News for the week of
March 14, 2004

In Features:

All new assessments mailed
Town of Clarkson Assessor Pamela Dolliver informs property owners that all notices to property owners regarding the new full value property assessments have been mailed. more

Artist's watercolor works included in Buffalo exhibit
Brockport watercolor artist Dianne Hickerson will have three works in an exhibition entitled Wet & Fresh: A Survey of Current Watercolor in Western New York at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center on the Buffalo State College campus, 1300 Elmwood Avenue. The exhibition will be on view from April 3 until June 27. The opening reception is Friday, April 2, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. more

Brockport hosts fast ferry, tourism presentations
Two meetings regarding the fast ferry and Canadian tourism will be held in Brockport. Fast ferry public information night Thursday, March 18, 6 to 9 p.m. New York Room, Cooper Hall, SUNY College at Brockport. more

Brockport Planning Board approves final site plan
for senior housing development
Brockport's Belmont Development Corp is one step closer to the construction of its proposed 32 unit senior citizens apartment complex at 222 Main Street. Planning board officials unanimously gave final site approval to the complex following a public hearing on March 8. more

Church school children reach out
St. Luke, Brockport church school children presented a check for $328.17 to Bill Abom, Western New York Coordinator for Rural and Migrant Ministry (RMM). Their fundraising efforts were inspired by their participation in an RMM "Coins of Change" program worked into the curriculum by Rob and Beth Banzer, church school co-superintendents. more

Former area resident's rendering of "The Crucifixion"
drawing renewed interest and attention from public
Former local resident and artist Gary Lessord's national and international recognition for his ongoing inspirational series of artworks has continued to increase in recent weeks. more

GCASA expands into Holley
Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (GCASA) began offering outpatient treatment services at its new satellite office in Holley earlier this month. Located at 32 East Albion Street (behind the Presbyterian Church), the office will serve people from Eastern Orleans and Western Monroe counties. more

Hamlin woman's story told in national magazine
Cyndie Heidt's life transformation story will appear in the April issue of the national "FIRST" magazine. The Hamlin resident went from a rude awakening about her weight to losing 123 pounds over 20 months. She is now encouraging other women as a weight loss instructor. more

Holley site may be added to Superfund list
According to the state's Environmental Protection Agency, Holley's Diaz Chemical plant may be eligible for Superfund listing. more

Local governments cooperate in camera purchase
The villages of Spencerport, Brockport, and Hilton have pooled their resources and purchased an ARIES Pan and Tilt Camera. The small camera, which resembles a robotic dachshund, is the latest in custom-built television inspection for internal checking of sewer, gas, and water pipelines. more

Pasta dinner to benefit Radu family
On April 2, the Leo Bernabi Elementary School in conjunction with the MOMS Club of Spencerport/Churchville will host a dinner to benefit the Radu family. The dinner will consist of spaghetti, bread, salad, dessert and soda or coffee. Everything for the dinner has been donated allowing the entire proceeds from the fund raiser to go directly to the family. more

State agencies, RG&E agree to $110 million refund
The New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB), the New York State Department of Public Service (DPS), Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation (RG&E) and other parties announced a proposed agreement that would provide $110 million in refunds to RG&E's electric customers. The proposed agreement also will freeze base electric delivery rates through 2008. more

In Briefly:

A family spring formal planned in Parma
Hilton-Parma Recreation is hosting a special evening for Moms and Dads and their children, as they present a Family Sweetheart Dance on Saturday, April 3. more

The Brockport Symphony Orchestra welcomes special guests
The Brockport Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of Conductor Ryan Brown, returns for a special performance with piano soloist Deborah Clasquin. The Symphony will accompany Clasquin as she performs Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 on Saturday, March 20 at 3 p.m. at St. Luke's Episcopal Church on State Street in Brockport. more

Comfort quilts make a difference
The Rose Cottage Quilters Bee held a "sew day" last fall to prepare comfort quilts for the local Red Cross in conjunction with Make A Difference Day. A sampling of the quilts was on display at the Greece-Ridge Mall for Quilters Make A Difference Day in November. more

Farm Credit announces three $1,000 scholarships
Farm Credit of Western New York, ACA will award three $1,000 scholarships to students pursuing careers in agriculture. more

Nominees for "Woman of Distinction" award sought
Residents are invited to nominate friends, coworkers, and neighborhood leaders whose outstanding work on behalf of our communities makes them deserving of special recognition by the State Senate as a New York "Woman of Distinction." more

Safety Awareness Contest puts emphasis on wheeled vehicles
The Monroe County Office of Traffic Safety, together with the Rochester General Hospital Association and TWIGS, announce the 16th annual Wheeled Vehicle Safety Awareness Contest. The contest is designed to promote wheeled vehicle safety among children. more

Service Clubs raise over $5,000
for Brockport Community
Brockport Rotarians George Dahl and Pam Young show off the plaque the club will hold for another year for winning the 2003 Christmas season Salvation Army Bell-ringing contest. Dahl headed up the Rotary effort and Young is the current Rotary president. more

Spring hours begin at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
The refuge headquarters at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge will be open on weekends, March 20 through early June, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. This is in addition to its regular business hours of Monday - Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. more

Politically Speaking:

Assembly Republican 'Roadmap' aimed to curb drunk drivers
Assembly Republican Leader Charles H. Nesbitt and members of the Assembly Republican Conference proposed legislation that would build on New York's strides to protect citizens from drunk drivers by targeting those responsible for the majority of auto fatalities - "hardcore" drunk drivers and repeat offenders. more

Some area villages hold elections March 16
Village of Holley voters will be faced with choices in Tuesday's mayoral election. Trustee Skip Carpenter and Tom O'Neill are both seeking the mayoral seat. William Quaranto, who is presently serving as the village's mayor, is seeking a trustee seat, as is John Heise. The position of trustee is uncontested. more

In Schools:

17 CCJHS musicians going to All-County
Seventeen Churchville-Chili Junior High School band and choral students were selected to represent Churchville-Chili Central School district at this year's Monroe County Junior High School All-County Music Festival. more

Applications being accepted for full tuition at SUNY Maritime College
The Cadet Scholarship Program offers free tuition for students interested in pursuing studies at the State University of New York Maritime College. The program offers a two-year, full tuition scholarship to those students who are nominated by members of the state legislature. more

Brockport High School named one of 30 model high schools nationally
Brockport High School has been selected as one of 30 model high schools nationwide to participate in a project sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers, Washington, D.C. and the International Center for Leadership in Education, Rexford, NY. more

Churchville-Chili JHS presents annual talent show
Churchville-Chili Junior High School presents the 6th Annual Talent Show and Competition on March 19 at 7 p.m. in the Forum Room. more

Family Fun Fair benefits scholarship fund
The Brockport Teacher's Association will hold its annual Family Fun Fair on Friday, March 19 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the A.D. Oliver Middle School lower gym. The evening will feature many games and activities including: sponge throw, cupcake walk, face painting, hair braiding, and a kid-favorite - the moonwalk. more

Ghandi's great-granddaughter gives
presentation at Hilton High School
Mrs. Archana Prasad stands before a picture of her great-grandfather, Mahatma Ghandi. At right, she points to her birthplace in India, Mumbai, formerly called Bombay. Mrs. Prasad has lived in America for the past 27 years and has worked at the Henrietta Public Library for 15 years. more

Hilton retains crown at N.Y.S.
Percussion Circuit Drumline Competition
Defending champion, Hilton High School Drumline, won the marching division at the annual New York State Percussion Circuit competition with a score of 81. The competition was held March 6 at Hilton High School. more

Kendall kindergarten registration set for March 22
Registration for children in the Kendall Central School District starting kindergarten next year will be Monday, March 22 in the Kendall Elementary School cafeteria, 1932 Kendall Road, from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. and 6:30 to 8 p.m. Children do not need to attend the registration. more

Local student to attend national competition for woodwinds
SUNY Potsdam junior Michelle Keenan of Spencerport will compete as a finalist in the Music Teacher's National Association (MTNA) Young Artists Woodwind Competition after winning the regional and New York state competitions. more

Putting what they've learned to work
Not only are the second grade students at Kendall Elementary learning about being responsible students, they are also learning about community helpers. Some students got to put this learning into practice. more

Safe and Drug Free Schools official to speak at Byron-Bergen meeting
The keynote address at one of Byron-Bergen Central School District's two school improvement days this month will feature William Modzeleski, a top-ranking official with the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. more

School celebrates Lutheran School Month
St. Paul Lutheran School in Hilton, which houses a preschool, full and half-day kindergarten, and grades 1 through 8, has served the community for almost 50 years. more

Students learn about women's history
Brockport High School is celebrating "Women's History Month" through a series of presentations open to the community. BHS graduate Shawn Ruger is funding the programs for the second year through the Dorothy J. Ruger Foundation, started in memory of his grandmother. more

In Seniors:

Hilton-Parma seniors travel to Canada
The Hilton-Parma Seniors will be traveling to Canada on April 28. This trip will include a sit down, early bird dinner, dinner show, and five hours of casino gaming time. The cost of this trip is $47, which includes driver's gratuity. Since the Town of Parma subsidizes this trip, it is open to Parma residents age 55 and up. more

In Sports:

Golden Eagles in Sweet 16
Brockport used a 15-4 run early in the second half to overcome a five-point deficit and defeat Trinity College 80-76 and advance to the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen for the third time in four years. The Golden Eagles also defeated Trinity in the 2002 Tournament. more

Junior Cipura wins NAIA National Championship
Roberts Wesleyan College junior indoor track and field participant Kim Cipura from Hilton won the NAIA National Championship in the women's 5K race March 6. The meet was held in Johnson City, Tennessee. Overall Roberts finished in 10th place, their best ever finish at the NAIA nationals. more

North America Sports Federation umpires clinic
to be held at Sweden/Clarkson Community Center
The Sweden/Clarkson Community Center will be hosting the North American Sports Federation Umpires Clinic on April 25. The clinic will be from noon to 4:30 p.m. at the Sweden/Clarkson Community Center, 4927 Lake Road, Brockport. more

Spencerport plans memorial for prominent track star
Spencerport Central School District is planning to create a memorial garden at its new high school all-weather track in honor of its world-class runner, Charlie McMullen, Class of 1969, who died August 4, 2003, following a battle with cancer. more

S&S Fitness hosts advancement test
On February 28, S&S Fitness Gym & Martial Arts Center hosted a belt advancement test for its students. Instructors from some other area schools also participated in the promotion process. more