.

News for the week of
April 8, 2007

In Features:

Brockport passes 2007-08 spending plan
After some discussion, but without much fanfare, Village of Brockport officials passed the 2007-08 budget that brings with it a one percent tax rate decrease. The original budget, discussed at the March 19 public hearing, called for a flat tax with a tax rate of $9.83 per $1,000 of assessed value. more

Firehouse plans studied
The Spencerport Planning Board reviewed structural plans for the Lyell Avenue Station 1 Spencerport firehouse at a public hearing April 3. Representatives from Bergmann Associates architectural firm made a presentation and discussed how questions raised at previous meetings with the board and with village officials had been addressed. more

Genesee, Orleans counties' roads among best in New York
The New York State Department of Transporation (NYSDOT) annual Pavement Condition of New York's Highways report shows state highways in Genesee and Orleans counties rank third and sixth respectively, among all New York state counties based on 2006 pavement conditions. more

Have-a-Heart raises funds for McDonald House
Over one hundred Masons were present for the celebration of the end of this year’s Have-a-Heart campaign at the Damascus Shrine Center in Webster on Saturday, March 31. more

Holley man making the trek to Sweden to study dulcimers
While Nils Caspersson may not have had music running through his veins when he was born, he certainly picked up a love for listening to, researching and building musical instruments - specifically, the dulcimer. It is a hobby that began in 1969 when he was a student at SUNY Fredonia and has lasted for close to 40 years. more

Orleans County 4-H'ers rank in top ten
Nicole Bennett placed fifth and Lorah Moore placed sixth in the nation in the Intermediate Youth Llama Judging Program tracked by ALSA, the Alpaca and Llama Show Association. more

Proposed Hilton village budget comes with tax increase
The tax rate for the Village of Hilton had remained the same for the past budget but for the proposed 2007-08 figures there is a proposed increase of 11 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The rate will go from $2.37 to $2.48 under the new budget. According to Village Clerk Janet Surridge, a taxpayer with a home assessed at $100,000 will see an increase of $11 per year. more

Special districts allow amenities to broad areas
More than one third of all special districts from across New York are in Erie, Monroe and Onondaga counties. According to a press release issued by New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, special improvement districts in municipalities in New York have proliferated over the last 50 years, in large part to address increased residential needs resulting from suburban growth. more

Spencerport Alumni annual dinner funds student scholarships
The Spencerport Alumni Association is planning its 68th Annual Dinner for Friday, June 1. This year's honor classes are the Class of 1957 celebrating its 50th anniversary and the Class of 1947 celebrating its 60th anniversary. more

Street closures approved for Brockport events
When closing a portion of Main Street for an event, merchants and residents on both the north and south sides of the canal must be considered, Village of Brockport Mayor Mort Wexler said. more

Sweden’s Heritage Square
brings mix of housing options
It’s been more than a year since McLean Development, LLC proposed an idea for Heritage Square to Town of Sweden officials, and six months since they gained unanimous approval to rezone 130 acres of land on Redman Road, but Michael McLean, partner, said the project is moving along on schedule. more

In Briefly:

Braddock Bay hosts international migratory bird day
The Bird Coalition of Rochester and the Genesee Valley Audubon Society will host the fifth annual migratory bird day at Braddock Bay Park, East Manitou Road, Greece on May 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, May 13 from noon until 4 p.m. more

Chili man raises money for diabetes research
Dave Lamb of Chili and Michael Bobry of Pittsford successfully rode their bikes for 24 hours straight in a spin-a-thon to raise money for diabetes research. more

Performers raise funds for breast cancer research
Performers from Brockport School of Dance and Performing Arts held a concert to benefit breast cancer research on Sunday, March 4. The concert, which raised $900 for the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, was held at the Rose L. Strasser Studio at SUNY Brockport. more

Spencerport Chamber to hear Greater Rochester Enterprise speaker
Dennis Mullen, recently named President and CEO of Greater Rochester Enterprise, will be the guest speaker at the Spencerport Area Chamber of Commerce monthly lunch meeting on April 18, noon at Pinewood Country Club. more

In Schools:

Abraham Lincoln visits Northwood Elementary
Civil War re-enactor Fritz Klein portrayed President Abraham Lincoln at Northwood Elementary School April 3; a role in which he certainly looked and played the part. more

BOCES 2 Culinary Arts students
take second place in Chili Challenge
BOCES 2 first year Culinary Arts students at the Career and Technical Education Center in Spencerport took second place in Amateur Division of the Chili Challenge at Ontario Beach. more

Community forum for Churchville-Chili
superintendent search April 25
Community members of the Churchville-Chili Central School District are invited to attend a community forum, hosted by the Board of Education, to discuss the search for the next superintendent of schools. more

Hilton High School Drumline wins
10th straight Percussion Circuit Championship
The Hilton HS Winter Drumline won its tenth straight New York State Percussion Circuit Championship on Sunday, April 1, at Central Square, NY. Hilton completed an undefeated season including a win at the WGI Mid-Atlantic Regional in Coatesville, Pennsylvania on March 24. more

Hilton school board holds tax increase to less than two percent
"It's a whole new world of (NYS Department of Education) aid to school systems under the governor (Eliot Spitzer)," Hilton's Superintendent of Business Steve Ayers said. "There are significant increases in resources and accountability under the new formulas." more

Holley students raise funds for leukemia outreach
The Holley Elementary Student Council is helping leukemia patients one penny at a time. They recently launched a penny drive at their school that encouraged students, staff and parents to donate their pennies and spare change to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Pennies for Patients program, which supports blood cancer research, and local patient aid and services. more

Holley students participate in All County Festival
Holley students at the elementary, middle and high schools participated in the second of two music festivals held by the Orleans County Music Educators Association each year. The second festival was held in March at Lyndonville Central School District. more

Holley Transportation Department recognized
The Holley Board of Education recognized the transportation staff with a Soaring to New Heights Award at its March 19 meeting for their quick reaction time in dealing with a fire at the bus garage in February. more

New Visions student graduates from the Police Academy
BOCES 2 New Visions justice professions teacher Marc Ouzer (left), Monroe County Sheriff Patrick O'Flynn, and New Visions student Brian Unterborn (Kendall) pose for a photo at Unterborn's graduation from the Police Academy held at Monroe Community College. more

SkillsUSA students place at statewide competition
SkillsUSA students at BOCES 2 Career and Technical Education Center placed at the statewide SkillsUSA competition at Alfred. more

Spencerport Board of Education approves cuts to reduce spending
The Spencerport School Board of Education on March 27, approved a budget for the 2007-08 school year. Superintendent Mary Anne Kermis says this plan reflects the difficult choices faced by everyone today. more

Spring Story Fest enjoyed by all
Parents and children enjoyed the Hilton Schools 17th Annual Spring Story Fest held March 29 at the Village Elementary School. A special author this year, Jane Kurtz, spoke about her many stories and tales, signed books, and talked to children about being a writer. more

Students perform at jazz fest
The Spencerport Jazz Band, under the direction of John Viavattine, won first place in the large ensemble category and received $10,000 in scholarship funds to Berklee summer programs at the Berklee College of Music High School Jazz Festival. more

In Seniors:

Holley hosting Senior Citizen Appreciation Breakfast
Senior citizens in the Holley Central School District are invited to the Second Annual Senior Citizen Appreciation Breakfast on Thursday, May 3 from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. in the Holley Elementary School Cafetorium. more

In Sports:

Athletic team members volunteer in community
Spencerport varsity athletic teams participated in a volunteer community service/charity project through the Spencerport Student-Athletes Care Program during the 2006-07 winter season. more

Eagles trounce Tigers
Sophomore Kim Morris scored four of her game-high five goals in the first half to stake Brockport to a 9-1 lead on their way to a 12-4 victory over visiting RIT in women's lacrosse. The Golden Eagles led 6-0 before the Tigers got on the scoreboard. more

Raiders sweep six over Lakers
Roberts Wesleyan swept all six singles matches on their way to an 8-1 triumph over Oswego for their third victory of the spring. more

Spencerport wrestler wins national championship
Spencerport wrestler Bryan Bourne won the 160 pound junior class national championship at the NHSCA (National High School Coaches Association) national wrestling championships at Virginia Beach. Bourne, a high school junior All-American wrestler, defeated the 160 pound junior class state champion from Ohio 3-2 in the finals on Friday, March 30. more