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News for the week of
March 12, 2006

In Features:

4-H'ers tour the Capitol
A delegation representing thousands of 4-H members in New York state traveled to Albany March 6 and 7 for the 71st annual 4-H Capitol Days event. more

Brockport police chief requests investigations of a village court
Brockport's Chief of Police Dan Varrenti requested the village look into the option of creating its own village court. He raised the idea during the March 6 board meeting. more

Brockport village requesting state audit
Quoting comments from previous board meetings about legal fees and the village having a "major artery that is lacerated and continuing to bleed," and that village legal fees "could reach six figures or more," Trustee Mary Jo Nayman made a motion for the village to seek a state audit of past legal fees. more

Church offers scouting emblem program
The Brockport Free Methodist Church offered a religious emblem class for Cub Scouts of the Protestant faiths and BFMC Sunday school participants in grades 1 through 3. more

Irish roots discovered during a summer family trip
When Chili residents, Jackie and Vinnie Finn, traveled to Ireland with their two sons, Tom, 16 and John, 14, they were hoping to spend time with family and reconnect family ties. They never thought they would find a piece of their family that was thought to be lost. more

Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge needs input
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is seeking public input in improving its public use programs. Three days have been set aside for people to come into the refuge office and officer comments and suggestions on enhancing the quality of the refuge's public use programs. They are: March 29, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; March 30, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and April 1, 8 a.m. to noon. more

Looking for homes for Katrina dogs
The male Husky pup that Karen Comstock (right) holds is one of 30 Katrina dogs available for adoption at the Scottsville Veterinary Hospital and Adoptions. more

Ogden Rec is looking for the best pizza in town
On Saturday, April 1, the Town of Ogden Parks and Recreation Department will present the "Popular Pizza Poll." more

Perry brothers add new ONTRAC Equipment locations
The success of ONTRAC Equipment Corporation comes down to basic good business practice, service to the customer before, during, and after the sale. more

Planning Churchville's future
A unique planning event will begin to chart the future of Churchville. On May 5 and 6, community members are invited to participate in a charrette. more

Residents appeal for choice at trash hearing
It was the second public hearing on a trash proposal for the Village of Brockport and while only a handful of people spoke on the subject, the meeting room at the Sweden Senior Center was filled to capacity. more

Saving the children of Stung Mean Chey
When Sandra Smith was four years old, she knew that she wanted to work in an orphanage. As one of her earliest memories, she recalls watching a television program about Mother Teresa and can still visualize her picking up sick and homeless children from the streets, children no one else wanted to touch. more

Spring begins at Iroquois Wildlife Refuge
Over the next few months, hundreds of species of birds and mammals will be raising their young in the marshes, woods and fields found within Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama, New York. more

In Briefly:

Children donate to Hilton Food Pantry
At a recent Sunday service at Hilton United Methodist Church during Children's Moments, Judy Bermudez taught the children the message from the gospel in the 25th chapter of Matthew: more

Child Safety Day
On Saturday, March 4, State Senator George Maziarz hosted a Child Safety Day in the gymnasium at St. John's Lutheran Church in Hamlin. more

Groundbreaking set for Greece church
First Bible Baptist Church, located at 1039 North Greece Road, will have a groundbreaking ceremony at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 2. more

People with disabilities can go horseback riding
The Paddock Center for Equine Assisted Activities, Inc., a local non-profit organization serving individuals with disabilities is beginning its third year offering therapeutic horseback riding. more

Riga discussing wind towers
Being proactive, rather than reactive, is the reason behind the Town of Riga's proposed moratorium on wind energy deriving towers and transmissions facilities law. more

Scouts hold Court of Honor
Chili Boy Scout Troop 53 hosted a Court of Honor on February 6. Awards were given for rank advancements and for merit badges earned. more

Scout wins book report contest
Andrew Belfield, a Star Scout in Boy Scout Troop 53, won a national book report contest sponsored by Simon & Schuster Publishing, in Boys Life Magazine. more

Politically Speaking:

Assemblyman-elect Steve Hawley sworn-in during Albany ceremony
Assemblyman elect Stephen M. Hawley (R,C,I-Batavia) was sworn-in as a Member of the Assembly in a ceremony held at the State Capitol on March 6. more

Ogden town clerk awarded professional designation
Lynn A. Bianchi, CMC, town clerk of the Town of Ogden has been awarded the designation of "Certified Muncipal Clerk" (CMC) from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks ( IIMC) for achieving its high educational, experience and service requirements. more

Residents have a choice of candidates in Hilton election
The retirement of Hilton Mayor Bill Carter, following eight years of service, requires residents to take a look at two familiar candidates for mayor and to pick the best two out of three candidates for village trustee. more

Two incumbents on ballot for top spot in Holley
Trustees John Kenney and Tom O'Neill have both tossed their hats into the ring for the top spot in the Village of Holley for the March elections. more

In Schools:

Byron-Bergen student competes at state level
David Kenward, an eighth grader at Byron-Bergen Middle School, is about to put his school on the map. He has qualified to compete at the state level of the National Geographic Bee on March 31 at the New York State Museum's Cultural Education Center in Albany. more

Churchville-Chili district art show scheduled
The grand opening of the Churchville-Chili District Art Show will be Wednesday, March 29 from 7 until 9 p.m. more

C-C teacher earns national recognition
Carol Pitkin, instrumental music teacher and seventh-grade band director at Churchville-Chili Junior High, has received this year's National Alumnae Leadership Award from Sigma Alpha Iota, the national music fraternity for women. more

County Executive to speak at Churchville-Chili
The Churchville-Chili Senior High School Parent Teacher Student Organization (PTSO) and Career Center are partnering to offer a Career Night for district students, grades nine to 12, and their parents on Tuesday, April 4 from 6:30 until 8:45 p.m. more

Dental health visits
During February, Dr. Kaufman and his team visited six different schools to educate the third and fourth graders about the importance of good dental health. more

Family fun fair planned
The Brockport Teacher's Association will hold its annual Family Fun Fair on Friday, March 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the A.D. Oliver Middle School lower gym (40 Allen Street). more

Girls and Boys State representatives chosen
The Bergen American Legion recently announced the school representatives who will be attending Empire Girls' and Boys' State during the last week in June 2006. more

Hilton schools superintendent invites residents for talks
Hilton Central School District residents are invited to "Talk with the Superintendent" this month. more

Kendall district to hold kindergarten registration,
story hour and screening
Registration for children in the Kendall Central School District, who are starting kindergarten will be Monday, March 20 in the Kendall Elementary School Cafeteria from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. more

Local Elks supply third-graders with dictionaries
David Yeaw, Exalted Ruler of the Brockport Elks Lodge 2110, told students at Brockport's Barclay Elementary School that their new dictionaries would last them a lifetime if they took care of them. more

New BOCES 2 Career and Technical
Education class ready to bloom
Sandy Ponticello, BOCES 2 Career and Technical Education instructional specialist, hopes that everything will be coming up roses for CTEs new class. more

Petitions available for Churchville-Chili board of education seats
Those wishing to run for the Churchville-Chili Central School Board of Education must submit petitions to the district clerk on or before Monday, April 17, 2006 by 5 p.m. more

Skills USA raise awareness of the American spirit
SkillsUSA students at the BOCES 2 Career and Technical Center hosted a Patriotic Salute to the American Spirit. more

Staff related professionals to be recognized in Hilton School District
Hilton Central School District's Employee Association (HCSEA) annually honors one of its own, according to Hilton Central Schools Teaching Assistant Harriet Adams. "Nominees will receive an "Outstanding Employee Award" certificate and a pin to recognize their achievements," Adams said. more

SUNY Brockport announces new programs
SUNY College at Brockport has added two new undergraduate majors and one new graduate program to its offerings. more

SUNY Brockport lands $60K Merck grant
SUNY College at Brockport has received a $60,000 research grant to promote and support collaborative, interdisciplinary undergraduate biology/chemistry research. more

In Sports:

Monroe County Exceptional Senior All-Stars play in Webster on March 18
Brockport Boys Varsity team members Ryan Werner and Justin Worboys have been chosen to participate in this year's Monroe County Boys Exceptional Senior All-Star basketball game. more

Rangers drop final
With just two seniors, Spencerport advanced to the Class AA girl's basketball final before dropping a 50-46 decision to Greece Athena at the Blue Cross Arena. more

Spencerport Ranger athlete commits to Roberts
Laura Willit, a stand out soccer player for the Spencerport Rangers, signed her letter of intent to continue her athletic career at Roberts Wesleyan College. more

SUNY Brockport to host gymnastics national championships
The 2006 Liberty Mutual National Collegiate Gymnastics Association Division III National Championships will be held at SUNY Brockport's Tuttle North Gymnasium Friday and Saturday, March 24-25. more