News for the week of
March 13, 2005

In Features:

30 Mile Point Lighthouse now a quilt subject
Because of its placement on the Great Lakes Seaway Trail, the 30 Mile Point Lighthouse is one of nine lighthouses now in patterns for quilt makers, in a popular guidebooks and a well-visited and photographed destination for travelers. more

Community invited to bid on their favorites
at Ogden Library Silent Auction
The bid price might be right for someone to take home a needed service or sought after product at a Silent Auction running March 18 through April 1 at the Ogden Farmers' Library. On the final day, April Fool's Day, at noon, a variety of items will go to the highest bidders, often at bargain prices for the purchasers. more

Fire Department poised to kick off fund drive
Michael Gross, Hamlin Fire Department president, admits being a firefighter in a small town can be a unique calling. One day you're reviving a guy who is going into cardiac arrest, the next day you pass them in the cereal aisle at the local grocery store. more

Hamlin man's name on new Walker rescue equipment
A state grant, a few private donations and a gift in honor of a deceased Hamlin man have allowed the Walker Fire Department to purchase an off road rescue unit, an emergency vehicle that is unique to Monroe County. more

Holley researching ethanol production plant
As a preliminary measure, Village of Holley officials have been conducting preliminary research on bio-energy production. more

Lilac Queen entry packets available
The enVisionsone Management Lilac Queen entry packets are available now. more

Maple Weekend celebrates New York's status among world producers
New York State is the fourth largest producer of maple syrup in the world and the individual producers are celebrating that fact at this year's Maple Weekend. more

Mayor swears in chief officers for 2005
The Brockport Fire Department re-elected the chief officers of the department. Christian McCullough, Fire Chief, Laurence C. Vaughan, Deputy Chief and Timothy J. Rombaut, Assistant Chief, will serve a second year. more

Route 531 studies to begin in earnest
It's been talked about for years, but New York State Department of Transportation officials said they will begin studies to extend Route 531 further into western Monroe County. more

Rural Development increases income limits
Patrick H. Brennan, state director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development announced that the maximum household income limits for single family housing financing increased effective March 3. more

USDA announces new effort to support Preserve America initiative
Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns marked the second anniversary of the Preserve America initiative by announcing that Preserve America communities will be given priority consideration for community facility funding projects that support efforts to preserve and enjoy America's culture and natural heritage. more

A winter walk raises funds for tsunami relief
The Couch Potato Fitness Club is urging individuals to get up off the couch, put on their walking shoes and help raise money for tsunami relief. more

Western New York farmers receive funding
to combat agricultural runoff
Over $319,400 in funding has been awarded for three projects in Orleans, Genesee and Monroe counties to help farmers protect the state's soil and water resources from agricultural runoff. The funding is available through the New York State Agricultural Non-point Source Abatement and Control Program (ANSCAP). more

Women's Art Invitational Exhibit at
Genesee Center for the Arts through April 15
The Lobby Gallery of the Stuart Steiner Theatre at Genesee Center for the Arts has on display a Women's Invitational Art Exhibit. Women from the United States, Canada and Romania are displaying their artwork through April 15. A traveling exhibit from the National Women's Hall of Fame in Seneca Falls, is also on display in the Gallery. A closing Artists' Reception is scheduled for Friday, April 8 from 4 to 6 p.m. more

In Briefly:

Donations collected at Hamlin Youth Group Dance
On February 5 the Hamlin Youth Group held a dance at the Hamlin VFW. The dance was held to collect non-perishables and canned goods for Life Solutions of Hamlin. Over 50 youth attended the dance. more

Hamlin hosts snow day
More than 100 people came to the Hamlin Town Hall on Sunday, February 20 for Snow Day. The weather cooperated for the many outdoor activities including a snowball target shooting contest, a birdfeeder craft, ice cube stacking challenge, a flower seed planting project and sledding. more

Knitters create warmth for veterans
What started out as a lesson in knitting ended with this happy group visiting the Batavia Veteran's Hospital. Joanne Lotzow, Julie Maples, Andrea Maples and Billy Maples, all of Hamlin, knit 18 brightly colored lap robes. more

Lake Ontario Coastal Initiative Conference set
A conference will be held, in Rochester, about restoration, remediation, protection and sustainable use of the Lake Ontario coastal region - New York's North Coast - that stretches for 300 miles from the Niagara River to the St. Lawrence. more

Monroe, Orleans receive federal disaster designation
Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) announced that the Department of Agriculture has reviewed Damage Assessment Reports for all of the New York counties that were struck by inclement weather conditions over the recent months and have declared 22 counties eligible for disaster assistance designation funding. more

Orleans County court deputy retires
Gerald W. Reamer has "retired" as a court deputy for the Orleans County Sheriff's Office. Reamer stepped down from the part-time position effective February 28 after serving for the past 16 and one-half years. more

Parma Free Center Nursery School plans open house
Parma Free Center Nursery School has opened registration for the 2005-2006 school year. Classes are held at St. Leo's Church on Lake Avenue in Hilton. Classes are available for 2, 3, 4 and 5-year-old children in preparation for kindergarten. more

Rotary's 100th birthday
Brockport Rotary President Gary Zimmer, Club Charter member Gene Wood, former President and Treasurer Norm Knight pose with State Senator James Alesi as they display the official New York State Rotary Day Proclamation. more

Scholarship winner
Rob MacClaren of Holley will be attending the Spirit of America Youth Leadership Conference at Freedoms Foundation in Valley Forge. He was awarded a $400 scholarship plus travel costs by the American Legion Auxiliary. more

Simpler times
Now that the holidays are over, everyone can look forward to spring and the opening of the canal. When life was simpler this is the way people spent their Sunday afternoons. more

Springdale Farm seeks volunteers
Volunteer opportunities are being offered at Springdale Farm. Approximately 40 volunteers are needed in four areas: educational guides, gift shop associates, administrative assistants and gardeners. more

Trinity Church donates to North Star
On February 15 Trinity Episcopal Church gave donations to students and teachers at North Star Educational Center on North Clinton Avenue in Rochester. North Star is a tutoring center for troubled elementary school children in the city school district. more

Politically Speaking

Senate acts to preserve low-cost hydropower for Niagara
According to State Senator George D. Maziarz (R-C, North Tonawanda), the Senate has unanimously passed legislation (S.1136) authorizing the availability of 445 megawatts of "replacement power" to businesses located within a 30 mile radius of the Niagara Power Project in Lewiston. more

Candidates for Spencerport mayor respond to Westside News questions
The candidates were asked to answer the questions in approx. 200 words each. more

Voters in several villages asked to go to the polls March 15
Nancy Steedman and Scott Cullen are seeking reelection to their respective trustee seats in the Village of Churchville. Elections will be at the village offices. more

In Schools:

Ginther students "Peace It Together"
Students at Brockport's Ginther School are giving peace a chance. Ginther's Student Assistance Program recently launched a school-wide program entitled "Peace It Together" in an effort to teach students peaceful ways to handle school conflicts. more

Hilton kindergarten registration in March
Hilton Central School District will hold its kindergarten registration in March. Parents of children whose fifth birthday falls on or before December 1, 2005 may enroll their children in Hilton's full-day program. more

It's all in the details
BOCES 2 Career and Technical Education teacher Al DiProspero takes a closer look at the work his student, Frank Fallon-Nebbia, completed on a vertical milling machine in the precision machine shop at the Career and Technical Educational Center in Spencerport. more

Northstar coin drive benefits tsunami victims
The Junior Class at Northstar Christian Academy sponsored a coin drive in efforts to raise funds for the Tsunami Disaster. The Kindergarten - 6th grades raised over $1,800. more

Student art work on display at Genesee Country Museum
Six elementary students from Byron-Bergen Elementary School, under the direction of art teacher Melissa Coniglio, have their artwork on display at the John L. Wehle Gallery of Wildlife and Sporting Art at the Genesee Country Museum. more

Students dance to help children's hospital
Students at the Brockport Central High School danced all night recently to raise money for a local children's hospital. More than 170 students took part in the annual fundraising marathon. more

Students experience live history lesson
in celebration of Black History Month
Student at BOCES 2's Westside Senior Academy hosted a panel discussion to celebrate Black History Month. Their invited guests, George Anselme and Nanette Dukes, spoke about their experiences of growing up and living in America. more

Students raise funds for tsunami victims
Students at the Brockport Central Oliver Middle School raised $750 for tsunami relief efforts. The fundraising theme was "Looking for LifeSavers." more

Students ride the "Wave of Love" for tsunami victims
Kindergarteners and first grade students at the Ginther School in Brockport want to help the victims of the December 26, 2004 tsunami. At their "Caring Kids Club" they drew up a list of chores to do at home so they can earn extra money to donate. more

Web page subscribe feature enhances communication, district says
Byron-Bergen Central School district web page has been a vehicle for communication between home, community and school for several years now. Over the last year, the site has been enhanced by utilizing web tools through a provider called SchoolCenter.com. more

In Seniors:

Day trips and programs for Chili seniors
The Chili Senior Center will be offering a number of day trips for Senior Citizens age 55 and over who are residents of the Town of Chili. more

Register for Police Academy offered to Brockport seniors
The Monroe County Sheriff's Department is sponsoring an eight week Police Academy for senior citizens of the Brockport area beginning April 14. more

In Sports:

B-B teams achieve NYS Athletic Association
Scholar/Athlete Team award
The New York State Public School Athletic Association awards teams who have a 90 percent or above average. more

Bright Raven gymnastics boys compete in Syracuse
Bright Raven Gymnastics Boys Team traveled to Syracuse on February 27 to compete in the USA Gymnastics Salt City Invitational. more

Health Center open for community use
The Brockport Continuing Ed department will enable community use of the high school fitness center after school through June. The Health Center is located in the Brockport High School and features a variety of cardio and workout equipment. more

Hilton Select Basketball celebrates successful first season
Hilton Select Basketball in its first year, has come out on top with many wins this season. This past weekend, they played in a March Madness tournament at St. John Tournament and went 4-0 for the weekend. more

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge accepting
spring turkey hunting applications
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Genesee and Orleans Counties is now accepting applications for spring turkey hunting. The refuge uses a random drawing to fill the 50 turkey hunting permits available. more

Lake Ridge Gobblers give scholarship
Recipient of the Lake Ridge Gobblers 3rd annual local scholarship award is Dustin Hartman (l), presented by Duey Marshall (r), the local chapter vice president. This year's NWTF $250 scholarship award was awarded to Hartman, a senior at Brockport High School and a resident of Hamlin. more

Local gymnasts compete at Spring Fever Invitational
The Victors Gymnastics Team of Greece competed in the Spring Fever Invitational in Oswego. more

Pan-fishing clinic at Silver Lake State Park
A pan-fishing clinic will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 7, at the Silver Lake State Park Boat Launch on West Lake Road in Silver Springs. more

Reynolds attends ribbon-cutting for new Byron-Bergen athletic course
U.S Representative Thomas M. Reynolds, R-Clarence, attended a ribbon-cutting for the Byron-Bergen Central School District's new athletic ropes course last fall. Reynolds helped secure $110,880 for the project through the U.S. Department of Education's Carol M. White Physical Education Program. more

Sweden/Clarkson Recreation distributes spring brochure
Upcoming programs offered by Sweden/Clarkson Recreation include: cheerleading; instructional baseball, soccer, lacrosse, and tennis; croc cooks; family ceramics and craft days; horseback riding lessons; circuit training and more; intro to martial arts; co-ed and men's softball leagues and ballroom dancing. For information contact the Sweden/Clarkson Recreation Center at 431-0090.

Track team celebrates season with dinner
On Wednesday, March 2, the 2004-2005 Brockport Winter Track Team had their end of year awards banquet at the Elks Lodge on Sweden Walker Road. more