“We just saw what happened just the other day in Nashville,” he said. “These are no joking matters, so we are going to aggressively respond to these calls, and we will follow all of our protocols.”Albany police said there are similar “unfounded” reports at Albany High School. The threat led to a lockdown for about 20 minutes, district officials said. In the Hudson Valley, Kingston High School received a suspicious computer-generated call regarding possible violence at around 8:45 a.m., according to police and school officials. The call was determined to not be credible, according to police. The Schodack school district said Maple Hill Junior/Senior High School went on lockdown, and the district office and Castleton Elementary lifted it just after 10:15 a.m.
New York State Police released a statement on social media saying, “The State Police is aware of swatting incidents that have occurred across the state, in which a caller states that there is an active shooter in a school. All of the reports are unfounded. We are working alongside our federal & local partners to investigate the threats.”
Elsewhere, Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia said just because they had information that the calls were fake, it didn’t change their response and how serious they take them.
“I’ve even been asked why not lock the school down out of an abundance of caution, just to be super sure? Well for one, the police were indicating that they were positive that this was false alarm,” Shine said. “We had police on site and we had security on site. And had there actually been what was threatened, seven shots fired, I can assure you the building would’ve been locked down by numerous adults within seconds.”
Troy police say there was no active threat despite a call of an active shooting incident at the middle high schools. Police said there were no confirmed shots fired, and both students and staff members were safe. The school lifted a hold-in-place status shortly after 10 a.m. after a sweep of the building by law enforcement was completed.
The FBI took the threats seriously and asked anyone to report the suspicious activity, part of what is called “swatting.” Multiple law enforcement agencies said there were no confirmed incidents despite multiple calls of active-shooter events and other threats at several schools Thursday morning.At the Mohonasen Central School District, Superintendent Shannon Shine said a threat came via phone and claimed an active shooter had already fired seven shots. At roughly the same time, a number of other schools in areas had already reported a similar threat, prompting lockdowns and a large response by law enforcement.
“This incident is suspected to be part of an unfortunate “swatting trend” that is impacting our nation and has now made it to our area,” Superintendent Paul J. Padalino said.The Rensselaer School District went on lockout as a precaution. Saratoga Springs school officials said they received “a fake swatting call” about an incident happening at the high school.Shine said the district was prepared for such situations, as it conducts at least four lockdown drills a year. Faculty and staff were trained on how to lock the school down should an incident arise, and he said students knew how to respond accordingly.North Greenbush police responded to “multiple reports of active shooter events at local schools,” including Bell Top Elementary School. They, too, said there was no evidence of a threat.Dozens of schools across New York were reeling Thursday from “swatting” incidents, which law enforcement officials characterized as unfounded threats of violence that targeted schools from Western New York to the central part of the state, the Capital Region and down to the Hudson Valley.The district office and Castleton Elementary are in a lockout, which means no one goes in and out of the buildings but activities in the building continue as usual.
The lockdown and lockouts have been lifted after an investigation by the police that determined the threats in Maple Hill were unfounded. Normal school schedules have resumed but parents/guardians are welcome to pick up their students if they wish.
Maple Hill is currently in lockdown while police investigate a potential issue inside the building. Police are on-site at the school investigating the issue and we will update you as soon as possible. Please do not arrive at the site while the lockdown is in effect as the area needs to be kept clear for the police to do their job.This morning there are a great number of school districts across the region that have received an unspecified threat against them, prompting them to go into lockdown. One of them is Maple Hill so the school is currently in lockdown while police investigate inside the building. Multiple first responder vehicles are on-site at the school investigating the issue. Please DO NOT COME TO SCHOOL BUILDINGS while this is in effect as the area needs to be kept clear for the police to do their job. The district office and Castleton Elementary are in a lockout, which means no one goes in and out of the buildings but activities in the building continue as usual.
@TroyNYPolice is on scene of a reported incident at Troy High/Middle School. An anonymous caller reported an active shooting incident. THERE HAS BEEN NO CONFIRMED SHOTS FIRED AT THIS TIME. ALL STUDENTS AND STAFF ARE SAFE.School administrators later announced the calls were a prank, but school would remain under lockdown and no students released until a final headcount was made.
Law enforcement conducted a search of both Troy High School and middle school, and determined there was no threat and the hold in place order was lifted.
The station representative that can assist any person with disabilities with issues related to the content of the public file is Brittany Moroukian. She can be contacted at [email protected] or 518-207-4761.
Reports of an active shooter at Albany High School are completely unfounded. All students and staff at the school are safe. There have been several swatting phone calls made across the Capital Region and state and we’re investigating. pic.twitter.com/3dtN92d4NI
TOWN OF WALLKILL – Maple Hill Elementary and Monhagen Middle schools are on lockdown after a threat of violence was made via social media against the middle school, according to police.
Wallkill Police Chief Robert Hertman said Monday the schools are under lockdown due to a threat that was made against the middle school on social media. The elementary school is under lockdown as a precaution.
Students are not allowed to move between classrooms, and no one is allowed to enter or exit the buildings, but the buildings are secure and students and staff are safe, Hertman said.
“Our first priority is to ensure the safety of scholars and staff,” the statement read. “As soon as possible, we will provide you with as much accurate information as we can. Communication with parents during an emergency is critically important, but our first concern is the safety and well-being of our scholars and staff. Please be patient and understand if we are unable to respond to you as completely and quickly as you would like.”
A message posted to the school’s website stated the threat was made at 11:10 a.m. and police and school officials responded to the scene to lockdown the two school campuses.
According to various Facebook posts, Albany High School (and possibly many others) have been placed on lockdown Thursday morning, but there are conflicting reports about what people saw or heard.
Swatting is a criminal harassment tactic, or a prank call done to deceive an emergency service into sending a police or emergency service response team to another person’s address. It’s dangerous and highly illegal.
We’ve seen reports that multiple schools in the area are on lockdown including schools in Castleton, East Greenbush, Schodack, and Maple Hill, and as a precaution, there may be many more to follow.
Reports of an active shooter at Albany High School are completely unfounded. All students and staff at the school are safe. There have been several swatting phone calls made across the Capital Region and state and we’re investigating.The K-5 school building has been locked down, and state and Town of Wallkill police are investigating. At least a dozen police cars have arrived at the school, many with lights on and sirens off. School security has blocked off the entrance road to the school to everyone except police. UPDATE (1:13 p.m.): The lockdown has ended at Maple Hill Elementary School. No weapon was found, police say, adding the threat was of violence to the school. Kindergarteners and first-graders were slated for a field day on Monday, with games and food. Some of the parents assembled – about 30 by the time officials spoke – had come to the school for field day. Others heard about the incident and headed for the school. A handful of school employees also were waiting.PREVIOUSLY: TOWN OF WALLKILL – Police are responding to a threat that was called in to the Maple Hill Elementary School Monday morning, according to Kevin Witt, a Middletown School District spokesman.A call had come in an hour and a half earlier, with a threat involving a weapon, Eastwood and Spano said. The school immediately went into lockdown and shutout mode, Eastwood said. The front door to the building – the only entrance – was locked, as were classroom doors. Police were called and are now doing a thorough, methodical search of the building.
UPDATE (11:50 a.m.): Middletown Superintendent Ken Eastwood, Wallkill Deputy Police Chief Anthony Spano and state police Capt. Brendan Casey spoke to parents at 11:20 a.m., explaining what was happening.
UPDATE (12:34 p.m.): Police are starting to leave Maple Hill Elementary School. Parents have been informed that if they wish to take their child home for the day, they can come to the school to do so.We’ve detected that JavaScript is disabled in this browser. Please enable JavaScript or switch to a supported browser to continue using twitter.com. You can see a list of supported browsers in our Help Center.
Many years ago I was introduced to Jim and Randi from Maple Hill Auto Group located in Kalamazoo, Michigan; through a little league friend. The first meeting went great with them wanting to know more about our league; from how many kids we have playing to learning about our facility and location. Also, what we do for our kids. I think this was my first time trying to sell to a salesman, but I felt very comfortable with both them after just a short while. Since then my relationship with them has been awesome. They are always willing to help our league out. I have been on the Mattawan Little League board for over 10 years. Last year, I decided to step down from the board because I have not had a child involved in four years. While on vacation, the President of our league asked for myself and Steve Thomas to come back and help with fundraising. My first call was to Randi and she said absolutely they would give us a donation-like they have been doing for the past several years. I met with them the very next day we talked and had a check within a day. I would say from other people I have talked to, that Jim is a generous man. He has been supporting other Little Leagues, local high schools, and local college’s. And of course Randi she is such a great help as well.
Jim VandenBerg of Maple Hill Auto Group, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, is dedicated to helping improve our local schools athletic facilities. Our school district has been in dire need to help upgrade many of our athletic grounds. As a community, we have not been able to pass a bond that would have provided the funds required to help improve our fields or replace our very old scoreboards, some of which were not even fully functional. When the athletic boosters decided to take on the project for the school, we approached Jim for help. Without hesitation, he didnt just help support our school, he fully funded our project and bought four brand new scoreboards for the baseball, softball, football and soccer fields. They were ordered and installed this spring and have gone a long way to help make our athletic fields look better and the Mattawan community has something to be proud of whenever we are hosting home sporting events. Jim is very proud to support the community and know that he will continue to help support us in any way he can. The Mattawan softball team was the first team to play a game with the newly added scoreboard and broke it in with a victory! Without Jims dedication to helping to improve our schools facilities, it would not have been possible. Thank you Jim and the Maple Hill Auto Group of Kalamazoo! Alicia Smith, Head Varsity Softball Coach
We’re honored to receive the 2023 Subaru Love Promise Community Commitment Award. This award nationally recognizes Subaru retailers who are making the world a better place while demonstrating an outstanding commitment to supporting passions and causes in local communities. These efforts are focused in important areas such as the environment, community, health, education, and pets.At the onset of the pandemic, we were concerned for our restaurant and employees. We were able to continue to provide carry-out and delivery. Maple Hill Auto Group supported us by ordering lunch for their employees several times. In addition, they promoted our restaurant, Kazoopy’s, and other local businesses on their social media and TV adds. How fitting for a community so full of love and support. A heartfelt thank you to Jim and his team from all of us at Kazoopy’s.
Maple Hill Subaru and the ASPC of Southwest Michigan Maple Hill Subaru is located in Kalamazoo, Mi, a thriving mid-size city that is home Stryker Corporation, Upjohn Corporation that is now part of Pfizer Corporation, and Western Michigan University. With a population that hovers around 75,000 people, Kalamazoo has always been a town that blended friendliness with a humble attitude. Each year Maple Hill Subaru hosts a number of charitable events ranging from the arts to athletic events to help the less fortunate. This includes events for the local chapter of the SPCA, SPCA of Southwest Michigan. The retailer also sponsors weekly adoption postings that are highlighted on local news network. For the past two years as part of the Share The Love event, Maple Hill Subaru has chosen ASPC of Southwest Michigan as its sixth charity. Maple Hill has truly embraced the Subaru Love Promise. On December 26th and 27th, Maple Hill sponsored a Share The Love pet adoption event at the dealership. Over 20 canine friends found new homes that day, helping Santa deliver new family member during the holiday season. To give back to the community, Maple Hill Subaru paid for half of the adoption fees during the event. This type of community events has a lasting impact on not only the organization involved but also the community.
Dear Mr. VandenBerg, Thank you for the thoughtful Subaru Loves to Care blanket I received on behalf of Subaru’s support of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. What a nice surprise! I was diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia nine years ago. During this Covid-19 phase of our lives, my immunity, even being vaccinated, is around 30-60% less than the general public. I have been told by my doctors to be vaccinated and then live like you are not. Needless to say, it has been very isolating for me. Getting your blanket was like a friendly hug. There are new treatments and therapies always on the horizon for blood cancers, thanks to Subaru’s financial support. Many people are grateful for that contribution. the LLS is a wonderful organization. They have assisted me in many ways over the years such as with information seminars, answers to questions and help finding doctors. As a side note, I am a proud owner of a Maple Hill 2015 Subaru Forester. It has low mileage and still looks brand new both inside and out. It has been a great car, especially in our Kalamazoo snowy winters. Thank you again, and God’s blessings to you. Sincerely, Lynn Haulland-SamuelsonIn 2020 during the pandemic, Maple Hill Auto Group supported many businesses by ordering lunch for their employees at least once a week from local restaurants. My husband and I own Kelvin & Co. Urban BBQ and we were honored to provide them with a a handful of lunches during that time. The support of our small, local business meant the world to us. They would also post on social media to showcase the restaurants they were supporting to promote their businesses. Maple Hill Auto Group is the only large company in our area that supports other local businesses on this level. They could choose to use their resources to help themselves but instead they help others during a very uncertain time. Thank you Maple Hill!
In February 2014, Maple Hill Auto group with Subaru helped bring world-renowned violinist Midori to Kalamazoo. Not only did Midori play as a soloist for a near-sold-out concert with the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (in the middle of snowstorm!), but she also spent a week in the community, working directly with music students, educators, and parents. Each year, Midori chooses two communities to participate in her intensive Orchestra Residency Program, a week-long program designed to provide collaborative music-making opportunities that inspire and educate the next generation of classical musicians. Midori spent her time with many young Kalamazoo artists, but perhaps most exciting was the opportunity for 14-year-old Anna Nordmoe, who won the Kalamazoo Junior Symphony Orchestra concerto competition in November, earning the chance to play the last movement of Bach’s “Concerto for Two Violins” with Midori in concert. Thanks to KSO sponsors like Maple Hill Auto Group, young musicians in Kalamazoo were given the chance of a lifetime – to meet and work first-hand with a rock star in the classical music world!
Subaru and our retailers believe in making the world
a better place and the Subaru Love Promise is our vision of respecting all people. This is our commitment to show love and respect to our customers and to work to make a positive impact in the world.Subaru and Maple Hill Subaru believe in making a positive impact on the communities in which we live and work. We uphold that belief through our Love Promise Community Commitment. Every month, we select inspiring stories from customers and partners from around our area who strive to support our collective commitment and feature them here On Thursday, June 13th the Michigan Chapter and Maple Hill Subaru had the pleasure of delivering 80 blankets and 30 arts & craft kits to West Michigan Cancer Center as part of the Subaru Loves To Care program. These comforting gifts were accompanied by personalized messages of hope written by the customers and staff of Maple Hill Subaru.This incredible act of generosity was warmly received by the West Michigan Cancer Center staff, and Connie, a blood cancer patient and volunteer who were thrilled to distribute these comforting gifts to other patients. Connie perfectly represents why this program exists and her dedication to helping others going through treatment as well was astounding.LLS is proud to partner with Subaru to spread hope, love and warmth to those fighting cancer, across the country and right here in these West Michigan communities. In four short years, The Maple Hill Race for Wishes road race event has become a premier bike race and one of the marque events on the Michigan bicycle racing calendar. Even more important than the racing however, is the fundraising and awareness efforts that this race offers for Make-A-Wish of Michigan. Race for Wishes is the only bike race that donates all its proceeds to something greater than the bike racing itself. Here are a few of the quotes captured by participants of the event over the years: “I love racing! But I love racing for a cause even more. Make-a-Wish is a great organization” “I’m telling my friends and bringing them next year (racer for Illinois)” “At 17, Mark was diagnosed with bone cancer. Make-a-Wish granted Mark’s wish of an MTB, but Mark never got to ride that bike. I’m donating my winnings in his honor.” “The plaques with Wish Kid artwork are so much more meaningful than any other award I’ve ever received.” I love being part of this event and hope to see it continue to thrive and grow for years to come. It is a big thanks to sponsors like Maple Hill and Subaru that we are able to put on such an incredible event for the community. – David Buick, Race for Wishes Race PromoterIn 2020 , Subaru and its retailers made a donation to Feeding America to provide 50 Million meals to help feed people in need during the COVID-19 crisis,* making meals available at 199 local food banks across the country.
