It happened in 2004...

Compiled from the pages of Suburban News and The Herald.
Want more info about these items? Visit our news archives at www.westsidenewsonline.com/archives.html.
The issue date of each news item is listed at the end of the entry.

SPORTS
Spencerport’s Sam Paolini received an early Christmas present when he was signed to a one-day American Hockey League contract with the Cleveland Barons. He picked up a third period assist in the game in which Cleveland won 3-0. 1-4

The Brockport Blue Devil netters won the sectional championships against Greece Arcadia to take their second Section Five girl’s volleyball title in three years. 3-7

The cancellation of a women’s softball league was called distressful by players. The Spencerport league that played at Pineway Ponds Park in Ogden was disbanded because of decreasing participation by women from the Ogden area. 4-11

SUNY Brockport makes it to the NCAA Tourney with Hilton’s John Morgan as the first team all-star. 5-9

The Spencerport Rangers varsity football team kicked off their season on a new field. The stadium features an all weather track, seating for 1,500 and the field is set in a bowl configuration. 8-29

Hilton native and freshman goaltender Mike Collichio was named among the top 10 goaltenders in the country in save percentage and minutes played through Thanksgiving in his first year of college. 12-12

EVENTS
Brockport’s Firefighters Memorial Monument was featured in a nationally published book called “Firefighters.” 1-4

A new organizer joined in the planning of the Spencerport Canal Days for 2004 leading to a bigger, improved festival. 2-29

As part of the celebration of Brockport’s 175 anniversary, an historic postmark was designed to commemorate the landmark occasion. 3-28

Geocaching – a kind of global Easter Egg Hunt – is catching on across the area. Rachael Woodams, the communications coordinator for the New York Geocaching Organization, said there are 20 caches within an eight mile radius of the Village of Hilton. Go to www.geocaching.com for information. 5-23

Residents deal with the effects of rainstorms that flood the area on May 24. 5-30

Brockport village officials announce plans to open its first farmers market. Market days were Sundays from June until the end of October. 6-27

An historical marker was unveiled at the Lake Ontario end of Norway Road in Kendall on October 16. It commemorates the first settlement of the first group of Norwegian immigrants to North America. They arrived at that site in October 1825, numbering 53, after a journey of more than three months. They crossed the Atlantic in a 54-foot sloop and therefore are called “The Sloopers.” 10-3

PASSAGES
Community leader and county legislator Dennis Pelletier, 54, died suddenly on February 2 while in Albany. 2-8

Bergen’s Mayor Thomas LeSage was credited for many projects during his tenure. He died March 18 following a battle with cancer. 3-28

Bill Jennejahn, lifelong Hamlin resident, counted among one of the greatest volunteers in Hamlin, succumbed to cancer at the age of 64. He died on December 28. 1-11

Town of Sweden assessor Alan Bader died suddenly on Thursday, June 24. The town not only lost a long-term dedicated employee, it also lost a man devoted to his community. Mr. Bader, 54, died at his home on Frazier Street from heart failure. He had served as Sweden’s assessor for 28 years and was the longest-serving town or village assessor in Monroe County. Mr. Bader was also liaison to the Monroe County Community Development Block Grant program and served as the town’s building inspector and code enforcement officer. 7-4

Former Ogden Telephone Company CEO Maxine Davison died October 10.

BUSINESS
Wal-Mart proposes to construct a supercenter in Brockport on Route 31 just east of the Route 19 intersection. A citizens group, STAND (Sweden Taxpayers Against Needless Development), opposes the construction. 1-11

A public hearing was held in Sweden at which time Wal-Mart stated its case for the need for a supercenter. More than 300 people attended the hearing. Most of them voiced opposition to the plan saying it would negatively impact the environment, the traffic flow and would cause increased criminal activity. 2-15

The Brown family – of Brown’s Berry Patch – celebrated 200 years of history and farming with a gala celebration on June 26. 7-4

The life of a farmer may not be the life for everyone but for Jeff and Lora Partyka, it is their dream and has been since 1985. “When Jeff and I married, this land was all fruit farm,” Lora said. But eventually she took the marketing background she acquired while growing up on her parent’s farm in Niagara County and combined it with Jeff’s expertise in growing things, and little by little Partyka Farms grew to provide many products and events. 10-10

PEOPLE
Benjamin Robert Myers was welcomed by his parents, Michele and Gregory, on January 3. He was the first baby of the year born at Lakeside. 1-18

Golfers couldn’t resist hitting the links when the temperatures reached 60 degrees on January 3. 1-11

Westside News Inc. profiled Willard Pengelly, called “the ultimate entrepreneur,” who has found business in every corner of his life. He is an octogenarian who is known nationally in the area of veterinary medicine and he is the seventh generation of his family to have raised sheep at his Churchville home. 1-25

While renovating his farmhouse, Joe Reinschmidt unearths copies of The Buffalo Evening News, The Post Express and the Union and Advertiser from 1895 and 1896. 1-25

The Spencerport Post Office bids farewell to long-time employee Bonnie Callaghan. She retired on February 27 after more than 22 years with the post office. 2-22

PFC Suzanne Hicks was welcomed home on April 12 after serving in Iraq as an MP with the 64th MP CO, 720th MP Battalion. She is the daughter of Tom and Shari Hicks of Ogden. 4-18

Hilton family physician Leon Zoghlin was honored by the medical society and was presented the Edward Mott Moore Award. 4-25

Roberts Wesleyan scholar Alexander Angelov, from Bulgaria, graduates at the top of his class. He graduated in May as valedictorian and was only the second undergraduate student to have achieved a 4.0 GPA. 5-9

Churchville native and Marine, Brian Chontosh, received the naval service’s second highest award, the Navy Cross. 6-6

Westside News Inc. noted a Brockport resident’s connection to late President Ronald Reagan who died in early June. Laurie Gurnett met him when he came to Brockport in the 1950s. 6-20

Don and Donna Lowry were honored by the Town of Clarkson board for their achievements with Lifetime Assistance, an organization they founded in 1978. 7-25

Three women from West Wautoma Beach set out to conquer Lake Ontario for the second year – by making a trip around the lake on their jet skis. 8-8

For more than 50 years, a painting by former German prisoner of war Kurt Schmale remained tucked away in the duct work of a Hamlin home. Homeowner Bill Faill unearthed the brightly colored painting of a parrot during a renovation project. He is actively seeking information about the painter. 9-26

Brian LeSchander completed 3,000 skydiving jumps in September 2004. He has been skydiving and jumping since he was 15. He is now 50. 9-19

Maxine Davison and her first husband, Donald, came to Spencerport in 1942 when he purchased the Ogden Telephone Company. Mrs. Davison was known for being polished, impeccably mannered, yet tough as nails in business and she endeared herself to the community. Westside News Inc. documented her life and contributions. 9-12

Father Enrique Cadena, newly appointed pastor of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Holley, traveled a long and winding path before finding his home in Holley. His priorities include building the congregation and continuing the parish’s outreach efforts. 8-15

Brockport teen, John O’Connor III’s, super stock car carries him to soapbox victory. 8-15

Paul and Jean Miller took another step in their amazing journey together when they completed the almost 6,000 miles that make up the Great Loop. They made the trip in their boat over a period of several months. 8-8

Hilton Lions Club Secretary Bill Manley presented Lion Rick Miller with the “Lion of the Year” plaque for the 2003-2004 service year. Miller had served as an officer and participated in almost all the activities of the club during the past year. 10-3

The Spencerport Lions Club continues to work behind the scenes to raise money for the Daugherty family to help improve life for Erika, who was injured in a car-bicycle accident. At the top of the list of necessary purchases is a van. 10-10

The National Book Foundation named William Heyen, SUNY Brockport professor of English and poet emeritus, a finalist for a 2004 National Book Award for his book of poetry, Shoah Train (Etruscan Press). The book is a collection of more than 70 poems Heyen has written on the topic of the Holocaust over the last dozen years. Shoah is the Hebrew word for annihilation. 10-24

Adams Basin couple Wil and Judy Hunter’s interests reach far into community life and their acts of kindness have ripple effects in benefiting others. The Hunters are as much a part of the fabric that makes up the small hamlet of Adams Basin as is the Erie Canal. It sometimes seems they’ve been there forever, but that’s not the case; both are originally from small towns in Pennsylvania. An article told of their interests. 11-7

Lara VerHulst, a Spencerport resident and a student at Nazareth Academy, will never forget the summer of 2004. Accompanied by her mom, Mary VerHulst, Lara spent most of the summer traveling the United States auditioning for the popular TV series, American Idol (AI). 11-4

Richard Noah is a retired plumber with one big pipe dream. The 80-year-old Spencerport resident has vivid memories of his Buffalo childhood going to as many shows at the Shea’s Performing Art Center as possible. It was there that Noah fell in love with the melodic sounds that poured out of the pipe organ and decided he needed to build one of his own, in his basement. 11-21

GOVERNMENT
Newly elected Town of Chili Supervisor Tracy Logel calls for cooperation between the community and the board. 1-18

The Town of Sweden appoints Bill Weber as the new building inspector. 8-1

Churchville Mayor Don Ehrmentraut and his wife, Maureen, announce their decision to sell their Touch of Country Class Gift Shop and Florist. 1-25

As of early February, many municipalities were feeling the strain on their budgets as they struggled to keep up with snow removal from the snowy start to 2004. 2-15

The long tradition of town versus town in Kendall and Hamlin continues with the annual euchre tournament – a 50-year tradition. Hamlin prevailed in the 2004 match up. 2-22

Brockport officials host fast ferry, tourism presentations. The Spirit of Ontario, a five-story high hulled transport capable of carrying over 250 passengers, made several trips to Toronto once it made it to the Port of Rochester at Charlotte, but financial woes terminated trips in August. The water craft may be sold at auction and the City of Rochester may be its new owner. 3-14

Sweden and Ogden began working on an inter-municipality agreement to share animal holding facilities. 3-28

Town of Riga officials cut the ribbon on a new town hall and court. 1-25

Town of Ogden taxpayers received an Easter surprise in the form of reassessments. 4-18

Politics heat up in Brockport as for the first time, partisan politics enters the arena in the June election. 6-6

Residents in the Village of Holley have a contested mayoral race between trustee Skip Carpenter and political newcomer Tom O’Neill. Carpenter would claim the victory. (3-7)

Sweden appoints a new town clerk, Janet Olivieri, in the wake of the retirement of long time clerk Gail DeToy. 3-28

Village of Brockport Trustee Peter DeToy bids the board a fond farewell at the June 21 board meeting. He retired after having served on the board since 1993. 6-27

Hamlin residents questioned the legitimacy of Jim Breslawski’s position on the Town of Hamlin Planning Board because they say he doesn’t reside in Hamlin. 2-8

Carrie Maziarz is appointed vice mayor in the Village of Brockport following her recent election to the board of trustees. 7-25

More than 100 residents in the Town of Clarendon will reap the benefits of a $642,000 low interest loan from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development when they gain access to public water. 10-24

More than 300 residents, concerned over proposed changes at the Mill Seat Landfill, gathered on October 27 to hear what town and county officials had to say regarding a decision that involves the Town of Riga and Monroe County changing the host agreement package for the Mill Seat Landfill and possibly accepting waste from outside the county. 10-31

The newly elected receiver of taxes in the Town of Sweden was appointed to the position of town clerk by town officials at the November 9 meeting. Karen Sweeting, who recently ran unopposed for the position of receiver of taxes, was appointed to fill the town clerk position vacated by Janet Olivieri, who cited personal reasons for her resignation. 11-14

FIRE DEPARTMENTS
Christian McCullough, a 20-year veteran with the Brockport Fire Department, was installed as fire chief on December 31 following the retirement of long time chief Greg Wing. 1-18

Brockport commemorates the third anniversary of 9/11 with a ceremony that also honored the late fire chief D. Scott Warthman and also unveiled a living memorial to long serving fire fighter Everett Kenyon. 9-19

The Brockport Fire Department donates a historic fire truck, Pumper 2312, to the Fireman’s Association Museum in Hudson, N.Y. The truck door panels display examples of the late Scott Warthman’s talent as a gold leaf artist. 9-12

With the help of $229,700 in loans and grants, the Hamlin Fire Department has constructed a fire training and community activity building. The new building replaces a 40-year old pavilion-style building. 10-10

Brockport Firefighters cut the ribbon and dedicated the new Live Burn Training Facility at the old Owens-Illinois site, on Owens Road just north of the railroad tracks. 10-24

COMMUNITY
BISCO donates more than $8,000 each to Lakeside Memorial Hospital and to the Brockport Fire Department. The money was raised during the annual Brockport Summer Arts Festival held annually in August. 1-25

Members of Stop Polluting Our Community (SPOC) have rallied for more than a decade to keep Waste Management from constructing a new landfill in Albion. The case went to court in late January to address compliance issues. 2-1

Drivers heading through the Village of Spencerport were warned they would be faced with detours as the Route 259 bridge over the Erie Canal would be closed July 26 for two weeks for repairs. 2-29

A survey sent to residents in Hamlin shows that the residents like the town as it is and they urge town officials to keep the rural flavor of the community. 3-7

Clean up in Brockport of the 3M/Dynacolor site called for molasses being pumped into the ground as a way for harmful bacteria and chemicals to be leeched out of the ground. 3-7

Holley’s Diaz Chemical Plant is under consideration to be added to the state’s Superfund list. The plant had a chemical release in January 2002 as well as other chemical spills during the time it was in operation. The plant was operational for 30 years. 3-14

Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War present a book, The Regimental History of the 108th New York Volunteers, to the Ogden Farmers’ Library. The book is a reproduction of a rare book which the library has in its collection. 3-21

Plans for a Brockport visitor center and Erie Canal museum move forward as community members form a committee to work toward the purchase and renovation of a building to house the center. 3-28

A trolley depot that was in use from 1908 to 1931 in the Village of Spencerport is being restored by a citizens group. Plans for the restored trolley depot call for the upper level to house a visitor center with historical displays and possible ticket sales for Erie Canal boat and /or canoe rentals. It is hoped that the first floor will have public restrooms and shower facilities. 4-11

Restoration begins on Clarkson’s historic school house when shingles from the old roof are removed and a new roof is installed. The school discontinued operations in 1956 and the Clarkson Historical Society took over the building in 2003 and began renovations. 4-18

Hamlin Public Library celebrated a growth spurt on April 24. The facility doubled in size from 1,600 square feet to more than 3,000 square feet. The library boasts a circulation of 52,400. 5-2

More than 14,600 Steelhead trout were pumped into Sandy Creek in Hamlin by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation. They were in addition to 5,000 Steelhead that were released into Salmon Creek in Parma. On April 30 Chinook salmon fingerlings were also released. 5-9

SPOC wins their landfill lawsuit in Albion against Waste Management, which effectively prevents them from building a landfill in the town. 5-30

More opportunities for fun, especially for those who don’t mind getting wet, were planned for Pineway Ponds Park in Ogden when it installed a state-of-the-art water splash unit. 6-13

The Town of Bergen Historical Society began another task in their quest to preserve the town’s history for future generations – they began refurbishing the old Harford House barn and livery. 7-11

Diaz Chemical in Holley was named to the EPA Superfund site list. 8-1

The hotly debated Fairfield Place housing development received rezoning approval but will still have to go before the Parma Town Board one more time before continuing on to the town’s planning board. 5-23

Developers respond to residents’ questions concerning Hamlin’s proposed East Cove Senior Apartments and Millstream Subdivision. Home values of existing residences, taxes and drainage were among the concerns raised. 2-1

Work was halted temporarily at the site of the Brockport Visitor Center and canalside museum when tests indicated that excavated soil might be contaminated with petroleum. 8-22

Copies of the Brockport Democrat were found in the attic of Java Junction, a Main Street, Brockport business. The newspaper was published in the late 1850s. 8-15

From home gardeners to cash crop farmers, the harvest report yielded the same complaint – Mother Nature has not had much of a nurturing effect on the crops in August. Sun and hot days were scarce while rain was plentiful. 8-22

The St. Rocco’s Festival in Holley rekindles Italian heritage as people come from near and far to enjoy Italy’s food and culture. 9-5

States of emergency were declared in the villages of Hilton, Brockport and Spencerport and the Town of Ogden as they attempt to deal with the rainfalls that plagued the area on September 8 and 9 as the aftermath of Hurricane Frances moved north. The Hilton Fire Department headquarters were flooded with several feet of water and some residents of Village II Apartments lost furnishings and belongings and had to relocate. 9-12

Flood recovery and clean up continues following recent rainstorms that dumped up to 12 inches of rain in places. A Hilton couple, Fred and Agnes Harrington, were affected twice by Hurricane Frances – at their home in Hilton and at a home they own in Florida. 9-19

Brockport Free Methodist Church is a recipient of the 2004 Church Health Award from Purpose Driven. For the past five years, Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, and its church leadership affiliated ministry, Purpose Driven, have honored selected churches that have shown fruitfulness from their effort to implement the Purpose Driven Church paradigm. 10-3

With the fall harvest season in full swing, a walk down Market Street in Brockport Sunday mornings became a sensory treat. Countless varieties of pumpkins, peppers, apples and squash catch the eye while the rich smells of hot apple cider, homemade doughnuts and fresh roasted coffee fill the air. A series of special social, health and cultural events were scheduled during market hours. 10-3

A $34 million highway project to reconstruct State Route 104 (West Ridge Road) in the Town of Greece, Monroe County was announced by NYSDOT Commissioner Joseph Boardman. Project elements include the reconstruction of Route 104 (Ridge Road) between the intersection at Elmgrove/North Greece Road and NY 390. The existing pavement will be reconstructed and widened to accommodate three lanes of travel in both directions, with dedicated right turn lanes and a raised median. The drainage system will be replaced. 10-17

The new YMCA on Elmgrove Road in Gates officially opened on October 18. According to Mary Kay Walrath, communications director for the YMCA of Greater Rochester, “We’ve had 1,400 membership signups at this branch so far, which includes families, so the actual membership is in the thousands and we expect several hundred more.” The Y expects the major draw to be from the westside communities. 10-17

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management (FEMA) and the New York State Emergency Management Office (SEMO) opened a Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) at the Ogden Town Hall to assist those who suffered losses and damages as a direct result of the severe storms that occurred August 13 to September 16. 11-28

Town of Riga officials and residents are divided over the proposed changes to the Host Agreement for the Mill Seat Landfill. Some Riga officials and town residents are upset that the town is considering a change to the Mill Seat Landfill host agreement package and are concerned about impacts on the community now and in the future. Some say the benefits to residents could be lucrative, but many only see the darker side of any changes to the landfill’s host agreement. Heavier traffic to and from the landfill and safety concerns top the issues. 12-19

Congress approved $1 million for the redevelopment of Big Ridge Road and $2 million for the redevelopment of Mill Road. The funds were included in the Fiscal Year 2005 Transportation Appropriations bill which passed Congress before Thanksgiving. 12-5

A gash in an underground pipe in the Erie Canal in Gates that spilled close to 30,000 gallons of fuel, migrated west toward Adams Basin and on to the Village of Brockport. The leak was discovered on December 15. The events surrounding the gash in the pipe are under investigation. Crews were working to mitigate the spill and soak up the fuel. The head of the spills unit of the Department of Environmental Conservation, Bruce Finster, contacted Village of Brockport Mayor Josephine Matela and assured her that everything possible was being done to mitigate the gas spill and collect it. 12-26

POLICE DEPARTMENTS
Two Brockport police officers – Joe Morabito and Stephen Mesiti – were honored for heroism in their efforts to evacuate people from a laundromat site that had caught fire. 2-15

As a way to cut costs, officials in the Village of Brockport consider cutting a police shift. It was a move that Mayor Josephine Matela called irresponsible. 3-21

Ogden Patrolman Ken Olson retires following more than 20 years in law enforcement. 4-4

Police Chief Christian Schrank retires from his Ogden post. He served since 1992. 7-4

Douglas Nordquist joins the Ogden Police force as its new chief. He replaced Chris Schrank who served for 12 years before retiring in mid-July. 7-25

The Village of Brockport Police Department’s purchase of Tasers raised safety questions with residents. 7-25

Service plaques were presented to Police Sergeants Dale Barton and Thomas Quartley of the Ogden Police Department. 9-26

Brockport Police Officers Christopher Curley, Steve Mesiti and Ralph Gleason received Certificates of Appreciation at the 2004 Monroe County Traffic Safety Board/Monroe County STOP-DWI Program Eighth Annual Safety Awards Luncheon. 11-21

For more than 20 years, people in the Ogden-Parma area could quickly identify Chuck Henderson by the dark blue Sheriff’s deputy uniform that he wore. Now they will have to get used to seeing him in different garb because on Friday, November 19, he retired from the police force. 11-28

The Brockport Police Department earned accreditation after working for more than two years to achieve that goal. The department was recognized at a ceremony hosted by Monroe County officials. With Brockport’s receiving accreditation, Monroe County is the first county in the state to have all of its departments accredited. 12-12

SCHOOLS
Brockport High School is named one of 30 model high schools nationally by the International Center for Leadership in Education. 3-14

The Churchville-Chili Junior High School’s Odyssey of the Mind team captures first place and heads to state competition. 3-21

More than 500 students in the Holley Elementary School are treated to a healthy breakfast every morning as part of a grant funded program the district received. 3-28

Students in Brockport’s Hill Elementary school received a care package from Fleet Logistics Supply Squadron. They began corresponding with members of the squadron and received correspondence back from members. 5-23

The BOCES Therapeutic Day Treatment Program for middle school students opened in a separate facility at the Taylor Elementary School in Spencerport. It was a move that has upset some parents because they say they weren’t notified of the district’s decision prior to its taking place and, more importantly they say, because the move could potentially endanger the kindergarten through fifth grade students already housed in the building. 11-7

Spencerport Central School District Superintendent Phillip W. Langton announces he will retire at the end of the 2004-05 academic year. 11-7