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News for the week of
May 13, 2007

In Features:

BISCO and Lakeside planning for annual Duck Derby
The Brockport Integrated Service and Community Organization (BISCO) and Lakeside Health System are teaming together for the annual Duck Derby to be held during the Brockport Summer Arts Festival, August 11 and 12. The Duck Derby will be on Sunday, August 12 at 4 p.m. at the Main Street Canal Bridge. Proceeds will be used to benefit Brockport community projects. more

Brockport landlord questions village practices
Landlord George Brocious questioned Village of Brockport board members on what he called "selective code enforcement" at the May 7 board meeting. "I would ask the board to investigate the properties I've noted in the information I've given you. I've noted those properties that I believe are in violation of the village code of 'no more than three unrelated.' I think the village is selective in its enforcement of who and what to investigate," he said. He owns three rental properties in the village. more

Brockport ballet dancer studies to move on to bigger stage
Hearing that you have incredible feet and perfect turnout (hip rotation) might not be exciting for some 16-year-old girls, but for Carly Strabel, of Brockport, it has made all the difference in the world. more

Brockport resident shares
her experiences to support others with traumatic brain injuries
Don’t give up. Those are the words and life story of Sophia Charles, a Brockport resident who has started a local support group for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. more

Clarkson residents seek water
This will be the eighth petition that Town of Clarkson resident Wayne Ward has tried to push through in his quest for water. Ward, who has lived on Sweden Walker Road since 1982, has attempted to gain support of both residents and town officials to bring public water to his area of the town. more

Creative ideas inspire event planner’s business
Until several years ago, Shawn Rabideau didn’t even know there was such a thing as an events industry, but now the Churchville native is a very successful events coordinator and president of his own company offering full service production design nationwide. more

Hamlin cleans up for spring
Volunteers gathered on Sunday, May 6 in Hamlin for a clean-up day, an idea that was proposed by Hamlin resident Diane Kilburn. Many volunteers took advantage of a bright, cool spring day to participate. The clean-up was coordinated with the town's annual spring trash and brush pick-up. more

Noone Post selects Boys State representatives
Harvey C. Noone Post 954 sends two junior boys from the Churchville-Chili district to the Boys State program sponsored by the American Legion. The event is held annually at Morrisville College. Over 1,000 boys from across the state attend the structured program to learn how government should function to truly represent the residents of the state. more

Pool safety tips from Western Alliance Code Coalition
With Memorial Day weekend just around the corner, many consumers are preparing to purchase a pool or open their existing pool for the season. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that there are about 280 drowning deaths of children younger than five each year in swimming pools and an estimated 2,100 children were treated in hospital emergency rooms for pool submersion injuries in 2005 - mostly in residential pools. Residential pools include in ground, above ground or the temporary inflatable type. more

Requests for Brockport Main Street closures raise concern
Individuals trying to get through the Village of Brockport on Friday, May 4 were hard pressed to wend their way through the streets and access to Main Street and other side streets was impossible; the cause - Brock The Port, a SUNY Brockport sponsored event. more

Spencerport couple making most of second chance with fundraiser
When Tom Arcara got the news that his heart transplant was going so well that he could play drums in his band again the only question was what should the group change its name to. "First they decided that from that point on they would only play for charity. more

State Parks facilities honored as favorite destinations
New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Commissioner Carol Ash announced that 23 New York owned and operated campgrounds have received national recognition as popular vacation destinations throughout the United States. Reserve America's fifth annual Top 100 Family Campgrounds list includes 10 state park camping facilities and 13 other state park locations identified in special categories. more

Troop 125 honors three Eagle Scouts
A Court of Honor was held Sunday, March 25 at the Firemen's Exempt Club in Hilton for three boys in Troop 125 who have attained the rank of Eagle Scout. The three scouts are David Bower, Craig Gooding and Josh Reichardt. more

In Briefly:

Monroe County Poppy Princesses
Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy has declared May as Buddy Poppy month in honor of veterans. more

Name change, commitment the same
The Oak Orchard Power Squadron has changed its name to the Oak Orchard Sail & Power Squadron. more

New director comes to Ogden library
Katherine Hughes-Dennett will serve as the new director at the Ogden Farmers' Library beginning May 21. She replaces Patricia Uttaro who left in February to accept a position at the Rundel Library in Rochester. more

Parma Public Library board seeks applicants
The Parma Public Library Board of Trustees invites interested individuals to apply for a vacant position on the library board. Applicants must be residents of the Town of Parma and show a demonstrated interest in the library. Business, government or other committee experience is preferred. more

Poppy distribution to begin
American Legion Auxiliary volunteers will distribute the familiar red, handcrafted Poppies honoring America's war dead on Monday, May 28. The day was designated as Poppy Day by Sackett-Merrill-White Unit 575 in Bergen. Volunteers will be distributing poppies on Main Street during parades in both Bergen at 9 a.m. and Byron at 11 a.m. Poppies are also available at local businesses and restaurants in the Bergen and Byron communities. more

Politically Speaking:

Riga GOP selects candidates
The Riga Republican Committee endorsed its slate of candidates to run in November's election. The candidates are: Ken Kuter, town supervisor; Louis Amarosa, town justice; Robert Ottley and David Smith, town board. more

In Schools:

BHS choirs travel to New York City
The Brockport High School choirs traveled to New York City on April 18-21 and performed at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine and The Cathedral of St. Patrick's. The chorus sang at the Statue of Liberty. more

Byron-Bergen receives service-learning grant
The Byron-Bergen Central School District is one of only six institutions nationwide to receive a 2007 Seniors and Youth Engaged in Service (SaYES) grant. SaYES is a joint initiative of Learn and Serve America and Senior Corps, programs of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and was created to connect Senior Corps' RSVP volunteers in supporting K through 12 service activities and service-learning programs. more

Friends of Education honored by Hilton Board of Education
Every school year, the Hilton Board of Education honors individuals and organizations in the Hilton school community who have contributed to the education of Hilton students through volunteer or other efforts. more

Hilton High School Drumline wins 10th straight championship
The Hilton High School Winter Drumline won its 10th 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 Pennsylvania on March 24. more

Hilton musicians take home honors at Williamsburg competition
On April 21 and 22, several instrumental music groups from Hilton High School traveled to Williamsburg, Virginia for an adjudicated competition. The Hilton Marching Band, Jazz Ensemble, Wind Ensemble, Chorale and Women's Chorus all received first place in their category, as well as a gold rating, which is the highest the festival offers. The Chorale received two other trophies: one for a score over 95 and one for receiving the highest chorale score of the weekend. more

Holley students must report for school Friday, May 25
The Memorial Day recess scheduled for Friday, May 25 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. All students in grades pre-K through 12 should report for a regular school day on Friday, May 25. more

School nurse's commitment
to good health extends beyond students
Holley Elementary School Nurse Julie Kirby was presented with the district's Soaring to New Heights Award at the May 1 Board of Education meeting. more

Student is "sweet" on helping others
Holley seventh grader Courtney Drake worked hard selling candy for her Spanish Club fundraiser and received second prize for her efforts - a giant chocolate bunny. more

In Seniors:

Senior citizen trout derby May 17
Monroe County will hold its 4th annual Senior Citizen Trout Derby at the Powderhorn Lodge in Powder Mills Park on May 17. more

In Sports:

Baseball honors awarded
As many as 30 participants competed in the pitch, hit & run competition hosted by Riga Recreation on May 5 at Mahar Lodge in Churchville. These participants won first place honors in their respective age groups. more

Blue Devils sweep doubles
Brockport swept all three doubles matches and went on to defeat Rush-Henrietta 4-3 in boy's tennis. more

Brockport harnesses lightning
On their home field, Brockport's boys lacrosse team had little trouble in running out to a 9-0 half-time lead on their way to an easy 14-1 win over Greece Arcadia/Olympia to improve their record to 5-4. more

Churchville-Chili weight lifters recognized
Monroe County Legislator Robert Colby (R-Ogden), and Legislature President Wayne Zyra presented a proclamation to Coach Paul Dick and the Churchville-Chili Power Lifting Team at the May 8 legislature meeting The team won the state title in March. more

Hawks fall to Northstar
Northstar Christian Academy scored seven runs in the third inning and added seven more in the fifth on their way to a 17-4 softball victory at Holley. more