News for the week of
February 27, 2005

In Features:

Backyard habitat haven for wildlife and birds
Even with all three children grown up and out of the house, Paul and Laurie Reisinger of Spencerport refuse to become empty nesters. The couple has gone to great lengths to keep all the nests in their yard full, along with the trees, bushes, pond and feeding tables. In recognition of the work the couple has done to benefit nature, the National Wildlife Federation recently certified their yard as a Wildlife Habitat. more

Brockport Ecumenical
Outreach Committee elects officers
The BEOC (Brockport Ecumenical Outreach Committee) begins its 16th year with newly elected Karen Richardson, representative from First Presbyterian Church of Brockport, as its chairperson. more

Brockport named a 'Preserve America' community
The Village of Brockport keeps garnering historic accolades for its historic Victorian downtown. The last designation Brockport received came in the form of being designated a federal "Preserve America" community, an honor bestowed by First Lady Laura Bush. more

Churchville Chili receive disaster recovery funds
More than $150,000 in federal and state payments to local municipalities and entities in the continuing recovery efforts from last year's late summer storms which resulted in two federal disaster declarations will be handed out. more

Deadline extended to accommodate final rush
Westside News introduced its Hometown Directory nine years ago as a business directory to fill the void left when the former Ogden Telephone Company discontinued its local directory. This year the successful resource has been renamed the Hometown Community Directory to reflect the many features contained within its pages, which have been there since early in its history. more

DOT meeting for Route 531 Extension project set
The New York State Department of Transportation will host a public information meeting to discuss the preliminary environmental studies and design of the Route 531 Extension Project in the towns of Ogden and Sweden. more

Hamlin Tops gas station proposal passes
Tops received unanimous approval from the Hamlin Planning Board on February 7 to move forward with the construction of a gas station at its grocery store site on Lake Road. more

Local dentist recognized for Smiles for Life Foundation
Dr. Steven Thompson of Holley was recognized, along with other members of the Crown Council, for his efforts in helping to raise millions of dollars to aid children in need. Thompson was one of the 300 dentists nationwide who started the first Smiles for Life campaign in 1998. more

Local meteorologist receives Toastmasters honor
The Westside Toastmasters Club will award local meteorologist Scott Hetsko their Communication and Leadership Award. The award is presented to somebody in the community who demonstrates exemplary communication and leadership skills. more

Orleans County 4-H hosts public presentations day
Orleans County 4-H Public Presentations Day was held Saturday, February 12 at sites in Knowlesville, Albion and Lyndonville. Sixty-five 4-H members, ranging in age from eight to 17, presented on topics ranging from hermit crabs to knitting to karate. more

Orleans County Youth Board seeks nominees
The Orleans County Youth Board is seeking nominees for the Annual Youth Recognition Banquet. more

Public comments positive on Village Pines proposal
About 50 people attended a public hearing in the Town of Ogden regarding the Village Pines senior housing complex proposal. more

In Briefly:

Greeters, dockmasters needed
Volunteers are needed to act as greeters and dockmasters at the new Village of Brockport Community Visitors Center on the canalfront. They will meet visitors to Brockport, help them get oriented, give them access to the restrooms, showers and laundry machines in the Welcome Center and collect overnight docking fees. more

Human "Iditarod" to aid tsunami orphans
Students at Roberts Wesleyan College are planning their own Iditarod to raise funds for tsunami orphans. The human dogsled race will take place at noon on March 12 with registration beginning at 11 a.m. more

Media drive helps two groups
On March 12, Chili Boy Scout Troop 53 member Matthew Duell is holding a book and media drive for an Eagle Scout project. It will be at the Town of Chili Community Center, 4400 Buffalo Road in North Chili. more

Predatory drugs are topic of upcoming SUNY presentation
SUNY Brockport is holding a presentation, Predatory Drugs of Abuse, on Thursday, March 10 at 7 p.m. at the Seymour Union, Room 119. The presentation is free and open to the public. more

Spencerport Chamber
of Commerce award recipients
The Spencerport Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual awards dinner recently. more

Politically Speaking

Brockport's Mayor Jo Matela announces intentions to seek re-election
Petitions don't have to be filed until mid-April and elections aren't until June, but Village of Brockport Mayor Josephine Matela has made her intentions known - she will be seeking her second term as mayor. more

Grants available for special instruction techniques
Assemblyman Bill Reilich (134th District) announced that the Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) of the state Education Department is accepting grant applications for specialized instruction services. more

In Schools:

Spencerport art teachers published in national magazine
Two Spencerport School District art teachers have had their classroom lessons published in articles in the national "School Arts" magazine. more

Class wins Peace Corps contest to call South Africa
Mary Montenaro's class at Spencerport's Taylor Elementary School will be making a very long-distance call on March 3 - to South Africa. Students won the call in a national competition sponsored by the Peace Corps. more

Hilton students bring Picasso to life through Masks and Mime
Fourth grade students at Northwood Elementary School have been studying the artwork of Pablo Picasso with the help of Young Audiences artist-in-residence Carlton Van Pyrz of Lancaster. more

Leukemia Dance Marathon held in Brockport
The 32nd Annual Leukemia Dance Marathon will be held March 4-5 from 8 p.m.-8 a.m. in the Brockport High School Cafeteria. The marathon is the longest running event that raises money to support Strong Hospital's Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Department's research aimed at finding a cure for childhood leukemia. more

Quest students construct Hogwarts school model
Quest sixth-grader Kara Pettifer stands next to a castle modeled on a plastic replica of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry attended by Harry Potter. The balsa wood model was constructed by eight members of Mr. Dupre's class for a "House on Parade" competition at the Home Fair Expo home show February 25-27 at the Dome Center in Henrietta. more

Spencerport district and teachers reach agreement
The new four-year contract approved by the Spencerport School District and Spencerport Teachers Association which will replace the contract expiring June 30, features wording to reflect both the district's and the teachers' commitment to the district's Strategic Plan and mission. more

Spring arrives early at Hilton school
Once upon a time … back in August of 2004, Hilton Quest School third-grader Nicholas Marsaw found a caterpillar in his back yard in North Greece. he decided to use this for a science project and fed the little crawler on dill weeds and kept it in a plastic container. more

Students mark anniversary of end of Vietnam War
SUNY College at Brockport Vietnam Program students are marking the 30th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, April 30, on the Brockport campus and in Danang in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. more

SUNY Brockport professor wins award of excellence
SUNY College at Brockport Associate Professor of Communication Carvin Eison has been named winner of the Award of Excellence in the Documentary portion of the Broadcast Education Association 2005 Faculty Video Competition for his documentary "July '64." more

In Seniors:

Enhanced STAR Program deadline March 1
Seniors are reminded that the Enhanced STAR (School Tax Relief) program application deadline for most municipalities in New York state is March 1. more

In Sports:

D'Errico, List pace Bees
Alyssa D'Errico scored 16 points and Kate List added 12 as Byron-Bergen defeated Campbell-Savona 59-36 in the Class CCC sectional basketball quarterfinals. more

Halter nets double-double for Eagles
Christine Halter scored 15 points and grabbed 13 rebounds in a 44-40 Kendall victory over Alexander in Class CC quarterfinal basketball action. more

Silvet Bullets win first place
The Dynamic Silver Bullets All-Star Junior Cheerleading team won first place in the Junior All-Star Level 2 Division at the CNY Cheer Challenge in Utica on February 5. more