Local News - Week of May 13, 2012
Brockport mayor enters not guilty plea in Ogden court
by Kristina Gabalski
Brockport Mayor Connie Castaneda pleaded not guilty for a second time to 14 counts of official misconduct and two counts of falsifying business records - all misdemeanors - during an appearance in Ogden Town Court May 8.
Castaneda was originally arraigned in Sweden Town Court March 26, but the case was transferred to Ogden when all three Sweden justices recused themselves.
Ogden Town Justice David A. Murante released Mayor Castaneda on her own recognizance.
Norman Giancursio also pleaded not guilty to second degree reckless endangerment charges on May 8. He was released on his own recognizance.
Both Castaneda and Giancursio are scheduled to be back in Ogden Town Court June 12.
The two were arrested March 9 by Brockport Police. Mayor Castaneda is accused of illegally renting out rooms in her home to college students. Giancursio allegedly told a tenant in Castaneda’s home not to leave the house during a fire in March of 2011 allegedly to keep authorities from finding out about the rental set-up.
Attorneys for the mayor and Giancurscio have stated that the charges are politically motivated and were brought by the police chief in retaliation against the mayor.
Police Chief Daniel Varrenti has stated that the charges will speak for themselves.
During the regular meeting of the Brockport Village Board, also held on May 8, two residents continued their call for the mayor to resign during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Linda Ketchum said the mayor should “do the right thing and step down now.”
John Cohen of Utica Street said the charges are evidence that the mayor has violated her oath of office.
“I hope maybe she will see what the right thing to do is and resign,” Cohen said.
The mayor has stated she will not step down and that the village attorney advised her the charges would not affect her ability to carry out her duties in her position as mayor.
5/13/12
Some Diamond Pet Food products recalled
Diamond Pet Foods has announced an expanded voluntary recall of some brands of dry dog and cat food because of a possible salmonella contamination. Reports are that 14 people have been reported sick as a result in nine states. Five people were hospitalized from handling the food as reported by the Centers for Disease Control to the Associated Press. The recalled foods were produced in a plant in Glaston, S.C. facility between December 9, 2011 and April 7, 2012.
The Diamond Pet Foods-and companies that co-manufacture their food with Diamond- recall includes many brands of food, including Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul, Country Value, Diamond, Diamond Naturals, Premium Edge, Professional, Natural Balance, 4Health, Taste of the Wild, Apex, Kirkland Signature/Kirkland Signature Nature’s Domain, Wellness Complete Health, Solid Gold, and Canidae.
According to Cornell University, salmonella poisoning in humans can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain/colic or cramps and diarrhea. People may experience moderate fevers and chills. The elderly and young, those with decreased gastric acidity, those with altered gastrointestinal bacteria, those who are immunosuppressed HIV patients, and those whose bowel movements are decreased are at higher risk.
All CountryMax Stores were alerted of the recall as of Friday, May 4 and immediately pulled affected product from their shelves. Consumers who may have purchased recalled food are welcome and encouraged to bring back any recalled bags of food to any CountryMax location. “We want consumers and their pets to be safe.” Stated Bob Lehman, a pet food Buyer for CountryMax Stores. “We are an official collection point for the recall, so we will take back any product in the recall, even if it was not purchased from us. We also have some supply of these brands that were produced in a different plant, and we have several alternative brands to keep your dog or cat fed.”
Provided information
5/13/12
Arbor Day Tree Planting in the Village of Churchville
Jim Fitzsimmons (holding shovel), Churchville Mayor Nancy Steedman, Jim's family (on Jim's right) and Churchville Village Trustees, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts participated in a tree planting ceremony April 27.Arbor Day in New York state was April 27 and, as the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has indicated, it is a day to celebrate the role of trees and promote tree planting and care. Nancy Steedman, mayor of the Village of Churchville, led the village’s observation of Arbor Day for the 11th time and dedicated a scarlett oak tree in the honor of Jim Fitzsimmons who is celebrating 50 years as attorney for the Village of Churchville.
Members of Boy Scout Troop 133 and Girl Scout Troop 508 from the Churchville area finish the planting of the scarlett oak tree in the honor of Jim Fitzsimmons as Jim looks on in the background.Friends and the family of Jim Fitzsimmons, Boy Scout Troop 133 and Girl Scout Troop 508 from the Churchville area, along with the village trustees and community members joined in the day’s events. Music was provided by the Churchville-Chili High School brass ensemble led by Kevin Mead.
Mayor Nancy Steedman opened the dedication by talking about the devotion Jim Fitzsimmons has given to the Village of Churchville and the work he has done since becoming attorney for the Village of Churchville in 1962. The highlight of the celebration was planting the scarlett oak tree by Jim and his family. The dedication ended with the reading of an Arbor Day poem by the Boy and Girl Scouts and the scouts finishing the planting of the tree.
Photos by Dave Knox
5/6/12
New Orleans County Jail superintendent appointed
Shown, left to right, David Callard - Chairman of Orleans County Legislature, Orleans County Jail Superintendent Lt. Scott Wilson, Alex Wilson, Tammy Wilson (Superintendent Wilson's wife) and Orleans County Sheriff Scott Hess. Provided photoOrleans County Sheriff Scott Hess promoted Lieutenant Scott D. Wilson to the position of Superintendent for the Orleans County Jail.
Wilson, who is a fourteen (14) year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, has been the acting Superintendent for several weeks, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Kevin Hale. Wilson’s permanent appointment took effect on April 26.
Wilson was officially sworn-in May 2 in a ceremony held at the County Jail. Several of Wilson’s family members, co-workers, and friends were in attendance. Wilson’s son Alex (age 6) held the bible as his father took the oath of office.
5/6/12
Following remediation, canalside site ready for new use
by Kristina Gabalski
Constructed of Medina sandstone and originally the site of Hiel Brockway's boat and brick yard, the Whiteside Barnett and Company buildings date to 1850, and are rare surviving examples of industrial buildings along the Erie Canal. The historic former Whiteside Barnett and Company warehouse at 60 Clinton Street in the Village of Brockport is ready for a developer.
The Greater Brockport Development Corporation (GBDC), which owns the complex of three inter-connected buildings - two of them constructed of Medina sandstone - removed 200 tons of contaminated soil from the site in mid-April.
“We’re thrilled the community has it back as a viable development-ready property,” GBDC president Gary Skoog says.
GBDC acquired the property several years ago with the help of a HUD grant and a goal of working to preserve and redevelop the rare Erie Canal era buildings. Skoog says HUD grant funds also helped with the cost of the clean-up of the site.
The clean-up is now complete, Skoog says, with the excavation and removal of soil which was contaminated with petroleum distillates from the years the buildings were used as an automotive repair shop.
“We’re thrilled that this is over,” Skoog says of the clean-up. He explains that officials from the New York State DEC and engineers from LaBella Associates were at the site while the contaminated soil was being removed.
Digging for soil samples.“Every single scoop of soil was monitored for level of contamination,” he explains.
The contaminated soil was trucked to the Mill Seat Landfill in Riga for disposal, Skoog says, and the site was leveled-off with clean fill. “Fortunately, the village had some stockpiled fill for just such a use. It didn’t cost the village a dime,” he notes.
Local businesses and contractors were used for the excavation and removal of contaminated soil, Skoog says.
The way is cleared for re-development of the buildings, which stand on the south bank of the Erie Canal just west of the historic downtown business district.
“We’re talking with developers,” Skoog says. “Three people are interested in the property right now.”
GBDC vice-president Bill Andrews says the Whiteside Barnett site serves as “the anchor” for the re-development of the Clinton Street area. “It’s the largest area in the village that is underused,” he says and notes that the location on the canal adjacent to the business district and near The College at Brockport campus and residential areas, is ideal.
Both Andrews and Skoog say they want the community to “look at Clinton Street in a different way. We hope that people will look at Clinton Street more kindly.”
The complex is part of the Clinton Street District Revitalization Plan which recommends small-scale mixed use of buildings in the area. Re-development of the Whiteside Barnett complex must incorporate the Erie Canal and the historic character of the neighborhood, Andrews and Skoog say.
The interior of the Whiteside Barnett and Company warehouse offers about 10,000 square feet total of space in a business use zoning district. Contaminated soil on the site has been removed and clean fill leveled around the building. The buildings are also listed on the state and national historic registers.The three buildings include 10,000 sq. ft. of space and sit on approximately one-third of an acre. The lot has approximately 185 ft. of canal frontage and about the same on the street and is in a business use zoning district, Skoog says. He and Andrews say GBDC would like to see a mix of retail shops/cafes at the site.
Originally the site of Hiel Brockway’s boat and brick yard, the Whiteside Barnett and Company buildings date to 1850, Andrews says, and are rare surviving examples of industrial buildings along the Erie Canal. The buildings are also listed on the state and national historic registers.
The Whiteside Barnett buildings were used for a variety of businesses over the years. First as a farm implement factory and later as a flour mill, lumber yard, canning factory and finally as an auto repair shop, Andrews says.
Gary Skoog notes that there is “an energy in the village” now and that the Whiteside Barnett buildings offer a wonderful opportunity for development along the canal.
“We’re all in this together,” he says. “The community depends on all of us doing something to make this a better place to live.”
Photos by Rick Nicholson
5/6/12
Brockport Tree Board planting
Margay Blackman gives Ian Blount, new head of Brockport's Tree Board, a hug after he presented her with a Certificate of Appreciation for her work as founder and former head of Brockport's Tree Board. This is the seventh year that the Tree Board has sponsored a tree planting event and the fourth year that Brockport has been recognized as a Tree City.It was a brisk morning, 36 degrees and windy, for the Brockport Tree Board tree planting event but there were still enough volunteers from the high school, The College at Brockport students and facilities maintenance ground crew and Tree Board members to complete the Arbor Day tasks: seventeen trees planted along Barry Street and in the Barry Street Park.
Following the opening ceremonies in the Barry Street Park, featuring a talk by new Tree Board Chairman Ian Blount, a presentation of a Certificate of Appreciation for former chair Margay Blackman, a poem composed and read by Bill Heyen and instructions on how to plant a tree by Rick Lair, Supervisor of Facilities Maintenance, The College at Brockport, the volunteers had a short walk to warm up for digging holes along the street.
Bailey Kline, a sophomore at Brockport High School, claims a shovel from a batch supplied for the volunteers who planted 17 trees on Barry Street and the Barry Street Park on April 27.Aided by a grant from the Department of Environmental Conservation that covers the cost for the purchase of trees both in 2012 and 2013, the Brockport Tree Board was able to provide 17 trees this year. Over the past seven years, the Tree Board has planted 200 trees in Brockport. The village has been declared a Tree City for the last four years.
Bill Heyen contributed to the opening ceremonies for the seventh annual Arbor Day event in Brockport as he read from an appropriate poem entitled Emancipation Proclamation, a poem about trees, while members of the ground crew from The College at Brockport and other volunteers listened. 
Surrounding a hole they dug that will contain a Syringas Reticulata Ivory Silk tree are Yisei Na, a junior, Shannon Allen, a sophomore, Bailey Kline, a sophomore, (all at Brockport High School), and Carol Hannan, a village trustee.The poem will be inscribed on a plaque to be placed on the Poet’s Walk near a tree adjacent to the Memorial Art Gallery in Rochester later this year.
Photos by Walter Horylev
5/6/12
New York Apple Crop 2012
Area growers and consumers are cautiously optimistic about the 2012 apple crop -- at least at this point they are planning on there being one.
In a springtime characterized by vastly varying temperatures, they have cause to ponder. On Friday, April 20, when the temperatures registered in the low 80s, Rick Nicholson made this image of a fully open apple blossom growing on an orchard tree in Sweden. What damage may have resulted when temperatures dropped to the low 30s, about three inches of wet, heavy snow and cold north winds brought on two days later on Monday, April 23 when a Nor-easter storm system moved across the area won’t be immediately known.
New York state is second in the nation for apple production and western Monroe County and eastern Orleans and Genesee counties are prime fruit growing areas.
Watch for an assessment of the state of the area fruit crop in an upcoming issue of Suburban News and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald and on this website.
4/29/12
Congresswoman visits Clarendon
Congresswoman Kathy Hochul discussing the efforts to save the Old Stone Store in Clarendon, New York with Deputy Town Supervisor Allen Robinson during a recent visit to Clarendon. Provided photoCongresswoman Kathy Hochul visited the Stone Store in Clarendon on April 11. She has a strong interest in preservation and is hopeful that the town will be successful in finding someone to rehabilitate the building.
The 3,280 square foot building was built of Medina sandstone in 1836 and operated as a general store until 1975. It was recently placed on the State Register of Historic Places and is being reviewed for placement on the National Register of Historic Places. Such a designation would make it eligible for 40 percent of rehabilitation costs to be returned, via tax credits, to the person who rehabilitates it into an income producing property. The Town of Clarendon has agreed to sell the property for $1 to the person who presents the best plan meeting their criteria.
Congresswoman Kathy Hochul speaks with Erin Anheier, chairperson of the Save the Old Stone Store Committee and Caitlin Maives of the Landmark Society of Western New York about the publication she prepared seeking a new owner of the Old Stone Store. Provided photoThe town’s preference is to have the first floor used for commercial or office space and the second floor used for the same or storage. They will also consider commercial or office space on the first floor and an owner occupied apartment on the second floor or conversion to a single family home. Multiple apartments will not be considered.
More information on the Clarendon Stone Store including historical photographs, an architectural condition report and a survey of the property is available on the town website, www.townofclarendon.org.
4/22/12
Firemen’s Grand Parade rerouted due to road work
Due to road construction on Lyell Avenue in Spencerport village, the Spencerport Volunteer Firemen’s Association has decided to change the route for their annual parade in June.
The new route will take parade participants straight down Union Street and into the carnival grounds. Lineup for those who are marching in the parade will start at the intersection of Brockport Road and Union Street and continue south to the intersection of Union Street and Route 31. Traffic personnel and detour signs will be posted.
This year’s carnival will be held from June 6 through 9 with activities held each night. On Wednesday, June 6, the annual Youth Parade will be held. Youth groups from across the community will march down Union Street into the Village of Spencerport. Young children will also march and be dressed up in costumes. The Youth Parade starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday is also “Pay One Price Night,” carnival attendees can ride all the attractions for $18 starting at 5 p.m. The Grand Parade is Thursday, June 7 at 7 p.m.
Since 1937, the Spencerport Firemen’s Carnival has been entertaining the residents of Spencerport, Ogden and surrounding communities with an array of rides, games, food and family fun.
This year, Midway Rides of Utica will serve as the carnival’s ride operator. Midway Rides of Utica, from Utica, New York, has been the longtime ride operator for several venues including: Stafford N. Y. Fire Department, Niagara County Fair along with a host of other events throughout New York and Pennsylvania.
On Friday, June 8, 7th Heaven, a long-time Rochester band, will reunite for one night. The performance starts at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 9, is Family Fun Day. Riders can ride all the attractions for $25 from noon to close. The evening wraps up with live entertainment from a Rochester favorite, Tainted Minds, performance at 8 p.m.
For information about the Spencerport Firemen’s Carnival, visit the website at www.spencerportfire.org or check out the Facebook page.
4/15/12
Repair work on canal bridges in Brockport set for May-June
by Kristina Gabalski
Both lift bridges over the Erie Canal in Brockport are scheduled for repair and maintenance work this spring.
Officials from the NYS Canal Corporation and the NYS Department of Transportation discussed the upcoming work during a public meeting March 30 at the Brockport Middle School.
The Park Avenue bridge is first on the work schedule with repairs to the southeast sheave wheel set to begin May 7.
Richard Manns, Division Canal Engineer with the NYS Canal Corporation said the bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic from Monday, May 7 to Friday, May 25.
Brad Grisley, Bridge Maintenance Engineer for Region 4, NYS Department of Transportation, said the DOT will also make repairs to the south bridge joint and minor repairs to the deck grating at the same time.
Work on the Main Street (Route 19) lift bridge is scheduled to begin Tuesday, May 29 and run through Friday, June 15. The bridge will be closed to vehicular traffic during that time.
Manns said the Canal Corp. will replace the lifting cables on the Main Street Bridge.
A detour will be posted utilizing Fourth Section Road (Route 31), Sweden Walker Road (Route 260) and Ridge Road (Rt 104).
Work on the Brockport Main Street lift bridge will not start until work is complete at the Park Avenue lift bridge, Manns said. “We’re not going to close both bridges at once.”
The Main St. bridge cables were last replaced in 1992, Manns said. The average service life of the counterweight cables is 15 years.
“The Main St. bridge was re-habilitated completely in ’92,” Manns said, “it’s a relatively new bridge.”
Pedestrian walkways will remain open during both projects except for a brief time after the bridge is first placed in the raised position, officials said. The walkways will not be handicap accessible during the work.
Brad Grisley said the NYSDOT is scheduled to make repairs to the deck grating at the same time the cables are replaced. “It’s a good time for us to get in and do deck work,” Grisley said, “the Route 19 bridge is pretty loud.”
Manns noted that similar lift bridge work in Spencerport in 2004 and also in Middleport, Knowlesville and Albion all took three weeks to complete.
George Dahl of the Brockport Integrated Service and Community Organization - BISCO - attended the meeting. He asked officials if the work would affect the summer Arts Festival BISCO has planned for August 11 and 12, if it took longer than expected to complete.
“We’ve had to re-route the festival for two years,” Dahl said. “We’re looking forward to having it on Main Street.”
Manns said he is pretty confident the work will take three weeks (per bridge), “I don’t think it will affect the Arts Festival,” he said.
Officials say the bridgework will not impact navigation on the Canal System or the Canalway Trail.
4/8/12
Dogs need to be licensed annually
New York State requires that all dogs over the age of four months be licensed by the local municipalities. Licensing is done to be sure that all dogs have current rabies vaccinations, protecting the dog, their owner, and the rest of the community.
New licenses may be obtained either in person at the Town Clerk’s Office or by mail. Ogden’s clerk’s office is located at the Ogden Community Center, 269 Ogden Center Road, Spencerport 14559. Hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. To license by mail submit the following information: proof of a current rabies vaccination, proof of spaying or neutering, a check payable to the Town of Ogden for the appropriate amount. Make sure the dog’s type, color, name and birth year are included in the information.
The annual licensing fee for an unneutered or unspayed dog is $17 and $9 if spayed or neutered. The Town of Ogden offers senior residents 65 and older a reduced license fee $11.50 for unneutered or unspayed dog and if spayed or neutered, $3.50.
Monroe County Dog Parks require that all dogs be licensed in order to make use of the parks. The on-site registration times at the new Greece Canal Labor Center are February 8, 13 and 21 from 1 to 4 p.m. Before coming to the park on these dates you need to bring copies to be kept on file of your current rabies certificate and dog license. They accept checks or money orders only. The cost is $24 per dog. Checks are to be made payable to “Monroe County Parks Department.”
For information visit www.ogdenny.com Town Clerk’s Department or call 617-6111.
Provided information
2/5/12
