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January 4, 2015
Issue No. 1
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DISTRIBUTED TO CLARKSON, HAMLIN AND KENDALL Help for the Homeless
Students raise over $1,200 for Open Door Mission and Bethany House by spending the day in tents by Grace Griffee A group of local students got a taste of what it would be like if they were homeless - and it was their idea. Seven third through eighth graders who receive before and after school care at Ruth Blodgett’s Hilton home were bored one day when Blodgett challenged them to find a project that would help others. “The kids had a day off during Thanksgiving week and asked me what they
could do that would be fun,” said Blodgett. “Instead of waiting for people to amuse them, I told the children that they should be thinking of ways they can do for others.” Tanner Matthews, a sixth grader at Village Elementary School, and Cole Dean, a sixth grader at Quest Elementary School, came up with an idea for helping the homeless after Cole commented that people with a roof over their head and a car are probably better off than 95 percent of the world. Once the students decided that they
Students spent a day camping outside to raise money for the homeless and those in need: (front, l-r) Abby Matthews, Tanner Matthews, Nolan Tydings, Logan Matthews, McKenna Tydings, Brooke Dean and Dianna Bourret; (back) Cole Dean and Christina Wessman. G. Griffee photo.
wanted to help the homeless, Christina Wessman, an eighth grader at Merton Williams Middle School, took the idea and ran with it, making lists of people to ask for donations and the supplies they would need. The group decided that they would spend a Saturday outside, no matter what the weather, living in tents with only a fire to keep warm. They gathered donations from family members, friends, teachers and local businesses, raising over $1,200 so far for two organizations that help homeless in the community – the Open Door Mission and Bethany House. The Open Door Mission, located on Plymouth Ave. in Rochester, provides overnight housing for men, community meals for men, women and children, and religious services. Bethany House in Rochester is a Catholic Worker House of Hospitality that provides emergency housing for women and women with children, and assistance to women with food, formula, diapers, clothing, household items, and personal hygiene products. “We watched a video about a tent city in Nashville, TN that was ruined by a flood,” said Logan Matthews, a third grader at Village Elementary School. “Some people were mad because they didn’t want it set up again near them.” The group borrowed tents and sleeping bags for their own tent city from Mandy and Paul Tramonto and Beth and Jon Jamison, family friends. While they could use the indoor bathroom, they had no access to electronics and spent the day, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., making forts, playing cards, listening to the radio, singing and playing
The students raised over $1,200 for two charities with promises for even more donations after the holiday recess. Shown are (l-r) Brooke Dean, Dianna Bourret and McKenna Tydings. G. Griffee photo. games. At lunchtime, they had a simple meal of Ramen noodles and rolls. “This was only a day, but it gave us an idea of what it is like to be homeless and how we are fortunate to have the things we have,” said Cole. Christina related the experience to Christmas when so many kids want expensive gifts and think they don’t have enough, putting things like flat screen TVs on their Christmas lists. “Homeless people hardly even have clothes,” she said. Blodgett, who has been babysitting some of the children since they were infants, said she’s hoping to do the event again next year. “Our goal was to raise $500 and the kids far surpassed that,” she said. “I’m very proud of them.”
Conservation Tree and Shrub Program releases 2015 species list Monroe County Soil and Water Conservation District has released their Conservation Tree and Shrub species list for the spring of 2015. Offered for pre-order this year are more than 59 different species of bare-root conifers, hardwood trees, shrubs, wildflowers and groundcovers, as well as seed mixes and other products used for conservation projects. Packages range in unit size and price, from a bundle of 10 plants for as low as $11, to bundles of 100 plants for an average cost of $84. New species this year include: American Hornbeam, Coralberry, Fraser Fir, Hackberry and Tulip Tree. The Conservation District has also updated their selection of multi-packs where homeowners can choose from 8 pre-packaged plant combinations that help accommodate a homeowner’s conservation needs. Rather than receiving a single pack of ten trees/shrubs com-
posed of one species, the multi-packs offer two plants in five different species; perfect for the suburban conservationist. Many of these multi-packs have been revamped this year with new species options. As always, species adapted to Monroe County site conditions have been selected to provide a variety of conservation uses. “Planting trees and shrubs is perhaps the most effective way for individuals to help keep our environment clean and green,” said District Director Kelly Emerick. “In addition to providing shade, privacy, wildlife habitat, borders, windbreaks and snow fences, trees provide many environmental benefits not visible to the eye. They work as filters to help protect drinking water, clean the air of pollutants, stabilize soil to prevent erosion, and reduce noise by acting as sound barriers. Trees can help cool your home in the summer, and break cold winds in the winter, helping to reduce energy use. They can even
add value to your property,” Emerick said. The Conservation Tree and Shrub Program is a preorder program with a deadline for ordering of March 10, 2015. The distribution of the plant material will occur at the Monroe County ecopark on April 23 and 24 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The remaining plant stock will be sold on April 25 from 9 a.m. to noon. Those interested in the Conservation Tree and Shrub Program can find the order form and a full color catalog on the District’s website: www.monroecountyswcd.org or pick up an order form at town/village clerk’s offices within Monroe County. Contact the County Soil and Water Conservation District at (585)-753-7380, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Provided information