May 22, 2022
WEST EDITION
Westside News Established 1953
Serving Suburban News West and Hamlin-Clarkson Herald edition areas
Serving the communities of Hamlin, Clarkson, Kendall, Bergen, Clarendon, Holley-Murray, Brockport-Sweden
May 22, 2022
Issue No. 21
westsidenewsny.com
Village of Brockport celebrates kick-off of Empire State Trail Town Program Community invited to learn about the program and share thoughts on how the Village can foster a “trail culture” and make improvements The public is invited to celebrate the kick-off of the Empire State Trail Town program in Brockport by participating in a “Trail Town Chat” on Monday, May 23, 6 p.m., at the Seymour Library and a seven-mile bike ride around Brockport on May 24, 6 p.m., at the Brockport Welcome Center. Both of these events will allow residents to share their thoughts and ideas on accessibility, equity, community engagement, beautification, and infrastructure. The bike ride is open to people of all ages and abilities, proceeding at a “party pace” of no more than 8-10 MPH. The ride will end back at the Welcome Center with pizza provided by Mark’s Pizzeria, music, and conversation. Feedback collected during these events will be crucial for identifying the Village’s strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities as a Trail Town. Parks & Trails New York (PTNY) and the New York State Canal Corporation (NYSCC) developed the Empire State Trail Town program to demonstrate the value of the 750-mile Empire State Trail as an economic driver and a catalyst for community building. With the trail’s completion in 2020, the Erie Canalway Trail – the east-west leg of the statewide system – is poised to serve as one of the state’s premier recreation destinations. Inspired by the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) Trail Town program, and building on successful efforts by New
York State to invest in the Canal corridor through the Reimagine the Canals Initiative, the Empire State Trail Town program will showcase how the Erie Canalway Trail can support long-term economic, health, and quality of life benefits for the community and surrounding area. The Village of Brockport was selected as the first Empire State Trail Town because the “Victorian Village on the Erie Canal” has a strong community identity tied to the Erie Canal and the Erie Canalway Trail. Brockport boasts a dedicated network of stakeholders invested in improving access to nearby recreation opportunities, creating safe places for pedestrians and cyclists, and working with local leaders to increase the visibility of the Canalway Trail system as a recreation destination. A core team of steering committee members made up of municipal staff, the Brockport Welcome Center, and Walk!Bike!Brockport, are building on these efforts by working with PTNY and the NYSCC to develop an action plan. The action plan will offer short- and long-term recommendations to help local stakeholders attract and profit from the growing bicycle tourism market, strengthen the strong partnerships developed during the year, create safer streets for bicyclists and pedestrians during the Main Street bridge closure and beyond, and drive trail users to Main Street businesses. continued on page 2
Continuing a tradition started after the Civil War, members of Hiscock-Fishbaugh American Legion Post 788, Boy Scout Troop 99, and Cub Scout Pack 330 gathered on Saturday, May 7, to “decorate” veteran gravesites in Parma-Union Cemetery, placing 800 flags on headstones. The flags will remain in place through the Independence Day holiday. Provided photo.
2022 Memorial Day events in Hilton Hiscock-Fishbaugh American Legion Post 788 will pass out Memorial Day Poppies on Friday, May 27, and Saturday, May 28, at the Hilton Family Restaurant in Hovey Square and in front of Tops Market on South Avenue in Hilton. On Monday, May 30, members of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6105, and the Parma-Hilton Honor Guard will remember their comrades with a flag lowering ceremony at Parma-Union Cemetery, 260 Parma Center Road, Hilton, at 8 a.m. Immedi-
ately following, a second ceremony will take place at the memorial in front of the Parma Town Hall, 1300 Hilton-Parma Corners Road. At 9 a.m. the groups will conduct a short ceremony at the Veterans Memorial on the south lawn of the Hilton Community Center. After placing a wreath in front of the memorial, the Parma-Hilton Honor Guard will render a gun salute. The ceremony will close with the playing of Taps. All events are open to the public; please maintain proper social distancing. Provided information
Troop 133 places flags at Churchville cemeteries in preparation for Memorial Day Those passing by the tranquil setting of Churchville’s cemeteries, nestled past the Black Creek, will see proudly waving American flags resting on the graves of heroes who served their nation. Young leaders of Boy Scout Troop 133, in conjunction with Harvey C. Noone American Legion Post 954 family, placed over 450 flags on veterans’ resting places. Within a 90-minute span on May 15, the young men, led by their Senior Patrol Leader Lawren Monahan, reverently replaced missing or broken grave markers and placed new flags. At each grave site, the scouts, in pairs along with parents and leaders, paid respects by citing the name and thanking the veteran for their service. The cemeteries are now full of red, white, and blue, patriotically honoring veterans in preparation for Memorial Day. On May 30, Churchville will have a Memorial Day parade, sponsored by the Legion and supported by the community. The participants will form up at Churchville Elementary School starting at 10 a.m. A ceremony, hosted by Legion Commander Ken Juergens, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. with Grand Marshall, Mayor John Hartman, and guest speaker, Village Historian Ron Belczak. The parade will start at 11 a.m. and will finish at the Civil War monument at Creekside Cemetery. Provided information and photo
Troop 133 scouts with Scout Leader Courtney Monahan and Legion Commander Ken Juergens in front of the Noone family grave.