Coming in the February 25th Edition of Suburban News & The Herald
TRIBUTE TO FIRST RESPONDERS Every fire department, ambulance corps and police department in our coverage area will be featured including: 1) Color photo of membership and staff 2) List of members and staff 3) Calendar of activities for all first responder organizations 4) Member of the Year for 2017 for all organizations who choose to select one.
Deadline for all material Tuesday, February 13th
February 11, 2018
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1) Have your message to our first responders included in this keepsake edition. Advertising 2) For all 52-Week Contract advertisers Deadline: we will double the size of your ad! Tuesday, 3) For all first responders placing an ad Feb. 13th we will double the size of your ad. Save an additional 10% if you have a 52-week contract.
Issue No. 6
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Hamlin Public Library welcomes new director by Kristina Gabalski Christine Gates says she has enjoyed her first few weeks on the job as the new director of the Hamlin Public Library. “I love it, everyone is so nice,” Gates told the Suburban News and HamlinClarkson Herald during a Meet the Director reception Saturday, February 3 at the library. “The (library) board members are so helpful and the staff is amazingly talented, I am so lucky,” Gates said. She says her first day on the job was December 4. Gates replaces Kay HughesDennett, who retired from the post late last year. Gates comes to the library director position after experience in the public school library system. She has a strong background working with teens and tweens. Prior to coming to Hamlin, she worked as the high school librarian at ChurchvilleChili Central Schools. “We want to encourage more teens to come to the library,” Gates says.
The Hamlin Public Library offers tween and teen programming including crafts workshops, a book club and the Volunteen Connection - a fun and creative group of tween and teen volunteers who are helping to plan library events and activities. Gates says she wants the community to feel a sense of welcome as they enter the library. “We want to have a warm environment,” she says. “When (patrons) walk in, we want them to feel that this is a part of their community.” There have been a few changes since Gates became library director. The young adult area at the front of the library has been “opened up,” she says. “We had a space for children and teens, we needed a space for tweens,” she explains. There is now table space, seating and more available for tweens. “It’s a space they can call their own,” she notes of the new area. “We have a computer where students can sit and work on Power Point presentations,” Gates says. Additionally, educational toys
Christine Gates stands in the Children’s/Young Adult section of the Hamlin Public Library, which has seen some changes since she became library director in December. K. Gabalski photo. are available for younger patrons. The library is also working to accommodate the need for adult programming. “We have a high demand for day and night programming,” Gates notes. Recent adult craft programs featuring a Valentine decoration and a champagne flute for Valentine’s Day were offered both during afternoon and evening sessions. Coming up on February 22, its DINOmite
DINOSAURS during winter school break week, and on Sunday, March 25, the Friends of the Hamlin Library are hosting an All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser at the Hamlin VFW from noon to 5 p.m. For more information on library events and programming, call 585-964-2320, visit hamlinlibraryny.org or go to the library’s Facebook page.
Story of Hope - A new comfort care home coming to the west side by Tami Raco Comfort care homes are an essential component to care at the end of life. It is care in a home-like setting that helps and soothes a person who is terminal. The goals are to relieve suffering as much as possible and improve overall quality of life while respecting the person’s dying wishes. Unlike a nursing home or hospice home, a comfort care home only cares for two people at a time. The small personal setting provides a home-like atmosphere. Volunteers, nurses and a hospice-nursing agency provide care.
There are only nine comfort care homes in Monroe County and only three of them are located on the west side of the city, limiting the county to only 18 beds available to those who are dying and wanting to spend their final days in a comfort care home. Arlene Nanry is a hospice nurse who has devoted most of her career to helping those who are terminal. Through her experience in caring for the dying, she saw there was not enough comfort care homes in the area to meet the need of people. Her compassion led her to form a group of volunteers to help her develop this idea into a solution.
Bernie Iacovangelo (left) gifted land to the Story of Hope for construction of a comfort care home in Chili (rendering below). Provided photos.
The Story of Hope dream turned into a reality when a generous local businessman, Bernie Iacovangelo, gifted land to the Story of Hope to build a comfort care home. The residential land is located in Chili and is the perfect setting for the Story of Hope. Although it’s not official yet, Arlene is hopefully anticipating a grant from New York State to help with building expenses, thanks to the help of Senator Joe Robach. Ground breaking is planned to take place this spring. In addition to the construction of the home, the annual budgeted operating expenses are $200,000 per year. The home is non-profit and there is no cost to their guests. Donations for operating costs are accepted from families and the community, as well as funds acquired from fundraisers. The home will be unique, as it will have special beds that do not have a weight restriction. In Arlene’s experience, she has seen how the weight restrictions can be limiting to families. She felt strongly about having the accommodations to help the terminal without weight restrictions. She also plans to open the home to children on a case-by-case basis. Arlene’s years of experience in nursing hospice patients has opened her heart to providing the best care possible to people who are in their final chapter of life. “I love what I do by helping people enjoy their final days as much as possible,” said Arlene. On Saturday, February 24, the Story of Hope is holding a Masquerade Ball. The event is a fundraiser for the home as well as to honor the generosity of Bernie Ioca-
Arlene Nanry. Provided photo. vangelo. The event will be held at the Doubletree Hotel with Master of Ceremonies Josh Nichols, a meteorologist from WROC. The evening will consist of dinner, dancing, prizes and an auction. Tickets can be purchased from the Story of Hope website. All proceeds will go to the non-profit comfort care home. On Saturday, June 16, the Story of Hope has “Your First Mud Run” taking place at Gates Memorial Park. This is also a fundraiser and the only mud run in the county designed for both parents and kids to do together. This family friendly mud run has up to 16 obstacles and is just less than 2 miles long. To learn more about the Story of Hope, the fundraisers or to volunteer or make a donation, visit storyofhoperochester.com.