Archives April 2012
ARCHIVES - WEEK OF APRIL 29, 2012
LOCAL NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 29, 2012
Brockport trustees pass spending plan 4-1
by Kristina Gabalski
Taxpayers in the Village of Brockport will see a drop in their tax rate of $0.18/$1,000 assessed valuation under the 2012/2013 budget adopted by the Brockport Village Board during the regular meeting April 24.
Trustees voted 4-1 to adopt the $4.6 million budget for the fiscal year beginning June 1, 2012. Mayor Connie Castaneda cast the only no vote.
The tax levy actually increased 1.6 percent, but Village Treasurer Dan Hendricks said the tax rate dropped because assessment value rose more than three percent.
The tax rate for 2012/2013 is $12.10/$1,000 assessed valuation. The 2011/2012 rate was $12.28/$1,000.
Mayor Castaneda noted that despite the removal of the ambulance, dispatch and fire services from the budget, there was still an increase in the tax levy.
“The majority of taxes are going to support one department,” Mayor Castaneda said. She said the tax levy is $2.4 million and the total cost of the Brockport Police Department is $2.2 million.
The budget includes utilizing just over $200,000 from the fund balance.
“The Board could have worked better at trying to reduce expenses,” the Mayor said.
“That’s your opinion,” Trustee Scott Hunsinger responded.
During his report, Trustee Hunsinger thanked the entire board for “doing their due diligence with the budget.”
He said he hopes the budget is one that the people in the village “are happy with and proud of.”
During public comment, village resident Linda Ketchum thanked trustees for making amendments to the budget. “We appreciate that we will stay under the two percent cap,” she said.
During their meeting April 10, trustees voted to make several amendments to the budget including the hiring and training of four part-time police officers; re-instating an assistant building inspector; increasing the hours of the Building Department secretary and hiring a grant writer.
In other business during the April 24 meeting, tensions arose between the mayor and trustees over the issue of selecting a deputy clerk treasurer and making an appointment to fill a vacancy on the Parks Committee.
On the issue of hiring a deputy clerk treasurer, trustees asked the mayor if they could review the resumes of the five final applicants before they vote on the mayor’s recommendation for the post. Trustees also asked who the members of the deputy clerk treasurer search committee are.
The mayor said the search committee consists of herself, Village Clerk Leslie Ann Morelli, and Village Treasurer Dan Hendricks. She said she would be bringing forth her recommendation for deputy clerk treasurer at the May 22 meeting of the Village Board.
It’s the mayor’s appointment to make, village attorney Robert Leni said. “She’s not required to share (the information).”
But he recommended that “it makes sense that the resumes be shared,” so that trustees can have some knowledge about the candidate brought forward.
The mayor stated that she would share the resumes of the final two candidates with trustees.
Trustees also expressed concern later in the meeting when the mayor refused to make an appointment to fill a four-year term on the Parks Committee.
Trustee Margaret Blackman asked if the name of a qualified applicant was going to be brought forward.
The mayor responded that she was not making an appointment at that time.
Trustees expressed their dismay, as did some members of the audience.
Trustee Blackman said the village needs volunteers to step forward for such positions. “This discourages (residents) from taking part,” she said.
4/29/12
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
FEATURE STORIES - WEEK OF APRIL 29, 2012
CES Memorial Garden to be dedicated May 12
by Kristina Gabalski
The life of little Zoe Alexis Vargo may have been short, but it touched the lives of many in the Churchville and Spencerport communities and will be memorialized with a special garden at the Churchville Elementary School.
A dedication for the Zoe Alexis Vargo Memorial Garden is set for noon on Saturday, May 12, says Andy Vargo, Zoe’s dad. Zoe was born at Strong Memorial Hospital on April 15, 2011 and lived for five hours before succumbing to a very rare heart condition called Trisomy 18.
“It was a blessing from God that we had that much time,” Andy says. Doctors told him and his wife, Pam, that their daughter probably wouldn’t live long enough to be born when the condition was discovered five months into Pam’s pregnancy.
“It was a miracle that she was born,” Andy says.
Andy, who has served with the Churchville Fire Department for more than 20 years currently as 2nd Deputy Chief, said the five hours his family had with Zoe were “incredible.” He says Pam struggled with sickness throughout the pregnancy and that it was also a challenge for him. “It’s my nature to help, but there was nothing you could do,” he says. But the time with Zoe was “worth everything,” he says.
Zoe was 5 lbs., 12 oz. at birth and perfect in every way other than her heart ailment. Andy says that the hospital was wonderful and that people from the Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation took photographs of the time the family had together at no cost.
Andy and Pam wanted to memorialize Zoe and decided to approach the school about a memorial to be located between the school building and the playground.
Andy attended Churchville Elementary as did his son and Pam’s daughter (this is the second marriage for both). Pam is now 6 1/2 months pregnant with the couple’s second child, a boy, Andy says.
A shot of the memorial looking east gives a sense of the "heart shape." Zoe's dad, Andy, says the shape was not planned. It just ended up being this way when they finished cutting the stone. Photo by Kristina Gabalski.The memorial is constructed of stone pavers and also includes a pathway from the school building. Two benches donated by Zoe’s grandparents, Ted and Doris Vargo, offer comfortable seating and a stone sitting wall forms a soft “S” curve (for the C-C Saints) along the far side. The pavers are edged around the rim of the garden with mulch and flowers are planted on the east side of the sitting wall. A purple beech tree planted just to the south of the memorial will someday provide shade and serves as a specimen planting.
The memorial garden, “turned out larger than we planned,” Andy explains. Initially, it was supposed to be a circle with pavers, a bench and a tree, but then it was decided to add the sitting wall at one end.
“They were messing with the wall while I was gone,” Andy says. When he saw the finished garden, Andy was stunned. With the “S” curve at the far end, the final shape of the memorial turned out to be a heart.
“That’s the wild part,” Andy says. “It was totally unintended ... we didn’t see it until we made the cuts.”
Churchville-Chili Central School District Director of Operations and Maintenance Steve Hamil says the district “couldn’t be happier with the results. We worked closely with Andy and the Board of Education to get it passed. We wanted something functional that everybody could enjoy and that looked classy.”
Hamil notes that Ken Tanner, the district’s head groundsman, was also involved in the design and layout of the garden.
Churchville Elementary Principal Dave Johnson says the district was pleased to work with Andy on the memorial. “It looks beautiful,” he says and adds that students are already enjoying it.
Johnson also recognizes that Andy feels the teachers he had while a student at Churchville Elementary had a profound impact on his life. “It becomes clear when you are talking to Andy how much his teachers meant to him,” Johnson says. Johnson says the garden not only memorializes Zoe, but also is a way for Andy to thank his former teachers.
“We are a small town and a small school and we look out for each other,” Johnson says. Andy’s recognition, “means a lot to the teachers.”
Many in the community became involved in the project, Andy explains. “We are grateful to the school district for allowing us to do it,” Andy says and adds that the Village of Churchville has been “awesome.”
Members of the Churchville Fire Department and Spencerport Volunteer Firemen’s Association and Churchville Fire Equipment helped out as well as friends of the family and several local businesses donated materials, base stone, pavers, bricks, labor, excavating, machinery and hardscapes.
A stone honoring Zoe has been placed in the middle of the memorial and Andy says other pavers can be engraved in the future for those who would like to add names to the memorial. There is also room for two additional benches. Anyone interested “will have to go through the school district,” he says.
The dedication ceremony on May 12 - which falls on Mother’s Day weekend - is open to all, Andy says. “Anyone in the community is welcome to come.”
Village of Churchville, Town of Riga and school district officials will also be in attendance.
“I am very excited about the twelfth,” Andy says. Refreshments will be served at the fire hall afterwards.
Andy notes that Zoe would have gone to Churchville Elementary and that her little brother will one day attend the school and play on the playground next to his sister’s memorial.
“That makes it special,” he says.
4/29/12
Arjuna Florist brightens lives of Beikirch Care Center residents
Pictured from left to right are Don Short, owner, Arjuna Florist; Rose Stilwell, Beikirch Care Center resident; Lynne Short, owner, Arjuna Florist and Mary Mack, Beikirch Care Center resident. Provided photoBeikirch Care Center residents enjoy springtime all year round thanks to floral donations from Don and Lynne Short, owners of Arjuna Florist. The couple has been bringing flowers to the Lakeside Health Care System long term care center regularly for the past several years.
“If we had to calculate in dollars the amount of gorgeous buckets full of flowers, many times including roses, it would be in the thousands,” said Nancy Duff, Lakeside Health System Director of Recreation and Volunteers. “They are a generous couple and have a beautiful business.”
Don and Lynne, residents of Kendall, believe in the emotional power of flowers. “Emotions and feelings that words sometimes can’t express can be said with flowers,” said Don. “Sharing flowers with the residents at Beikirch is a great experience for us.”
The residents and the staff at Lakeside are extremely grateful for the gifts. “Thank you from all of us,” said Duff.
Provided information
4/29/12
Be ready for summer with this BBQ cooking class
The Rotary Foundation of Brockport, Inc. will kick off the 2012 BBQ and Music Fest with a BBQ cooking class on Sunday, May 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Knowlwood Lodge in Northampton Park in Brockport.
The class will be taught by Rob Giordano, president and owner of the BBQ Shop Inc. and a member of Noel’s Competition BBQ Team. He has many years of experience in BBQ and has brought his teachings to universities in the Niagara region. Rob will be assisted by Noel Grosskopf, president and chef of Noel’s Competition BBQ and Catering Co. from Albion. Both men have an unparalleled passion for the art of BBQ cooking.
“We are excited to be able to share our knowledge of BBQ that we have learned over the years, while at the same time supporting the Rotary, The Brockport BBQ Festival, and The Wilmot Cancer Center. The class will certainly be an active learning experience as BBQ is as much an art as a science” Grosskopf noted.
Cooks of all skills levels are encouraged to attend. Registration fees are $70 per person or $115 per couple and includes a light lunch. Cooks should walk away from the class with a good knowledge of flavor profiles, fire management, picking and trimming meats, and other tips. Registration can be completed at www.brockportbbqfest.com. Proceeds from the event support the BBQ Festival and the Wilmot Cancer Center.
The third annual Brockport BBQ and Music Festival takes place July 6 to 8 at Northampton Park. The event includes five cook-off events, live music, a children’s activities area, a car cruise-in, a motorcycle poker run and a beer garden.
Provided information
4/29/12
Brockport Arts Festival adds Don Quixote Day Beard Contest
A Different Path Gallery owner Katherine Weston and artist Sarah Hart have great fun with their fake beards. Brockport Arts Festival events include a beard growing contest this year. Provided photoChallenged to come up with new ideas for the Brockport Arts Festival (August 11-12), Sarah Hart, a local artist who has her studio at A Different Path Gallery in Brockport, wants Brockport to celebrate Don Quixote Day, August 12 with a Beard Contest. Sarah, who has studied in Italy and is known for her portrait work, would provide a charcoal portrait of the winner as a grand prize. Other prizes would be given out to the beard most like Don Quixote’s, Best Fake Beard (have to let non beard growers have a chance), and similar categories.
The contest will be held at A Different Path Gallery, Sunday, August 12, beginning at 2:30 p.m. There is a rumor that the charismatic Steve Appleton may take a turn as Beard Contest MC. More information, including entry forms, will be available at www.DifferentPathGallery.com and at the gallery (23 Market Street).
BISCO invites merchants to have a role in Festival
BISCO is on a quest to make the 2012 Arts Festival the best ever as it returns to Main Street in mid August. For the first time in the 18 years of the festival, merchants are being invited to assume a larger, more visible role. Business owners may register as festival sponsors for a modest fee and those who wish to put out a display on the sidewalk in front of their business are encouraged to do so as long as the appearance adds to the festival. Those who wish to go further, like Hart and A Different Path Gallery owner Katherine Weston and present an activity, project or separate event directly enhancing the festival’s attractiveness, will have their efforts included as part of the festival schedule.
Business owners who have not yet received an explanatory letter and registration form should contact Jo Matela at Red Bird Café and Tea Shoppe (637-3340). See www.brockportartsfestival.com for a list of those merchants who have signed up to this point.
Provided information
4/29/12
Clarendon’s historic architecture topic of May 6 presentation
May is “National Historic Preservation Month.” This year’s theme is “Discovering America’s Hidden Gems.” To help celebrate the theme, Cynthia Howk, Architectural Research Coordinator of the Landmark Society of Western New York, will present a slide show entitled “Discover Clarendon: 200 Years of Historic Architecuture.” Howk is a dynamic speaker with over 30 years of experience in local history and preservation planning and will offer a lot of information about older buildings in Clarendon.
The talk will be held at the Clarendon Fire Hall May 6 at 3 p.m. There is no charge and the public is invited. Refreshments will be served. Those who have historic pictures of Clarendon are asked to bring them to the presentation to share with neighbors.
4/29/12
Dave Fisher, President and CEO of Oak Orchard Community Health Center, opens a box of World Book Night books.
One of many recipients of World Book Night organizers’ largess, OOCHC volunteered to be one of several dissemination points for the books which are intended to promote love of reading and reading skills.
Supplementing Brockport Rotary’s Blue Bookcase program where continuous book recycling is encouraged, the World Book Night books are intended for ownership by the recipient. Twenty individuals will each be given a copy of Friday Night Lights, the book that was the incentive for the popular TV series and 2004 film. T
he OOCHC books were distributed by Lift Bridge Book Store and Seymour Library was another local distributor.
Provided photo
4/29/12
Earth Day at Hamlin Beach
Despite the cool temperatures and intermittent rain, the 5th annual Earth Day Celebration on April 21 at Hamlin Beach State Park was well attended.
A roaring fire in Shelter 3 kept all the vendors, exhibitors and attendees warm and dry.
Hardy visitors participated in the beach clean-up, marsh tour and CCC/POW tour, and viewed the fuel efficient vehicles local dealers had on display. With plenty of food on hand and entertainment by the Dady Brothers, organizers say it was another successful year.
Earth Day presenter Ed Evans speaking about the CCC/POW Camp. 
Hamlin Earth Day demonstrations and displays included this one of a wetland habitat
Photos by Rick Nicholson
4/29/12
Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day and fundraiser May 19
The American Legion Greece Post #468 and Vietnam Veterans Chapter 20 host Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day at the American Legion Greece Post #468, 344 Dorsey Road, Greece on Saturday, May 19 from noon to 5 p.m. The event is open to the public.
The afternoon will begin with a ceremony thanking Vietnam Veterans for their service and sacrifice and honoring P.O.W.’s/M.I.A.’s from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. A picnic will immediately follow the ceremony and speakers. There will be raffles throughout the afternoon. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 20. Tickets will be $8 in advance and $10 at the door and will include lunch, beverages, and live entertainment provided by DannyB. Sponsorships start at $100 and are still available. The event will be held rain or shine.
For details on becoming a sponsor of Vietnam Veterans Appreciation Day call Dave Taylor or Ralph Presciutti at the American Legion Greece Post #468 at 585-663-2091 or Terry Hogan at 585-260-0585. Event details can also be found at www.OurVietnamVets.com. Any Vietnam Veteran wishing to submit photos from their tour in Vietnam to be included on www.OurVietnamVets.com should email them to thogan11@rochester.rr.com. For details on the American Legion Greece Post #468 visit http://www.greecepost468.com.
4/29/12
SPORTS NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 29, 2012
AREA
Katie StegerRWC volleyball head coaches Jon and Kirsten Meyers have announced the signing of Katie Steger (Hilton).
Steger recently signed a letter of intent to continue her academic and athletic career at Roberts Wesleyan College starting this fall. “Katie is one of the hardest workers we know,” said Jon. “She is strong at the net on offense and defense. Katie is also versatile as she can play both middle and right side.”
Steger, a 5’11” middle blocker at Hilton High School, has been playing volleyball for six years. Steger has made an impact for the Cadets the past two seasons at the varsity level. This past season, she earned First Team All-Monroe County honors along with being named All-Greater Rochester Honorable Mention.
At the end of her junior season, Steger was selected to the Monroe County Second Team.
Provided photo
4/29/12
Gymnasts earn silver medals
Silver Medal Winners Raelyn Smith, Taylor Pohleven and Julianna Gatto. Provided photoThree Bright Raven Gymnasts won silver medals at the USA Gymnastics Level 7 State Championships held in Rochester April 14-15. Twelve-year-old Taylor Pohleven of Spencerport earned two silvers taking second all around with a total score of 37.325 and second on balance beam with a 9.40. Pohleven competed among 55 gymnasts in the 12-year-old division and also placed fourth in floor exercise (9.45) and fifth on the uneven parallel bars (9.175).
Teammates, Julianna Gatto of Gates and Raelyn Smith of Hilton also each earned silver competing in a field of 47 gymnasts in the 14 to 15 year old age group. Smith was second on floor exercise (9.475). Gatto was second on vault (9.55), sixth on beam (9.15), eighth on floor (9.275) and sixth all around (36.20).
Several other Bright Raven Gymnasts finished among the top ten in their divisions at the State Meet. In the 13-year-old division, Morgan Vanderhoof of Chili placed fourth on beam (9.375). In floor exercise competition, Molly McKenna of Chili was sixth (9.275) and Brooke Adam of Greece was tenth (9.25). On bars, Mackenzie Wilkins of Pittsford was ninth (8.725). Twelve-year-old Julia Wade of Chili was eighth on beam (9.125) and ninth all around (36.575). As a team, Bright Raven Gymnastics of Gates finished sixth among the 52 teams represented at the Level 7 State Championships.
Provided information
4/29/12
BROCKPORT
Blue Devils netters win
by Warren Kozireski
Brockport swept three doubles matches in easy fashion to lead a 5-2 win over visiting Spencerport in varsity boys tennis.
Cody Didas and Justin Mercer took a 6-2, 6-1 decision at first doubles and Kevin Carges with Nate Fisher followed with a 6-1, 6-0 win at second doubles. Third doubles was a forfeit.
Top singles player Andrew Zimmer won 6-1, 6-0 with teammate Shane Chichester winning at second singles 6-1, 6-2.
Spencerport’s Sam Zale was victorious at third singles 6-3, 6-1 and Pablo Sotomayor took a tough fourth singles match 6-1, 2-6, 6-4 for the Rangers, who fell to 0-4.
Brockport evened their record at 3-3.
4/29/12
HILTON
Richards paces Cadet win
by Warren Kozireski
Junior Derek Richards scored twice with two assists in the first half and added one of each in the second to finish with a game-high six points in Hilton’s 11-1 rout of Gates Chili in boys lacrosse.
The Cadets jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first period. Jake Montgomery scored off a pass from Richards, Cory Endres netted an unassisted goal at 8:54 and Harold Juergens followed with a low shot 48 seconds later.
Richards scored the first two goals of the second quarter - the first after Shane Endres intercepted a pass in the defensive zone while killing a penalty and led the rush with a pass to Dante Giordano who found Richards.
Juergens found the net on a quick-hitter off a pass from Richards and Mitch Smith followed just 17 seconds later when he misfired his shot, but watched it dribble across the goal-line.
Giordano made it 8-0 Cadets with an unassisted goal in the third quarter prior to the Spartans netting their only goal of the game.
Giordano completed his hat trick with a pair of fourth quarter goals sandwiching Richards’ third of the game to complete the scoring.
Mark Detroia and Jarod Kimble split the game in net for Hilton making three and two saves respectively to improve the Cadets record to 4-3.
4/29/12
SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 29, 2012
AREA
‘Life in a Bubble’ leaves children with food allergies at risk - ACE teams deliver solutions communities can live with
Food allergies and anaphylaxis are on rise, as are peanut-free schools, baseball parks and airplanes. But is it possible or medically recommended to isolate food-allergic children from killer proteins?
The hot topic is spicing up communities throughout the U.S. and Internet forums. As the pendulum swings from irrational fear to the blatantly cavalier, school-aged kids with food allergies are left hanging in the balance.
Starting in 2011 and continuing next year, allergists and community members team up nationwide to help steer the debate with realistic expectations and evidence-based solutions. Anaphylaxis Community Experts (ACEs), a program developed by Allergy & Asthma Network Mothers of Asthmatics in partnership with the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, conduct free local seminars to increase awareness about anaphylaxis and treatment and prevention strategies.
“Food allergy anaphylaxis can be deadly but doesn’t have to be,” says Rochester ACE Team allergist Dr. John J. Condemi. “Our goal is to prevent death and anxiety due to anaphylaxis in our community.” The Anaphylaxis Community Experts will offer a free seminar (pre-registration required) at Brockport Middle School on Tuesday, May 22 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. The seminars will be held in the LGI (Large Group Instruction) room.
To register contact Trina Kenney at 585-637-1865 trina.kenney@bcs1.org.
Provided information
4/29/12
BROCKPORT
Brockport High School Drama Club Presents “Our Town”
“Our Town” runs May 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. in the Brockport High School Auditorium, 40 Allen Street, Building 700. Tickets are $6 and may be purchased through www.showtix4u.com or at the door.
Cast members are (front row l to r) Ma Yifei, Adam Hare; (seated at table l to r) Amelia VanDuzee, Andrea Ross, Edward Rubenacker; (standing l to r) Theresa Adams, Juan Padilla, Nate Andrews, Ashley Washburn, Dylan Sevor, Sean Flynn, Patrick DiFlorio, Michael Shaw, Rachael Smith, Harris Weiss, Sarah Dresnack; (on laddder row l to r) Corinne Killenbeck, Kasey Dickinson, Elijah Dennis, Richie Cardiel, Meaghan Wilson, MacKenzie Hungerford, Keyondra Myricks. Not pictured - Tyler Rosso.
Provided photo
4/29/12
BYRON-BERGEN
Byron-Bergen 2012 HOBY representatives named
2012 HOBY participants from Byron-Bergen High School: Paramjit Kaur (Holly) Sembhi, Laura Redinger and Robert Schrenker. Provided photoHugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership Seminars have been held yearly throughout the United States and Canada since 1958. The purpose of HOBY is to provide sophomores the opportunity to meet many distinguished leaders of the community from various sectors such as business, technology, education, government, arts and science.
Every year, all sophomores are eligible and encouraged to apply for this exceptional leadership seminar. A group of sophomores around the country is selected based on a variety of criteria such as leadership ability, sensitivity to others, communication skills, community service, etc. This year, the organization allowed three students to attend from Byron-Bergen High School. Paramjit Kaur (Holly) Sembhi, daughter of Kamaljit Sembhi and Jasvir Kaur; Laura Redinger, daughter of Carolyn and Charles Redinger; and Robert Schrenker, son of Lori and John Schrenker, were selected as Byron-Bergen High School “HOBY Ambassadors.” They will attend the HOBY seminar at the University of Rochester June 1-3. Funding this year was provided by the Byron Kiwanis for two of the students, and the Byron-Bergen S.T.E.P. Boosters and Byron-Bergen School District provided funding for the third student to attend.
Provided information
4/29/12
HILTON
Northwood Elementary student recognized by UNAR
Alex Gunkel, left, a sixth grade student at Hilton’s Northwood Elementary in teacher Brittany Williams’ REACH (gifted and talented) class, was honored April 20, by the United Nations Association of Rochester with the Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award at the 67th Annual Dinner and Awards Meeting which honors community members for their volunteer work, humanitarian work, and impact in the community.
“Alex was chosen as a volunteer for his work and effort at the 2012 St. John Fisher UNAR Model United Nations Conference,” Williams said. “Alex served as a page at this conference and donated $41.60 to ‘Jar Wars’, a charity fundraiser that the conference holds, even though he knew he would be unable to participate in a possible award with his committee the next day. He wanted to donate the money because he said that “it was going to be a better cause than staying in my wallet.”
A portion of the donations Jar Wars collected at the 2012 St. John Fisher UNAR Model UN Conference was donated to 34 million friends of UNFPA, an organization that helps women and children across the globe. One day Alex would like to work for the United Nations and continue making a difference in his community and throughout the world.
Provided photo
4/29/12
Fun Night raises scholarship funds
Hilton Central School District’s Teachers Association, the “HCSTA,” held its annual and highly-anticipated “Fun Night” Friday, April 20 to raise funds for scholarship awarded annually to deserving Hilton High School graduates who plan to enter the teaching profession.
Pictured, teacher Patti Sullivan offers a prize to a young student.
Teachers, teaching assistants and students set up games of skill, games of silliness and even a wet sponge toss at some popular teachers.
“Fun Night is a joy!” said Northwood Elementary School teacher Ed Donnelly who heads up the Association. More than 500 were in attendance.
Provided photo
4/29/12
St. Paul musical is more than just a game
St. Paul Lutheran School in Hilton will be presenting its annual musical May 3 at 1 p.m. and May 4 at 7 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
“The Amazing Scripture Memory Maze” is an upbeat, lively children’s musical from the creative team of John Chisum and Nancy Gordon. The action takes place on a game show stage as teams Faith, Hope and Joy compete in the Memory Maze.
This fast-paced musical aims to leave the audience smiling, laughing and full of God’s Word, according to school representatives. Every student from kindergarten through 8th grade participates in the musical. St. Paul, which serves students age 2 to 8th grade, is located at 158 East Avenue. The school is in its 55th year of providing Christian education for students in Hilton, Spencerport, Brockport and Greece.
4/29/12
Hilton Central Schools hold annual meeting May 10
The Hilton Central School District will hold a Meet the Candidates Night for the Board of Education Thursday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. in District Offices, Board Meeting Room, 225 West Avenue, Hilton.
Two, three-year terms are open on the seven-member Hilton Board of Education and are up for election, those currently held by Board President Daniel Wellington and Robert Prorok. Three candidates will be on the ballot for two, three-year terms on the Hilton Board of Education at the May 15, Budget Vote and Board Election.
On the ballot are (in ballot order): Daniel Wellington, incumbent, of 336 Frisbee Hill Road, Greece, current board president who has been on the board since 1994 and is seeking his sixth term; Thomas Abbott of 44 Carrington Drive, Greece, Chief Financial Officer Harris Beach, running for the board for the first time; and Monica Gaffney of 187 Timarron Trail, Greece, Manager, Xerox Production Operations Western Hemisphere, Applications Production Operations and ASRM IBM Relationship, running for the board for the first time.
For information, contact the District Clerk at 585-392-1000 ext. 7099 or visit http://www.hilton.k12.ny.us/budget-profile.htm.
Provided information
4/29/12
SPENCERPORT
Spencerport musician to appear in virtual choir
Spencerport High School student Justin Burr has been selected as one of nearly 3,000 singers from 73 countries whose voice and video likeness is being used in Eric Whitacre’s most recent Virtual Choir performance.
Whitacre, a world-renowned composer and conductor, released his first virtual choir performance of “Lux Aurumque” which featured 185 voices from 12 countries. The submitted video performances were combined and edited to create the Virtual Choir performance that has become an Internet sensation.
On April 2, the “Water Night” debuted as the third work recorded in this manner. Justin, who is a junior at Spencerport High School, first printed the sheet music from Whitacre’s website. After a practice period, he recorded his part while following Whitacre’s online conducting video. He submitted his video and was selected as one of the 830 basses in this unique choir.
Justin was a member of the All-State Vocal Jazz, sings in the Spencerport High School Concert Choir and Vocal Jazz and plays Trumpet in the Wind Ensemble. The Virtual Choir performance can be seen on the Virtual Choir website, www.ericwhitacre.com/the-virtual-choir.
Provided information
4/29/12
Budget hearing, board candidates night on May 1
The Spencerport Central School District will hold a public hearing on the proposed 2012-13 budget on Tuesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. in the cafeteria of Cosgrove Middle School, 2749 Spencerport Road.
Superintendent Michael Crumb and Director of Business Operations Rick Wood will offer a presentation on the proposed $69 million budget, which reflects a 1.96 percent or $0.46 increase in the true value tax rate.
In addition to the budget, the two propositions up for voter approval will also be reviewed and the four candidates running for two board of education openings will be available for questions.
This year’s school budget vote will take place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 15, in three locations.
Visit www.spencerportschools.org for other information.
Provided information
4/29/12
OBITUARIES - WEEK OF APRIL 29, 2012
ALBION
•Corbin, Les R., April 17, 2012, age 82. Loving father of Karen (Neil) Steward, AnnMarie (James) Bartle, Gary, Susan (Michael) Colby, Rev. Raymond; five grandsons and two granddaughters. Les was an Army veteran of the Korean conflict and a retiree of Eastman Kodak Company.
Interment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery, Albion. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Contributions can be made to Hospice of Orleans or Erie Counties.
BERGEN
•Neal, Robert F. W2XG, April 21, 2012. Predeceased by his parents, Dorothy and J. Francis Neal. Survived by his longtime friend, Elaine Hay; cousins, Loretta (Victor) Bourgoin of St. Petersburg, Opal (Dallas) Embling, Gertrude (William) Embling, Glenn Neal, Margaret Neal and James (Sheryle) Neal of Georgia.
A Graveside Service was held April 28 at Mumford Rural Cemetery. Donations can be sent to the Gillam Grant Community Center, 6966 West Bergen Road, Bergen, NY 14416 in his memory.
BROCKPORT
•Coleman, Harold F., age 87, real estate agent for Nothnagle Realtors in Brockport for 20 years, died April 22, 2012 at Lakeside Memorial Hospital. His wife of 62 years, Lois Jean Harris Coleman, died March 31, 2008. Survivors include his daughter, Linda Jean Coleman of Brockport; his son, Don (Deb) Coleman of Bergen; his sister, Violet Whitman of Fulton; four granddaughters, Amy (Mike) Koziej of Akron, Sherry (Jim) Starowitz of Bergen, Carrie (Brian) Fair and Sandy Coleman, both of Virginia Beach, Virginia; eleven great-grandchildren; a special “grandson,” John Wortman; his beloved dog and companion, Baille and one nephew. A member of Brockport United Methodist Church, Mr. Coleman was an active volunteer at Lakeside Memorial Hospital for over 20 years. He was a member of the Navy Club, an honorary Irish Dancer and served with the United States Navy during World War II.
Services were held April 26 at Brockport United Methodist Church. Contributions can be made in his memory to Brockport United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 247, Brockport, NY 14420, Bergen United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 216, Bergen, NY 14416 or to Lakeside Foundation, Inc., 156 West Avenue, Suite 101, Brockport, NY 14420 - designate gift for Lakeside Memorial Hospital. Burial in White Haven Memorial Park, Fairport.
•Marks, Ann N. (Clark), April 21, 2012 at age 63. Predeceased by her parents George and Kathryn Clark. She is survived by her daughter Georgana Marks; grandson Jameson Ezra; sisters Carolyn “Chi Chi” (Bill) Seaman, Marilyn (Jerry) Clement; brother James (Anita) Clark; several nieces and nephews, longtime good friends Diane Barber and Maryann Rogers and other close friends.
A gathering to honor Ann’s life will be held at a later date. Contributions can be made to Jameson’s Scholarship Fund with details to follow.
•Miller, Henry R., April 14, 2012, at age 98. Predeceased by his wife, Rose; his parents, Hamilton and Anne Miller; and his sister, Margaret O’Haus. He is survived by his children, Dorothy (Clark) Webster, Henry R. Jr. (Peter Wisuthsuraphol); grandchildren, Rudy (Judi) Benda, Dody Rochon (Bob Smith), Ken (Tammy) Benda, Steve (Audrey) Benda, Andrea Garrett, Heidi (Erhard Grundl) Webster and Sylvia (Thomas) Reitmeier; 10 great-grandchildren; and a “special friend,” Mary “Kay” Sherry. He volunteered at Lakeside Memorial Hospital for several years.
A Memorial Service celebrating Henry’s life will be held Saturday, May 5 at 11 a.m. at Holley First Presbyterian Church. Contributions can be made to Lakeside Beikirch Care Center, 170 West Avenue, Brockport in his memory.
CHURCHVILLE
•Erbelding, Bruce Jay, April 15, 2012 at age 83. Survived by his wife of 63 years, Lois; four children, Gail (Will), Bruce (Beth), Stuart and Eric; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service was held April 28 at the First Presbyterian Church of Chili. Contributions can be made to the Chili Presbyterian Memorial Fund, 3600 Chili Avenue, Rochester, NY 14624 in his memory.
GREECE
•Thomas, Anthony J., April 23, 2012 at age 86. Predeceased by his parents, Joseph and Cordelia Thomas; brother, John Thomas. Survived by his wife of 62 years, Dorothy (McDonald) Thomas; children, Tom (Wendy) Thomas, Daniel Thomas, Joseph Thomas and Kelly Thomas Borrelli; 11 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sisters, Gloria Sebastian and Mary Cortina; many nieces and nephews; dear friends. Anthony and his wife are the founders of New York State Fence.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated April 27 at St. Lawrence Church, Greece. Interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (StJude.org) in his memory.
HAMLIN
•Sadewasser, Charles, On April 18, 2012. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Rita; his children, Debbie Young, Susan Alley, Jan (Vinny) Michael, Kim (Mike) Huffer, Matthew (Dawn) Sadewasser and David (Karyn) Sadewasser; eight grandchildren; one great-grandchild; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services were held April 21 at Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Hilton. Interment, Lakeview Cemetery, Brockport.
HILTON
•Galle, James H., April 20, 2012. Survived by his wife, Jackie of 46 years; children, Denyel Galle-Mattia, Jeffrey (Kim) Galle, and Paula (Brian) Dehlinger; seven grandchildren.
A Memorial Service was held April 24 at the Farrell-Ryan Funeral Home, Greece. Contributions can be made to Hildebrandt Hospice or Hilton Volunteer Ambulance in his memory.
•Gallipeau, Shirley R., April 19, 2012 at age 70. Predeceased by her husband, Phillip L.; and son, Phillip M.; survived by children, Jerry (Gail), Lynn (Bill) Fetzner; grandchildren, Christopher (Rene), Jerid, Jeremy (Anika), Brian (Marijke), Sean, Stacey and Heather; great-grandchildren, Ethan, Eli, Casey and Calvin; many relatives and friends.
Services were held privately. Donations can be made to JP-WCC Brain Tumor Patient Needs Fund Advancement Office, 300 East River Road, Box 278996, Rochester 14622 in her memory.
•Strussenberg, Elinor J., of Sarasota, Florida, age 80, died April 10, 2012. Elinor is survived by her husband of 60 years, Carl; son, Steve (Linda); daughters Lisa (William) Christman and Gretchen (Robert) Krupa; three grandchildren, William Carl, Amanda and Gabrielle; and many other family and friends. She was born in Kendall on May 21, 1931 and lived and worked many years in Hilton.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date in Sarasota, Florida.
•Van Meter, Debbie A. (Gresens), Peacefully April 17, 2012 in Casselberry, Florida. She is survived by her husband, Nathan; son, Andrew (Mariah Dempsey); granddaughter, Kira Van Meter; parents, Robert and JoAnne (Quataert) Gresens; brothers, Michael (Kelly Hosmer), David (Lisa) Gresens; sister, Karen (Scott) Hilborn; father-in-law, Nathan Van Meter Sr.; mother-in-law, Lilian Selph; sister-in-law, Darlene (Rick) Blair; grandmothers, Violet Quataert and Margaret Driscoll; nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and devoted friends in New York and Florida.
Funeral Services were held April 28 at the Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home Inc., Hilton. Interment, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the Haven, 610 Birch Boulevard, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701 or one’s favorite charity in her memory.
HOLLEY
•LaPlante, Vicki L. (Webster), Age 37, died April 20, 2012. She was predeceased by her mother Eloise, brother, Richard. She is survived by her father, Ralph Webster; sister, Pam (Todd) Clark of Clarendon; brothers, Dale (Jackie) Larnder, David (Linda) Larnder, both of Hilton; paternal grandmother, Audrey Cole of Clarendon; maternal grandmother, Eleanor Cedar of Albion; fiancé Roberto Otero of Florida; several nieces, nephews, cousins.
Funeral Services were held April 25 at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home, Inc., Holley. Interment, Hillside Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the Clarendon Fire Company in her memory.
NORTH CHILI
•Healy, Gregory Patrick, Suddenly, April 16, 2012. Predeceased by his paternal grandfather, Patrick Healy and maternal grandmother, Dorothy R. Tingler. Survived by his parents, Patrick and Janet L. Healy; brothers and sister, Benjamin R. Healy, Specialist U.S.Army, Rebecca Lorin and Paxton T. Healy; paternal grandmother Maralene Ten Eyck Healy; maternal grandfather, Leonard E. Tingler. Gregory was a 2005 graduate of Churchville-Chili High School. A graduate magna cum laude from SUNY Brockport in criminal justice and was a freight line Supervisor at Fed Ex Ground in North Chili.
A Memorial Mass was said April 27 at St. Christopher’s Church, North Chili. Contributions can be made to the American Red Cross in his memory.
SPENCERPORT
•Bannon, Michael C., April 19, 2012 at age 84. Mike was predeceased by his son, Richard Michael Bannon; parents, William and Mary Bannon; three sisters and five brothers. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Donna M. Bannon; daughters, Lynda (Edmund) DeFrank; Wendy (Timothy) Hackett; his grandchildren, Doug (Julie) Hackett, Mariane DeFrank, Amy (Matthew Horton) Hackett, Nicole (Alan) Carner, Vicki DeFrank; his great grandchildren, Alyssa, Anthony, Aiden, Ava, Helena and Alaina; brothers, Basil (Anne) and Frank (Grace) Bannon.
Funeral Services were held April 22 at Walker Brothers Funeral Home, Inc., Spencerport. Private interment. Contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or Aurora House Comfort Care in his memory.
•Elmes, Richard Leonard, July 23, 1919-April 20, 2012. Survived by daughter, Linda L. Harringston. Grandson, W. Cooper (Chantel) Harrington. Also Marjorie J. (David) Reynolds. Great-grandchildren, Alanna, Alexander and Jacob Reynolds, Samantha Harrington and Dylan Baker. Sisters-in-law Cathy Elmes, Eileen Chapman (George) Osborne, Doris Chapman Wagner. Six nieces, five nephews. Cousins Rev. Richard Leonard, Marie L. Pratt. Predeceased by wife, Iris Chapman Elmes and son-in-law, Leon D. Harrington, Jr. Leonard was a life member of the Spencerport Volunteer Firemen’s Association, member of the Spencerport Wesleyan Church and the former National Warplane Museum. A 27 year employee of Eastman Kodak Company.
Services were held privately. Contributions can be made to the Hammondsport Fire Department, Arthur A. Chapman Fire Boat, P.O. Box 337, Hammondsport, NY 14840 or the Spencerport Volunteer Firemen’s Association, P.O. Box 74, Spencerport, NY 14559 in his memory.
•Holzschuh, Jeanette M., April 24, 2012, at age 87. Predeceased by her husband, Charles W. Holzschuh Sr.; son, Robert Holzschuh; several brothers and sisters. Survived by her children, Linda (Ron) Dobra, Chuck Holzschuh Jr. of Florida, Richard (Kathie) Holzschuh and Cindy Houle; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sister, Linda Bloss; brother, Walter Levick; many nieces and nephews.
Her Funeral Mass was celebrated April 27 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Spencerport. Interment, St. John’s Cemetery. Donations can be made to St. John the Evangelist Church, 55 Martha Street, Spencerport, NY 14559 in her memory.
ARCHIVES - WEEK OF APRIL 22, 2012
LOCAL NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 22, 2012
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
DEC Grant provides for the Village of Brockport’s Arbor Day events
Thanks to the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Village of Brockport has been granted funds for 2012 and 2013 Arbor Day Tree Planting events.
Over $3,000 will go toward this season’s community forestry restoration as the Village of Brockport Tree Board and community volunteers plant 17 new village trees along Barry Street and in the Barry Street Park. The Arbor Day celebration takes place Friday, April 27, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Barry Street Park where a ceremony will be followed by tree planting. The public is invited to attend and help plant trees.
4/22/12
Troop 92 Cubs help clean up park
On Saturday, April 14, approximately 20 children from Spencerport Cub Scout Pack 92 and their families participated in a park cleanup day at Pineway Ponds Park in Spencerport.
Trash and litter was collected in and around the park area and disposed of in the proper place.
4/22/12
At a recent meeting, the Kiwanis Club of Spencerport heard a presentation by the Rochester office of the Epilepsy Foundation.
The Kiwanis Club was told about Camp EAGR, which is a residential summer camp for boys and girls, ages 8 to 17, who have epilepsy, regardless of seizure control, but who are ambulatory and capable of managing their own personal care needs. The camp gives campers an opportunity to learn more about themselves and other with epilepsy while providing them with a traditional summer camp experience.
The Kiwanians also learned about the difference in how those with epilepsy were treated in the past versus treatment strategies today.
To help support Camp EAGR Dan Halstead (right, in photo), Past President of the Kiwanis Club and someone who has dealt with epilepsy most of his life, presents a check to Mike Radell, Community Educator for the Rochester office of the Epilepsy Foundation.
Provided photo
4/22/12
Free concert supports “Water for South Sudan”
The Rochester Guitar Duo will be performing a free concert at First Baptist Church, 124 Main Street in Brockport, on Sunday, April 29 at 3 p.m. Donations at the door will be accepted to support the Brockport community’s effort to raise funds for “Water for South Sudan,” a Rochester based non-profit organization started by former “Lost Boy of Sudan” Salva Dut.
The “Water for South Sudan” organization is digging wells in order to bring fresh, safe drinking water to thousands of people in Dut’s native land, one of the world’s poorest places. First Baptist Church’s contribution is part of community-wide support for the fundraising project initiated by the Brockport Central School District. The goal is $5,000 which will support a well to be named “The Brockport Community Well.”
Tim Shannon, the founding member of the Rochester Guitar Duo, currently teaches at Roberts Wesleyan College and the Hochstein Music School. He has a doctorate from Eastman School of Music, has studied with lutenist Paul O’Dette and has performed throughout the country as soloist and in a variety of chamber ensemble settings. Dennis Repino has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SUNY Fredonia and a doctor of musical arts degree from Eastman School of Music. He currently teaches at Finger Lakes Community College, is a published composer and has recorded two CDs of orginal work for solo guitar. Their repertoire includes written and arranged music from Ireland, France, Spain and the Renaissance.
For information, call 637-4502.
4/22/12
FEATURE STORIES - WEEK OF APRIL 22, 2012
Auction of Hilton house benefits YMCA Invest in Youth campaign
by William Matthias
Pictured at the official ground breaking ceremonies on March 28 are (l to r) Will Gallagher, John McBride, Kevin Foy, Marco Mattioli, George Romell, Paul LeFrois and Paula Amico.Construction is underway for a 2,100-square foot, colonial-style home in Parma that will benefit the Northwest and Westside YMCA Invest in Youth Campaigns and the “Dream Home” will soon be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Matco Builders and Developers broke ground on the third YMCA “Dream Home” March 28 and bidding on the house, which retails at $215,000, begins May 5. The house is located in the All-Seasons Sub-division in Hilton at Lot 247 Fallwood Terrace. The proceeds from the auction will help the YMCA provide local families with financial aid, giving youngsters access to character-building programs including day care, summer camp, youth sports and swim lessons.
“We strive to not turn any child away from the life-changing programs the YMCA offers,” said George Romell, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Rochester. “The Invest in Youth Campaign helps us deliver that promise. Matco Builders is not just building a dream home for a local family – they are funding the dreams of kids who want to learn to swim, go to camp and be a leader in the community.”
The two previous Dream Home fundraisers – in Greece in 2010 and in Henrietta in 2011 – raised $66,000 for the Invest in Youth Campaign, according to press releases from marketing agency Dixon Schwabl. Parma resident Marco Mattioli, president of Matco Builders and Developers, said he hopes to raise $30,000 this year.
The fundraiser has given Mattioli an opportunity to give back to the community that supported him during troubling times. Mattioli’s 10-year-old daughter Gabriella died of cancer in August 2010. Gabriella took swim lessons at the Northwest YMCA.
“The support and compassion of the people within the community was tremendous,” Mattioli said. “It inspired me to give something back. I’m proud to collaborate with the YMCA because the organization gives so much to the children and families of our communities every day.”
Last year, the YMCA Westside Group, which includes the Northwest and Westside YMCAs, raised $174,000 for youth program assistance, Romell said. The group awarded an additional $526,000 for membership assistance, raising the number of families receiving financial aid in the west side district from 1,700 to 4,000, Romell added. The programs funded in part by the “Dream Home” are designed to foster healthy living and social responsibility.
“We want to make sure we are taking care of the needs of the kids within the community,” said Will Gallagher, YMCA Westside Group vice president. “We want to teach them good principles through fun activities so they are not out getting into trouble.”
The Westside Group’s Invest in Youth Campaigns help provide scholarships to children in westside communities including Hilton, Greece, Gates and Chili. About 25 to 30 percent of the children participating in the group’s youth programs receive financial aid, Gallagher said.
Gallagher brought the idea for a “Dream Home” from the O’Fallon Family YMCA in St. Louis, Missouri, where he worked from 1998 to 2003, before moving to Rochester and joining the Westside Group. He remembered the original fundraiser as a “novel idea” and the sponsor for the first “Dream Home” in Rochester, Wegman Companies, was eager to jump on board, Gallagher said.
“The really neat thing about it is that so many people said we couldn’t do something like this because of the economy,” he said. “It’s amazing to see how many people stepped up to help make this happen.”
Wegman Companies donated the land for the first “Dream Home” and suggested the sponsor, @Home Builders, for the following year, Gallagher said. Jay Wegman, vice president of operations at Wegman Companies, said his family wanted to help “kick-start” Gallagher’s vision.
“We are excited that the fundraiser has made it into its third year,” Wegman said. “Marco (Mattioli) is helping to keep the tradition alive and it (the fundraiser) just keeps getting better and better. It’s gratifying for everyone involved.”
According to a list provided by Matco Builders and Developers, 28 subcontractors and vendors are contributing to this year’s “Dream Home,” some of which are donating their services and/or supplies. This includes Residential Steel Services, Morse Lumber Company, Matthews and Fields Lumber, Madalena Mechanical, DTT Insulation and Drywall, and Alside Supply.
The community helped shape the style of the ”Dream Home” via online voting for the house’s exterior and kitchen designs, which can be viewed at www.13WHAM.com. The house is expected to be completed by July 15, Mattioli said.
Bidding for the house runs from May 5 through July 15. All bids will be handled and qualified by Paula Amico at Keller Williams Realty. (paulaamico@kw.com)
4/22/12
Where did North Chili go?
by Bonnie Moore, Chili Town Historian
Hoffman's Service Station and Grill became Towne Plaza Restaurant and is now Rite-Aid, corner of Route 259 and Buffalo Road, North Chili. Photograph and information provided by Chili Town Historian Bonnie Moore. Photo, (circa 1940), notes that the service station is the "largest, most modern service station between Rochester and Buffalo."The fun thing about being interested in history is the chance to be a Time Traveler. We can catch glimpses of a prior time and take a peek into what once was. A part of Chili that was called “The Crossroads” in the early 1800s was North Chili. Perhaps that was because it centered around two major thoroughfares – Union Street (then called Braddocks Road) and Buffalo Road. (Routes 259 and 33.)
Let’s not step back that far. If our Chili Time Traveler can back-pedal to North Chili in 1950, what would one see? In short order, by comparing 2012 with 1950, you would be tempted to say, “Where on earth did downtown North Chili go!”
Few original buildings remain. A sentinel at the northeast corner, the Olde Stagecoach Inn has been rejuvenated. The grand old lady now sports new makeup and apparently likes her new image as she stands straight and tall. She is a testimony to those who saw her worth and saved her. She won’t mind if we reveal her age which is circa 1815.
The yellow brick Community Center, once the North Chili Elementary School, still sits near the Towne Plaza on Buffalo Road. It changed careers over 40 years ago.
A few houses remain. On the south eastern side are two homes that belonged to two prominent families back then. Their names, in spite of the implications, were the Spotts and the Staines.
The old blacksmith shop disappeared in the middle of the night a few decades ago but not before it became an antique shop, and later the Pizza Shack, feeding hundreds of hungry people, many of them Roberts Wesleyan students. Perhaps when it was torn down, the developer did not quite grasp the historic nature of this little old fieldstone and cobblestone building erected in the late 1800s.
Now called the Chili Doll Museum, a building near Orchard Street was once a grocery store known as the Red and White. And yes, the North Chili Cemetery is still there and open for business.
But our Time Traveler spinning to this new millenium will ask, “Where’s the little ice cream shop? Where is Perry’s Palace, also known as the Towne Plaza Restaurant which gave way to what is now Rite Aid Pharmacy? Sandy Tulloch’s Plumbing shop stood where Walgreen’s is located. Several vintage houses at this site have also disappeared.
Alexander’s Market stood for many decades where the Hess Station is today. Roland’s Service Station is now a video store and Subway shop. And before it became Jitters, that building housed Kreckman’s little department store and after that the North Chili Post Office.
Where is the Methodist Church and parsonage? It changed locations further down the road near Westside Drive. One Step Tree and Lawn Care now occupies that space. The Erickson Barber shop is gone, too.
Our Time Traveler must admit, though, that what was a thriving commercial corner as a ‘crossroads’ then has morphed into a sparkling and vibrant area of Chili. The traffic pattern and bright new buildings reveal a bustling, forward-looking community. We did enjoy the ‘good ole days’ when life may have been easier and folks were friends. But before our Time Traveler gets too dreamy- eyed about the past, let’s understand the continuity of one age surviving to the next.
“Those who appreciate the past invest in the future.”
4/22/12
Church members outreach to neighbors through good deeds
Members of Hilton UMC: Wayne Harrington, Carol Bell, Will Green, Linda Barnard, and Lois DeWitt on "Be The Church" Sunday. Provided photoOn Sunday, April 15, the Hilton United Methodist Church embarked on a new adventure and observed “Don’t Just Go To Church ... Be The Church” Sunday.
After meeting for a brief time of worship and communion, the congregation embarked on several projects throughout the Hilton community. During what would be their regular worship time, the congregation of Hilton United Methodist left the walls of the church to actually be the church; to “live the gospel of Jesus Christ and to be God’s love with our neighbors in all places.”
Several members of the congregation worked at four separate sites doing spring cleanup and gardening in resident’s yards. Other families picked up eight bags of litter along Main Street, Lake Avenue, South Avenue and Old Hojack Lane.
A food drive yielded 30 bags of food items for the Hilton Food Shelf. The Chancel Choir and friends visited Hilton East and led them in a get together to sing their favorite hymns. Also, over 100 dozen cookies were delivered to various businesses and town and village office, including the Hilton Fire Department.
“Many people today indicate that the church is irrelevant to their life. We are seeking to dispel that myth by leaving the walls of our church and serving our community,” said Rev. Jennifer Green.
Church members say the congregation is hoping to make this at least an annual event.
4/22/12
Over 350 attend Rotary’s Ziti Dinner
Left Jessica Zimmerman, baby Olivia Zimmerman and Sean Egan share the spotlight with Happy the Clown.
Besides Happy and the sauce and meatballs, Sandy Parlato with his Friends played the entire afternoon while Spotlight Dance gave two performances for guests at Brockport Rotary’s Ziti Dinner.
A highlight was the Chinese auction where donated baskets of goodies raised a considerable sum for Rotary projects. The many decorated baskets from businesses and individuals seemed to be a strong attraction. Maybe best of all was the opportunity to run into old friends.
Right, some of the cooks (and club leaders) (l-r) Treasurer Norm Knight, President Elect Doug Clare and chief cook Dom Buono.
Provided photos
4/22/12
Trout Lilies
Trout lilies (Erythronium americanum) Yanty Marsh, Hamlin Beach State Park, April 16, 2012.
Trout lilies bloom in early spring with golden yellow flowers touched with red. The plant’s leaves are mottled with reddish-brown spots, somewhat resembling the coloring of brook trout.
Trout lilies grow in groups or colonies which, when left undisturbed, can create carpet-like settings in wood lots where they receive filtered light in the spring.
Photograph by Rick Nicholson
4/22/12
The Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt hosted by the Brockport Fire Department Auxiliary and sponsored by the Brockport Fire Department and Brockport Exempts on April 7 was favored with fair weather and many excited children.
The Easter Bunny was available for pictures with children.
Six hundred filled eggs were scattered for four different age group sections with candy, restaurant coupons, plus special eggs with 25 prize basket coupons per group and two Grand Prize basket winners per group.
Firefighters were on hand with equipment for review and to greet children and parents who attended.
Among donors helping to make this event possible were: Brockport Wegmans, WalMart, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys, Tim Hortons and C&C Deli of Gates.
Here is a sampling of photos submitted by Denise Ray and printed by Westside News Inc.
4/22/12
SPORTS NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 22, 2012
AREA
Lindsey Vonn named first female winner of the monthly Hickok Belt™ Award
Lindsey Vonn has been selected the Hickok Belt™ Award winner for March 2012, making her the first female athlete to ever win the award. The Olympic gold medalist and American alpine ski racer won the overall title at the World Cup skiing finals in Schladming, Austria. Vonn won the super-G, downhill and super combined events on the way to winning her fourth overall World Cup title in the last five years. In addition, Vonn finished the season with a new women’s record point total of 1,980.
Voting was conducted by a select national panel of members of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA). Other Hickok Belt Award finalists for the month of March in order of how the NSSA voters ranked them included: Kevin Love (basketball), Rory McIlory (golf), Tiger Woods (golf), Kevin Durant (basketball), Dallas Seavey (dog sled racing), Brian Elliott (hockey), Roger Federer (tennis), Marian Gaborik (hockey), and Luke Donald (golf).
Lindsey Vonn’s selection as the Hickok Belt Award winner for March, not only recognizes her as “the best of the best” in professional sports for the month, it also marks yet another milestone in the return of the awards given to the top professional athlete across all sports. As a monthly recipient, Vonn becomes the third of 12 finalists for the overall annual award, joining February winner Jeremy Lin (basketball), and January winner Eli Manning (football). Winners as selected by the NSSA will be announced each month throughout 2012. The overall winner will then be announced in early 2013, as the Hickok Belt Award, the crown jewel of sports, will be presented for the first time in over 36 years.
Provided information
4/22/12
Roberts women top Lakers
by Warren Kozireski
Sophomore Maria Jimenez swept her second singles match 6-0, 6-0 to lead Roberts Wesleyan’s women’s tennis team to an 8-1 victory at Oswego.
Junior Dina Obukhova won her first singles match 6-1, 6-0 while classmates Meg Kelly and Julia Vitale were victorious at third and fifth singles 6-3, 6-0 and 6-4, 6-1 respectively. Sophomore Kaylee Eamer also took her fourth singles pairing 6-0, 6-3.
The Raiders swept the doubles matches with Obukhova and Jimenez winning as the top pair 8-0, Kelly and Eamer combining for a hard-fought 8-6 win at second doubles and Vitale with sister Maria winning 9-8 at third doubles.
The team also announced the addition of Division I transfer Tina Miller from St. Francis University. The Williamsville native will join the team in the fall.
Roberts is now 8-9 for the season (including fall) and a perfect 4-0 at home. The NAIA Midwest Regional is April 28 and 29 in Grand Rapids, Michigan with the NCCAA National Championships May 6 through 11.
4/22/12
Ron Zorn signs at Roberts Wesleyan
Brockport High School senior Ron Zorn signs his letter of intent to play soccer at Roberts Wesleyan. He is pictured with his parents Kim and Ron Zorn; Brandon Conley, senior captain at Roberts (2009 BHS graduate); in back is Mark Fish, head coach at Roberts and Jeff Phillips, BHS assistant coach. Provided photo Brockport High School senior Ron Michael Zorn recently signed his letter of intent to play soccer at Roberts Wesleyan, where he will also major in criminal justice this fall.
Ron’s soccer career at BCSD as a three-year varsity starter includes 16 goals and 24 assists, First Team All-County (twice), All Greater Rochester Honorable Mention, Section V Senior All-Star, National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), Regional Academic All-American, Captain of Boys Soccer and recipient of the Terry Meyers Award. He is also a member of the National Honor Society.
Ron’s coaches Chris Zorn and Jeff Phillips are excited to see Ron continuing his soccer career at Roberts.
“Ron is one of the most committed players that I have had the opportunity to coach,” said Assistant Coach Phillips. “He has the ability to make his teammates look good because he is such an unselfish player and distributes the ball so well.”
4/22/12
SPENCERPORT
Cosgrove Middle School’s Zachary Denny served as the Zweigle’s Honorary Coach of the Game at Frontier Field for the Red Wings’ matchup with the Empire State Yankees on April 16.
Denny, 12, accompanied first baseman Matt Rizzotti out to the home plate area to present the Red Wings lineup to the umpires and Yankees coach Frank Menechino.
Denny’s favorite Red Wings player is Brian Dinkelman and his favorite school subject is physical education.
Provided photo
4/22/12
SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 22, 2012
AREA
Red Cross honors GCC for blood drive initiative
When the Student Activities Office at Genesee Community College organized their first blood drive in 1987, just three students donated. Twenty five years later, those three-times-a-year drives have collected more than 3,500 units of blood, and Red Cross district director Debra Miller says those donations have saved more than 10,000 lives.
Miller says each unit of donated blood can be used to save three patient lives through the use of whole blood, platelets and plasma.
Miller was on the GCC Batavia campus Wednesday, April 11 to present an award to Student Activities Director Cliff Scutella and the department’s technical specialist, Joanna Barefoot. The cup-shaped trophy recognizes the school for more than two decades of blood drives and the lives saved by those donations.
Additionally, the Red Cross reciprocates with a scholarship program created in 2006 to recognize students at SUNY schools that show collection growth over the prior year. GCC students have been awarded Red Cross scholarships averaging $500 for three of the last four years.
Provided information
4/22/12
Students to graduate in Northeastern Seminary’s 12th Commencement Ceremony
More than 40 graduates will celebrate a completed course of study May 12 during Northeastern Seminary’s commencement ceremony in the Cultural Life Center at Roberts Wesleyan College. Dr. Richard J. Mouw, president of Fuller Theological Seminary, will provide the keynote address.
Mouw has held faculty and administration positions in higher education for more than 40 years. He has served on editorial boards for several publications, including Books and Culture, and has authored 17 books, including “The God Who Commands” and “The Smell of Sawdust.” In 2007, he was awarded the Abraham Kuyper Prize for Excellence in Reformed Theology and Public Life. Mouw is president of the Association of Theological Schools and represents the Presbyterian Church as co-chair of the official Reformed-Catholic Dialogue.
The Northern Seminary graduating class of 2012 includes three Doctor of Ministry recipients, 21 master’s degree recipients and 19 certificate recipients. Many of the ministry degree graduates are either ordained or seeking ordination in their respective traditions, including Methodist, Pentecostal, Baptist, Anglican and nondenominational. Nearly two-thirds of this year’s graduates reside in the Greater Rochester Region, with others hailing from Erie County, Syracuse, Albany, and Plant City, Florida.
Certificate in Ministry graduates come from the El Centro Hispano de Estudios Teológicos/Center for Theological Studies, a Northeastern Seminary program dedicated to providing support and resources to Hispanic ministries in upstate New York, as well as from two affiliate certificate programs: Sound of the Genuine Biblical Institute and the Rochester Institute for Christian Education.
The commencement ceremony will begin at 1 p.m. with a reception to follow from 3 to 4 p.m. Tickets are required for the reception. For information or to reserve tickets, call 585-594-6623 or e-mail Sharp_Faith@nes.edu.
Since opening its doors in 1998. Northeastern Seminary on the campus of Roberts Wesleyan College has continued to grow in prominence as a significant resource for the church community in upstate New York. Northeastern Seminary is an independent, multi-denominational seminary in its approach to theological education, leading to an academically and professionally accredited Master of Divinity, Master of Arts in Theological Studies/Theology and Social Justice/Transformational Leadership, or Doctor of Ministry degree.
An article about the growth of the institution was printed February 19, 2012 in all Westside News Inc. publications and is available in the archives on this website.
4/22/12
BROCKPORT
Senior citizens invited to breakfast at the A.D. Oliver Middle School
Senior citizen residents of the Brockport Central School District are invited to a complimentary breakfast at the A.D. Oliver Middle School on Tuesday, May 22 from 8 to 9:15 a.m. in the cafeteria, 40 Allen Street. The breakfast, hosted by student council members is held annually to recognize and support the important connections between our community’s youth and senior citizens.
The event includes a buffet breakfast with student council members, student performers, staff, administrators, and Board of Education members. Student selections from performing groups will provide entertainment following the meal.
Seniors are asked to RSVP by Monday, May 7 by calling the A.D. Oliver Middle School Office at 637-1860 or by emailing student council advisors at susan.rowcliffe@bcs1.org or donald.voorheis@bcs1.org.
There is limited parking, so use of shuttle buses to and from the middle school is encouraged. Buses will pick up seniors from the Sweden Senior Center parking lot at 7:20 a.m.
4/22/12
HILTON
Hilton Central School District Board of Education adopts budget proposal for 2012-13
At its regular meeting April 3, the Hilton Central School District Board of Education adopted a $69.8 million Budget Proposal for the 2012-13 school year, a 0.82 percent increase over last year’s budget resulting in a 2.16 percent tax rate increase in all district towns.
“Following another challenging budget development process that includes input from District Budget Committees, the Administrative Cabinet, community members and employees, the 2012-13 Budget Proposal is positioned to weather the ongoing fiscal constraints,” said Superintendent David Dimbleby. Details of the budget are available on the Hilton District website at www.hilton.k12.ny.us/budget-profile.htm.
District residents will vote on the budget proposition as well as a $893,450 bus purchase proposition and two open positions on the Board of Education Tuesday, May 15, 2012. The three-year terms of Daniel Wellington and Robert Prorok are expiring. Polls located at Hilton High School (Parma, Clarkson and Hamlin residents) and Northwood Elementary (Greece residents) will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Voters must be a registered voter with Monroe County Board of Elections to vote on May 15 or registered with the District Clerk (585-392-1000 ext. 7099). Handicapped accessible parking is available.
4/22/12
HOLLEY
Holley Board adopts 2012-2013 school budget
During a special board meeting on April 11, the Holley Board of Education adopted a $19,967,841 budget for the 2012-2013 school year.
According to a press release from the school district, the board reduced the tax levy increase by applying additional fund balance, and making cuts to staff positions and non-mandated programs. Staff cuts include an administrative reorganization, and a net of three instructional and four support staff positions for a savings of $421,600. Program cuts include equipment and supplies district wide for a savings of $155,479, according to the press release.
When Holley residents go to the polls on May 15, they also will be asked to vote on three additional propositions. The first is for the purchase of three full-size school buses and four 30-passenger buses at a cost not to exceed $517,995. The second proposes a reduction of Board of Education members from nine to seven, effective July 1, 2013, and a further reduction from seven to five members, effective July 1, 2015. The third authorizes the district to raise $100,639 to be used in support of maintenance and operations of the Community Free library.
Residents will also be voting on three board of education seats to fill the expired terms of Elaine Berg, Kellie Spychalski, and John C. “Jack” Welch. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will serve three-year terms commencing July 1, 2012.
Any group that is interested in hearing a budget presentation can contact District Clerk Connie Nenni at 638-6316, ext. 2003 to schedule a time.
Holley residents can vote on the school budget and Board of Education candidates on Tuesday, May 15 from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Holley High School foyer.
Provided information
4/22/12
OBITUARIES - WEEK OF APRIL 22, 2012
AREA
•Bischoping, Elaine C. (Youngman), of Irondequoit, April 7, 2012, age 77. Predeceased by two sisters, one brother and a sister last month, Judy. Survived by her children, Frank (Debra) Bischoping III and Linda Schrader of Las Vegas; grandson, Todd Bischoping; brothers-in-law, Bob Simmons and Charles Edwards; many nieces and nephews.
Private Services were held.
•Nickels, John H. of Inglis, Florida, died March 27, 2012 at age 82. He was a native of Rochester. Survived by his wife Carolyn (Howden) Nickels; three children, Gary, Kevin and Diane (Brian) Speer; many loving grandchildren and great grandchildren.
BROCKPORT
•Battisti, Giovannina, On April 14, 2012 at age 88. Predeceased by her husband Pasquale. She is survived by her sons Robert (Nancy), Carlo (Evelyn), Larry (Patricia), Claudio (Andrea), Amadeo Battisti and daughter Maria (Daniel) Lincoln; 18 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; sisters and brothers in Canada and Italy; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law in Italy, Canada and USA.
A Mass of Christian Burial was said April 17 at the Church of the Nativity, Brockport. Entombment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the Make A Wish Foundation, 1855 Monroe Avenue, Suite 4, Rochester, NY 14618 in her memory.
•Blocker, Buddy, Born May 15, 1929, died April 15, 2012. Predeceased by parents Dora and Lige Blocker, children Elgie (Lori), LouHelen and Judy Blocker, and grandson, DeMario Moore. Survived by his wife of 57 years, Constine; children, Diane (Clarence) Moore, Carvin (Christine) Blocker, Taffedy Blocker, Darren (Marlene) Blocker, Apasha, Joyce, Tina, Michael, Askyia (Larry) Lacy, Tito, Joel and Stephen Blocker and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral Services were held April 20 at First Genesis Baptist Church, Rochester.
HILTON
•Buckley, Arthur F., April 14, 2012. Predeceased by his daughter, Elizabeth Molloy. Survived by his wife of 54 years, Edith. Children: Arthur Buckley, JoAnn (John) Coast and Kathy (Rick) Borrelli; grandchildren: Richard and Joseph Keeney, Douglas and Lisa Coast, Max and Joe Borrelli; sister Virginia Yaeger; nieces and nephews. Arthur was WWII Purple Heart Recipient. Member of the Catholic War Veterans and Knights of Columbus.
Funeral Services were held April 17 at Farrell-Ryan Funeral Home, Greece. Interment Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Contributions can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in his memory.
•Julien, Gerard J., On April 12, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Ruth; children, Perry (Linda), Gary (Barb), Daniel (Darlene LaVoie) Julien; grandsons, Andrew, Nicholas and Jeffrey; a sister, Simone Coussneau of Cornwall Ontario, Canada; nieces and nephews.
Private Service and Interment at the convenience of the family. Contributions can be made to Hildebrandt Hospice Center in his memory.
•Morris, Ronney F., April 13, 2012 at age 72. Predeceased by his beloved wife of 49 years, Shirley, and his parents, Henry and Dorothy. He is survived by his daughter, Tammy (Paul) Hefner; grandchildren, Chasity (Dave) Shaw, Paul Jr., Michael (Melissa), Scott and Ryan; great-grandchildren, Sydney, Mark, Samantha and Aiden; sister, Dorothy “Honey” Krolack; brother, Henry (Lucy) Morris; and several nieces and nephews. Ronney was a United States Army Veteran who served his country during the Vietnam War and a retiree of Eastman Kodak after 25 years of service.
Funeral Services were held April 18 at New Comer Funeral Home, Greece. Interment with Full Military Honors, Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Contributions can be directed to the American Cancer Society, 1120 Goodman Street South, Rochester, NY 14620 in his memory.
KENDALL
•Della Costa, Rose Marie, age 92, of Lakeland, Florida died April 15, 2012. She moved with her family from Pennsylvania to Kendall, New York in the 1930s, attended Kendall Schools, and later worked for many years in the schools helping children of all ages. The students gave her the honor of dedicating the yearbook to her in 1981. She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Frank; her children, John, Richard and Frank; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and countless dear friends.
A Funeral Service was held April 20 at the Church of the Resurrection. Donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105 in her memory. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.heathfuneralchapel.com
•Maxon, Isabel Lois, died April 15, 2012. Lois worked along side her husband Harold on the family farm and also worked at Lakeside Memorial Hospital for many years. She was predeceased by her husband Harold in 2004 and a grandson Joseph Wilson in 1994. She is survived by her children: David of Mexico, Maryanne (Thomas) Tuttobene, James (Annette) Maxon, Sandra (Robert) Wilson, Eric (Vicky) Maxon, Lorelei (Mark) Kessler; a close friend, Betty Haibach; many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A Memorial Service was held April 18 at the Kendall United Methodist Church. Contributions can be made to Nutrifair, 16 East Academy Street, Albion, NY 14411 or the Kendall Ambulance, P.O. Box 387, Kendall, NY 14476 in her memory.
NORTH CHILI
•McElver, Alice J., April 13, 2012 at age 87. Alice was predeceased by her husband, Harold McElver, her son, Jim McElver, daughter-in-law, Georgia McElver and grandson, Jimmy McElver. She is survived by her children, Jack (Donna) McElver, John (Cindy) McElver and Patty (Tom) Pschierer; daughters-in-law, Linda and Leslie McElver; grandchildren, Bill (Becky Stafford) McElver, Marge McElver, John (Bonnie) McElver, Matt McElver, Bobby and Garrett McElver, Amy Pschierer, Corinne Pschierer, Deanna (Patrick) Smith, Beth (Ben Payton) Pschierer and Agni Kudra; great grandchildren, Willy, Karli, Nicholas, Jonathan and Cameron; siblings, Bonnie Wagner and Art Brittain; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
A Funeral Service was held April 17 at Walker Brothers Funeral Home, Inc., Spencerport. Private interment. Contributions can be made to Livingston County Center of Nursing & Rehabilitation, Mt. Morris, New York in her memory.
•Vincent, Genevieve A., Monday, April 2, 2012 at age 92. Predeceased by her husband, Donald Vincent; sister, Carol Hintz; brothers-in-law, Paul Hintz and John Duca. Survived by her children, Robert (Ari) Vincent, Chanda Vincent, Marla (Ken) Rex, Kristie (Alan) Lawrence; grandchildren, Penny (Mike) Jones, Kevin (Kayla) Vincent, Melania Rex, Jeffrey Rex, Andrew Lawrence, Katrena Lawrence; six great-grandchildren; sister, Dorothy Duca; and several nieces and nephews. Gen was a former member and founder of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Webster.
A Memorial Service was held April 19 at Pearce Memorial Church, North Chili. Donations can be made to the American Heart Association in her memory.
OGDEN
•Tolevska, Ruza G., April 14, 2012. Predeceased by her husband, Vangel. Survived by her children, Jovan (Maria), Ico (Nada), Slave (Vera), Dimce (Svetlana) and Zora (Ilo) Mojsovski; 13 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brothers, Petar (Paca) Krstevski and Dragi (Vera) Krstevski; sisters, Angelina (Rade) Bengovski, Cena (Pavale) Romanovski and Milica Grozoanoski; several nieces, nephews and many relatives in Macedonia and Australia.
A Funeral Service was held April 18 at St. Dimitria Macedonian Orthodox Church 235 Telephone Road. Interment, Mt. Hope Cemetery.
SPENCERPORT
•Knab, Bernadette N., April 18, 2012 at age 81. She is predeceased by her husband, George. Survived by her children, David Knab, Richard Knab, Mary Kearse; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Her Funeral Mass was celebrated April 21 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Spencerport. Interment, St. John’s Cemetery. Contributions can be made to Lollypop Farm in her memory.
•LoBrutto, Angelo, April 17, 2012. Angelo is survived by his loving wife Maria (Terilli) LoBrutto; children, Paula (Vincent) Provenzano, Sam (Stephanie) LoBrutto, Russ (Paula) LoBrutto, Jim (Sandy) LoBrutto; grandchildren, Andrea (Andrew) Marron, Melissa (Jeremy) Rumiano, Nicole Provenzano, Michael LoBrutto, Anthony LoBrutto, Cal LoBrutto, Nick LoBrutto, AJ LoBrutto, Alexis LoBrutto, Jessica Payne; three great-grandchildren; sister Nancy Agro; several nieces and nephews.
His Funeral Mass was celebrated April 20 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Spencerport. Entombment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Donations can be sent to Golisano Children’s Hospital, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Rochester 14642 in his memory.
ARCHIVES - WEEK OF APRIL 15, 2012
LOCAL NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 15, 2012
Cuts to operating expenses, staff part of Lakeside strategy to address financial woes
by Kristina Gabalski
Lakeside Health System Interim CEO/CFO Hugh Collins has released a financial turnaround plan to “get back on solid ground financially to ensure that we are here for our community for years to come,” he said.
Multiple strategies are being implemented to increase revenue and cut expenses including $3 million from operating expenses, Collins said.
“To ensure the viability of Lakeside as a community resource, it is necessary to restructure operations, improve efficiency and become more cost effective,” he explains.
Collins calls the changes - which include staff reductions that could mean the loss of up to 50 full-time equivalent positions - “prudent, proactive steps to sustainable fiscal performance.”
Collins says the staff cuts will come mainly through normal attrition, a hiring freeze, retirement incentives and reduction in force. He calls the loss of 50 positions “a worse-case scenario. We hope it will be less.”
The staff cuts will be made throughout the organization, but every effort is being made to “sustain the current level of high quality and service and minimize any impact on positions that deal with direct patient care and service areas,” Collins says.
Other cost-cutting measures include exploring group purchasing options to reduce the cost of materials and supplies. Lakeside is also beginning the process of transferring operations of LeRoy Urgent Care to United Memorial Medical Center
(UMMC - Batavia). Collins calls the transfer a “win-win where the services will still be provided and Lakeside can reduce our expenses. Pending state approval, most of the Lakeside staff working at the LeRoy center will either be hired by UMMC or be transferred to Lakeside’s urgent care center in Spencerport.”
The hiring freeze is already in place and the work hour week has been reduced, Collins said. He said he has a short timeline for implementing the changes: “During the month of April, everything will happen.”
Strategies to increase revenue include outsourcing billing collections to an agency that would employ Lakeside staff to ensure best practices; working with physicians to admit more patients to Lakeside; and further developing Lakeside’s relationship with the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) to increase breadth of services and drive more admissions and referrals.
“Lakeside has a proud tradition, and is an integral part of the Brockport community. We have a huge advantage in the fact that we are already a high quality hospital,” Collins explains. “We want the community to understand (we will work to) maintain and improve quality and services. We are on a journey to become a low-cost efficient provider of inpatient and outpatient services while maintaining a high standard of quality of service to our patients, physicians and our community.”
Collins notes that Lakeside just completed its re-accreditation and members of the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations who visited the facility were impressed.
“We received glowing remarks for our exemplary quality,” he said.
Lakeside is at the top of NYS Department of Health rankings on overall care for heart attack patients, overall pneumonia care and overall surgical care throughout a multi-county region, Collins says.
The facility also meets or exceeds national standards for surgical care infection prevention measures, he adds.
Collins emphasizes that while the health system is taking measures to reduce expenses, they also have a plan for growth and expanding services.
“We are adding services and will work with the University of Rochester Medical Center on a growth strategy,” he says.
“We have a fiduciary responsibility to the hospital and to the community,” Collins says. “We are taking proactive measures to make sure the organization is here in the long-term.”
4/15/12
Work in progress: Finding a way around and through the village in Spencerport
Spencerport Village Traffic -- go around
Work to repair the Union Street lift bridge over the Erie Canal in the village of Spencerport has closed the bridge to traffic in both directions since the beginning of April. As a result of the closing, detour signs have been posted along Spencerport Road and Ridge Road West to divert traffic around the Village of Spencerport.
Vehicles can cross the canal over the Martha Street bridge where signal lights have been installed to help traffic flow over the bridge. Traffic delays can be expected and during peak hours traffic along Martha Street and Canal Road does get congested, especially later in the afternoon.
Deck repair work is in progress on the north end of the bridge (week of April 9). Repair of the bridge deck is expected to be done by the end of April.
Spencerport Mayor Joyce Lobene said, “Work on bridge is moving along and should be done by the end of the month as planned. A little patience on our part will go a long way toward making a safe crossing for us over the canal in the future.”
Photographs by David Knox
4/15/12
A message from Ogden Police Department Chief Nordquist
The Union Street bridge over the canal is undergoing maintenance. During this time, one of the alternate routes through the village is the Martha Street Bridge. Most of the time, this route handles the volume of traffic in a safe and orderly manner. During traditional “rush hour” times, however, it can be a challenge. The main problem occurs with westbound traffic on Canal Road turning left (southbound) onto Martha Street. Due to the configuration of the intersection, traffic can get rather congested. When the signal light for southbound traffic on Martha Street is red, cars intending to turn left become “stuck” in the roadway. Please exercise patience and think ahead as you drive in this area. I know that some of you are thinking, it’s easy for him to say. I, too, drive this road on a daily basis and I know the concerns. Your police department is giving this area special attention in order to keep everyone safe and keep traffic flowing as smooth as possible. I, along with you, look forward to our (Union Street) bridge being opened again.
Doug Nordquist, Chief
Ogden Police Department
Work is also underway on Lyell Avenue to finish the road reconstruction project started last year. This has limited traffic, since April 9, to westbound only on Lyell Avenue.
Pictured, one way westbound traffic on Lyell Avenue exits onto Union Street. Detour signs have been set up to help traffic coming from the Spencerport business district bypass Lyell Avenue and travel in the eastbound direction. This road construction has also detoured the annual Spencerport Volunteer Firemen’s Association parade which traditionally has traveled the avenue. Read additional parade route information in article on this page.
Photograph by David Knox
4/15/12
Several amendments add to Brockport village’s spending plan
by Kristina Gabalski
Brockport Village Trustees voted to make a number of changes to the village’s $4.7 million tentative budget for fiscal year 6/1/12 - 5/31/13 during their regular meeting April 10.
The tentative budget contained a proposed tax rate of $12.28/$1,000 of assessed valuation, which is the same as last year. Village Treasurer Daniel Hendricks said $215,274 in fund balance was used, “that’s a little higher than perhaps we would like to see in order to balance the budget,” he said.
Following a public hearing on the budget, several trustees proposed amendments, all of which passed.
Police Chief Daniel Varrenti was allowed via the passage of a motion, to make a presentation on the State of the Brockport Police Department.
“If we don’t hire additional part-time officers,” Chief Varrenti said, “the Police Department will exceed the overtime budget of $90,000.”
Varrenti recommended the village spend $6,000 to hire and train four part-time police officers - three of whom would not be fully ready for duty until July 2013.
“You have a choice,” he told village board members, “you can add $6,000 to hire and train four part-time officers or add $30,000 to the overtime line and continue with the status quo.”
“This is not a savings,” Mayor Connie Castaneda said, “this is not reducing the budget, it’s adding to the budget.”
“$6,000 or $30,000?.... I like those figures and the results for taxpayers,” Trustee Carol Hannan said. “We need to plan for the future. This is the most cost effective way.”
“This is the most smart and forward thinking as I’ve seen in a while,” Trustee Scott Hunsinger said.
Mayor Castenada stated that budget revenue streams are limited. She noted that the budget for Police Department salaries alone is $1.2 million. “The whole budget is not even $5 million,” she said. “Three million dollars comes from outside sources and $2 million comes from residents. Of the $2 million collected from taxpayers, $1.2 million goes to Police Department salaries.”
Trustee Hannan pointed out that the Police Department runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. “Most people value the Police Department,” Trustee Margaret Blackman said. “I would not live in this community without a village police department.”
Trustees voted 4-1 to add $6,000 to the budget for part-time police officers. Castaneda cast the only no vote.
On two additional motions, trustees again voted 4-1 to approve, first, to hire a part-time lateral transfer police officer, and second, to sponsor three candidates through the police academy at GCC.
Mayor Castaneda cast the only no votes on both motions.
Trustee Hannan then brought forward a motion to re-instate an assistant building inspector, not to exceed a cost of $8,000 annually. The motion stated that the village’s rental registration fee would cover the cost of the position.
The motion passed 4-1, again with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
Trustee Hannan next brought forward a motion to increase the hours of the Building/Zoning clerk/secretary, not to exceed 600 hours yearly or $6,500 annually, again with the cost being covered by the rental registration fee.
Hannan estimated the fee would generate $16,000-$17,000 and that the cost of both proposals would total $14,500.
The motion passed 4-1 with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
Trustee Margaret Blackman brought forward a motion to restore the $1,200 stipend for the village historian, with funds coming from the Shafer Trust.
The motion passed unanimously.
Trustee Blackman also brought forward a motion to put $2,500 on the expense side of the budget for the Brockport Farmers Market. She said vendor fees are expected to bring in $1,750.
The motion passed 4-1 with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
Trustee Blackman next brought forward a motion to hire a grant writer at an expenditure of $16,000.
The village badly needs a grant-writer, Blackman said, “There are grants we could be applying for.” She noted the village does not have the time or personnel to write grants.
“A grant writer will not fix our bottom line,” Mayor Castaneda said.
“We need to have a grant writer to ask for and receive money,” Trustee Hannan said.
The motion passed 4-1 with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
Finally, Trustee Blackman brought forward a motion to take $5,000 out of the $15,000 set aside in the budget for maintenance of the Smith Street Bridge to reduce the amount of fund balance needed to balance the budget.
Mayor Castaneda said it was the village’s responsibility to maintain the bridge, “It sounds like robbing Peter to pay Paul,” she said.
The motion passed 4-1, with Mayor Castaneda casting the only no vote.
Trustee Blackman noted all the amendments made would mean a 1.65 percent increase on the tax levy, “which is lower than the rate of inflation,” she said.
4/15/12
Single family home conversion application denied by Brockport board
by Kristina Gabalski
An application for a use variance to convert a single family home at 19 Park Avenue in the Village of Brockport to an owner-occupied two-family home has been denied by the Brockport Zoning Board of Appeals.
Planning/Zoning Clerk Pamela Krahe said acting chairman Jim Hamlin asked for a motion to approve the application as submitted during the board’s April 5 meeting, but because no board member did so, Hamlin declared the application denied.
Krahe said more than 20 people attended the meeting and 12 made public comment.
Brockport Code Enforcement Officer Scott Zarnstorff said the majority of speakers did not want the application approved.
“The process of local zoning went through its full course,” Zarnstorff said. “Everybody had a chance to speak - the applicant, the board and the public.”
Zarnstorff noted the use variance can be a challenging one for which to obtain approval. “There are high standards the applicant needs to hurdle,” he said. “I think the process went through its course. That’s what it’s there for.”
Park Avenue resident Pam Ketchum told the Suburban News she is concerned about the conversion - both legal and illegal - of properties from single to multiple family in the village. “The uncontrolled growth in rental property is not right,” Ketchum said. “It affects every single aspect of Brockport.”
4/15/12
Volunteers sought for ‘Canal Clean Sweep’
Volunteer groups and individuals are invited to join the New York State Canal Corporation staff for the annual “Canal Clean Sweep,” scheduled for the weekend of April 20-22.
The event along the 524-mile-long Canal system help celebrate Earth Day and prepare the canals for the 188th consecutive navigation season, scheduled to begin May 1, weather permitting.
For information on the Seventh Annual Canal Clean Sweep, or to help coordinate an event, contact Elijah Yearick of Parks & Trails New York at (518) 434-1583 or email canalsweep@ptny.org. To register events online in the area, visit Parks & Trails New York weblink http://www.ptny.org/canalway/sweep/index.shtml.
Individuals or groups interested in joining others in the cooperative clean-up effort should consult the Parks & Trails New York events list at http://www.ptny.org/canalway/sweep/index.shtml.
For information, contact the New York State Canal Corporation, Office of Public Affairs, (518) 436-2983.
Provided information
4/15/12
Unwanted prescriptions collected April 28
The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office will participate in National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, Saturday, April 28 between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Justice - Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Orleans County Health Department.
The public can surrender unwanted and/or expired medications for safe and proper disposal at this event. Events such as these in the past have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, as well as increasing awareness of this critical public health issue, according to the Sheriff’s office.
The following are collection points: Orleans County Public Safety Building, 13925 State Route 31, Albion; Holley Fire Department, 7 Thomas Street, Holley; Medina Fire Department, 600 Main Street, Medina.
Provided information
4/15/12
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
Armed Forces Day Luncheon set for May 5
Tickets are now available for the 16th annual Armed Forces Day Luncheon to be held at Minett Hall at the Monroe County Fair & Expo Center on Saturday, May 5. Rear Admiral Donald P. Quinn will serve as the guest speaker. There will be pre-luncheon music by the 94th Army Band and military displays in and around the luncheon area. The luncheon will be from noon to 1:30 p.m. Afterward, there will also be additional viewing of the displays. Free parking is available for luncheon attendees.
Armed Forces Day honors the men and women of all branches who are serving all over the world, and those who have served.
Tickets are $25 per person or $250 for a table of eight (which includes recognition in the program book); $12 for ROTC Cadets and children 12 and under. A portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will be used to support the Veterans Outreach Center Inc. and Honor Flight.
Reservations deadline is May 1. For information or to purchase tickets or tables, call 1-800-845-2412.
Provided information
4/15/12
FEATURE STORIES - WEEK OF APRIL 15, 2012
GCC marks 150th anniversary of the Civil War with Encampment at the Lima Campus Center
It’s difficult to grasp the horrors of the war between brothers, but the History Department at Genesee Community College is offering a glimpse at what life was like during the American Civil War with a weekend-long encampment featuring a number of period-authentic activities and demonstrations.
From Friday, April 27 through Sunday, April 29, the Lima Campus Center of GCC will host Civil War re-enactors, who will dress in authentic period costumes including soldier regalia from both the Union and Confederate armies, and provide a look at life in the camps. Skirmishes between the two sides will allow visitors to experience life on the battlefield with demonstrations of military training, artillery and battlefield medical care.
“Civilians,” some also dressed in authentic garb, will offer demonstrations of quilting and knitting, spinning, tinsmithing and cooking on the campsite, while real 19th century newspapers will be on display inside the Campus Center. The Excelsior Fife and Drum Band and an interfaith service featuring a sermon delivered by the Rev. Gary Hakes will engage visitors in the entertainment and spiritual aspects of life during the Civil War.
On Friday, re-enactors will be setting up camp from late afternoon through early evening, and the Genesee Country Museum will offer a lecture on Victorian fashion, with the majority of events slated for Saturday, including: quilting, knitting and fiber spinning demonstrations, 19th Century children's games, discussion of uniforms and open camp demonstrations of "soldiering,” lecture on the Underground Railroad by local history buff Jerry Bennett, skirmish between the camps, with a look at medical and surgical practices by John Potera. Award-winning actress Eleanor Sterns will portray Clara Barton.
The encampment closes Sunday with a fiber arts program, a metal working demonstration by the Genesee Country Museum, and an interfaith service by the Rev. Gary Hakes of Virginia, who will deliver a sermon authentic to the period. After the service, the camps will engage in a game of "round ball," the forerunner to what is now baseball.
GCC history instructor and Civil War historian Derek Maxfield believes visitors will find the event not only educational, but quite moving. "The sights, the smells, the sounds of military camp life will be enthralling. People will forget they live in 2012," he said.
All events are free and open to the public, and will go on regardless of weather conditions. For information, contact GCC history instructor Derek Maxfield via email: ddmaxfield@genesee.edu.
For directions to the encampment at the Lima Campus Center, 7285 Gale Road, Lima visit: http://www.genesee.edu/about/campuses/Lima/map.cfm.
Provided information
4/15/12
ecopark offers recycling opportunities
Earth Day is an ideal time to learn about the Monroe County ecopark. The facility is an innovative venture by the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services and Waste Management of New York. Its goal is to keep reclaimable materials out of landfills and the county sewer system.
Located at 10 Avion Drive in Chili (near the intersection of Beahan Road and Paul Road), the state-of-the-art facility allows Monroe County residents to drive their vehicles through the large building, stopping at each well-marked station to drop off their items. At each stop, dumpsters and huge metal bins keep everything neat and contained. People must unload their own vehicles.
The ecopark facility is open each Wednesday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and accepts items such as: appliances (not air conditioners, dehumidifiers, freezers, refrigerators); batteries (must be non-alkaline; includes rechargeable, lithium ion, button, sealed lead, and vehicle batteries); cardboard and paper; cereal box waxed liners; clothing and fabric (good quality items will be given to Goodwill or the Salvation Army); commingled recyclables (cans, bottles, jars, etc.); CO2 empty cartridges from air soft guns; cooking oil and grease in closed containers (fryer oil, lard, and animal fat drippings); electronics (cell phones, TVs, computers, printers, monitors, etc.); fluorescent light bulbs (return compact fluorescent bulbs to Home Depot or Lowe's); magnetic media (CDs, DVDs, audiocassettes, videotapes, 8-track tapes, etc.); large plastic items (patio furniture, toys, shower stools, etc.).
Also collected onsite are: prescription bottles (must be empty); printer cartridges; propane tanks (1 lb and 20 lb); scrap metal; sharps (needles) and syringes; shredded documents (also provides document destruction done off site); sneakers; Styrofoam packing material (not egg cartons or food/drink containers).
The ecopark facility will also take anything accepted at the Monroe County Recycling Center via the curbside collection program; visit www.monroecounty.gov/des-residentialrecycling.php.
The ecopark schedules specific dates to collect the following:
•household hazardous waste (paint, stain, paint thinners, pesticides, fuel, etc.) (by appointment only)
•prescription and over-the-counter medications
•tires: $3 each (credit/debit card only)
•appliances containing CFC/Freon (air conditioners and refrigerators): $15 each (credit/debit card only)
The ecopark’s web page www.monroe-county.gov/ecopark has a search tool called “ecopark Prospector,” which gives Monroe County residents alternative options that may be closer and/or more convenient than driving to ecopark. Residents are encouraged to use the most environmentally friendly way to manage their items (generally the closest to their homes).
4/15/12
Murray-Holley June Fest parade planned
The Murray-Holley June Fest Committee is working on bringing back a Holley parade on Saturday, June 2 starting at 10:30 a.m. with Mark Time Marchers (former Kendall Firemen’s Band), drum corps Prime Time Brass, Ghost Riders drum corps and other parade participants. These groups will also perform at the drum corps show at 7 p.m. at the Woodland Soccer field. The parade route begins at Veterans Drive and continues to Batavia Street and proceeds through the Public Square to White Street to East Avenue and finishes at the Canal Park entrance.
Anyone wishing to participate in the parade can contact David at 638-8922 or 943-9188 or email dilldavid7@aol.com.
Provided information
4/15/12
The Stetson Club and the American Red Cross held the third annual William J. Cody Memorial Blood Drive on April 7.
With permission from the Town of Sweden, the blood drive was held in Judge Cody’s former courtroom.
Elected officials and Town of Sweden and Village of Brockport employees came out in support of the effort. Joy Levandowski provided home baked goods for snacks for donors and Domino’s Pizza provided pizza for Red Cross workers.
The 2012 drive collected 31 units of blood and to date approximately 120 units of blood have been donated in memory of the late town justice. The Judge’s widow, Debbie Cody, was on site for the day’s events.
Photo provided by The Stetson Club
4/15/12
A special guest made an appearance at Westwood Commons, a DePaul Senior Living Community, to spread some Easter cheer Thursday, April 5.
Pictured here, resident Mable McGrath takes a moment to pose for a picture with Peter Cotton Tail.
Provided information
4/15/12
SPORTS NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 15, 2012
AREA
Atlas Fitness of Spencerport took part in the Mr. Rochester 58th Annual Body Building, Figure and Fitness Competition at The Rochester Riverside Convention Center on April 7 with the largest team of fitness competitors in the history of the gym.
Shown left to right (front row) Ralph Della Rocco, IDFA/NGA Pro Bodybuilder and Competition Readiness Trainer; Erin and John DiMartino, owners of Atlas Fitness; (back row) Men’s Physique competitors Brian VanGelder and Luke DuSett; Women’s Figure competitor Sarah Konko; Bodybuilding competitors, Zacharie Bernier, Tim Syre, Adam Kerxhalli, Justin Servais.
Provided photo
4/15/12
SPENCERPORT
Gymnast wins state title
Jenna Gooding won the Level 8 NYS All-Around title for 8 to 11 year olds.Cosgrove Middle School student Jenna Gooding won the Level 8 New York State All-Around title in the 8-11 year old age division at the State Gymnastics Championships held on March 31 and April 1 at the Rochester Gymnastics Academy in East Rochester.
Gooding received an all-around score of 38.35 and was also named the State Champion on the uneven parallel bars with a score of 9.65 and on the floor exercise with a score of 9.8. She placed third on vault with a 9.35 and fifth on beam with a 9.55.
With 57 teams from across the state and over 200 participating gymnasts, Jenna Gooding received the second highest score across all age divisions at the competition and earned a spot on the NYS Level 8 Super Team. She will compete against the top seven Level 8 gymnasts from Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island at the Regional Championships held in Waterville, Maine on April 28.
Gooding and the Rochester Gymnastics Academy Level 8 team won the first place NYS team title. She is coached by Youlia and Barry Coss.
Provided information
4/15/12
SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 15, 2012
AREA
New weather station installed at GCC
A new solar-powered weather monitoring station is up and running on the Batavia campus of Genesee Community College. The wireless unit is powered through solar energy stored in rechargeable batteries, which are used when conditions warrant, such as cloudy days.
The station, funded through a grant from the GCC Foundation President’s Innovation Award Program, gives more accurate weather data for the campus than was previously available from the weather station at Batavia’s School for the Blind. A recent study found that wind and temperature readings on the main campus differed substantially from those obtained at the school on Richmond Avenue, with temperature differences of 5 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit, and wind speed differentials of 7 to 16 mph logged during the summer of 2010.
Current temperature and weather conditions, as well as other information, is available to students and the public via GCC’s Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/GeneseeCommunityCollege by clicking on the “Weather @ GCC” icon.
Provided information
4/15/12
BROCKPORT
Brockport BOE adopts 2012-2013 budget
The Brockport Board of Education adopted the proposed 2012-2013 budget during their April 3 meeting. The $69,093,035 proposed budget, a decrease of more than a half million dollars from the current year’s budget, reflects a 2.54% tax levy increase.
The proposed budget includes utilizing more than $3.6 million in fund balance and reserves along with reductions made to many areas of the budget, including 10.6 instructional positions and 6.2 support service positions, to close the multi-million budget gap. These reductions were minimized after recalculating the draft budget based on Brockport’s tax levy limit of 2.54% and $636,170 in additional state aid, restored after the state approved their budget on March 30. The first draft budget included 26.3 staffing reductions.
The community is invited to attend a Public Hearing on Tuesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. in the Hill School Cafetorium, to learn more about the 2012-2013 proposed budget. In addition to the budget, a school bus proposition of $861,000 will go before voters to purchase 10 buses and trade in 14 buses, in an effort to maintain a 10 year replacement cycle. A video about the school bus proposition and additional budget information may be found at www.bcs1.org/2012-2013budget.
Voters will also select a school board trustee to serve a five-year term.
The proposed budget vote, school bus proposition and election of one Board of Education trustee will be held on May 15 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the A.D. Oliver Middle School gymnasium, 9 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the High School Main Lobby and the Barclay School. The community will have the opportunity again this year to provide feedback by completing an exit poll after voting.
Provided information
4/15/12
Evening of Jazz, April 21 at Brockport High School
The Brockport High School Band will host its annual Evening of Jazz on Saturday, April 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the High School Auditorium, 40 Allen Street, Building 700. In addition to Brockport’s Jazz Ensemble and Blue Notes, jazz ensembles from Webster Schroeder, Fairport High and the University of Rochester will perform. Admission is $5 which includes a ticket for a food item and raffle (donated by local merchants). Tickets are available at the door; doors open at 5 p.m.
4/15/12
BYRON-BERGEN
Byron-Bergen students and staff help out at blood drive
Varsity Club Member Sarah Dononvan (middle) and School Nurse Heidi Mueller (right) work with a Red Cross volunteer (left) during the High School's blood drive, March 26 at Byron-Bergen High School. Provided photoThe American Red Cross, with the help of Byron-Bergen staff and students in the High School’s Varsity Club, collected 53 units of whole blood during the school’s annual blood drive, March 26.
The students helped with the blood drive in many facets, including recruitment to staffing the registration table and canteen, while Teachers Roxanne Wood, Danielle Carson and Nick Muhlenkamp coordinated the event.
The high school has been the site for blood drives for the past six years, and for the last three years the school’s Varsity Club has been involved in the event.
Provided information
4/15/12
Byron-Bergen welcomes 20 new National Junior Honor Society members
Byron-Bergen Middle School welcomes 20 new members, shown here, into its chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. Provided photoByron-Bergen Middle School held its National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony. After a welcome message by Superintendent Casey Kosiorek and Honor Society President Bethany Ezard as well as a candle lighting ceremony, standing members read short biographies and welcomed the 20 new members from the seventh and eighth grades.
Byron-Bergen ELA Teacher Diana Walther was the featured speaker at the induction ceremony. Walther discussed the importance of the school’s “The Leader in Me” character education program with a corresponding book she uses in her classes “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey.
The inductees were selected through an application process that focused on scholarship, leadership, citizenship, service, and character, the five principles of the National Junior Honor Society.
This year’s National Junior Honor Society members are: (seventh-graders) Dominick Andres, Olivia Audsley, Lindsey Bowman, Brandon Burke, Reanne Dressler, Marlaina Fee, Chase Felton, Mackenzie Fox, Clare Fraser, Ryan Gonyea, Hailey Hubbard, Alexandria Loewke, Kitana Maher, Kelsey Mauer, Colin Noeth, Grace Pulcini, Ryan Richardson, Karson Richenberg, Brittney Vincent; and eighth-grader Allison Kropf.
Provided information
4/15/12
HILTON
Hilton HS Percussion place second at NYS Percussion Circuit Championship
Hilton High School Percussion Drumline placed a very close second at 93.48 points, just 0.55 points behind winner Victor High School Sunday, April 1, at the NY State Percussion Circuit Championships at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse.
The Drumline performed intricate choreography and musical selections to the music of Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Scheherazade.”
In addition to the second place overall finish, Hilton placed first in the “Visual” category.
Twenty ensembles from throughout NY State competed in the event. Since the NYSPC was originally founded in 1996, Hilton has placed in the top two at the NYSPC Championships every year including a record 13 first place finishes, according to Drumline Director and Hilton CSD instrumental music teacher, Tim Stodd, who is currently serving as president of the NYS Percussion Circuit.
Provided photo
4/15/12
Can you sign my book?
Quest Elementary student Nicholas Otto, asks author Linda Sue Park of Rochester, for her autograph in his copy of A Long Walk To Water about Rochester resident and Sudanese “Lost Boy” Salva Dut.
Park is the recipient of the prestigious Newbery Medal for her beautifully-illustrated “A Single Shard.”
She visited Hilton elementary students and shared stories with them. In addition, she taught primary students several Korean children’s hand games.
Provided photo
4/15/12
HOLLEY
Holley class has a whale of a time with local author
Holley students Jeffrey VanOrden and Jennifer Hardie read There's a Whale in the Canal with the author, Spencerport resident Ron Mazzarella. Provided photoStudents in Kristen Wagner’s and Carla Rodrigues’ classes at Holley Middle School/High School not only had the opportunity to crack open a brand new book, but to meet its author, Ron Mazzarella. The Spencerport resident and his mom, Chris Mazzarella, read aloud There’s a Whale in the Canal, then answered the students’ questions. “I was playing a rhyming word game with my three-year-old daughter, Samantha, one night and she said, “There’s a whale in the canal.’ I thought it sounded like a kids’ book and that’s how the story came about,” Mazzarella told the students.
It took him about three months to write the book while traveling for his job in sales, then nearly two years to find an illustrator and get it published. The illustrator is Tom Paul Fox, also a Western New York native. “The most fun part of all of this is reading the book to my daughter,” said Mazzarella. “I wrote it for her because reading is an important part of our relationship.”
The book begins when Humphrey, a young whale, learns about Niagara Falls in fish school and decides he must see this natural wonder for himself. He learns about persistence, resourcefulness, and friendship as he travels down the Erie Canal toward his destination. “I think this was a great opportunity for our students to experience a reading from a local author,” said Teacher Kristen Wagner. “These experiences don’t happen every day, so I’m grateful my students were able to be a part of it!”
Provided information
4/15/12
Holley hosts Senior Citizen Appreciation Breakfast
Senior citizens in the Holley Central School District are invited to the Seventh Annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Breakfast on Thursday, May 3 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. in the Holley Elementary School cafeteria.
The event will include a complimentary buffet breakfat, sponsored by Personal Touch Food Service Co., with administrators, board members, and Middle School/High School Student Council members, and performances by the High School chorus and kindergarten students. Afterwards, there will be blood pressure screenings, and information about senior services and activities in the community.
The event is open to residents of the Holley Central School District ages 55 and over. Transportation is available. Those who would like to attend should call District Clerk Connie Nenni at 638-6316, ext. 2003 by Friday, April 20.
Provided information
4/15/12
Holley inducts 25 into National Junior Honor Society
Officers for the Holley Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society present Ricky Palermo with a check for $350 for the Ricky Palermo Foundation to benefit those with spinal cord injuries. Shown are (l-r) Ricky Palermo, Treasurer Mikayla Hargreaves, Secretary Heather Winkley, President Nicole Boyle, and Vice President Taylor DeSimone. Provided photo. Holley Middle School/High School held its 24th Annual Induction Ceremony on March 27 to welcome 25 seventh and eighth graders into the Holley Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. During the ceremony, current members went into the audience and brought new members up on stage. NJHS officers then described the qualities required for membership – character, scholarship, leadership, service and citizenship – and lit a candle symbolizing each of the qualities.
Superintendent Robert D’Angelo and Middle School/High School Principal Susan Cory welcomed the new members with certificates, and the new inductees recited the NJHS oath. In order to be eligible for the National Junior Honor Society, students must have an academic average of at least 90 percent; they must apply for the honor, and be selected by a faculty council based on the five qualities of membership.
The new inductees are: eighth graders Amber Becker, Danielle Bevins, Dana Frisbee, Sienna Steier, and Brady Smith; and seventh graders Lisa Alemu, Christopher Balys, Hannah Beidlingmaier, Anna Brasted, Andrew Cary, Claudia Drechsel, Makenzie Ferranti, Isaiah Flow, Megan Fribance, William Harrington, Megan Hatfield, Dylan Hillabush, Taylor Kimmerly, Jessica Mandigo, Alice McAllister, Veronica Mendoza, Cassandra Mohney, Garrett Moy, James Skehan, and Diana Yaroshchuk. Their advisor is Kelly Evans.
The highlight of the ceremony was guest speaker Ricky Palermo, who was paralyzed from the neck down in a car accident in 1981, and has since raised $720,000 for spinal cord injury research and rehabilitation through the Ricky Palermo Foundation. National Junior Honor Society members presented Palermo, the brother of Jim Palermo, Holley physical education teacher, with a check for $350 for his foundation. They raised the money by selling carnations and cookies. “I’m glad to be chosen to accept this wonderful donation,” he said. “You are young honor students, but already there are younger eyes looking up to you. You can thank the person that you looked up to for that.”
Palermo also told the students that their donation will have far-reaching benefits. Money from his foundation goes to the United Memorial Medical Center’s Emergency Room to stabilize patients with spinal cord injuries; the University of Rochester Medical Center’s Spinal Unit to help patients recuperate from surgery; Genesee County YMCA’s Bike Program to help patients rebuild muscles and stay in shape; and The Miami Project for research to cure paralysis. Palermo showed the audience a video about the great strides being made by The Miami Project in strategies for the repair of damaged spinal tissue.
4/15/12
KENDALL
Kendall students collect eyeglasses and hearing aids
Kendall Leo's Club and Mrs. Markham's first-grade class collected 200 items for the Kendall Lions Club Eyeglass and Hearing Aid project. Provided photo
First-graders Mary Jones and Obed Santes show off collected eyeglasses with 10th-graders and Leo's Club members D'Andre Helms and Maria Knapp. Provided photoIn a combined effort, the Kendall Elementary School and the Leo’s Club from Kendall Jr./Sr. High School collected eyeglasses, sunglasses, glasses cases and hearing aids in partnership with the Kendall Lions Club. Through the drive, Kendall collected 200 items that will be recycled for use in Central and South America.
At the culmination of the event, Lions Club member Dan Peckham brought a pizza party to Kristy Markham’s first-grade class. Leo’s Club members from the Jr./Sr. High School also joined in on the celebration.
Peckham, a former physical education teacher at Kendall, was happy to see the event return to Kendall for the first time in over three years. “The last time we did a collection was in the fall of 2008,” said Peckham. “It is a really nice community project. Involving younger and older students together makes it extra special.”
The Lions Club has a collection site at the Kendall Town Hall throughout the year for those interested in donating.
4/15/12
SPENCERPORT
Spencerport Board of Education adopts 2012-13 budget proposal
During its meeting on April 3, the Spencerport School Board of Education adopted a budget for the 2012-13 school year, according to a district press release.
The expenditure plan, which will be presented to voters on May 15, includes: $69,026,404 budget, an increase of 0.46 percent or $316,174, from the current year; a tax levy of $33.4 million, an increase of 2.13 percent which is less than the maximum allowable tax levy with exclusions; a 1.96 percent projected increase in the tax rate or $23.86 per $1,000 of assessed home value, an increase of $0.46 per thousand.
Superintendent Michael Crumb stated in the press release that the budget proposal maintains academic programs, continues the multi-year approach to the use of reserves, and addresses the state’s new tax levy limit regulation.
“This has been the year for introducing the state’s new tax levy limit, and communicating that the limit for Spencerport equates to 2.47 percent and we are proposing a tax levy that is less than our allowable limit,” Crumb said. “The levy limit is calculated using an 8-step formula provided to us by the state, but it is the tax rate that impacts a homeowner’s tax bill (above).”
“The restoration of some of the state aid funds has also helped us to offset the loss of $1.1 million in federal aid this year, and we remain on track with the planned, multi-year use of reserves and appropriated fund balance to insulate our community as much as possible.”
The 2012-13 budget also includes the use of $2.4 million in reserves, and the use of $468,594 of appropriated fund balance.
In addition to the budget, the district will be asking the community to authorize the use of $321,331 to purchase nine schools buses and four facilities vehicles. Also, a $9.8 million capital project is being proposed for the maintenance and improvements of district buildings and grounds along with authorization to use $1.975 million of the capital reserve to virtually offset all local expense.
Budget details can also be found on the district website www.spencerportschools.org.
4/15/12
Spencerport budget presentations open to the public
Spencerport Central Schools has scheduled budget presentations as follows: April 18, 5 p.m., Bernabi Elementary School PTO; April 18, 7 p.m., Munn Elementary School PTO; April 18, 7:45 p.m. Canal View Elementary School PTO; April 20, 9:30 a.m., District Office, Rooms 15/17.
Additionally, a budget hearing has been scheduled for May 1, 7 p.m., District Office, Rooms 15/17.
For a list of May presentations or other information on the 2012-13 budget, visit www.spencerportschools.org.
Provided information
4/15/12
OBITUARIES - WEEK OF APRIL 15, 2012
BROCKPORT
•Austin, Joan E., April 4, 2012. Predeceased by her husband, Edward; sister, Dorothy; brother, Gerald. Survived by her children, Edward R. Austin (Scott Jaeger), Joanne Austin (Steven Dwiggins), William F. (Deborah) Austin, Patrick E. (Idella) Austin, Pamela J. (Ralph) Knittle, Wendy J. (Merle) Wagner, Robin L. Austin; 14 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; sisters, June Cornelius, Mary Wheat, Jean (Ken) Swart, Veronica Miller; many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Her Funeral Service was held April 9 at Vay-Schleich & Meeson Funeral Home, Greece. Interment private. Contributions can be made to the National Kidney Foundation in her memory.
•Bilohlavek, Doris M., On April 4, 2012 at age 91. Predeceased by her husband Henry, daughters Rita and Jody, son Ray, sisters Rita Schoeneman, Jean Boyle and brother Robert Thelen. She is survived by her children, Bob, Carol, George, Eileen, Ted, Allen, Chris, Hank, Kathy, Tim and their spouses, many grand, great grand and great great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Her Funeral Service was held April 9 at the Fowler Funeral Home Inc., Brockport. Interment, Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Contributions can be made to Lakeside Beikirch Care Center, 156 West Avenue, Brockport 14420 in her memory.
•Bliss, Lee B., died April 7, 2012. Fondly remembered in his glory days as a champion race driver, Lee also loved flying and was a professional fisherman. Predeceased by wife and co-pilot M. Lorraine and siblings Roy, Lois and Richard. Survived by sisters, Fay (Bernie) Colburn, Nina Mayes; sisters-in-law, Anne (Thomas) Elphick, June Bliss and several nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service was held April 11 at Fowler Funeral Home Inc., Brockport. Interment, Lakeside Cemetery. Donations can be made to Aurora House, 2495 South Union Street, Spencerport 14559 in his memory.
•Marsden, Robert Hyatt, on April 3, 2012 at age 61. Predeceased by his parents Dr. and William L. Marsden. He is survived by his loving wife, Teresa (Cook); sisters Judyth (Gregory) Kenney, Kathy (Gerald) Mackey; brother William L. (Jeanne) Marsden; nephews Gregory, David and Scott Kenney, Gerald and Jason Mackey, William L. III and Justin Marsden; nieces DeAnn Kenney-Garrett and Megan Mackey; in-laws Richard and Marjorie Cook and family; many great nieces, nephews and cousins. Bob grew up in Sea Cliff, LI, served in the United States Marine Corps, graduated from SUNY Brockport, retired from Eastman Kodak and worked at Lowes.
Funeral Services were held April 6 at the Fowler Funeral Home, Inc., Brockport. Private interment. Donations can be made to Lakeside Memorial Hospital, 156 West Avenue, Brockport 14420 in his memory.
CHURCHVILLE
•Hoyt, Barbara D., April 2, 2012. A native of Madison, Maine, she moved to Rochester at Westwood Commons in 2004 to be near her son and his family. Predeceased by her husband Gerald H. Hoyt, brother Robert Dunlap and sister Blanch D. Nichols. Survived by her sons William and his wife, Janice, Robert and his wife Crystal; grandchildren Monica Timberlake, Chad Hoyt, Maeghan Reitano, Jennifer Flanagan, and Whitney Scoville; great-grandchildren, Hannah Hoyt, Michael Flanagan and Gage Reitano.
A Memorial Service was held April 14 at The First Presbyterian Church of Chili. Contributions can be made to the Mission Fund at Chili Presbyterian Church in her memory.
•Pimm, Evelyn J., April 4, 2012 at age 81. Evelyn was predeceased by her husband Ralph A. Pimm. She is survived by her children, Gary (Jerilyn) Pimm, Robin (Scott) Canfield, Debbie Woods, Doug (Sherry) Pimm, Brenda (Gary) Napier and Scott (Gladys Patmore) Pimm; seven grandchildren, several great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Peg Smith; many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Her Funeral Service was held April 14 at Walker Brothers Funeral Home, Inc., Churchville. Interment, Creekside Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society in her memory.
GATES
•Diedreck, Jeannette I., April 10, 2012 at age 86. Predeceased by her loving husband of 66 years, Jack. Survived by her daughter, Joanne (Craig) Coon; son, Jay (Alicia) Diedreck; six grandchildren, Christopher, David and Amanda Coon, Rudy (Allison) Diedreck, Judimarie (Andy) Bodien and Gretchen (Joe) Carletta; seven great-grandchildren, Caleb and Claire Diedreck, Robert and Julia Bodien, Paige, Quinn and Riley Carletta; and several nieces and nephews. Jeannette was a WWII Navy Veteran and worked for many years in the Dental Office of Dr. DuBert and a long-time member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.
Funeral Services were held April 14 at the Trinity Lutheran Church, Spencerport. Interment Westside Cemetery. Donations can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 191 Nichols Street, Spencerport or to Lollypop Farm in her memory.
HAMLIN
•Ferguson, Charles E. “Chuck,” April 2, 2012, age 57. He is survived by his wife, Donna Ferguson; children, Steve Ferguson and Amy (Paul) Johnston; grandchildren, Paul and Cody Johnston; sisters, Katie, Lori and Debbie Ferguson.
His Funeral Service was held April 7 at the Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Hilton. Interment, Beachwood Cemetery, Kendall. Contributions can be made to Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network, Corporate Woods of Brighton, Building 30, Suite 220, Rochester 14623 in his memory.
HOLLEY
•Nenni, Kayla Rose, Age 7, suddenly April 10, 2012. She is survived by her parents, Ronald and Sharon Nenni; brothers and sisters, Daniel (Rachel) Scipioni, Susan (Nicholas) Colucci, William Scipioni, Jeffrey Scipioni, Lianna Scipioni, Mackenzy Nenni; grandfather, Richard Nenni; niece, Lillian; nephews, Mikey, Aiden, BFF Casey; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and extended family.
The family will receive friends at the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Home, Inc., 16650 West Albion Road, (Route 31), Holley, Monday, April 16 from 4 to 7 p.m. Her Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Church in Holley, Tuesday, April 17 at 10 a.m. Interment, Holy Cross Cemetery. Contributions can be made to Adoption Star, 47 Plaza Drive, Williamsville, NY 14221 in her memory.
•Pappa, Martin H. “Moe,” April 2, 2012 at age 89. Predeceased by wife, Louise. He is survived by niece, Valerie Garland; nephews, Richard, Ronald and Raymond Mack; great-nieces and nephews, Edward (Michele), Patty, John (Janice), James (Cathy), Robert Garland; great-great-nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Rose Keller and Frances Gariff; nieces and nephews, Lynn Keller, Linda (Steve) Spath, Michael Gariff, Laurie Ford and Charmane (Rick) Nowack; great-nieces and nephews; and many loving, caring friends. Martin was a WWII Navy Veteran.
Funeral Services were held April 7 at New Comer Funeral Home, Greece. Interment, Falls Cemetery.
NORTH CHILI
•Sengillo, Robert S., April 7, 2012 at age 74. Predeceased by his brothers, Morris, Michael, Carl, Donald; sisters, Betty, Rose, Priscilla and Grace; nephews, Alan Sengillo, Greg Sengillo and Daniel Fasano. Survived by his loving wife of 49 years, Kathleen; children, Karyn (Paul) Audycki and Robert (Barbara) Sengillo; grandchildren, Adam, Eric, Nicholas, Marissa and Daniel; several nieces and nephews. Bob was a member of Seasoned People, a Green Thumber at St. Pius the Tenth Church and a retiree of GM.
A Funeral Mass was said April 12 at St. Pius the Tenth Church. Interment St. Pius Cemetery. Donations can be made to the School of the Holy Childhood in his memory.
SPENCERPORT
•Bosz, Raymond L., April 8, 2012. Survived by his wife, Elizabeth “Betty,” Bosz; daughter, Jacqueline (Calvin) Ford.
His Funeral Service was held April 12 at the United Methodist Church, Spencerport. Interment in Fairfield Cemetery.
•Elliott, F. Jeannette, April 8, 2012. Predeceased by her husband, Raymond Elliott; son, Joel Elliott; brothers, Erwin Ballard, Maurice Ballard and Bruce Ballard. Survived by her brother, John Ballard Jr.; grandson, Matthew (Danielle) Elliott; great-grandchildren, Hali and Lauren. Jeannette was active in the Spencerport Community and the White Church throughout her entire life.
A Memorial Service was held April 11 at the First Congregational UCC (White Church), Spencerport. Private interment. Donations can be sent to the First Congregational UCC, 65 Church Street, Spencerport, NY 14559 in her memory.
•Whitaker, Dorothy (Wakeman), April 9, 2012. Dorothy is predeceased by her husband, Floyd and daughter, Lois Excell. She is survived by her loving children, Carol (Michael) Stewart, Peggy (Bill) Baldwin; grandmother of Jodie (Sean) Ruck, Jamie Stewart, Jason Stewart, Tammy (Tom) Meyer, Kelly (Jamie) Berardicurti, Kristin (Ed) Tommasi, Bill Baldwin IV, Rachel Baldwin; five great-grandchildren; brother, George Wakeman; many nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services were held April 14 at Spencerport Wesleyan Church, Spencerport.
ARCHIVES - WEEK OF APRIL 8, 2012
LOCAL NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 8, 2012
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
On Monday, March 26, Legislator Dick Yolevich presented Eagle Scout Richard DeMeyer with a certificate of recognition at his Court of Honor.
DeMeyer is a member of Boy Scout Troop #130, sponsored by Mother of Sorrows Church in Greece.
Shown left to right: Legislator Dick Yolevich, Eagle Scout Richard DeMeyer, his mother Marilyn DeMeyer, sister Elizabeth DeMeyer and Scoutmaster Len Angie.
Provided photo
4/8/12
Lakeside OB to close; new partnership formed for services with Rochester Gynecologic & Obstetric Associates
by Kristina Gabalski
Following the news April 10 that Lakeside Hospital in Brockport is closing its birthing center, officials announced that Lakeside is welcoming Rochester Gynecologic & Obstetric Associates (RGOA) to offices at Lakeside Hospital.
Lakeside officials say that although there has been a decline in the number of deliveries at the hospital over the past 10 years, demand for gynecology services has remained steady.
The ten-physician RGOA group will offer expanded general gynecology and urogynecology care and plans to perform laparoscopic and other minimally invasive surgeries at Lakeside Hospital.
Lakeside Interim CEO Hugh H. Collins calls the decision to close the birthing unit a “painful one,” but he says that the partnership with RGOA will mean an expansion of services for Lakeside patients. “This decision to eliminate our birthing unit and partner with RGOA allows us to concentrate resources and improve access to services most in demand in our community,” he says.
“(RGOA) is a larger, high-quality, board-certified group. We will be growing and expanding services right here at home,” Collins said. “We are thrilled to welcome an outstanding physician practice with a reputation for excellent, patient-centered care.”
Physicians in the practice will provide prenatal and post-natal care for expectant mothers, although deliveries will be done at the University of Rochester Medical Center (Strong Memorial Hospital) instead of Lakeside.
In addition to ten physicians, the RGOA group includes two licensed and certified nurse practitioners. Mitchell A. Linder, M.D. will be joining the group in August and will be providing care to Lakeside patients. RGOA will provide a full range of obstetrical services and gynecologic services including robot-assisted surgery (Da Vinci at Strong).
Collins calls the Da Vinci robot, “state of the art. I’ve seen it and implemented it at two other hospitals.”
RGOA physicians say they are committed to excellence in health care for women. “We are pleased to have this opportunity to provide care for women in the Brockport area on the Lakeside campus and help that community maintain the strong, on-site medical services they need,” said Stephan Sanko, M.D., of RGOA. “We welcome this exciting opportunity to provide continuous obstetrical and gynecology care for the patients of Lakeside Health System.”
The practice expects to begin providing services at Lakeside in the next 90 days or less. The new RGOA office will be the practice’s second location on the west side of Rochester. Brockport patients can also be seen at the 1850 Buffalo Road location in Gates or other RGOA locations.
Collins says the existing birthing unit staff will be interviewed by RGOA and if Lakeside has critical vacancies somewhere else that staff has the skill sets for, the hospital may be able to accommodate them but, “some will be displaced.”
“We are actually on a journey here,” Collins explains, “to become a low-cost - high-quality service provider.”
He said that journey would mean more changes and other initiatives for Lakeside in order to accomplish a financial turn-around for the health system.
Some of those initiatives are “going to be painful for us,” he says. “But when we get to the end of the journey we will have an organization that is a financially viable, financially healthy, low-cost provider of great services.”
Officials say Lakeside has submitted a closure plan for the birthing unit to the NYS Department of Health. Approval is expected in about 90 days. In 2010, the hospital recorded over 220 births.
Patients of the current Ob/Gyn practice at Lakeside will receive complete information about the changes in a letter mailed to their homes “which will detail a complete list of services we are bringing here to Lakeside,” Collins said.
4/8/12
New Ogden Special Police Officer welcomed
Michele Hutchinson graduated from the Special Police Academy and was required to go through 140 hours of rigorous physical and mental training before receiving her certification.
The Ogden Special Police Force is a volunteer organization that can be seen at many community events directing traffic and adding a presence to assist in the safety of residents.
Shown left to right: Peter Zambuto, Ogden Special Police Chief; Gay Lenhard, Ogden Supervisor, Michele Hutchinson, new Ogden Special Police Officer; Doug Nordquist, Ogden Police Chief; Shawn Fitzgerald, Ogden Sergeant.
Provided photo
4/8/12
Amy Hope Witryol announces bid for State Senate seat
Amy Hope Witryol (D-Lewiston) announced her candidacy for the 62nd district state senate seat during stops along the historic Erie Canal on Friday, March 30. The tour began in Brockport and included stops in Holley, Lockport and North Tonawanda before concluding in Niagara Falls.
“After 18 years in office, a career politician has left the three counties in his district in economic last place,” stated Witryol. “Orleans, Monroe and Niagara Counties have the highest property tax-rates-to-valuation in the entire United States.”
Witryol stated that the tools for an economic revival in the 62nd district currently exist but have not been leveraged for the public benefit. She says, “We are blessed with assets that can help us compete with any region. With or without low-cost power, after 18 years, there are no more excuses for last place. We can do better. I’m running for State Senate because I love this region. Our district will make more progress with a new state senator who’s had business experience. It’s time to retire a career politician who has achieved an economic boom for his campaign account, but not for his district.” Witryol went on to say, “We need to take the money out of politics and get down to business.”
Witryol will square off against 18-year incumbent and Albany insider George Maziarz (R-Newfane). Witryol is currently running unopposed on the Democratic line. She plans on seeking the Working Families line as well.
The 62nd district encompasses all of Niagara and Orleans counties as well as the Towns of Ogden and Sweden in Monroe County.
4/8/12
Collins to serve Lakeside as interim CEO
by Kristina Gabalski
Lakeside Health System has now named Hugh H. Collins Interim CEO/CFO, Nancy Plews, Chairperson, Lakeside Health System Board of Directors, announced.
The appointment became effective April 1.
On March 16, Lakeside announced that Collins had been named Interim CFO, replacing Bridgett Reed.
Collins now also replaces Lakeside President and CEO James Wissler who resigned his post in early March to take a position as President and CEO of Hanover Hospital in his home state of Pennsylvania.
Wissler said it had been a privilege to serve at Lakeside, but his new position would offer him the opportunity to move closer to family, “ ... that is very important to me at this point in my life,” he said.
Plews said Collins has worked in senior management positions at hospitals and health care facilities in Tennessee, Alabama, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and North Carolina for over 30 years.
4/8/12
Brockport’s proposed budget calls for no change in tax levy for 2012-13
by Kristina Gabalski
The Village of Brockport’s 2012/2013 tentative budget calls for no change in the tax levy. Appropriations total $4.7 million, down from $5.17 million (projected) in the 2011/2012 budget.
During what was his last regular village board meeting before he begins his new job as director of the Greater Rochester International Airport, Village Manager/ Treasurer Michael Giardino presented the budget to trustees.
Giardino said areas with the greatest jumps in cost include health insurance -up 18 percent this year and expected to increase another 20 percent in January 2013. He noted that fuel and petroleum costs also continue to increase.
At the end of the current fiscal year, Giardino says he expects an unreserved fund balance of $365,000.
“Employee benefits make up a large portion of the budget,” Giardino said. The plan includes a three percent salary increase for both union and non-union full- time employees. The Police Department allocation is increased from $1,155,715 to $1,181,357 in the 2012/2013 tentative budget.
Also included is $15,000 for maintenance of the Smith Street Bridge and a $150,000 unallocated appropriation (contingency), Giardino said.
The budget includes no capital improvements or funding for celebrations.
A $215,000 deficit in the tentative budget “will be mitigated through use of fund balance,” Giardino said.
The water budget includes no rate increase, he said.
Mayor Connie Castaneda told the board following the presentation that the village’s revenue streams are limited.
“The largest part of our budget is employee costs - 71.8 percent,” the mayor said, and added that the only way to cut appropriations is “by the cutting of staff and limiting benefits.”
“We are making no long-term plan, the fund balance is decreasing annually,” she said. “We are still a village in fiscal distress.”
Trustee Scott Hunsinger questioned Giardino as to whether the use of $215,000 from the fund balance was “fiscally responsible.”
“It would be prudent to use no more than ten percent of the current fund balance,” Giardino responded. He noted the village will have about $1.2 million in fund balance at the end of this fiscal year.
During his report, Trustee Hunsinger said the budget is a “living document. Over the next couple of weeks I hope the issues we bring forward will be looked at non-politically.”
A public hearing on the budget is set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 10 at the Middle School Auditorium.
4/8/12
Community developer speaks in Brockport
by Kristina Gabalski
Community-oriented developer Greg O’Connell had plenty of advice for Brockport residents and business owners during an economic development seminar held March 28 at the Middle School Auditorium.
O’Connell is president of the O’Connell Organization and is credited with the re-birth of the business district along Main Street in the Village of Mt. Morris. He graduated from SUNY Geneseo in 1964 and is also well-known for similar work he has done to revitalize the Red Hook historic district in Brooklyn, in his native New York City.
Brockport Mayor Connie Castaneda invited O’Connell and Livingston County Development Corporation Downtown Coordinator Louise Wadsworth to come to Brockport and speak about their work.
“People across the country want to take back their main streets,” O’Connell said.
Both he and Wadsworth detailed the transformation of buildings in Mt. Morris with the help of a $400,000 New York State Main Street Grant between the fall of 2008 and the spring of 2011.
O’Connell owns 20 buildings in Mt. Morris and has also purchased buildings in the Village of Dansville.
Wadsworth said as a result of the Main Street Grant program, 12 buildings in Mt. Morris were renovated; 15 commercial spaces were completed; 17 residential units were established; $30,000 in street scape improvements were completed and over $600,000 in private investments were made.
O’Connell stressed the importance of developing complimentary businesses and talking to all parts of the community - churches, schools, local government and civic groups. “You have to listen to every part of the community,” he said. “We went to all different organizations because we wanted them to have input. The community really pushed me - it’s just been great,” he said.
Wadsworth described a 10-week micro-enterprise class held by the Livingston County Development Corporation for people interested in starting up a business in Mt. Morris. “Four businesses came from that class,” she said.
“The class is excellent,” O’Connell noted. “At the end of the course you have a business plan which qualifies you for a loan of up to $50,000.”
O’Connell also stressed the importance of obtaining tax abatements. “I think upstate was sleeping (while New York City) took advantage (of abatements),” he said. He said abatements help to jump-start development and “allow me to pass off savings to the store owner.”
He says most of his tenants pay $300/month in rent.
Wadsworth said one of the goals of the transformation/restoration was “to bring buildings back to the way they were (originally) designed.” Paint has been removed from original brick; transoms over store windows, woodwork and upper-level windows have all been restored to their original appearance, for example.
Pedestrian-friendly perpendicular signage is encouraged and merchants strive to remain open seven days a week during the same hours. When stores are closed for the night, lights are left on in shop windows and merchants are required to change their window displays seasonally, four times each year.
Both O’Connell and Wadsworth said nearby SUNY Geneseo has been a great resource. “That’s something you could definitely do here,” Wadsworth noted.
The transformation/renovation work in Mt. Morris has created more than 30 jobs and boosted sales tax revenue, the speakers said. There are still storefronts to fill and work to be done, O’Connell and Wadsworth said.
“When you see more people walking on Main Street at night, then you know we made it,” O’Connell says.
Brockport Merchants Association President Josephine Matela attended the seminar. She called O’Connell “wonderful. Greg is right on.”
Matela noted that Brockport is fortunate in one respect because it doesn’t have empty storefronts. “But you need to maintain a healthy mix of retail, restaurants and services,” she said.
Brockport Trustees Margaret Blackman and Carol Hannan attended the seminar. The two serve as economic development co-liaisons to the village board and Hannan also serves as village board liaison to the Merchants Association.
She said she enjoyed the presentation. “This village has so much potential,” Hannan said.
4/8/12
FEATURE STORIES - WEEK OF APRIL 8, 2012
Walk-a-thon to raise money for a well in southern Sudan
National Honor Society students Audrey Hayward (left) and Jamie Barber(right) assemble fundraising packets for the walk.The Brockport Central School District Library Department and National Honor Society invite the community to join students, faculty and staff for a 12-mile “Walk Along the Water” on Saturday, April 21 at 9 a.m. to help the district sponsor a well in Southern Sudan. The walk to Adams Basin begins and ends at the Smith Street Bridge in Brockport and mirrors the distance people in Sudan travel each day for water.
This activity culminates the district’s year-long initiative to raise funds and global awareness through reading. All students in the district learned about the serious problems associated with the lack of drinking water in many African villages by reading grade level appropriate books. Students in grades 5 to 12 read Linda Sue Park’s book A Long Walk to Water, a true story of one of the lost boys of Sudan, Salva Dut, who ultimately settled in Rochester. Park visited the district in October to meet with students and share what inspired her to tell Dut’s story.
This T-shirt art design was created by BHS senior Julie Ryan.Fundraising packets will be available the morning of the walk, but pre-registration is encouraged. A waiver form and fundraising information are available at www.bcs1.org/waterforSudan or by contacting Kathy Jaccarino at 637-1870. Participants who raise more than $100 will receive a free canal walk t-shirt, designed by BHS senior, Julie Ryan. T-shirts may also be pre-ordered for $10. Those unable to participate in the walk but who would like to contribute, can complete the contribution form on the web site.
With the help of the PTSA and many students and community members, various businesses and service organizations, including Professor Chris Norment’s Environmental Capstone class at The College at Brockport, Seymour Library, and First Baptist Church, the district is nearing its $5,000 goal. Funds will be sent through Dut’s organization, Water for Sudan, to sponsor the well.
“Having a well with Brockport’s name on it in southern Sudan will serve as a reminder of how this community came together to reach out to our global neighbors,” said Brockport High School Librarian Kathy Jaccarino. “This has been an exciting project. The students have learned so much about conditions in Salva’s country and they have shown a true desire to improve these conditions for the people in southern Sudan.” The walk will take place rain or shine, but in the event of severe weather, participants can check the district’s website for updates.
Provided information
4/8/12
Hamlin Earth Day celebration planned for April 21
Hamlin Beach State Park will again be the site of the annual Earth Day at the Park on April 21 from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. in Area 3. A partnership between New York State Parks, the Town of Hamlin, The College at Brockport Department of Environmental Sciences, the Hamlin and Hilton Lions Clubs, and Friends of Hamlin Beach State Park, Earth Day 2012 will feature informative presenters, green technology, vendors, entertainment, and activities designed to improve our world.
Environmental booths will offer information on topics ranging from green building technology to alternative energy and to recycling. Craft and eco-friendly vendors will be presenting their goods, and fuel efficient cars from local car dealerships will also be on display.
Providing entertainment this year will be a musical performance by the Dady Brothers at 1 p.m. and The College at Brockport Radio Station 89.1 will broadcast live on-site. An organized beach clean-up in the morning, a guided tour of Springbrook Marsh at 10 a.m. and free tree seedling give-away are also planned.
The Lions Club will be accepting donations of used eyeglasses, hearing aids and old keys for metal recycling. “Imagine It” will accept for recycling: printer cartridges, PDAs, cell phones, MP3s, and portable electronic devices including digital cameras, laptops, camcorders, GPS devices, satellite radios, DVD players, USB memory keys, gaming devices and external hard drives.
Concluding the event will be a guided tour of the Hamlin CCC/POW Camp which will begin about 3 p.m. at the CCC/POW Camp site off Moscow Road.
Provided information
4/8/12
The Greater Churchville-Riga Chamber of Commerce recently held their annual awards dinner. Honored at the dinner were Robert DeNormand as Citizen of the Year. Jan and Tom Armstrong, owners of the Main Street Deli, were honored as the Business Persons of the Year. The Civic Beautification award went to Jerry and Hazel Spotts, owners of East Point, the professional building located at the intersection of Washington Street and Buffalo Road. The Chamber of Commerce also honored Kim Pape as the chamber member of the year.
In the photo left to right (back row) Jerry Spotts, Robert DeNormand and Tom Armstrong; (front row) Hazel Spotts, Kim Pape and Jan Armstrong.
4/8/12
On March 25, the Kendall Fire Department put into service their new Road Rescue - Ultramedic Ambulance.
The names of people donating $100 or more were read at the ceremony and plaques were presented to the top contributors. In all, about 60 people attended the dedication ceremony.
Shown, left bottom: Lieutenant Dan Shultz, Tim Bidwell, Assistant Chief Greg Bidwell, Past Chief Rick Seaman; Standing left: Phil Kludt, Captain Blaine Young, Captain Bryan Hardenbrook, Deputy Chief Mike Cole, Chief Mike Schultz, Squad Captain Sue Maslyn, Lieutenant Cole Hardenbrook, Treasurer and Chairman Eric Maxon, President Bill Hardenbrook, Past Chief Mike Kludt, Fire Police Captain Nick Schicker.
Top donators of $5,000 or more are shown from left: President of the Kendall Ladies Auxiliary Dorrie Hardenbrook, Mike Zingler from R.M. Zingler Farms, Mike Kludt from Kludt Bros. Farm, and Terry Bliss of the Kendall Lions Club. Their donations and the support of the community at-large helped make the new equipment purchase possible. Provided photo
Provided photo
4/8/12
COLUMNS - WEEK OF APRIL 8, 2012
Westside News Inc.’s Family Guy
New significance to the annual Easter Egg Hunt
by Mark Ball
I have a renewed interest in the Easter Egg Hunt.
Every year my family gathers at my parents’ home to share Easter joy, delight in some delicious food and engage in a never ending search for plastic eggs. For several years now, I’ve questioned the need for the great egg race. Quite honestly, haven’t we outgrown this tradition? Isn’t there a video game version of this experience? Wouldn’t it be better just to review last year’s tape?
On more than one occasion we have been out sifting through the snow in search of plastic gold as the kids sit inside with their little mitts wrapped around a steaming cup of hot chocolate. There was also the year that my mother (official egg hider from the beginning of time) totally forgot where she hid the eggs. We spent hours canvassing the neighborhood on an egg search and rescue mission. One year a band of ninja squirrels broke through the protective plastic coatings and robbed each egg of its chocolate fortunes.
And throughout the years there has been much, much crying. Shorted of their fair allotment of eggs, the slowest child each year dissolves into tears. Frustrated by a fruitless search, more than one child has succumbed to a tantrum. In true disclosure, I have shed my share of tears just waiting for the monotonous searching to end.
But this year will be different, because it has to be. I will live in the moment before the moment hops away.
Molly, our oldest, just turned 10. Nobody shared with me that this was the birthday in which your beautiful child is replaced by an identical alien.
I haven’t understood anything Molly has said following the clock striking on her first-ever double digit birthday. Instantly the world began staring at her. Picking the perfect outfit became a matter of international significance. She flips through five moods before breakfast. A pink streak has even appeared in her hair! And whatever I say to her is wrong – dead wrong.
To make matters worse, her mother totally understands her.
I found this out last week when Molly had me actually speaking in tongues over a fashion feud. Molly had made the decision to cancel school because her clothes didn’t match. I explained that this decision would likely need to be made in consultation with the principal. She pointed out the error of my thinking (meaning: stop thinking and get out of my way). I did my best to put this situation into perspective (meaning: get over the clothes crisis, nobody else cares).
It was clear to anyone around that I was losing ground quickly.
That’s when Super Mom stepped in. She validated Molly’s concerns. Leslie shared legends of her childhood that pitted her against mean, judgmental girls and clueless parents. They bonded over their individual war stories. Then they worked together to develop a reasonable plan.
I opened the door for them as Molly went off to school and Leslie went off to work. Opening the door was the only helpful thing I did that whole day, my only successful interaction since my baby girl has become a 10 year old.
As a result, this year’s Easter Egg Hunt is looking a whole lot better.
Go hide the plastic eggs and I will happily hop around. I don’t care if they are under snow. I don’t care how far I must go. I’m okay if you hide them here or hide them there. I’ll chase after them anywhere!
From here forward, I will just be thankful for these few moments in time in which everyone acts like a kid.
4/8/12
SPORTS NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 8, 2012
AREA
Area gymnast is a state champion
Jake Scherbyn is the All Around New York State Champion in the 6-7 division in junior boys gymnastics. Provided photo
Bright Raven gymnast Jake Scherbyn earned the title of New York State All Around Champion at the USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Level 4 Boys State Championships held March 24-25 at West Point Military Academy. There were 46 Level 4 gymnasts competing in the 6-7 age division where Scherbyn earned the highest all around score of 90.90. In the individual events, he also took first on both rings and high bar and placed second on floor exercise, pommel horse and vault.
In the 8-9 age division, Jon LeFrois of Gates was fifth on pommel horse. Parker Anderson of Chili competed in the 10-11 age division and placed third all around (88.00). He was also second on rings, third on high bar, fourth on floor and fifth on both vault and parallel bars.
As a team, Bright Raven Gymnastics finished in second place in a field of 21 teams behind Kennett Gymnastics of Orange County. Alan Michael LeFrois of Gates also contributed to the Level 4 team effort.
In the Level 5 competition for ages 10-11, Brian Cannon of Chili finished ninth all around and was fifth in two events, parallel bars and high bar.
Provided information
4/8/12
Challenger Baseball ready to take the field for second season
by Kristina Gabalski
Challenger Baseball is nearing the start of its second season in Sweden/Clarkson.
Children ages 5 to 18 who have physical and/or developmental disabilities are invited to take part and experience baseball that is structured to their needs.
Organizers say Challenger Baseball gives everyone a chance to play baseball in a fun, family atmosphere.
“In our first season, we had 32 youngsters in the program from Sweden, Clarkson, Kendall, Holley, Hamlin, Churchville-Chili, Spencerport and Byron-Bergen,” Jack Milner says. “The program exceeded our expectations and provided a great opportunity for children with disabilities to enjoy the game of baseball.”
Challenger players use the same equipment (with modifications, if necessary) and wear jerseys and hats as Sweden/Clarkson Recreation Little Leaguers do. Coaches and “buddies” support the teams.
Milner says the program has received an outpouring of support from the community. “Recreation house league and Bison baseball players act as buddies for the players and many community members offer their time as volunteers to help in a variety of ways,” he says.
Several parents noted that they were pleased to have something available for their youngster, “as often their siblings are playing Little League and other sports and there is very little for these children to do outside the assistance they receive in school,” explains Milner.
“There is no charge for the program because grants and donations from organizations like the Press Radio Club in Rochester and Reliant Credit Union located in the Wal-Mart Plaza in Sweden make it self-sufficient,” Milner says.
“Last year, the Brockport Police Stetson Club put on an ice cream social for players and their families after one of the Saturday morning ball games and Flash (of Flash’s Tavern) helped out by providing the food for an end-of-the-season picnic,” he says.
Players will also take part in the Challenger Baseball World Series at Frontier Field on Saturday, June 23, “thanks to a gentleman by the name of Tony Wells,” Milner says. “Providing this opportunity is his passion and through working with the Rochester Red Wings our kids get a thrill of a lifetime getting to take the field for a game and seeing their live photo on the scoreboard.”
The Sweden/Clarkson Recreation Department supports Challenger Baseball as one of its programs, Milner adds. Program organizers and coaches Mike and Susan Myers, Wayne and Marge Zyra, Bev and Jack Milner, Steve Noyes, Kate Jacobs and Darren Zyra provide the legwork to see that the program succeeds.
Challenger games are played at Nietopski Field in the Sweden Town Park on Redman Road in Sweden.
Games begin at 9:30 a.m. and are scheduled for June 9,16, and 30 and July 7, 14, and 21. July 28 is a make-up rain date.
Parents are encouraged to register their sons or daughters by April 16 by mail, in person at the Sweden/Clarkson Community Center, 4927 Lake Road, or online at www.swedenclarksonrec.com.
4/8/12
BROCKPORT
Brockport Junior Eagleswin at Nickel City Classic
The Brockport Junior Eagles gymnastics team traveled to Orchard Park to compete in the Nickel City Classics. The level 8 team brought home a third place finish in the Team Competition.
In the level 7 competition, Dana Cowley captured third place on vault, second place on balance beam, third place on the floor exercise and finished third place all-around.
Brockport’s level 8 team captured third place team award with Morgan Adams taking second place on the uneven bars, third on balance beam, third on floor exercise and finished second all-around. Andrea Barberia placed first on vault, and third on balance beam. Jessica Ficarella took third place on vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise and captured third place in the all-around.
In the level 9 competition Nikole VanWie placed third on vault, third on balance beam and third place on the floor exercise.
Provided information
4/8/12
SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 8, 2012
AREA
BOCES 2 WEMOCO student earns scholarship
BOCES 2 WEMOCO student Jordan Willson, in Dan Boyler’s Auto Body Collision Repair Tech class, has won first place in the Collision Repair competition at the SkillsUSA statewide competition held at Alfred State.
Pictured, Russ Demme from Ohio Technical College presents Jordan with a $5,000 scholarship.
A donation from Auto Finishers of Rochester helped make it possible for WEMOCO students to go to competition.
Provided photo
4/8/12
BROCKPORT
OMS students participate in Junior High Music Festival
Nine Brockport Central students represented the Oliver Middle School at this year’s Monroe County School Music Association’s Junior High Festival held at Webster Schroeder High School on March 23 and 24.
Students were selected by audition and participated in extensive rehearsals to prepare for a concert presented on Saturday afternoon.
They are students of Claudia Deiboldt, Joanne Zimmerman and Doug Steves.
Provided photo
4/8/12
BYRON-BERGEN
Empire State representatives chosen at Byron-Bergen
Kara Hall (left), Sarah Donovan (alternate), Benjamin Ezard, and Lucas DeValder are this year's Empire Girls' State and Empire Boys' State representatives from Byron-Bergen. Provided photoThe Bergen American Legion has announced its school representatives for Empire Girls State and Boys State this summer.
Representing Byron-Bergen High School at Empire Girls State at The College at Brockport is Kara Hall, daughter of Joel and Karen Hall. Sarah Donovan, daughter of Kevin and Cheryl Donovan, was selected as alternate.
Representing Byron-Bergen High School at Empire Boys State in SUNY Morrisville is Benjamin Ezard, son of Ronald and Lara Ezard, and Lucas DeValder, son of John and Christine DeValder.
Representatives to Boys and Girls State participate in a week-long program during the last week of June. The Byron-Bergen Central School District said that it is grateful to the American Legion for sponsoring and funding such a great opportunity for students every year. More information about the program is available on the web at www.boysandgirlsstate.org.
Provided information
4/8/12
HILTON
St. Paul Lutheran School asks: Place your bids to support our kids
St. Paul Lutheran School will be hosting a dinner and auction Friday, April 27 at 5:30 p.m. The event, open to the public and family friendly, is a fundraiser to help refurbish the St. Paul gymnasium.
Dinners will be sold for $4 per person and families can also participate in a live auction, led by auctioneer Bruce Muck. Bid on a wide range of items from water skis to a snow blower, from summer camps to kennel service. A special youth auction allows each child who brings an item to bid on an item.
St. Paul is located at 158 East Avenue in Hilton. The school serves students in pre-k 8th grade from Hilton, Greece, Brockport, Spencerport and the City of Rochester. The gymnasium is used by the entire community. Call 392-4000 ext. 200 with questions.
4/8/12
HOLLEY
Chalk it up to good math
Students in Whitney Davis’ Math 7 class at Holley Middle School/High School needed a big surface to work on their Pythagorean Theorem word problems, so their teacher brought them outside and handed them sidewalk chalk.
They had to draw a picture, label the picture, then determine the missing side using the Pythagorean Theorem.
“Sometimes it is easier to answer a word problem when you have a big workspace,” said Davis. “Also, we were doing real life scenarios, so I thought that if the students were surrounded by objects in the word problems, they could picture them better.”
Shown here are Makenzie Ferranti (left) and Taylor Kimmerly.
Provided photo
4/8/12
KENDALL
Sounds of the Caribbean fill Kendall auditorium
Sixth-grader Jeremy Browe helps to fill the Kendall Elementary auditorium with the melodic sounds of steel drums. Provided photoKendall Elementary School students and staff were transported to the Caribbean through music for a week during March. “Sounds of the Caribbean” is one of many residencies and programs available through Project ADEPT, part of Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES.
Ted Canning, a music professional with a background in West African percussion, Afro-Caribbean percussion, and Trinidadian Steel Drum, led the residency. Canning helped students to understand that socio-political situations in the world can be the catalyst for major change - in this instance, the evolution from hand drumming to precision instruments.
Twenty-three students were under the direction of Ted Canning during the Project ADEPT week-long residency "Sounds of the Caribbean." Provided photoIn classroom sessions, all students learned basic chords and how to play the steel drums. A target group of students was also selected for in-depth drum study throughout the week. To end the week in style, the target group and Canning performed two Caribbean concerts for their peers.
Provided information
4/8/12
OBITUARIES - WEEK OF APRIL 8, 2012
BROCKPORT
•Brawn, William L., Died March 31, 2012 at age 84. He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce of 56 years; sons, William (Janet) Brawn, Thomas (Renee) Brawn, Robert (Vicki) Brawn; grandchildren Jennifer (Dan) Alley, Katie Brawn, Robert and Richard McCubbin, Ashley and Adam Brawn, Danielle and Eric Brawn; one great grandson Matthew Alley.
A Memorial Service was held April 5 at the Concordia Lutheran Church, Brockport. Interment at the convenience of the family. Contributions can be made to Lakeside Memorial Hospital, 156 West Avenue, Brockport in his memory.
•Quarantello, Beverly S., Peacefully, March 31, 2012 at age 79. Predeceased by her husband Arthur. She is survived by her children, Randall (Kathi), Steven (Anita), Julie DeSoto (John Totter); grandchildren, Lena, Michael, Priscilla and Jessica; several great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Mass will be held Wednesday, April 11 at St. Mary’s Church, 11 South Main Street, Holley. Interment, Hillside Cemetery, Holley. Contributions can be made to the American Cancer Society in her memory.
•Wright, Lorraine M., Died April 1, 2012 at age 72. Predeceased by daughters, Deborah Marie and Marlene Patricia. She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Jim; children, Maureen (Fred), Kathleen, James M. (Elizabeth), Colleen, Michael (Susan), Timothy (Denise); 15 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; sister, Diane Boney; brother, Donald (June) Schweizer; many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Lorraine’s life was held April 5 at New Comer Funeral Home, Greece. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society in her memory.
CHILI
•Powers, James J., March 30, 2012, age 85. Predeceased by his parents, Dewey and Isobelle; and sister, Peggy. Survived by his wife, Kathleen; children, Casey (AnnMarie) Powers, Kirsten Luedke, Karen (Rich) Vargo and Peter (Tracy) Luedke; grandchildren, Katie, Kristine, Trevor, Michael and Ryan; brother, Roderick (Linda) Powers; several nieces and nephews. James was the Chili Town Supervisor for 14 years, also a Town Councilman for 14 years, Vice Principal in the City School District, member of Chili American Legion Post 1830 and VFW Post 412.
Funeral Services were held April 3 at the Leo M. Bean and Sons Funeral Home, Chili. Interment, Westside Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the Chili American Legion or Chili Fire Department/Ambulance in his memory.
CHURCHVILLE
•Clark, Ervin V. Jr. “Clarkie,” Died March 29, 2012 surrounded by his loving family. Survived by his devoted wife of 52 years, Sandra; his two sons, Stephen, Peter (Karen); his grandchildren, Christopher M. Chloe, Christopher G., Heather, Jakob, Hunter, Trina and Ethan.
Due to Ervin’s wishes there will be no Memorial Service. There will be a gathering of friends and family to celebrate his life at a later date. Contributions can be made to the Wilmot Cancer Center at Strong Memorial Hospital in his memory.
HAMLIN
•Miller, Rose F., March 28, 2012. She was predeceased by her husband, George J. Miller. She is survived by a son, George G. Miller; daughters, Patricia Miller and Laurie (Edward) Hards; grandchildren, Melissa, Daniel, Bryan and Justin Hards. She was predeceased by several brothers and sisters.
Funeral Services were held April 3 at the Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Hilton. Interment, Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Brockport. Donations can be made to Hamlin Bread and Thread, P.O. Box 160, Hamlin 14464 in her memory.
•Parsons, Merldean L., March 28, 2012 at age 84. She is predeceased by her husband, Floyd. Survived by her children, Diana (Carl) West, Mike Parsons and Brian (Patty) Parsons; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Merldean’s Services will be held at a later date in West Virginia. Contributions can be made to the Bill Parsons Foundation, Route 5, P.O. Box 547, Cameron, West Virginia 26033 in her memory.
HILTON
•Mattos, Joseph, On March 28, 2012. He is survived by his children, Aimee Jo Nicholson, Joseph Rio Mattos and Joseph Lynn Mattos; his parents, Joseph and Dora Mattos; brothers, David and John Mattos; sisters, Gwen Kielblock, Mary Tiemeyer, Rose Riley, Elizabeth Cooper and Celeste Corkin; his beloved Judy Weatherholt and her two children Daniel and Robert Weatherholt; seven grandchildren.
A Memorial Service was held April 1 at Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Hilton. Interment in Arizona. Donations can be made to the United Way in his memory.
•Swank, Mark Sherwood, On March 29, 2012. He is predeceased by his parents, Shirley and Joseph Swank. He is survived by his loving sister, Tammy Swank; aunt, Grace Lawrenson; beloved friends. Mark will always be remembered for his wit, insight and compassion.
His Funeral Service was held April 5 at Vay-Schleich & Meeson Funeral Home, Hilton. Private interment.
NORTH CHILI
•Purdy, Marion, On March 25, 2012. Predeceased by her husband, Robert E. She is survived by two daughters, Joyce (Laurence) Kise, Barbara (Michael) Kania; four grandchildren, Michael II Kania, Michelle (Jeffrey) Ingham, Matthew (Kate) Kania, Marshal (Melissa) Kania; two great-grandsons, Corey and Connor Ingham; several nieces and nephews; special cousin, Lois Carter; dear friend, Carole Rath.
Private Services and Interment. Contributions can be made to Ronald McDonald House in her memory.
SPENCERPORT
•Hastreiter, Sue Ann, On March 29, 2012 at age 71, after a brief battle with cancer. She was predeceased by her sister and brothers-in-law, Clara (Thomas) McCarthy and Albert Hinkle. Sue Ann is survived by her husband of 35 years, Jacob “Jake” Hastreiter; sister-in-law, Margaret Hinkle; brother-in-law, William (Caroline) Hastreiter; her dear nieces and nephews, Alice (Danny) Lombardo, Kathleen (Neil) Kirby, Karen (Eric) Schmidt, Mary Ann (Renan) Mogollon, Michael (Sumiko) Hinkle, Kristine (David Santilli) Hastreiter, Kathryn (Scott) Taylor, Keith (Janice) Hastreiter and their families.
A Celebration of her life will be held privately. Contributions can be made to Lollypop Farm, American Cancer Society or to a charity of one’s choice in her memory.
•Knab, Evelyn M., Peacefully on March 30, 2012. Predeceased by Wilson C. Knab, her loving husband of 58 years and her son-in-law, James Hoy. She is survived by sons, Richard (Linda) of Spencerport, Ronald (Miranda) of Leesburg, Florida, James (Ena) Knab of North Ft. Myers, Florida and daughter, Shirley Hoy of Leesburg, Florida; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; five great-great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
Services and interment private at the convenience of the family. Donations can be made to Wedgewood Nursing Home, 5 Church Street, Spencerport, NY 14559 in her memory.
ARCHIVES - WEEK OF APRIL 1, 2012
LOCAL NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 1, 2012
Brockport named Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation
The Arbor Day Foundation has announced that Brockport was named a Tree City USA community for its commitment to urban forestry.
It is the 4th year Brockport has earned this national honor from the Arbor Day Foundation, the nation’s largest non profit organization dedicated to planting trees.
“We all benefit when communities like Brockport place a high priority on planting and caring for trees, one of our nation’s most beautiful resources,” said John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Trees shade our homes and add beauty to our neighborhoods, and they also provide many environmental, economic and social benefits. We applaud Brockport’s elected officials, volunteers and citizens for providing vital care for its urban forest.”
The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service.
Brockport has met the four standards to become a Tree City USA community. Tree City USA communities must have a tree board or department, a tree-care ordinance, a community forestry program with annual expenditures of at least $2 per capita and an Arbor Day observance and proclamation.
Communities that earn Tree City USA recognition not only have taken the time to meet the four standards, they know that trees:
•Promote healthier communities by filtering the air we breathe by removing dust and other particles.
•Moderate climate, conserve water and provide vital habitat for wildlife.
•Reduce the heat island effect in urban areas caused by pavement and buildings.
•Reduce energy use and increase property values.
Other information about Tree City USA can be found at www.arborday.org/Tree -City USA.
Provided information
4/1/12
Village of Brockport Proclamation
Whereas, natural areas, trees, and landscapes provide not only community beautification but also economic and environmental benefits; and
Whereas, trees provide many benefits to the community, including air purification, windbreaks, noise reduction, shade and energy savings; and
Whereas, planting trees and maintaining older trees provides an opportunity for community interaction, volunteerism, economic development, and environmental conservation; and
Whereas, our efforts to improve the environment benefit present and future generations; and
Whereas, Arbor Day in the Village of Brockport is held each April;
Be it Therefore resolved, that I, Maria Connie Castaneda, Mayor of the Village of Brockport do hereby proclaim April 27, 2012 as Arbor Day in the Village of Brockport and encourage all our citizens to participate in appropriate activities and to take advantage of the benefits of the parks and other natural areas in our community.
Provided information
4/1/12
New Brockport treasurer appointed
Smith Street bridge reopens to vehicular traffic
by Kristina Gabalski
Brockport Village Board members have officially re-opened the Smith Street Bridge over the Erie Canal.
The board made the decision during its regular meeting March 27. The span was closed for the winter in December in hopes that the seasonal shut-down would prolong its life.
But the mayor and other trustees now say the bridge needs to remain open year-round for the convenience of village residents, particularly those on the village’s northwest side.
“We had flower-gate and then we had bridge-gate,” Trustee Scott Hunsinger said, “I think I have a solution that will leave the bridge open year-round.”
Hunsinger noted the bridge is not salted in the winter and other municipalities leave their bridges open year-round. He said residual salt that might build up from cars could be hosed-off the bridge in the spring by the village Department of Public Works.
“I couldn’t agree with you more,” Mayor Connie Castaneda told Trustee Hunsinger. “The bridge needs to be open year-round.”
DPW Superintendent Harry Donahue said the DPW would be able to do the bridge cleaning and that because the bridge has an open deck, salt does not readily build-up on its surface.
Trustee Margaret Blackman asked to table the decision. “I would love to see it open all year,” she said of the bridge, “but I need more information.”
Trustees agreed to officially re-open the bridge now and then re-visit the issue later in the season to make a final decision on whether the span will remain open during the winter months.
Also during the March 27 meeting, Mayor Castaneda appointed Daniel Hendricks to serve as village treasurer to 6/30/13. Hendricks will complete the term of Michael Giardino who has resigned the post to become the new director of the Greater Rochester International Airport.
Hendricks attended the March 27 meeting and said he is excited about, “the opportunity to help the Village of Brockport.” He said his background is as a school business official.
Castaneda said Hendricks would begin immediately and would work on a part-time basis, saving the village $11,200.
Trustees also voted 4-1 to adopt a local law to override the tax levy limit. Mayor Castaneda cast the only no vote.
No one spoke during a public hearing held before the vote.
Trustee Kent Blair said trustees were not recommending that the village override the tax cap, but that the measure was “a safeguard in case something happened that was unforeseen.”
Trustee Blackman agreed, “None of us have any intention of overriding the two percent tax cap,” she said.
4/1/12
Code violation cases heard in Sweden Court
by Kristina Gabalski
The defense attorney for Brockport Mayor Connie Castaneda says charges brought against his client following a Brockport Police Department investigation are a “political hatchet job to retaliate for (the) position that she is taking on behalf of her constituents.”
Mayor Castaneda pleaded not guilty in Sweden Town Court March 26 to 16 misdemeanor charges stemming from alleged violations of village and state codes regarding rental properties.
Mayor Castaneda’s attorney, Donald Thompson, spoke following the court appearance. He said Police Chief Daniel Varrenti is retaliating against the mayor who has proposed cuts to the police department. He said there were no code violations at the mayor’s home and that “there’s also official misconduct charged here, which is one of the most transparently lame charges I’ve ever seen brought.”
Mayor Castaneda allegedly illegally rented out rooms in her home to college students. She also faces two counts of falsifying business records for allegedly failing to file a required rental registration statement and certificate of occupancy application.
Included in court documents are statements students at The College at Brockport made to Brockport police as part of their investigation, which was conducted with the Brockport Code Enforcement Office, the Monroe County District Attorney’s Office and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. The students were tenants of Castaneda’s and said they were told by the mayor not to park on her property and to say they were cousins visiting from out of town if questioned about why they were at the mayor’s house.
Thompson says he questions the way in which the charges were lodged and that he will “speak to the D.A.’s office (regarding) apparent impropriety on the part of the complainant.”
Norman Giancursio also pleaded not guilty March 26 to a charge of reckless endangerment. The charge stems from a fire at the mayor’s home in March 2011, when Giancursio allegedly told a tenant not to leave the home to keep authorities from finding out about the rental set-up.
His lawyer, Lawrence Kasperek, said there is no evidence to suggest anyone was in danger or at risk. He said the charges against Giancursio are “unfounded and not based on facts.”
Kasperek said it is his position that the charges are of a “political nature” and that the “D.A. should remove (the case) from the Town of Sweden Court and refer it to a grand jury (which would then) conduct an investigation.”
Both Castaneda and Giancursio were released on their own recognizance and are tentatively scheduled to return to court May 9.
The mayor has said she will not resign.
Police Chief Daniel Varrenti has stated that the charges will speak for themselves.
During the February 28 regular meeting of the Brockport Village Board, Chief Varrenti stated during his report that “the village code in this village is looked upon as a mockery - nobody is above the law in the Village of Brockport.”
Brockport residents had their first opportunity March 27 to comment to members of the Village Board since Mayor Connie Castaneda was charged with official misconduct.
Several residents spoke during the public comment portion of the board’s regular meeting.
Linda Ketchum told the board that the mayor is, “... not fulfilling her duties to the residents of Brockport. Mayor, you should step down,” she said.
John Cohen also called for the mayor’s resignation. He said the mayor is, “... claiming innocence ..... claiming political payback,” but, “...the appearance of conflict of interest is a conflict of interest... the mayor punishes the people of Brockport by staying in office.”
Gail Martin, who lives just outside the village, said she supports the mayor and noted that the unrest in the village, “... affects all of us.” She said none of the trustees support the mayor, “... and we see it and it disturbs us greatly.... I don’t like how you guys run (the village) at all,” she told the board.
Village resident Rhett King told board members, “... you should be ashamed of yourselves and how you treat the Brockport taxpayers. You keep bashing the mayor when you are the real distraction here.” He called Brockport the, “laughing stock of Monroe County” and added that Brockport taxpayers pay the highest taxes in the county and have the highest paid police force in Monroe County (in salary and overtime). “Fifty percent of the police force is making over $100,000,” King said.
During his report, Police Chief Daniel Varrenti refuted King’s comments, saying the Brockport Police Department is smaller than The College at Brockport campus police department.
“We once had 14 full-time officers, now we have 12.... we once had eight part-time officers, now we have three,” Chief Varrenti said.
He said the department has spent under $100,000 in overtime during the current fiscal year, a figure he says is significantly less than in past years.
“Brockport Police Department members are some of the best police officers I’ve worked with in my career,” Chief Varrenti said.
4/1/12
Rt. 259 Canal Bridge in Spencerport to be repaired starting Tuesday, April 3
Bridge will be closed for approximately four weeks
The Route 259 (Union Street) Lift Bridge over the Erie Canal in the Village of Spencerport, will undergo repairs for approximately four weeks beginning Tuesday, April 3 though April 30.
A detour will be posted directing northbound motorists to take Route 31 west to Route 260 (Sweden-Walker Road), north to Route 104, east back to Route 259. The reverse will be posted for southbound motorists. The adjacent Martha Street single-lane bridge over the Erie Canal will have temporary signals for local village traffic. The bridge is posted for a maximum of 18 tons. All heavy traffic is to follow the detour.
Repairs will consist of replacing a portion of concrete-filled deck panels and supporting steel at the north end of the truss span. The joints at both ends of the bridge will also be replaced. The sidewalks on the bridge will remain open to pedestrians during the majority of the closure.
Provided information
4/1/12
Brockport Lions Club introduces its newest member at the March 7 dinner meeting. Past District Governor Greg Lund (right) led the induction ceremony for Jim DeTar (center) accompanied by his sponsor Lion Allyn Hammel. Jim DeTar joins a group 45 area men and women dedicated to community service and Lions Club International, the largest service organization in the world. For information contact Greg Lund at Lunddargreg@aol.com or 964-2774.
Provided photo
4/1/12
Aurora House benefit dinner sets “A Starry Night in Hollywood” stage
Organizers invite area residents to find the glamorous movie star within at the fifth annual Starry Night Benefit Dinner for Aurora House on Friday, April 27 at The Plantation Party House in Spencerport. From the red carpet and paparazzi who great you at the door to a buffet and dancing, participants will imagine that they are partying in Hollywood, rubbing elbows with celebraties.
Dance-inspiring jazz musicians Touch of Brass will perform, along with Spencerport High School’s Vocal Jazz led by Alan Jones. A silent auction and balloon pop raffle are also planned. Tickets for the Aurora House Starry Night Benefit Dinner are $40 per person, $75 per couple, and $35 for groups of ten or more. Reservations are required and tickets are available at Fowler’s Wine & Spirits on South Union Street, Spencerport, www.aurorahousewmc.com, or by contacting Ro at 392-9198 or Norma at 352-0581.
Hollywood guests are encouraged to dress as their favorite movie star. A Silent Auction offers gift baskets, wine, restaurant experiences, evening out packages, quilts, and other enticing items. Tickets to the Nora Jones Jazz Fest concert, an escape weekend to Niagara-on-the-Lake, and two Jet Blue tickets to any destination they serve will also be auctioned.
Aurora House opened in September 2009 in the town of Ogden. The two-bed facility provides the “hospice” philosophy of care. Residents are referred to Aurora House by a hospice agency when they are diagnosed to have three months or less to live. Nursing staff and volunteer support is available around the clock, allowing family members some respite while knowing that their loved one is receiving care. Families feel the comforts of home and can assist with care as much or as little as they wish. As a non profit organization, volunteers are the cornerstones of the great work of this mission.
Find more information about Aurora House at www.aurorahousewmc.com.
Provided information
4/1/12
FEATURE STORIES - WEEK OF APRIL 1, 2012
Oodles of ’doodles come in for a visit
Pups on the bench waiting for their office call -- The lineup! It was a hilarious madhouse with four people placing these puppies on the bench in the veterinarian's office waiting area and trying to line them up and keep them facing forward and staying in place and 'smiling' and standing them up and ... BUT, not one of them barked! The fun began when three cars drove up to Dr. William J. Falcheck’s The Country Veterinarian office Monday afternoon March 26. Seven people got out of the cars holding puppies and pet carriers in what was to be a litter check of 13 Goldendoodle puppies. (A Goldendoodle is the offspring of a Golden Retriever and a Standard Poodle). The puppies belong to Rick and Tammy Maier, from Spencerport, and this was their pups’ first check up; being six weeks old. Eight are males and five are females; eight are cream colored and five are black. The mother, Wellesley, owned by Rick and Tammy Maier, is a black Goldendoodle and the father, Mack, owned by Bob and Joann Maier, is a white goldendoodle. Bob is Rick’s brother.
Hayley Maier, Rick and Tammy's daughter, holds Clayton and Tiger aloft; they were the smallest and biggest pups in the litter.
Dr. William Falcheck may be perplexed: Where is the phone? Who littered his desk? Does he need a desk organizer? In reality, Dr. Falcheck was amused by the antics of 13 puppies placed on his receptionist's desk for this photograph. It was the Goldendoodle puppies' first visit to the veterinarian for a check up. He said this litter was the largest he had seen since the 1980s. The baker's dozen of canines was born February 13.At the clinic, Rick laughingly chided his brother Bob, saying: “To this day the father of the puppies has not offered child support!” Otherwise, there was just a little pandemonium as everyone got set for taking pictures, with Dr. Falcheck joining in on the fun.
Tammy Maier said it was very unusual for their dog to deliver 13 puppies; usually the litter is 6 to 8. She stated: “Dr. Falcheck had seen both of the parents of the puppies and said that they were perfect for breeding so we went ahead with it.” Rick added: “They are definitely a lot of work!” So far, Rick and Tammy plan to sell the litter, (two are already sold and one is spoken for) and Bob’s wife and three children are interested in claiming one of the pups. Bob’s comment: “I’m thinking about it!”
Rick and Tammy Maier are the proud owners of the 13 Goldendoodle puppies that were benched for a short time for this photo while waiting for their first veterinary check up by Dr. Falcheck.
Photographs and text by Walter Horylev
4/1/12
A breakfast group becomes an art group
A group of professional artist friends who gather once a week for breakfast decided to become the Artemis Art Group and to have their first exhibit as a new group at A Different Path Gallery. The Artemis Art Group invites the general public to view the exhibit titled “Sands of Time.” The artwork ranges from watercolors, to acrylic painting, mixed media, poetry, photography and digital images. The artists are: Liz Britton-Barry, Kathy Clem, Marilyn Gillespie, Phyllis Hackleman, Mary Lou Swicklik, Martha Schermerhorn and Sherry Tulloch. An anthology of poems written by the artists will be given free to the public attending the reception. The artists will be available to talk and answer questions about their work.
A reception is scheduled for Friday, April 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. The exhibit began March 30 and runs through April 28 at A Different Path Gallery, 27 Market Street, Brockport, (585) 637-5494. Gallery hours are Wednesday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.
Provided information
4/1/12
Brockport hosts Rotary District 7120 Oratorical Contest
District 7120 Governor Norma Madayag-Reilly (Newark Rotary Club), is shown with contest winners: Matthew Skinner (1st), Gracie Elliott (2nd), Blaithe Donovan (3rd), Ivana Hernandez (4th), JoAnna Northrop (5th), and Oratorical Chair, Past District Governor Jeff Krans of Penn Yan Rotary. Provided photoThe College at Brockport provided the location for a second year and Brockport Rotary provided much of the contest support staff: Mary Jo Orzech (a judge), Fred and Pam Kimmel (timers), Lori D’Angelo and Kristen Acquilano (escorts) and Pat Baker (photographer) for the district’s Oretorical Contest. The contest was originated by Jeff Krans (PDG) with input from Eric Parker (PDG) seven years ago. It provides talented high school students the opportunity to compete for over $160,000 in scholarships offered by local colleges and universities. District 7120 extends from near Syracuse westward through Monroe County and south to the Pennsylvania line including over 60 Rotary clubs in its area.
Jeff Krans (PDG) is shown with Mary Jo Orzech, a contest judge, director of the College's Drake Library and a past president of Brockport Rotary. Provided photo.Ivana Hernandez, 4th place winner, is a Greece Central School District student who was nominated by the Rochester Latino Rotary Club. Ivana was one of 134 students who each wrote a 5-7 minute essay on Rotary’s four-way test. They each presented at one of 31 semifinals whose winners moved on to the finals. This year, the five winners selected were within a 32 point spread (out of 500 points).
Rotary’s 4-Way Test of the things which are said, thought and done provides an ethical goal that Rotarians strive to reach. The following questions were at the core of each students speech. Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build good will and better relationships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Provided information
4/1/12
A desperate need for chemo caps was answered by the knitting/crochet group from Amelia’s Fabric and Yarn in Hilton.
65 hats were donated by Marcia Mosele and Barbara Datz to Kristie Vail of Strong Oncology during a recent knitting get-together at the Hamlin Public Library.
To donate, knitted and crochet chemo caps can be dropped off at Amelia’s Fabric and Yarn, 7 Upton Street, Hilton or on the fourth Tuesday of the month at the Hamlin Public Library knitting help night.
4/1/12
BUM Players to present “Dear Delinquent”
The local community-theater group, the BUM Players, are putting the finishing touches on their 16th annual dessert-theater comedy. “Dear Delinquent,” by Jack Popplewell, a British play presented in two acts with permission from Dramatists Play Service Inc., will be performed in the Brockport United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall, where both rehearsals and stage construction are well under way, on April 20, 21, 27 and 28 at 7:30 p.m. each night. Desserts and beverages will be available during intermission and are included in the cost of the tickets. This play will be directed by David Hansen, assisted by another veteran of the group, John “Mack” McCarthy.
Mike Wild, new to the BUM Players, but a recent veteran of several College at Brockport productions and the founder of Flower City Improv, plays the male lead, David Warren. Other cast members include Steve Richardson, Marcy Miceli, Cynthia Hansen, Anne Towsley, Charles Edwards, Turk Thomas and Dave Odrzywolski.
Lexie MacLarty, another BUM Player vet, will serve as stage manager and Debbie Thomas and Kathy Klump will serve as dessert coordinators. Tickets are available in the Church Office 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, or at the door the nights of the show. Tickets may also be reserved by phoning the church office at 637-4240 or by calling 261-7381. Tickets are $7 general admission; $5 seniors (age 65+); and $15 per one-family household.
Provided information
4/1/12
3rd Annual Easter Food Hunt at BUUF; tradition with a twist
The children of the Brockport Unitarian Universalist Fellowship are once again putting a new twist on the traditional Easter Egg Hunt. Instead of hiding eggs, on Sunday, April 8, they will be hiding non-perishable food, baby items, cleaning and toiletry items. After the 10 a.m. service, the adults will peek around bushes and search the yard to retrieve items bound for the Brockport Ecumenical Food Shelf. All are invited to donate food, attend worship, participate in the Food Hunt and/or gather for refreshments after.
Guest speaker and Credentialed Religious Educator Karen LoBracco will be preaching on “Saving Paradise” challenging attendees to embrace the philosophy of the first thousand years of Christianity which emphasized creating heaven on earth.
The Brockport Unitarian Universalist Fellowship meets for worship and children’s programs at 10 a.m. at the historic Garland Church, 3723 Sweden Walker Road (near Route 104), Brockport. More information can be found at www.brockportuu.org or by contacting Rev. Peggy Meeker at 585-224-6312.
Provided information
4/1/12
Blessing of Easter Baskets at St. John’s Church
St. John the Evangelist Church of Spencerport will hold its annual Blessing of the Easter Baskets on Saturday, April 7, at 3 p.m. Weather permitting, the service will be held outside; otherwise, it will take place in the school.
According to the Polish tradition of Swieconka (pronounced “shvyehn-SOHN-kah”), each food to be blessed in the basket symbolizes an aspect of the Easter story. The elaborately decorated eggs called Pisanki, for example, represent hope and new life. The molded butter lamb and its red banner represent Jesus and the victory of life over death. Other traditional basket items include bread and cakes, kielbasa, ham or other cured meats, salt and horseradish. (The horseradish is meant to represent the bitter herbs of the original Passover meal, which also foretold the sufferings of Jesus).
While there are many regional variations on the contents and their meanings, the foods are almost always placed in a lined wicker basket and covered with a white linen cloth. The basket is then decorated with sprigs of boxwood, forsythia or pussy willows. On Holy Saturday, families bring their baskets to church to be blessed, and then share the foods with loved ones at their Easter Sunday celebration.
All are welcome to bring their baskets and share in this special Easter blessing.
4/1/12
Brockport resident among those honored at Lifespan’s Celebration of Aging Luncheon
Lifespan recently recognized the volunteer efforts of Brockport resident Dianne Hickerson. Provided photoLifespan hosted its 16th Celebration of Aging luncheon on Tuesday, March 27, at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center with 1,250 people attending. Lifespan is an organization dedicated to helping older adults take on both the challenges and opportunities of the second half of life. This year’s guest speaker was Diana Nyad, 62, who is attempting to swim 103 miles between Cuba and Florida this summer.
The annual event focuses attention on older adults who are breaking stereotypical myths about aging by “taking it on” in the second half of life, calling them “Second Half Heroes.” At the luncheon, Lifespan honored five local older adults who pursued a personal dream or developed a new passion after age 60.
Brockport resident Dianne Hickerson was honored along with residents from Irondequoit, Greece, and two from Rochester. She was selected as a nominee based on several areas of activity.
•Award-winning artist: At age 55, Dianne retired from a 33-year career as an elementary school teacher at Brockport Central School. Just before retirement in 1996, she began studying watercolor painting. It was her life-long dream to seriously pursue the art when the time demands of a career were over.
She is now a nationally recognized award-winning artist with her work having appeared in juried shows in New York City, Louisville, Toronto, Chicago, Buffalo, Minneapolis, and the Adirondack National Exhibition of American Watercolors in Old Forge, NY. She is a signature member of the Transparent Watercolor Society of America and of the Rochester Art Club. Her work has appeared in several national art magazines and books.
•Visits with the aging: For six years, Dianne and her therapy dog “Mikey” have been visiting the Lakeside Beikirch Care Center in Brockport every Monday morning. Mikey is a seven-year-old Goldendoodle certified by Therapy Dogs International. Last year, he received their “Remarkable Volunteer Award” for 250 service hours.
•Braille teaching/transcribing: Dianne took a Braille transcribing course in 2008-2009 at the all-volunteer Spencerport Lions Braille Service. In June 2009, she was certified in literary Braille transcribing by the Library of Congress, and taught Braille transcription the following year. Braille transcribes the English language into raised dots on a page for blind people to read with their fingertips. Dianne has transcribed the Best Seller book The Shack which is now in the Braille library of Rochester’s ABVI. She does Braille transcribing with her colleagues every Thursday.
•Avid downhill skier: For over 30 years, in an annual week-long trip every year with friends, she has skied almost every resort in the United States, including Alaska, Canada and the Alps. She skis at Bristol Mountain regularly.
Dianne is a lifelong resident of Brockport. Her home and studio are in the Town of Sweden.
She is married to freelance writer Doug Hickerson. They have four children and nine grandchildren.
Provided Information
4/1/12
Easter Bunny visits Parma children
The Easter Bunny makes his entrance and is warmly welcomed. Provided photo
On Saturday, March 24, Hilton-Parma Recreation hosted its 3rd Annual Breakfast with the Easter Bunny at the Village Community Center. Families in attendance enjoyed a sausage and pancake breakfast, sponsored in part by the Hilton McDonald’s. The Easter Bunny made his appearance and joined over 40 children in the gym to take pictures and play Easter games, which were supervised by Recreation and Leisure students from The College at Brockport. Two large candy and toy-filled baskets were raffled off and won by Gracie-Rae Iorio, age 6, and Alex Morreale, age 8. Every boy and girl went home with a basket full of prize-filled eggs.
Provided information
4/1/12
Chili celebrates 190th “Will the Meeting Come to Order”
It was April 2. The year was 1822. And something new and ground-breaking was about to happen in the Town of Chili. By an act of the New York State Legislature six weeks prior, Chili was separated from the Town of Riga (Chili was known previously as East Riga and also Hanover). Now it was its own entity. On this particular spring day, residents were responding to the invitation to convene for their very first town board meeting. They were arriving at James Coleman’s house in Buckbees Corner which was situated in the northwest corner of Braddocks Road (Union Street) and Chili Road (Chili Avenue). This was catty-corner across the street from the present day Byrne’s Dairy.
The hour was 9:00 in the morning. This was good because it gave the farmers a chance to do their early morning chores. This was not just any meeting but the first “official” assembling of a brand new government. However, getting to Coleman’s house proved to be most difficult. This spring, the torrential rains and the melting snows of a brutal winter rendered many pathways nearly impassible. No bridge existed over Black Creek at Union Street, which meant that wagons and horses had to ford the creek. The settlers in South Chili and the Clifton area either had to have the fortitude to challenge a raging creek or find other trails. And it was no better in North Chili where the marshy wetlands near Campbells’ Corner (by the Olde Stagecoach Inn on Buffalo Road) deceived travelers because the water spread over such a wide area. They must have wondered, “Just where is the road?” Likewise, the swirling current of Mill Creek to the east gave pause to those who needed to travel. And yet, even with Mother Nature calling the shots, a great many residents, imbued with true Yankee spirit, prevailed.
Coleman’s voice barked, “This meeting will come to order!” His house also served as a tavern and had a few more chairs than usual so the group found seats, but most stood.
“We’re here to elect a supervisor, an assessor, a constable and highway overseers or pathmasters,” he continued. “Who do you want as your supervisor?”
The man who seemed to suit most was Joseph Sibley, a distinguished gentleman and a prosperous mill owner. Later on he would build a gracious cobblestone house near his mill on Stuart Road. The Dillenbecks own this prestigious home today. Joseph Sibley was elected Chili’s first supervisor.
The constable’s position was quickly filled. Though his name has faded into history, the account revealed that the residents wanted a large imposing man who could command respect from any whose deeds were suspect. His house needed a “secure” room which would hold the miscreant until trial by a visiting judge. It was a position of power beyond what we expect from a peace officer today, but one that the community seem to appreciate.
Next came the positions which held the most individual responsibility. Chili was divided into 31 districts of roads and bridges. Each pathmaster or highway overseer had to maintain roadways by keeping them as clear as possible. If a bridge fell apart, the person in charge was heavily fined and his reputation could suffer. Being a pathmaster was a position of honor but it could also bring shame if that person was derelict in duty. Roads in the 1800s were rugged and rough. But to be able to keep one smooth and navigable was a credit to one’s name.
District # 1 was Joseph Morgan’s territory near Scottsville Road. Morgan was the first settler in Chili in the late 1790s. Captain John Wetmore who fought in the War of 1812, and financed the Olde Stagecoach Inn in North Chili, made sure those roadways were acceptable. That is, unless stormy spring rains and melting snow pack caused ruts so deep that wheels could crumble and disappear. The groaning of the horses was a testimony that not enough attention was given to road surfaces. Another captain in the War of 1812 was Elias Streeter who maintained District # 17 around his home on Union Street in south Chili near Morgan Road. His house still stands today as a museum - Streeter’s Inn.
Pathmasters knew they had to answer to their neighbors. Grain had to get to mills, supplies had to be transported, midwives needed to get to the new mother and teachers needed to get to their charges. And of course, Aunt Harriet wanted to hitch Ole Dobbin to the buckboard so she could travel to wherever the centers of gossip and family news were.
When the meeting finally was concluded, did those hearty souls depart for home sensing that this had been a momentous and historic event on April 2, 1822, a springboard for a new town called Chili? Or were they just anxious to get back to running the farms and providing for their families? No record exists that gives us a clue. Perhaps it was a mixture of both.
Provided by Bonnie Moore
Chili Town Historian
4/1/12
SPORTS NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 1, 2012
AREA
The College at Brockport Women’s Gymnastics team finished in a tie for first-place at the 2012 National Collegiate Gymnastics Association (NCGA) National Championships with the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
It is the first time in school history the Golden Eagles have been named National Champions and the first time in the history of the NCGA that there has been co-national champions. The Golden Eagles finished with a team-score of 188.050.
It is also the first National Championship for UW-Whitewater as well.
Brockport’s top performance as a team came when they needed it most. In their last event, the Golden Eagles took to the balance beam and scored a 47.900, the top score at the meet and second-best score in school history.
4/1/12
Turkey callers invited
Hilton-Parma Recreation Department hosts a free turkey calling presentation for youth and adults on Wednesday, April 18 from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at the Village Community Center in Hilton. This presentation will explore the world of successful turkey calling prior to the spring season which opens at the end of April.
Guest speaker Michael Furia will lead the interactive discussion. For information and to pre-register, call Hilton-Parma Recreation at 392-9030. Pre-registration is required so proper arrangements can be handled.
Provided information
4/1/12
Jeremy Lin selected as the Hickok Belt™ Award Winner for February
The “Linsanity” surrounding Jeremy Lin continues as the New York Knicks point guard was selected as the Hickok Belt Award winner for the month of February. Voting was conducted by a select national panel of members of the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association (NSSA). Lin was selected based on his breakout performance in February in which he came off the bench to lead the injury-riddled Knicks to a 10-5 record for the month. During that stretch, Lin averaged 35.1 minutes, 20.9 points and 8.4 assists while shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 32.5 percent from three point range. That stretch included a career-high 38 points on February 10 versus Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers.
Other finalists for the month of February in order of how the NSSA voters ranked them included: Eli Manning (Hickok Belt Award winner for January), Matt Kenseth, Kevin Durant, Phil Mickelson, Henrik Lundqvist, Kobe Bryant, Steven Stamkos, Roger Federer and Marcel Hirscher.
Jeremy Lin’s selection as the Hickok Belt Award winner for February not only recognizes him as “the best of the best” in professional sports for the month, it also marks another milestone in the return of the award given to the top professional athlete across all sports. As a monthly recipient, Lin becomes the second of twelve finalist for the overall annual award, joining Eli Manning who was selected the Hickok Belt Ward winner for January 2012. Winners as selected by the NSSA will be announced each month throughout 2012. The overall winner will then be announced in early 2013, as the Hickok Belt Award, the crown jewel of sports, will be presented for the first time in over 36 years.
Provided information
4/1/12
Sage’s Beikirch sweeps weekly softball honors
Kristen BeikirchThe Sage Colleges’ softball rookie infielder Kristen Beikirch (Brockport/Brockport) swept player of the week honors with her latest selection as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Metro Co-Hitter of the Week. Also named the Skyline Conference Softball Co-Player of the Week the week of March 26, she leads the Gators this spring with her outstanding play.
Not only does Beikirch lead the Gators at the plate, but she also ranks No. 2 in all of Division III in batting average with her .544 average. The Skyline Conference’s Player of the Week for the second week in a row, she led the Gators to a 6-0 week. She batted .500, with 11 hits in 22 AB, including 3 HRs, 2 doubles and 8 RBIs. She also scored 9 runs, had 4 steals, a 1.000 slugging pct. and is now batting .544 on the season with a team-high 31 hits. She ranks 17th in the nation in on-base percentage (0.55) as well as 27th in Division III in slugging percentage as well with a .754 percent. She is also 91st in home runs (3.0).
In her short time at Sage, she has already reaped Skyline Conference Rookie of the Week honors and a pair of Skyline Conference Player of the Week selections as well as one ECAC citation.
Overall, the 2012 Gators are 14-4 overall, with a school record 11-game win streak. Sage is also 4-0 in the Skyline Conference and tied for first in the league.
4/1/12
The Master Lim’s Taekwondo Academy donated $548 to the Brockport Food Shelf. Shown from left, back row, James Pray from the Brockport Food Shelf, Stephanie Wisnowski, Chiron Holmes, Nick Daszczyszak, Nick Hackett, Dante Burandt, Master Lim; front row, from left, Nicolas Rugari, Jalisa Burandt, Ryan Holmes, Shaylin Earsing.
4/1/12
Tri-County Squirt House Hockey ends successful season
Pictured front to back, first row: Tucker Johnson; second row: Zachary Penrose, Corey Saj, Patrick Ricker, Grant Moy, Michael Holding, Damien Gamble, Matthew Saj; third row: Alexandra Forberg, Chase Froman, Mason Burdick, Rhett Wagner; fourth row: Coach Jake Froman, Head Coach Ron Ricker, Coach Jason Wagner, and Coach Bill Saj. Not pictured: Coach Jeff Forberg. Provided photo
The Tri-County Squirt B House hockey team led by Ron Ricker ended their league season 10-5-4. The overall record (including tournament play) was 15-10-6.
The team consists of players from our Tri-County area of Monroe and Orleans County. Their home ice is at The College at Brockport.
The team participated in the Wishbone Tournament hosted by Thomas Creek, the Don Vetter Tournament hosted by the Canandaigua Knights, and the David Bigalow Tournament hosted by our Tri-County Eagles.
Provided information
4/1/12
BROCKPORT
Jones receives Bill Corbin award
Corbin Award winner Brian Jones with Mrs. Pat Corbin. Provided photoOn March 11, at their annual banquet, the Brockport Basketball Boosters presented the Bill Corbin Award to Brian Jones for his years of dedication and service to the Brockport Basketball Program and the athletes of the Brockport School District.
Jones, a physical education teacher at the Brockport A.D. Oliver Middle School for 32 years, grew up in Brockport, graduating from Brockport High School in 1975. He continued his education at SUNY Cortland where he received a degree in physical education on 1979 and started his coaching career at Brockport Central Schools that same year. He received his master’s degree from The College at Brockport in Adapted Physical Education in 1989.
Jones coached boys modified basketball at Brockport for 15 years. After one year of retirement he returned to coaching in the girls basketball program for 16 more years as a freshman, JV coach and program assistant. During his career, his teams have won three Monroe County titles; two Section V titles and each year have won the Monroe County Scholar Athlete team award.
Jones was named Class A Section V Baseball Coach of the Year in 2002, the Monroe County Division I Coach of the year in 2002 and 2003 and received the New York State Coaches association honor award in 2002. In 2008 Town Supervisor Buddy Lester presented him with a community service award at the opening day of the Ed Nietopksi Field.
Over the years he coached and taught AAU basketball, Legion Baseball, Biddy Ball, Dribbling Devils, Safety Town and various summer camps and continues to teach New York State Hunter Safety education.
Jones said he is honored to receive the Corbin award.
“I have been fortunate to win a few awards throughout my coaching career,” said Jones. “We won most of them in baseball when we had very talented teams and won our league or sectionals. The Corbin Award is by far the greatest award I have ever received. It’s not about winning; it’s about being honored after a great man, coach, husband and probably most importantly, father. I took many lessons from Coach Corbin that I still use today. It has been a true honor to serve the Brockport Central School District for the past 32 years as a teacher and coach.”
Jones and his wife, Susan, have been married for 29 years. Their four children; Shane, Nathan, Kelly and Katie Sue, were all active in Brockport athletics.
Provided information
4/1/12
SCHOOL DISTRICT NEWS - WEEK OF APRIL 1, 2012
AREA
Student musicians perform at Monroe County Jazz Music Festival
These students performed at the Monroe County Jazz Music Festival held at Spencerport High School on March 3 and 4: Emma Andriatch, Maya Singh, Ed Rubenacker, JW Cook, Richie Cardiel, Ben Hare, Devin Johnston, Kwame Marah, Dan Scheda, Andrew Carter and Cory Albrecht. Teachers sponsoring the students for this festival were Joanne Zimmerman, Liz Banner, Shawn Halquist and Andy Stoker.
Provided photo
4/1/12
“Wake up Bear! Spring is here!”
The students and teachers of Ready, Set, Grow! Preschool woke up the bear they had put into hibernation last fall.
The celebration included pajama day, pancakes, and special activities.
Provided photo
4/1/12
BROCKPORT
Brockport CSD musicians perform in area All County music festivals
The following student musicians at Brockport Central School District participated in Senior High All County Music Festival at Gates Chili HS and the Eastman Theatre during the weekend of March 9 and 10: Marisa Allison, Toni Battista, Susi Chhibber, Patrick Diflorio, Monika Eggenberger, Jessica Emmerson, Jessica Feathers, Anna Fisher, Lyssa Fradella, Jennifer Gorman, Nate Guarnere, Alma Haddock, Devin Johnston, Kaitlyn Kennedy, Brittany Keyes, Liliya Kozyluk, Hannah Leach, Samuel Moe, Juan Padilla, Ed Rubenacker, Kathy Rubenacker, Rachael Smith, Tyler Sodoma, Amelia Vanduzee, Meaghan Wilson.
Provided photo
4/1/12
CHURCHVILLE-CHILI
C-C talent show to raise money for two families
The 13th annual Air Guitar/Senior High Talent Show will be held Friday, April 27 at 7 p.m. in the Churchville-Chili Middle School North Auditorium, 139 Fairbanks Road. The Air Guitar/Talent Show consists of bands, singers, guitarists, dancers, and much more. Ticket sales will be used to help the Yasol and Carr families with medical expenses in which each has a member who is battling cancer.
Donations to the effort can be accomplished by attending the show - all ticket proceeds go to the Yasol and Carr families. Donations can also be left at the Senior High Main Office on or before April 27 or mail a check made out to the “SH Executive Council” addressed to Churchville-Chili High School, Attn. Mary Cody, 5786 Buffalo Road, Churchville. Indicate on the check: “For Air Guitar fundraiser donation.”
Tickets can be purchased by students during lunches, from the Senior High Main Office from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. or by calling Mary Cody at 293-1800, ext. 2600 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. The ticket price is $5.
Provided information
4/1/12
HILTON
Hilton High School hosts annual Breakfast with a Scientist
On March 27, 17 scientists and engineers visited Hilton High School to share their passion in their careers and for science itself with students.
Among the visitors was Matt Lang who is a fuel cell development engineer for General Motors Fuel Cell Activities in Honeoye Falls. “This vehicle is terrific on efficiency,” he told students. “It has zero emissions and a 140-mile fuel range. The emission itself is deionized water.”
The goal of the GM facility in our area is to develop hydrogen fuel cells for automotive use as an alternative to conventional petroleum fueled engines through the development of new components to lower cost and increase the performance, according to Mr. Lang. The science behind a fuel cell involves the use of an electrochemical device that converts the chemical energy in fuels such as hydrogen, methane, butane, gasoline or diesel into electrical energy by exploiting the natural tendency of oxygen and hydrogen to react.
The breakfast is an annual event coordinated by the Science Department and teacher Jennifer Howell.
Provided information
4/1/12
HOLLEY
Holley celebrates Music in Our Schools Month
Holley sixth grader Melody Purtell plays her flute in one of three concerts performed by Holley students in celebration of Music in Our School Month. Provided photoIn celebration of Music in Our Schools Month, the Holley Elementary concert band, directed by Amy Harris, and chorus, directed by Sally Martin, held an evening concert for family members and a school day concert for their peers. They used props, such as maracas in the chorus’ performance of “Shake the Papaya Down,” a Calypso song; and frog masks in the band’s performance of “Creepy Crawlies ” by local composer Michael Story.
The Middle School/High School band, directed by Dan Wakefield, and chorus, directed by Kelly Evans, wowed the audience with their performances at an evening concert. Both groups have been working hard to prepare for a trip to Annapolis, Maryland in April. Students will compete in the Heritage Music Festival, visit the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, hear the National Navy Band perform, and sightsee in Washington, D.C.
Provided information
4/1/12
ENGAGEMENTS & WEDDINGS APRIL 2012
Carly Strabel - Scott Keelan
David and Leisa Strabel of Brockport are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Carly to Scott Keelan, son of Kevin and Julie Keelan of Cincinnati, Ohio.
Miss Strabel is a graduate of the Nutmeg Conservatory of the Arts and is pursuing a degree in history through the University of Maryland. She works as a floral designer and as a Pilates instructor in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Ensign Keelan, a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, is a Navy pilot in training at Corpus Christi Naval Air Station.
An October 2012 wedding at the Naval Academy Chapel, Annapolis, Maryland is planned.
Ashley Sarfaty - CJ Fallato
Heidi and Paul Stoller of Holley are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Ashley Sarfaty to CJ Fallato, son of Charles Fallato of Holley and Shauna McKee of Albion.
CJ and Ashley are 2011 graduates of Holley High School. Ashley is attending Genesee Community College and CJ is employed with CJ and Son Construction.
No date has been set for the wedding.
Jamie Cowley - Michael Cole
James and Cheryl Cowley of Kendall and Dave and Nancy Cole, also of Kendall, are pleased to announce the engagement of their children, Jamie Cowley and Michael Cole.
Jamie, a 2011 graduate of Roberts Wesleyan College, majored in childhood and special education. She is a substitute teacher at local schools.
Michael, a 2006 graduate of Kendall High School, is employed by his family’s business, Hilton-Spencerport Express.
An August 18, 2012 wedding is planned.
Katrina Rivers - Sean Wahl
Gary and Lynn Rivers of Spencerport are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Katrina to Sean Wahl, son of Jack and Debbie Wahl of Brockport.
The bride-to-be is a 2003 graduate of Spencerport High School. She earned a bachelor’s degree in education from SUNY Fredonia in 2007, and received her master’s degree in education technology from Nazareth College in 2010. Katrina is employed as a Product Integration Specialist at Paychex, Inc.
The future groom is a 2002 graduate of Brockport High School. He studied business at Alfred State and SUNY Brockport. Sean is a Business Development Manager for EarthLink Business.
Allan and Bernice Blossom of Hilton celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on March 29. They were married in Hilton United Methodist Church. The couple has four children. Prior to their retirement, Allan was the office manager for Klock Oil Company, Hilton and Bernice was a kindergarten teacher in the Hilton Central School system.
OBITUARIES - WEEK OF APRIL 1, 2012
BERGEN
•Metz, Gary M., March 26, 2012. Predeceased by his wife, Kathleen (Downey) Metz. Survived by his children, April (Brian) Stone, Gary (Rebecca) Metz, Mike (Susan) Metz, Jane (Doug) Kelly, Kimberly (Peter) Manuel and Mark Metz; his grandchildren, the love of his life, Aaron, Alayna, Lea, Jason, Maria, Mikaela, Nicole, Shawna and Mark; sister, Sandy Klinke; brother-in-law, John Downey; several nieces and nephews. Gary enjoyed camping and was an avid race fan.
Funeral Services were held March 29 at Walker Brothers Funeral Home, Inc., Spencerport. Donations can be made to Hildebrandt Hospice, 3111 South Winton Road, Rochester 14623 in his memory.
BROCKPORT
•Cole, Helen M., March 23, 2012 at age 90. Predeceased by her husband Leland and grandchildren Michele Nesbitt, Daniel and James Cole. Survived by son Donald (Carolyn) Cole; daughters Lucy Nesbitt, Barbara Cole; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brother George Babcock; sister Marion Marshall; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services were held at the convenience of the family. Interment, Lakeview Cemetery. Donations can be made to Alzheimer’s Association, 435 East Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14620 in her memory.
•Ellis, Kathryn C., On March 22, 2012 at age 92. Predeceased by her husband Floyd, son-in-law Gerald Sliker, siblings Jean (Frank) Hoyt, Mary Ellen (William) Delehanty, Roger (Barbara) (Anna) Clark and Virginia (George) Keiser. She is survived by her children Thomas (Judith) Ellis, Lucinda Ellis and Carol Sliker; grandchildren Stephanie (Dean Jones) Ellis, Robin (Lisa Gallegos) Ellis; great grandchildren Rylie Jones and Rhys Ellis; brothers-in-law, Robert Ellis, Howard Ellis; sister-in-law Thelma Wright Ellis and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Graveside Service was held March 31 at the Garland Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the Clarkson Historical Society, the Lakeside Foundation or a charity of one’s choice in her memory.
•Masceri, Gregory L., March 23, 2012. Predeceased by his parents, Louis and Luella Masceri. Survived by his son, Gregory Masceri; sister, Linda Wieczorek; brothers, Louis and Gary Masceri; nieces and nephews, Luigi, Tasha, Mark, Crissandra and Adam; several aunts, uncles and cousins. Greg served in the US Navy during the Vietnam War.
Funeral Services were held March 25 at Bartolomeo & Perotto Funeral Home, Inc., Greece. Interment at a later date. Donations can be sent to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 7, East Syracuse, NY 13057 in his memory.
CHURCHVILLE
•Ehrmentraut, Eugene L. “Ike,” Peacefully on March 22, 2012 at age 90. He was predeceased by his loving wife of 63 years, Monica Ehrmentraut, granddaughter, Erin Marie Keenan and daughter-in-law, Margaret (Haak) Ehrmentraut. He is survived by his children, Eugene J. (Margaret) Ehrmentraut, Suzanne (Jim) Keenan, Jim Ehrmentraut, Patti Ehrmentraut and Robert (Stacy) Ehrmentraut; grandchildren, Jesse (Lisa) Keenan, Nickie (John) Anadio, Josh Keenan, Lindsay (Adam) Vogler, Lauren (Ryan) Musshafen, Holden and Shelby Ehrmentraut; three great-granddaughters; sister, Catherine Dobbertin; brothers-in-law, William and George Steimer; sister-in-law, Ceal Steimer; many nieces and nephews. Gene was a life long member of St. Vincent DePaul Church and a 40 year member of the Town of Riga Planning Board.
A Memorial Mass was said March 31 at St. Vincent DePaul Church, Churchville. Interment, St. Vincent DePaul Cemetery. Contributions can be made to the Churchville Fire Department or Churchville Lions Club in his memory.
HAMLIN
•Boyer, Mark A., Born March 6, 1959, passed March 20, 2012. Predeceased by his parents, Bryce and Rose Boyer. Survived by brother, Jeffery Boyer; sons, Mark C. Boyer, Steven A. Boyer; daughters, Mary A. Albee, Kristin N. DePaul.
Services were held March 28 at St. John Lutheran Church, Hamlin.
HILTON
•Ingham, Doris K. (Scobell), Peacefully March 19, 2012. She is predeceased by her husband, George “Bud” Ingham, 1981. Survived by her sons, Robert (Linda) Elliott and Richard (Barbara) Elliott; granddaughters, Dawn (Ryan) Howe and Lynn (Colin) Clement; great-grandchildren, Andrew and Avery Howe and Lily and Peyton Clement; her sister, Shirley Bartholomew; her brother, Gene (BJ) Scobell; several nieces and nephews.
All Services were private. Contributions can be made to Union Congregational United Church of Christ, 14 North Main Street, Churchville, NY 14428 or Aurora House, Union Street, Spencerport, NY 14559 in her memory.
•Martin, Julia E., March 22, 2012, at age 90. Predeceased by her husband, Gerald J. Martin; daughter, Deborah Mary Martin Vary; a sister, Laura DeKooker. Survived by her three children, Gary Martin, Greg Martin and Sandra Geiger; a sister Louise Tooker; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
A Funeral Mass was held March 26 at St. Lawrence Church. Interment, Parma Union Cemetery. Contributions can be made to The American Heart Association, 3500 Winton Place, Suite 4, Rochester 14623 in her memory.
•Wedgwood, Glen A., On March 26, 2012. He is survived by his wife, Kathy; children, Valerie (Jacob) Huntley, Kyle and Nicholas (Kristen Boyce) Wedgwood; grandchildren, Damion and Ayden Huntley, Kylie Wedgwood; his parents, Carl and Barbara Wedgwood; brothers, Keith and Dennis Wedgwood; sisters, Pam and Cheryl Wedgwood; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Dick and Marilyn Kuhn.
Services were held March 31 at Thomas E. Burger Funeral Home, Hilton. Donations can be made to PSC Partners Seeking a Cure, 5237 South Kentonway, Englewood, Colorado 80111 or www.pscpartners.org/waystodonate in his memory.
NORTH CHILI
•Miller, Violet R., March 22, 2012 at age 98. She is survived by her son, Robert J. (Kristi) Miller; granddaughter, Lindsay Miller Baxter; great-grandson, Robert Baxter; sister, Gracia (Calvin) Stewart; sister-in-law, Ethel Miller; several nieces and nephews. Predeceased by her husband, Robert W. Miller.
Funeral Services were held March 26 at the Alhart Funeral Home, Caledonia. Interment, Mumford Rural Cemetery.
OGDEN
•DeWind, Brenda A., March 16, 2012. Died unexpectedly at age 50, while in hospice care in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Brenda was born August 14, 1961 in Geneva, NY and was most recently employed by the University of Rochester. She is survived by her loving parents, Gerald and Phyllis DeWind of Chili Center; brother Brian (Cindy) of Ogden; nephew Eric of Burlington, Vermont; niece Lindsay of Ogden; her best pal Joey and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Her Funeral Mass was said March 31 at St. Pius Church, Chili. Private Interment. Contributions can be made to Hospice of Gold Coast, 2101 West Commercial Boulevard, Suite 4500, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida 33309 or Humane Society of Greater Rochester, 99 Victor Road, Fairport, NY 14450 in her memory.
SPENCERPORT
•Hale, Emma F. (Sorce), March 23, 2012, at age 100. Predeceased by her husband, Paul C. Hale; brother, Patsy Sorce; sisters, Lena Castle and Lucy Finnigan. She is survived by many beloved nieces and nephews; several grand nieces and grand nephews. Mrs. Hale was a former member of the Ogden and Westgate Senior Citizens Groups.
Her Funeral Mass was said March 27 at St. Ann’s Home Chapel, Rochester. Private interment. Donations can be made to the Humane Society at Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Road, Fairport 14450 in her memory.
•O’Neal, Sophie, March 25, 2012 at age 88. Predeceased by her parents, Steven and Mary Hricenak; her brothers, John, Steven, Andrew, Michael, William and George; sisters, Annie Hricenak, Mary Hunisch, Helen Legezdh and Margaret Hudinski. She is survived by her devoted husband, Norman O’Neal Sr.; son Norman (Suzanne) O’Neal Jr.; grandchildren, Aaron (Jennifer), Brett (Robin), James and Jonathan O’Neal; great-granddaughter, Jaylynn O’Neal; brothers, Joseph and Steven (Gloria) Hricenak; many nieces and nephews.
Her Funeral Mass was said March 30 at St. John the Evangelist Church, Greece. Inurnment in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
•Whitaker, Floyd D. “Whit,” March 21, 2012. Floyd is predeceased by his daughter, Lois Excell. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Wakeman) Whitaker; loving father of Carol (Michael) Stewart, Peggy (Bill) Baldwin; adoring grandfather of Jodie (Sean) Ruck, Jamie Stewart, Jason Stewart, Tammy (Tom) Meyer, Kelly (Jamie) Berardicurti, Kristin (Ed) Tommasi, Bill Baldwin IV, Rachel Baldwin; five great-grandchildren; sister, Betty McCracken; many nieces and nephews.
His Funeral Service was held March 25 at Spencerport Wesleyan Church, Spencerport. Interment in Fairfield Cemetery.