News for the week of July 8, 2002
News for the week of
July 8, 2002

In Features:

$1.1 million in Affordable Housing grants funds rental housing
According to Congressman John J. LaFalce (D-29, NY) the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York will be providing $1,103,552 in affordable housing grants for rental housing construction and rehabilitation and homeownership assistance for housing located in Rochester, Clarkson, and Gates. more

Brockport Street Fair celebrates community
Village of Brockport merchants will have the opportunity to showcase their wares while showing off the historic Victorian community to visitors and shoppers. more

‘Can-imals’ will be on parade during Street Fair
Brockport Street Fair promoters are "calling all artists" to enter the canned-good sculpture contest taking place during the Street Fair. more

Chief releases 911 findings to board
A study on the feasibility of eliminating Brockport’s 911 dispatching unit and turning the reins over to Monroe County 911 Center has been compiled by Brockport Police Chief Daniel Varrenti. The results were released to the mayor and trustees June 26. more

DWI program audit underway in Brockport
Calling it a good review of policies and procedures, Mayor Josephine Matela said she fully supports the STOP-DWI program audit that is taking place in Brockport's police department. more

Gates Fire District dedicates new center, celebrates 75th
The Gates Fire District dedicated the new Company No. 1 fire station at 2355 Chili Avenue and celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Gates-Chili Fire Department on Saturday, June 29. The new facility houses the fire department’s headquarters and main dispatching office, which serves as the back-up communications system for Monroe County’s 911 center, and replaces the former station that opened in 1955. more

Historic Morgan-Manning Carriage House restored
Thanks to a generous bequest left in the will of Brockport resident Madlyn Nelson in 1998, restoration of the carriage house at the Morgan Manning house and museum is underway and nearing completion. more

Preserving some of summer's best foods
Gardens overflowing with shiny, red tomatoes and bright green peppers. Farmers markets piled high with fresh produce. Why not save some of this bounty to enjoy all through the year? Also, consider making some special homemade gifts for family and friends. more

Social Security Administration offers info sources
Social Security offers a variety of free services to the public via its award winning Internet web site at www.ssa.gov. more

Spencerport Canal Days adds street dance to list of events
Spencerport Canal Days committee members are adding an evening’s entertainment to their usual full schedule of performances during the two-day festival July 27 and 28 -- a street dance featuring the high energy band Rochester Brass and Electric Company. With a canalside setting at the Gazebo near the Spencerport Firemen’s Exempt Club, and refreshments available from Barton’s Parkside Hots and from Java John’s, the scene is set for a summertime event of music and dance. more

Summer reading program makes a big splash statewide
While students across the state look forward to summer vacation, the New York State Library's 11th annual statewide library summer reading program will keep them learning as well. Splish Splash Read! will provide entertaining activities to help foster literacy and develop the reading skills of New York's kids and teens in public libraries throughout New York state. more

Volunteer firefighters to receive scholarships
August 9 is the deadline for volunteer fire department and ambulance squads to nominate new recruits for college scholarships offered by New York state as an incentive to boost membership in these vital community organizations. more

In Briefly:

Chief involved in rear-end collision
Brockport's Police Chief Daniel Varrenti accepted full blame for a June 19 collision. "I was driving down Main Street and was looking down Clark Street, a car stopped in front of me and I couldn't stop in time," Varrenti said. "No one was hurt." more

Conserve energy, and save this summer
Now that the summer of 2002 is officially underway, the New York State Public Service Commission reminds New Yorkers that there are some simple, affordable steps everyone can take to conserve energy, save money and protect the environment. more

Dinner is opener for Festa Italiana
A dinner in the true Italian style will open Festa Italiana at the Italian American Community Center in Gates on July 18. Starting at 6:30 p.m., the dinner features a menu designed and prepared by Chef Stuart Slusky, a Monroe Community College culinary instructor. more

Events info sought for calendar
The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council is compiling information for its Fall/Winter Newsletter Calendar of Events which is distributed to its membership of 400 and at other venues. more

New interim minister at Brockport's First Presbyterian Church
The Reverend Dr. Jimmy Reader has been appointed interim minister at the First Presbyterian Church in Brockport at 35 State Street. His first sermon at the church was June 16. Church leaders say that the term of service could be one to two years as the church examines its mission and then searches for a permanent minister. The Reverend Jim Long left the church in December 2001 for a ministerial appointment at a church in Missouri. more

Nominations sought for environmental quality award
The Center for Environmental Information (CEI) is accepting nominations for the 2002 Hugh E. Cumming Environmental Quality Award. Each year the award is presented to an individual, group or organization that has made a significant contribution to environmental protection, improvement or education in the Rochester-Genesee-Finger Lakes region. more

Ogden schedules free rabies clinic
The Town of Ogden and the County of Monroe Department of Health are holding a free rabies clinic on Wednesday, July 10 from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Ogden-Parma Fire Station, 2588 South Union Street, two miles south of the Village of Spencerport. more

Politically Speaking:

New law helps young drivers develop skills safely
To keep New York roadways safer, Assemblymember Susan John (D, 131st) announced a new law that she supported, issuing drivers under 18 a graduated license - slowly incrementing their full driving privileges based upon a clean drivers' record (A.3513b). more

In Schools:

First Hugh Craigie teaching award presented
Hilton High School Chemistry Teacher Alpa Khandhar was the recipient of the first Hugh Craigie Teaching Award, a $1,000 tax-free stipend presented to the Hilton High School teacher who "has a passion and unselfish dedication to teaching that has inspired students to realize their full potential." more

In Sports:

Baseball Camp a big hit
Hilton Varsity Baseball Coach Ory Mee and his staff of past and present Hilton Central School players instructed 57 Parma youth throughout the week of the Ory Mee Baseball Camp offered by Hilton-Parma Recreation. more

Hilton-Parma Community
Appreciation Night held at Frontier Field
A special Hilton-Parma Community Appreciation Night was held at Frontier Field on Friday, June 28. more

Sweden/Clarkson Community Center lists summer youth programs
The Town of Sweden Recreation Department will be offering some new summer recreation programs at the Sweden/Clarkson Community Center, located at 4927 Lake Road in Brockport. more