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News for the week of
April 2, 2006

In Features:

Braddock Bay Raptor Research celebrates spring migration
A Bald eagle, a Broad-winged hawk and a Turkey vulture are just three of the raptors that will help celebrate spring migration over Braddock Bay April 15 to 23. Braddock Bay Raptor Research (BBRR) is sponsoring its 18th annual celebration of Bird of Prey Week (BOP) in and around Braddock Bay Park, its lodge and its hawkwatching platform. more

Brockport shaves some off tentative budget
The Village of Brockport board is "working diligently" to lower the proposed tax rate increase, Village Manager Ian Coyle said. When the tentative budget was presented on March 15, it brought with it an 11.38 percent increase and now, Coyle said, the board has reduced it to single digits. more

Canal Corporation seeking nominations
for Canalway Trail Adopt-a-Trail award
The New York State Canal Corporation announced it is seeking nominations for Adopt-A-Trail groups on the Canalway Trail that deserve special recognition for their outstanding efforts and commitment to maintaining the Trail. The winning group will be announced by Canal Corporation Director Carmella R. Mantello at the Quality Canals for Quality Community Conference at the Burgundy Basin Inn in Perinton, on April 26. more

Lakeside appoints CEO and COO
The Board of Directors of Lakeside Health System announced the appointment of Kevin C. Nacy as chief executive officer of Lakeside Health System and president of Lakeside Memorial Hospital. Michael Perry was appointed chief operating officer of Lakeside Health System and president of the Lakeside Beikirch Care Center. The appointments are effective immediately. more

Ogden appoints new fire marshal
Jim McKinney has been on the job for a little more than a month and said he is still making the rounds of introducing himself to town residents and working with town officials. more

Ogden committee studies open space plan for future
Drawing a blueprint for the future of the Town of Ogden is how Rod Stettner describes the process of Ogden's Open Space Committee. more

Riga Republican Committee offers citizenship award
The Riga Republican Committee announced it will offer its third annual Citizenship Award in the amount of $500. This year's Citizenship Award has been named the Dean Arlidge Citizenship Award, in memory of the late Dean Arlidge whose contributions to the community were tremendous, according to committee members. more

Spencerport village taxpayers may see increase
Village of Spencerport Mayor Ted Walker said the tax rate increase that will be presented to the public at a meeting on April 5 was an anticipated one. more

Village of Brockport receives urban forestry grant
Through its Urban Forestry Program, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) awarded the Village of Brockport a $4,040 grant to hire a consultant to create a comprehensive inventory and assessment of trees in the village. more

In Briefly:

Byron-Bergen Alumni Hall of Fame seeking nominations
The Byron-Bergen Alumni Hall of Fame was established in 2003, and is a partnership between the Byron-Bergen Educational Foundation and the board of education. The purpose of the Alumni Hall of Fame is two-fold: to recognize the achievements and contributions of the district's graduates to society, and to provide students with positive role models. Up to four Hall of Fame inductees will be selected this year. more

Hamlin Post Office earns
5-Star customer service award
The Hamlin Post Office has been recognized as a five-star Post Office. The Gallup Organization surveys USPS customers, asking them to rate local Post Offices on efficiency, accuracy of delivery, consistency of delivery and wait-time in line. more

Set of books awarded to local libraries
Congressman Thomas M. Reynolds announced that nine Western New York school libraries have each been awarded a set of classic books on the American experience, made possible through the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) We the People Bookshelf program. more

Small business improvement act announced
Assemblyman Bill Reilich (R,I,C-Greece) chair of the Assembly Republican Task Force on Small Business in New York state, hosted a meeting of 40 Rochester-area small businesses to discuss concerns and share his plan to improve New York state's small business climate. more

Politically Speaking:

Hanny Heyen announces candidacy for Brockport village board
Hannelore (Hanny) Heyen will seek a seat on the Brockport village board of trustees in the June election. A village resident since 1967, Heyen said she believes her years of government experience and public service would be an asset to Brockport. more

In Schools:

Byron-Bergen school district earns safety excellence award
Byron-Bergen Central School District is one of 67 school districts and Board of Cooperative Educational Services in the state to receive the "2006 School Safety Excellence Award" from the Utica National Insurance Group. more

Clarendon supervisor recognizes Holley honor students
Clarendon Town Supervisor Richard Moy recognized 96 Holley Middle and High School honor students who live in the town of Clarendon. more

Holley seventh grader receives "Soaring to New Heights Award"
Holley seventh grader Jennie Hundley was the recipient of the March "Soaring to New Heights Award." She accepted her certificate at the board of education meeting on March 20. more

Roberts is the only New York state college in Top 10
Roberts Wesleyan College is the nation's number three best value private college according to The Princeton Review. The New York-based education services company features it on its "Top 10 Best Value Private Colleges" ranking list and profiles the school in the 2007 edition of its book, America's Best Value Colleges. more

Three vacancies on Hilton Board of Education vote in May
There will be three positions on the ballot for the Hilton Central School District Board of Education at the May 16 Budget Vote and Board Election. more

In Seniors:

Hilton-Parma senior community plans dinner
Hilton-Parma Senior Citizens, as well as senior center participants and guests, are invited to a Community Dinner Celebration on Saturday, April 29 at the Hilton Exempt Club, on South Avenue, Hilton. more

In Sports:

Bright Raven gymnasts compete in Jamestown
Bright Raven Gymnastic Teams traveled to Jamestown, NY to participate in the Lucky Stars Invitational held March 17-19, bringing home two team banners and taking many individual honors. more

Bulka repeats as national champion
Junior Sarah Bulka became the first in National Collegiate Gymnastics Association history to repeat as national champion when she took All-Around honors at the 2006 championships hosted by SUNY Brockport. more

Dennstedt gets Eagles win
Churchville-Chili grad Jake Dennstedt picked up the victory in relief as SUNY Brockport returned from the southern portion of their schedule with a 5-1 win over the University of Rochester at the Clark Whited baseball/softball complex. The win marked the team's third in a row. more

Getting ready for the season
The weekend of March 25 - Holley Hawks Varsity Baseball Coach Jason Cole gathered up his baseball players and together they raked the infield, installed a new home plate and did some other field work to prepare for the upcoming season. more

Hilton Select 7/8 grade finishes
season with tournament title
The Hilton Select 7/8 grade boys basketball team finished their season during the weekend of March 17-20 by capturing the Spring Fling Tournament Championship at the U of R with a record of 4-0 in their division. more

Ice Bandits take home trophy
The Monroe County Youth Hockey Ice Bandits won the 2006 Pepsi Hockey Invitational in Buffalo the weekend of March 10-12. The players, all from Hilton and Greece, competed in the Pee Wee Atlantic Division and went undefeated in four games. more

Kayakers in Training
The scene at the Merton Williams School Aquatic Center in Hilton on a recent Saturday afternoon was a little chaotic, with kayaks moving in all directions as students prepared to learn the Eskimo roll from Instructors Harry Weidman and Dave Klafehn. more

League winners
The Tri-County Youth Hockey, Pee Wee Major Travel Team had an overall record of 45-9-9 with league, tournaments and scrimmages. They finished with two tournament wins, finished second in two others, a league championship as well as State and Northeastern Championships. more

Roberts Wesleyan College men's soccer team to sign local players
Eleven Section Five high school soccer players are signing a NAIA Letter of Intent to play soccer for the Roberts Wesleyan College Men's Soccer Team in the fall. more

Spencerport basketball team
shows true sportsmanship
Over the last few weeks, much well deserved attention has been given to 17 year-old Greece Athena senior Jason McElwain, also known as J-Mac, for his basketball success. But a piece of this story lies largely untold, the story of how the opposing Spencerport team showed true sportsmanship and respect for Jason, who is autistic, in his moment of glory. more