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Exercise Your Right...To Look Good!
September 30, 2018
Issue No. 39
54 Canning St., Hilton
(Behind Foster’s Restaurant)
www.westsidenewsny.com
West Edition
Distributed to Bergen, Clarendon, Holley-Murray and Brockport-Sweden
Boat dock brings Brockport Community Rowing Club plans closer to fulfillment Blackman had intended that the DPW would do the work as an in-kind contribuSaturday, September 15, was a busy day tion toward the 50 percent matching on the for members of the Church of Jesus Christ Canalway grant until an outcry was heard of Latter-Day Saints in Brockport. Sixty- from some citizens. They objected to that one workers from the church at Lake Road use of DPW labor that could go to Village and East Avenue volunteered to build a infrastructure projects instead of a project boat dock for the Brockport Community that might have limited citizen interest. Rowing Club. The boat dock is the first “This has been a learning process,” the major structure for the recently formed mayor said about hearing citizens’ concerns. “It’s going to be taken off the backs and out organization that is gradually evolving. Workers divided up into two sites for the of the hands of tax payers by using volundock project: at the Canal in The College’s teers.” Carol, a DPW employee, volunteered Commissary Park where posts to anchor a her personal time to organize the dock proj60’ long floating dock were being installed; ect for the Village as well as for her church. and, at the Village’s Department of Public Harry Donohue, the DPW superintendent Works garage where work started on the of public works, volunteered his time to 44’ wooden ramp that will lead down to oversee the work at the canal site. For the mayor there also was a lesson the floating dock. Carol McNees organized the volunteers learned in the initial planning of a site for her church. Asked why her church for the dock and boat house. Corbett Park was the original location took on this project, Mission Statement intended for the strucCarol said, “We are “The mission of the Brockport tures. There were objecpart of the community, Community Rowing Club is to tions from neighbors in so we want to be in serve as a community-based and that area. The mayor the community helpvolunteer-driven organization, explains, “The lesson ing,” adding that the dedicated to developing rowing from that was, if you church also has been for a diverse population, while place it where there are involved in several accessing the Erie Canal and neighbors, lives will be other community sergaining an appreciation for impacted in some form vice projects. Carol is this historic resource.” whether it’s looking at the secretary in the the side of a boathouse or Village’s Department of Public Works (DPW). She happened to more foot traffic in the park due to rowers. call the mayor to ask about any village So, you consult with them first, not after you project for her church. “We are looking for have it all figured out.” The final location on someone to build a boat dock,” the mayor the canal at Commissary Park was worked declared, then added, “Just kidding!” But, out as a partnership with The College. But the mayor compares the arguments Carol liked the idea and so did 100 percent of her church council. The 61 plus volun- about limited citizen interest in rowing to teers include several skilled in construc- the objections heard when the Brockport tion. The number was so large, a third Welcome Center was being planned on the clean-up project was added on a nearby canal, recalling the “Voters, not boaters!” existing dock. Carol directed the overall slogan of that Village election year. “It’s project in advance and at the DPW garage. exactly that same thing with the rowing She assigned volunteers, provided sign-in, club,” the mayor said. “For over a decade, tallied volunteer hours, and prepared the The Welcome Center has been well-estabtable for lunch which was provided by lished as a draw to tourists on boats and bikes, enhancing Brockport’s appeal and Brockport Wegmans. Although Carol sees the dock as a Row- its downtown economy.” ing Club project, she said, “It will serve a lot of different people in the community Confirmation: who will be able to use it, such as special The mayor builds for the future needs organizations and others.” Mayor “Rowing” is typically seen in university Blackman added, “It will be a public dock sports in the U.S. Sleek boats or “shells” and could be used by canoers, kayakers, glide across the water in “regatta” races as and fishermen.” The support for diverse teams of rowers pull oars in unison. Brighton, Fairport, and Pittsford schools use helps to address a dispute behind the have rowing as do McQuaid Jesuit and MerRowing Club project. cy, RIT, University of Rochester, St. John Fisher, and Nazareth Masters level rowing Controversy: Mayor Blackman is offered by the Rochester Boat Club and reflects on lessons learned There has been some controversy about Genesee Rowing along with Rochester Comwhether the Rowing Club project serves munity Inclusive Rowing for people with the whole community, justifying the use disabilities including veterans. “There is no rowing west of the Genesee of Village resources. Planning over several years, Mayor River until you get to Buffalo,” Mayor by Doug Hickerson
Four men installing posts at canal (left to right) Jeff Snarr, Harry Donahue, Paul DeGraff and James McKinney are part of a volunteer team at the canal installing six posts which will be part of the boat dock. All are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Brockport, except Harry Donohue, superintendent of the DPW. The project could be completed in the spring or fall when post footers can be installed in the drained canal. The final project will be a floating dock 60 feet by eight feet reached by a 44-foot ramp and a “gangway.” Photo by Dianne Hickerson. Blackman said. “This is really a first on the west side.” She points to the sport as promoting health for a wide variety of ages, having learned it herself at age 70 and, now at 74, “I will continue as long as I can.” And, she said, rowing will increase tourism, enhance appreciation for the canal, and bring more business to downtown when Brockport can host regattas. Archie Kutz, founder of Brockport’s Lift Bridge Book Shop decades ago, and active in village projects, is on the Rowing Club’s new Board of Directors (see side bar). “My interest in rowing, or at least in bringing rowing to Brockport, started when I met some people at a Canal Conference maybe 15 or 20 years ago who were starting clubs on the east side,” he said. “It sounded like such an appealing idea to bring an activity to Brockport that would use the canal and attract people to the downtown Brockport district. I’ve enjoyed the little bit I’ve learned about rowing and await the oppor-
Members of the Board of Directors Cathy Houston-Wilson President Marleen Cain Vice President Margay Blackman Secretary Erica Linden Treasurer Archie Kutz Director of Safety Deb Moyer Director of Public Relations Jim Martin Member at Large
tunity to do more with the new Brockport Community Rowing Club.” The mayor also sees the location partnership with The College holding possibilities for future use of the dock in the college curriculum. This possibility is articulated by the President of the Rowing Club’s Board of Directors, Dr. Cathy Houston-Wilson. She is Chairperson of Dept. of Kinesthesiology, Sports Studies, and Physical Education at The College. “We have been working toward this goal for many years,” she said about the Brockport Community Rowing Club in an interview at the canal dock site that day. “With grants we received we finally are making some movement. And today we have awesome volunteers who are helping us get things set up.” She continued, “One of the focuses and strengths of the rowing club here in Brockport is that we want to make sure the club is inclusive and accommodating all people. I have a background in adaptive physical education which is about teaching individuals how to work with people with disabilities.” She mentioned the Rochester Community Inclusive Rowing’s adaptive program, adding, “The problem is they are closer to the east side and we are trying to find avenues to engage people in rowing on the west side.” continued on page 2