Suburban News South Edition - February 21, 2016 by Westside News Inc.

Help your neighborhood! Find the fire hydrant closest to your home and check that it is shoveled out. Firefighters lose valuable time accessing hydrants that are buried under the snow banks.

February 21, 2016

Issue No. 8

www.westsidenewsny.com

SOUTH EDITION

Distributed

Churchville-Riga, North Chili, Spencerport-Ogden

Carol Hannan honored for devoted contributions to the community by Doug Hickerson Carol Hannan was born and raised in Brockport. She had remembered attractive family homes lining the village streets. After being away for 10 years, she returned to find these homes turned into rental houses in neglected condition. “I was horrified by what I saw in the village,” she said. That was about 12 years ago when she moved into her grandfather’s home on Main Street to care for him. She soon discovered that a house next door and one across the street were rentals with rowdy students frequently disturbing the neighborhood, she said. Eventually she was able to buy those two homes plus the one on the other side of her grandfather’s house, which she now owns. She renovated those three inside and out and sold them as family homes. With all the houses she has since purchased and re-sold, she has broken even financially with no desire to make a profit. It was for her renovation of a total of nine dilapidated village houses, and restoring them to family homes, that Carol was chosen for the Monika Andrews Creative Volunteer Leadership Award. With a unanimous recommendation of the selection committee, the award was announced in the February 1 meeting of the Brockport Village Board. Pam Ketchum wrote one of several nominating letters to the selection committee. In part she said, “We have seen how she (Carol) has rolled up her sleeves and tackled difficult housing situations, turning houses and neighborhoods around from being derelict to desirable. The new home owners have maintained stable, inviting homes and carried on Carol’s tradition of pride for our village and concern for historic preservation.”

Carol Hannan stops for a photo while removing plaster from a chimney in the 52 State Street house she is renovating. She uses other more creative skills, sometimes with volunteers, to return many deteriorating Brockport houses to family homes. Her goal is to “revitalize Brockport house by house.” Photo by Dianne Hickerson.

In addition to her physical labor, selection committee chairman Robert Westbrook said in the committee’s report, “… she has also worked tirelessly to preserve the stories of more than eighty homes by documenting their history - a demanding task of research and writing. Her genealogies of Brockport families have helped to win historic preservation status for Village properties…” In the 52 State Street home she and her partner Harry Snyder are refurbishing, Carol took time out from her work for an interview prior to receiving the award. Asked about the skills she has acquired, she named many including dry wall taping and mudding. “I always get stuck with the ceilings,” she lamented, but, “I like finishing floors.” Other skills she has mastered are finish carpentry, tiling and painting. She also makes all the curtains and drapes. Asked about the award she was about to receive, “It’s an honor. I never expected any honor,” Carol said. “My reward is to see families love to live in these houses. That’s my reward. I don’t need to make money; I’d rather make a difference.” The Monika W. Andrews Creative Volunteer Leadership Award was established in 2012 as a memorial by three municipalities “to encourage, recognize and reward outstanding creative leadership by residents of the Towns of Sweden (including Brockport) and Clarkson who have served as volunteer leaders in improving the lives of their fellow citizens and the greater Brockport community.” The Selection Committee consists of a representative of each municipality participating: Robert Westbrook for the Town of Sweden (chair), Linda Ketchum for the Village of Brockport and Kermit Mercer for the Town of Clarkson.

Hilton’s Cory Gurski wrapping up hockey career at Buffalo State by Warren Kozireski Cory Gurski is in the final stretch of his four year college hockey playing career at forward for the Buffalo State Bengals and he is going out in style. Not known for scoring a lot of points, but instead playing a solid checking role and using his speed on the penalty killing unit, Gurski all of a sudden has found his scoring touch. He entered this season with four goals over the first three seasons and 61 games with the Bengals. This year he had five in 20 games with most coming in the second half in helping the Bengals rise to one point out of second place with one weekend remaining in the regular season. “It’s been nice that it’s finally been coming around I’ve waited a couple of years for this, but I couldn’t do it without my teammates,” Gurski said. “My line is rolling and all of us are going, so I can’t really complain. “(The penalty kill) is one thing I’ve been able to bring to the team; it’s always been my forte. The penalty kill is phenomenal right now at the top of the SUNY’s (stats) and we’re going to keep rolling.” “It was funny because (former Hilton head coach) John Farnham and I had Cory and Corey Sherman on

the penalty kill as eighth-graders because they were shifty and how quick they were and how smart they were with the puck,” former Hilton assistant and now head coach Chris Monfiletto said. “There are very few guys who played for this program who had the skill level of Cory Gurski and the biggest thing is that he can do things at top speed that not many guys can do - and he has a laser beam for a shot. More importantly, he’s a tough kid that works hard and he’s earned everything he’s gotten.” Gurski played four seasons for Hilton, which included scoring the double-overtime game winning goal in a playoff game against Penfield and earning First Team All-League West Division honors. He decided to spend his senior season with the Rochester Junior Americans splitting time between their Eastern Junior League team and the Empire League squad where he scored 20 goals with 18 assists in 31 games. The next season was in a Buffalo Junior Sabres uniform and he netted 15 goals with nine assists over 39 games. “Jerimiah Crowe was the assistant coach for the Junior Sabres when I was there and he went to Buffalo State so I was able to join him here.” Gurski’s Bengals had won seven of their last eight games with their only blemish a 1-0 loss to then-#2 in the nation

Plattsburgh. The recent streak had them a solid third i n t h e S U N YA C conference just one point behind second place Geneseo with two games remaining in the regular season. “His biggest asset is his speed,” Buffalo State interim head coach Steve Murphy said. “When he uses his speed, he is really, really good and he’s picking it up (offensively) at the right Cory Gurski. Provided photo. time.” “He’s playing well right now. Our top guys are always going to be our top guys and if we can get a guy who plays on our so-called third line of fire, I kind of like our chances moving forward.”