News for the week of
August 15, 2004

In Features:

Brockport Democrat still informing the community
It may be "old news," but the articles and advertising printed on the yellowed broadsheet newspaper pages are still informing the public. For more than 100 years, copies of The Brockport Democrat, a weekly four-page newspaper, lay undisturbed on the third floor of a Main Street, Brockport business. more

Candidates sought for military service awards
Veterans and active military personnel who live in New York state or who lived in New York while on active duty in the military, may be eligible for one of the state's three military honors. Assemblyman Bill Reilich (134th District) said. more

Congregation grows to fill new church home
Beginning as a Wednesday night Bible study in the home of Pastor Henry Tomasso and his wife, Angela, Calvary Chapel Westside has grown and grown. more

Family reunion gathers many
at Trimmer Road homestead
A large crowd gathered on Trimmer Road in Spencerport Saturday, August 7 for the Popowich Family Reunion. Kathy Miller, one of the organizers, says her grandparents were immigrants from Ukraine who came to the United States around 1914. They settled on Trimmer Road in Spencerport on 25 acres which they farmed. more

General Tommy Franks, USA (Ret.)
to speak at Lakeside Foundation's gala dinner
Four-star General Tommy Franks will speak at Lakeside's annual gala dinner. The theme for this year's event, "Volunteerism ... Caring Hearts Change the World," represents the lives of those protecting our freedom at home and overseas, as well as the volunteers who give their time every day at Lakeside. more

Genesee, Orleans counties receive grants to support arts programs
Three grants totaling nearly $120,000 have been awarded to the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. The grants are being administered through the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support local arts and cultural programs and the day-to-day operations of the Arts Council. more

New community theater group beginning in Spencerport
Interested in community theater? A new group could offer opportunities to those interested in thespian projects. more

Pastor’s religious path leads to Holley church
For Father Enrique Cadena, life has been a series of journeys – both spiritual and physical. Now that journey has brought him to the Village of Holley as the pastor of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. more

Spencerport School tax rate decreases
A 13 cent tax rate decrease was announced by the Spencerport Central School District Board of Education when it approved a property tax rate of $24.58 per $1,000 of assessed value. This represents a decrease from last year's rate of $24.71 and a reduction of nearly 2.5% from the tax rate the district had projected in the spring. The rate was set at the board's Tuesday, August 10 meeting. more

In Briefly:

CrimeStoppers cautions public about bogus solicitations
CrimeStoppers, the local funding source that helps law enforcement agencies apprehend and arrest criminals, is being robbed by individuals who are illegally soliciting contributions. more

Parma Public Library offers blog site for young adults
What is a "blog," "blogging" or a "weblog?" All of these terms refer to one of the latest resources used by Young Adult (YA) librarians to communicate with their patrons. A blog site offers teens a familiar on-line venue in which to communicate directly with their YA librarian. more

Summer reading adds up at Seymour Library
The theme for this year's summer reading program was "New York State is Read, White and Blue." The 277 children ages preschool through entering fifth grades who participated in the program read 110,911 minutes with a reading chain that wraps around the Children's Room four times. more

Volunteers needed to serve on Chili committees and boards
Volunteers are needed for openings on Town of Chili committees and boards. Volunteers should be available to attend monthly meetings and possible workshops. more

Weekend links amateur radio club and lighthouse keepers
The Brockport Amateur Radio Klub (BARK) and the Charlotte-Genesee Lighthouse Historical Society have organized the International Lighthouse and Amateur Radio Weekend on Saturday and Sunday, August 21 and 22. more

Wood installed as Brockport Kiwanis President
Dr. James Wood was installed as the Brockport Kiwanis Club president. Wood has been the vice-president of the club this year. He is the assistant superintendent for business in the Brockport School District. more

Youth enjoy summer coffeehouse
The First Congregational Church of Spencerport Youth Group has been meeting on Wednesdays this summer to enjoy some time playing card games, doing crafts and just "hanging out." Activities this summer have also included volunteering at Salem Soup Kitchen, and a day at Seabreeze Amusement Park. more

In Schools:

BOCES 2 director selected for special education advisory panel
Joe Kelly, director of the Department for Exceptional Children at Monroe 2 Orleans BOCES in Spencerport, will serve as a member of the Commissioner's Advisory Panel for Special Education Services (CAP). more

New meal prices set for Spencerport students
Meal prices for the Spencerport Central School District will increase slightly for the 2004-05 school year. The student breakfast price increases to $1 while elementary Kindergarten through fifth grade lunch increases to $1.75. Secondary lunch sixth to 12th increases to $1.90. Milk prices increase to 50 cents. more

Returning Hilton students will find
construction projects in full swing
Hilton High School and Hilton's Merton Williams Middle School students returning to classes September 8 will find their schools in the midst of construction and renovation projects. "Our contractors are prepared for school's opening about three weeks away," said Hilton Interim Superintendent of Schools C. Tod Eagle, "but some things are not going to be as expected." more

Roberts adds music to degree repertoire
A master's degree in Music Education will be offered at Roberts Wesleyan College starting in January 2005. The M.Ed. in Music Education joins several other M.Ed. programs already offered by Roberts, including certifications in Childhood Education, Special Education, and Adolescence Education (in English, math, social studies, biology, chemistry or physics). more

In Seniors:

Chili Senior Center programs
Finger Lakes fall foliage trip - Wednesday, October 6 from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Includes a tour, coffee and donuts at Rose Hill Mansion in Geneva, tour and sit-down luncheon at the Esperanza Mansion overlooking Keuka Lake followed by wine tasting at Hunt Country Vineyards in Branchport. more

In Sports:

Applications being accepted for 2004 waterfowl season
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is accepting cards for the reserved waterfowl hunt days on the refuge. Reservations are required for opening day - tentatively Saturday, October 23 - and Saturday, October 30 of the state's regular waterfowl season. The dates are pending approval of the recommended waterfowl hunting season. more

Autumn weekend hours begin at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
The Headquarters/Visitor Contact Station at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge will be open on weekends from August 21 through October 30. Business hours will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. This is in addition to their normal hours of Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. more

Brockport teen's super stock car carries him to victory
It's been called the "gravity grand prix" but to the youngsters who participate, it's just the soap box derby. The derby, which since its inception in August 1933 has drawn more than one million participants, brings together children and their homemade downhill-gravity-powered engineless racers for chances at prizes and for recognition among other like-minded racers. more

Chili Chargers win tournament
The Chili Chargers U13 Team recently won first place at the Niagara Pioneer Tournament on July 10 and 11 and at the Batavia Tournament on July 17 and 18. more

Chili Select Team defends their championship
Chili Select Team Girls U18 Soccer Team successfully defended their championship at the Greece Select Tournament on July 17 & 18. Led by stellar defense and the goal keeping of Chrissy McCracken, the Chili team out-scored their opponents 12-0. more

Hilton's Callahan an NHL 4th round pick
It was Day Two of the annual National Hockey League draft this year in Raleigh, North Carolina, but Hilton native Ryan Callahan and his family decided not to make the trip. more

Roberts Wesleyan hires women's basketball coach
Candy VanBuskirk has been hired as the women's basketball coach at Roberts Wesleyan College. A former standout basketball player at Roberts in the 90s, she is the fifth coach in Roberts history, Mike Faro, athletic director announced. more

Spiking Volleyball a big hit
Hilton Varsity Boys' Volleyball Coach Rob Steinorth held three volleyball camps during the week of August 9. The camps were designed for area boys to learn and enhance their volleyball skills. During the youth camp for third and fifth grade players, the emphasis was on introducing the basic fundamentals of the game. more

Spencerport All Stars finish second
Spencerport Baseball House League All Stars finished second in the Greece Tournament in July, playing five games in two days. They also placed second in the Rush Henrietta Tournament. more