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News for the week of
March 11, 2007

In Features:

Bergen business owner already rebuilding
The smoke had barely cleared when Barry Miller, owner of Miller's Millworks, Inc. in Bergen, said he was out shopping for some replacement tools and planning to return to an undamaged corner of this razed building and continue working. more

Churchville vision plan presented
On March 13, the Village of Churchville will hold a public meeting to present its vision plan for the village's future. The process of creating a vision plan began last year with the assistance of the Rochester Regional Community Design Center (RRCDC). more

Growing up Irish
My father, Seamus McGinnity, came to America from Ireland in 1957 with a suitcase and a dream for a better life. My mother, Bridget Garvey McGinnity, is the daughter of Irish immigrants; both my maternal grandparents immigrated to America from Ireland, my grandfather in 1924 and grandmother in 1925. more

Holley district still exploring construction options
Holley Superintendent of Schools Robert D'Angelo said the process of exploring construction options under the state education department's EXCEL program are continuing. more

Local man part of city bridge design team
Steve Percassi Jr., an Associate Structural Engineer, is framed by the Troup-Howell Bridge in downtown Rochester. Part of the design team which worked on this bridge from 2000 to 2004, he lives in Churchville and works for Erdman Anthony and Associates, Inc. Currently, he helps in inspecting and making sure the bridge construction is properly done, in collaboration with engineers from Ravi Engineers and Bergman Associates. more

Power Authority offers free trees for
community-owned electric systems
Concerned that a substantial portion of the trees in some communities were uprooted in recent snowstorms, New York Power Authority (NYPA) President and Chief Executive Officer Timothy S. Carey is urging the state's 51 municipal electric systems and rural cooperatives to take advantage of a NYPA tree planting program. more

Public hearing set on Hamlin wind tower moratorium
A public hearing to gather information from the public on a potential moratorium on wind tower construction will be held at the Hamlin Town Hall on Monday, March 12 beginning at 7 p.m. The public hearing will be held as part of the regular board meeting. more

Three scouts earn Eagle ranks
Three boys from Troop 165 in Spencerport were sworn in as Eagle Scouts in 2006. The boys are residents of Spencerport and Gates. They are Johnny McGreevy, John Stoffel and Doug Hampton. The Charter Organization (sponsor) for Troop 165 is St. John the Evangelist Church of Spencerport. more

In Briefly:

Hilton area volunteers will review hurricane recovery team trip
A team of volunteers from the Hilton area will present an overview of work that was done in Gulfport, Mississippi November 5-12 to help rebuild from Katrina. There will be two presentations that are open to the community and will include photographs from the work-site and Gulfport area as well as an update for how the funding provided by team supporters was used. more

Mardi Gras Ball a success
On Saturday, February 10, the Brockport Kiwanis Club held its Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball at Hickory Ridge Country Club. The event was open to the public and featured live music by the Brockport Community Big Band. more

Spencerport Fire Department
receives insurance settlement
The Spencerport Fire District received a fire insurance settlement check for $1.4 million March 7 at Spencerport Insurance offices. Michael White, (left) marketing manager for broker McNeil & Company from Cortland, NY, delivered the check from the Arch Insurance Company for the loss of Station 1 on Lyell Avenue. more

Spencerport Forum on Building Project March 13
Residents in the Spencerport Central School District can learn about the proposed 2007 Capital Project at a public forum on Tuesday, March 13 at 6:45 p.m. at the District Office Building, 71 Lyell Avenue in Spencerport. more

Politically Speaking:

Q & A with the Candidates for Churchville Village Trustee
Vote for two of the four candidates on Tuesday, March 20, Churchville Village Offices, noon to 9 p.m. more

Riga Republican Committee seeks candidates for November election
The Riga Republican Committee is seeking residents who are interested in serving their community in an elected position in the Town of Riga. more

Trustee unopposed for Churchville Mayor post
Trustee Nancy Steedman is running unopposed for the post of mayor of Churchville. Don Ehrmentraut decided not to seek reelection to the office after serving as mayor for 20 years. more

In Schools:

BCSD parents and community invited to "Rachel's Challenge"
Brockport High School and Middle School students will see the powerful one-hour "Rachel's Challenge" presentation by Nichole Nolan, one of Rachel's friends who survived the carnage in the library the day of the Columbine tragedy. more

Holley Board recognizes Sports Boosters
The Holley Board of Education recognized the Holley Sports Boosters with a Soaring to New Heights Award at its February 26 meeting for the many contributions the organization makes to the school district. more

Holley celebrates Music in Our Schools month
Holley students at the elementary, middle and high schools participated in the first of two music festivals held by the Orleans County Music Educators Association each year. "The festivals are a very positive experience providing a significant, challenging and rewarding musical experience for talented students," said Elementary Band Instructor Amy Harris. more

Holley pre-K and kindergarten registration held March 21 only
Registration for children starting pre-kindergarten or kindergarten in the Holley Central School District in September 2007 will be Wednesday, March 21 from 1 to 7 p.m. only in the Elementary School Library Instruction Room. more

Holley students must report for school Friday, March 16
The Staff Development Day scheduled for Friday, March 16 has been changed to a regular school day for all students in the Holley Central School District due to the number of snow days taken this year. more

Junior College Night set at Churchville-Chili High School
On Thursday, March 22, the Churchville-Chili High School Counseling Department will present "College Night for Juniors and Parents." more

Making memories
On February 9, couples filled the gymnasium at Spencerport's Taylor Elementary School to enjoy line dances, square dances and the Hokey Pokey. The Father/Daughter Dance made memories for 75 fathers and daughters. more

New Health/Safety Coordinator
appointed for Brockport schools
Kenneth Smith is the health/safety coordinator at Brockport Schools. He began his new role February 14. Smith is responsible for managing district-wide health/safety needs, including implementing general safety policies and procedures and coordinating compliance with all health and safety inspections. more

Soaring to New Heights award
Holley eighth-grader Amanda Buzard received a Soaring to New Heights Award at the February 26 Board of Education meeting for always going above and beyond what is expected of her. more

Spencerport school to spend "an evening in Japan"
Students in all grade levels at Spencerport's Taylor Elementary School are preparing for "An Evening in Japan," an interdisciplinary concert with a central theme. This concert supports Spencerport's School Wide Enrichment Model. more

St. John students participate in Safe Child Program
The students at St. John the Evangelist School in Spencerport participated in the New York State Safe Child Program sponsored by the Monroe County Sheriff's Department. Deputy Charlie Campanella and Deputy Fred Follette took the students' pictures and fingerprints. more

In Sports:

Golden Eagles second in ECAC
Brockport advanced to the ECAC Women's Basketball championship game for the first time in the program's history, but dropped a 68-60 decision to William Smith in front of 300 fans at SUNY Brockport. more

Holley High School Fitness Center open to adults
The Holley High School Fitness Center is open Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Those interested in using the Fitness Center must watch a training video first. more

Horsington headed to NCAA meet
Fredonia State senior Scott Horsington (Churchville-Chili) has qualified for the NCAA Division III Men's Swimming and Diving Championships. more

Jr. Hawks offer cheer and football camps
The Eastern Orleans Jr. Hawks Football Camp 2007 is offered June 25 to 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. The camp is open to all grades with or without experience. The fee is $15 and includes a t-shirt. more

Spencerport athletic director to receive NIAAA State Award of Merit
John F. Pelin has been selected by the New York State Athletic Administrators Association (NYSAAA) as the 2007 recipient of the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) State Award of Merit. more

Spring hours begin at Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge
Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge headquarters/visitor contact station will be open on weekends, March 24 through May 27, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. This is in addition to its regular business hours of Monday-Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. more

S & S promotes students
On February 21, S & S Fitness Gym & Martial Arts Center in Hamlin promoted the following students to their next belt rank: Elizabeth Tuomey and Felicia Ciccoline were promoted to Brown Belt; Sensei Michelle Tuomey was promoted to the rank of San-Dan (3rd degree Black Belt). more