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News for the week of
April 9, 2006

In Features:

Alliance launched to promote Erie Canal communities
A new umbrella organization to help regional Erie Canal communities foster tourism, promote historic resources and enhance their canal-side districts was launched in the Village of Brockport. more

An a-mazing drill
The Hamlin Fire Department recently opened a maze on the second story of the building directly behind the main office and fire vehicle storage building. The purpose of the maze is to provide a setting for Mask Confidence Courses which test the skills of interior firemen using full uniforms, including self-contained breathing apparatus, while operating in confined spaces with little or no light to see what is ahead. more

A post-Hurricane Katrina visit to New Orleans
The high voltage snap of the sodium lights powering up overhead sent a shot of adrenaline through me, even though I was already awake. They glimmered dimly, then brightened, revealing rows of cots in formation across the large steel building. more

Brockport officials present budget, hear village residents' comments
Prior to the start of the April 3 public hearing on the Village of Brockport's budget, Mayor Mort Wexler stressed to taxpayers in attendance that the figures were tentative. "This is not the final budget, there is work to be done and it has to be done by the five board members you see before you," he said. more

Brockport puts the lid on trash collection proposal
A proposal which may have reaped financial benefits for residents was pulled at the April 3 Village of Brockport board meeting. more

Cool Kids and GCC's Earth Club team up to celebrate Earth Day April 20
Generation Cool Kids, the student Earth Club of Genesee Community College and the Student Activities Office are working collectively to produce ECO-Fest, a fun and educational program aimed at increasing awareness of important environmental issues and opportunities. more

Decision on Hamlin/Kendall water drawing near
Officials from the towns of Hamlin and Kendall met with residents on March 30 in Kendall to conduct another public hearing on the proposal to switch from the Hamlin/Kendall Water Department to Monroe County Water Authority (MCWA). more

IACC presents Women of the Year awards
The Italian American Community Center (IACC) will hold its Ninth Annual Women of the Year Awards to recognize the accomplishments of Rochester area women of Italian descent. These women represent a cross section of the community, with accomplishments in education, the arts, civic affairs/government, leadership and volunteerism at the IACC. more

Local woman helps the Easter Bunny get homemade candy and treats
Easter is the second largest candy-eating occasion of the year for Americans who consume about seven billion pounds of candy at that time. Diane Rypma does her part by making and selling about 500 pounds of seasonal candy in her Ogden home. more

Nominations sought for MCC Alumni Hall of Fame
Nominations are being accepted for the Monroe Community College Alumni Hall of Fame. The Monroe Community College Foundation's Alumni Council will evaluate nominees based on professional, personal and civic excellence as well as service to MCC and/or its foundation. more

NYS budget includes college funds for fieldhouse project
The adopted state budget contains $15 million in aid to assist in the construction of a new student recreation center/multipurpose fieldhouse at SUNY Brockport. more

Orleans County Youth Court seeks members
Membership applications are being accepted for Orleans County Youth Court. Applicants must be 14 to 18 years of age, residents of Orleans County and in high school. more

Orleans County fire policeman of the year named
On March 15 President of the Orleans County Fire Police Association Jack Curtis Sr. and Vice President David Traxler awarded Secretary/Treasurer Howard Mills the annual Fire Police of the Year Award for 2005. more

Senator Clinton to deliver GCC commencement address
U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will deliver the 2006 commencement address at Genesee Community College. more

Sweden's adopt-a-trail program kicks off
The Town of Sweden Adopt-A-Trail program will begin its sixth season with the opening of the canal on May 1. This is the longest-functioning of the programs on the waterway, with all eight of the original groups still participating. more

In Briefly:

Art Show along the Erie Canal new project of Sweden Senior Center
Artists are invited to participate in a June 10 Art Show and Sale planned by Sweden Senior Center members. Entry forms are available for those interested. more

Clarkson Rodeo Days awarded "Best New Rodeo 2005"
The "Best New Rodeo 2005" Award, based on the level of organization and efficiency of execution for new rodeos, was presented by the members of the American Professional Rodeo Association to Clarkson Rodeo Days, Inc. The local rodeo was selected out of 17 new rodeos in the northeastern region. more

Greeters needed for Brockport Welcome Center
The Village of Brockport is preparing for the second canal season at its Welcome Center. During the 2005 season, 85 volunteer Canalside Greeters staffed the new facility. The village is recruiting volunteers for the upcoming season. more

Spencerport Kiwanis welcomes new members
New members of the Kiwanis Club of Spencerport were inducted at a recent meeting. Doing the honors was Lt. Governor Mike Day of the Genesee Division of Kiwanis International. more

Workshop offers workforce certification in agriculture and horticulture
Cornell Extension of Monroe County will offer an agriculture and horticulture work-force certification program that will provide basic skills and knowledge for working in an entry level position in a greenhouse, small fruit and/or Christmas tree operation. more

Politically Speaking:

Candidate announces Congressional intentions
Jack Davis, the Erie County industrialist who is on a mission to save American jobs, farms and industries, launched his 2006 campaign for U.S. Congress at three stops in New York's 26th Congressional district recently, according to a press release. more

Riga Republicans
honor outgoing officials
Riga Republicans and their friends hosted a celebration in honor of the three outgoing elected officials, former Supervisor Tim Rowe and Councilmen Peter Brundage and Ron Trinkl. Citations recognizing their years of service to the community were presented by the Village of Churchville, County of Monroe and the Riga Republican Committee at the March 25 event. more

Volunteer firefighters, ambulance workers eligible for tax credits
The New York State Legislature, in its final budget proposal, is including a volunteer firefighter and ambulance worker tax credit. A volunteer firefighter scholarship program has also been accepted. In total, these programs will save volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers $29 million in education costs and property taxes. more

In Schools:

Brockport Varsity Club plans Senior Citizen Prom
The Varsity Club at Brockport High School will be sponsoring the 11th annual Senior Citizen Prom. This year's prom will be held at the Sweden Senior Center, 133 State Street, Brockport on Saturday evening, April 29 from 7 to 9 p.m. more

Getting a different perspective
Holley third grader Bradley Pritchard gets down to eye level to draw blocks from different perspectives as part of a Project ADEPT (A Diversified Enrichment Program for the Talented) through BOCES 2. more

Hilton High School winter drumline places first
The 37-member Hilton Winter Drumline placed first in the WGI Northeast Regional competition Saturday, April 1 in Stratford, Connecticut. Hilton competed against other ensembles from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, Virginia and New Hampshire. more

Holley inducts 19 into National Junior Honor Society
The Holley Chapter of the National Junior Honor Society welcomed 19 new members in a ceremony held in late March. NJHS officers began the ceremony by describing the qualities for membership - scholarship, character, service, leadership and citizenship - and lit a candle representing each. more

Holley Odyssey of the Mind
team competes at state level
Holley's Middle School/High School Division II team competed in the Odyssey of the Mind (OM) state competition in Binghamton after placing first in the regional competition in Wilson, NY earlier this year. more

In Seniors:

Chili Senior Center programs
Defensive Driving - AARP driving course offered at the Chili Senior Center on July 11 and 16 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Must attend both sessions. $10 per person. Must register in advance. Sign up early. (June is filled). more

Keeping seniors supplied and savvy with computers
I was a complete stranger to Roger Walsh when he drove up beside me in a Brockport parking lot. He asked me to retrieve the page of driving directions that had fallen behind his seat. more

In Sports:

12-under edge in nationals
The Rochester Edge 12-and-Under Girl's ice hockey team, using four westside players, competed in the national championships at the Amherst Pepsi Center in Buffalo. more

Rangers end early
An April snow forced the early end to Spencerport's boy's lacrosse game against Webster Schroeder due to dangerous field conditions with the Warriors winning 10-3. The game was called with 8:28 remaining in the third quarter. more

Schworm 4 RBI's leads Saints
Freshman Greg Schworm knocked two runs with a double in the third inning and two more in an eight-run fifth inning to lead Churchville-Chili to a 20-3 victory over Wheatland-Chili in their first baseball game of the 2006 season. more

Section V All-County Basketball All-Stars
Brockport Varsity basketball players Ryan Werner and Lindsay Hage were selected as second team All-County Players for the 2005-2006 season. Ryan and Lindsay were also awarded the Bud Lester Memorial Award for leading their teams in assists, steals and three point shots made. more

Six westside athletes selected as finalists
for WHAM Sportswomen awards
Six local standout athletes have been selected as finalists for 2005-06 awards sponsored by Newsradio 1180 WHAM. They will be at the Head Table at the 28th Annual WHAM Sportswomen of the Year Awards Luncheon on Monday, April 24 at the Clarion Riverside Hotel. more

Spencerport Lions Club honors basketball team
At their April 5 meeting, the Spencerport Lions Club honored the Spencerport Varsity Basketball Team and their coach, Josh Harter, for display of sportsmanship during the basketball game with Greece Athena. more

Teams help out community
Spencerport varsity athletic teams participated in volunteer community service/charity projects through the Spencerport Student-Athletes Care Program during the 2005-06 winter season. more