spelling tests and the sci-fi writing assignments, Brian Dalton is teaching his eighth-graders an important lesson that's hard to find in any standardized school textbook. It's a lesson about compassion. About charity. And about the extraordinary possibility that what they are doing could, someday soon, help cure a rare childhood disease. The disease is Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder that affects about 10,000 girls worldwide. It robs its young victims of the ability to talk and walk and feed themselves. Rett girls can't write a note to their best friend or style their own hair or hug their parents goodnight. Those closest to it have described Rett as autism, epilepsy, Parkinson's disease and cerebral palsy — all in one …

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Joshua Raymond

9:28 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013

Dr. Zumsteg and the RCS Board of Education are honoring Brian Dalton tonight at the BOE meeting.   more ›

Where to Get Your Girl Scout Cookie Fix

It's that time of year again—get out your wallets and get ready to snack on some of your favorite sweet treats, courtesy of the Girl Scouts of America.

It's time to stock up on your favorite Girl Scout cookies, and Rochester Patch plans to make it deliciously easy for you. We're making a list of any local troops who can deal a sugary fix of your favorite variety. Here's a handy list of local troops, leaders and their contact information. They're ready and waiting to deliver the cookies you crave. Can't remember which variety you like best? When in doubt, buy a bunch—or check out the Cookie Guide. Troop 70498 Meadow Brook Elementary Third Grade Brownie Troop Contact Contact Solana via email at renperkins@hotmail.com. Troop 71679 Long Meadow Troop Contact Addison via email at Declercqfam@aol.com. Troop 70085 Brewster Daisy Troop Contact Vanessa via email at Vanessacromie@yahoo.com. Troop …

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Football Practice, Homework and Addressing the GOP: It's a Typical Day for Ben Bishop

The 12-year-old Rochester boy addressed thousands at the Paul Ryan campaign rally last week.

Last Monday the Paul Ryan campaign rally at Oakland University was a bit like a "Who's Who" of southeastern Michigan Republicans. But chances are there was only one speaker in this powerful group who had to leave early to finish his homework. Ben Bishop, a seventh grader at West Middle School, took the stage Monday night with his dad, Mike Bishop, who is running for Oakland County Prosecutor. (Read "Local GOPs Join Kid Rock to Pump Up the Party at Ryan Rally") "It was pretty cool," Ben said about addressing the crowd of 3,000. "I've talked to groups of people before but nothing like that. It was a rush really." After talking about the debt and what it means to his generation, Ben headed home. He had homework to do, so meeting vice-…

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Inspired By Local Girl, West Middle School Helps Raise Money for Rett Syndrome

The students will hold a fundraiser Friday night at Barnes & Noble.