r a e Y w e N y p p a H & e f a S a e v a H s w e N e t a d s i from all of u Wests
December 31, 2017
Issue No. 53
www.westsidenewsny.com
DISTRIBUTED TO CLARKSON, HAMLIN AND KENDALL
A look back at 2017 – The Year in Review January
A crowd estimated to be over 1,000 people filled Washington Square Park in Downtown Rochester on Saturday, January 21, 2017 during the Women’s Solidarity March one day after the inauguration of President Trump. Photo by Karen Fien.
Sue Savard of the Emily L. Knapp Museum in Brockport stands near the 1905 Edison phonograph restored to working condition by Tim Fabrizio. Photo by Dianne Hickerson.
•Brockport Police Chief Daniel Varrenti hosted a public forum at Oliver Middle School to discuss drug-related crime and rental property issues. •The Spencerport Area Chamber of Commerce held their annual Awards Banquet on January 27. Award recipients were Roger Ressman, M&T Bank and Erie Canal Animal Hospital’s Dr. Dean Snyder. •NYS Canal System was designated a National Historic Landmark, placing New York’s operating canals among the premier historic sites in the United States. •Arthur Gay Jr., 90, was presented with an honorary diploma from Churchville-Chili Central School on January 10. The demands of farming, serving in the Army during WWII and raising his family kept Gay from attending school beyond sixth grade. •Author Michael Keene visited Holley to discuss his book Vietnam Reflections: The Untold Story of the Holley Boys. Eight Holley area natives – all graduates of Holley High School – were killed in action in Vietnam. The loss is believed to be one of the highest casualty rates per capita during the war.
February •Sue Savard received the Monika Andrews Creative Volunteer Leadership Award from the Brockport Village Board for her leadership and hands-on work in the restoration of the Emily L. Knapp Museum. •It was a winning month for Brockport high school athletes. The wrestling team won their fourth straight Section V Class A team title. The Blue Devils defeated Webster-Thomas to win the Section V Class B Championship in ice hockey. Capping off a no loss season, the boys’ swimming team brought home the Section V Class B Championship for the first time. •Genesee Community College was in the process of choosing items for its 50th Anniversary Time Capsule to be placed in the Richard C. Call Arena on the college’s Batavia campus.
Brockport boys’ swimming team won the Section V Class B Championship. Provided photo.
•John Gabalski, an Orleans County 4-H member, traveled to New York City to shadow MSNBC/NBC News anchor Craig Melvin as part of a 4-H “Day in the Life Experience.”
March •Liberty Pumps in Bergen was name Business of the Year at the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Ceremony. •The Greater Churchville-Riga Chamber of Commerce presented community awards to Kathleen Stephany, Peg Naughton, Sue Davis and Brian Wilkins and Denise Haggerty of Wilkins RV. •Hurricane force winds blew through the region on March 8 toppling trees, downing power lines, and leaving destruction in their wake. Monroe County’s 911 fielded more calls for service in a single day than since ice storm of 1991. Some areas remained without power for several days in below freezing temperatures. •Westside News explored the local impact of the opioid crisis with a five-part series of articles. •Local mayors expressed concern over a proposal in Governor Cuomo’s executive budget mandating every county in New York State to prepare a consolidation plan that could lead to the dissolution of villages in an effort to lower property taxes. •Spencerport Ranger Robotics Team 3015 won the Finger Lakes Regional FIRST Robotics Competition and qualified for the World Championship competition. Churchville-Chili’s Robotics team also qualified for the competition.
•Dr. Amy Mercovich and Dr. Pat Swapceinski were celebrating 20 years of business at their chiropractic office, Bergen Family Chiropractic. •A book launch party was held for Spencerport resident and teacher Andrea Page as 20 years of research culminated with the publication of her first history book Sioux Code Talkers of World War II. •Byron-Bergen Central Schools named Dr. Paul Brill (class of 1982) and the late Barry Miller (class of 1983) to their Alumni Hall of Fame. •Artist/teacher Sarah Hart gave a presentation on her findings after months of studying a trunk full of art by early 1900’s Brockport resident and artist Helen Hastings. Both Hart and Hastings had been trained using the unique “Sight-Size” method. •VFW Post 6105 in Hilton celebrated 50 years of serving the needs of local veterans and their families on April 30.
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April •Hilton High School junior and trumpeter Matthew Piato was selected to perform for an audience of thousands in the 2017 National Association for Music Education All-Eastern Honors Ensemble in Atlantic City. •Brock became the first police dog in the Brockport Police Department. Officer Josh Sime was chosen to be Brock’s handler.
This tree crashed into a home on West Avenue in Spencerport during the March 8 wind storm. Photo by K. Fien.
Basketball fans may have recognized Spencerport State Farm agent Dominic Agostini (center) appearing in commercials for the insurance company alongside Chris Paul (left) and DeAndre Jordan of the LA Clippers. Provided photo.
Many roads, including Route 259 in Parma, remained impassable for days as crews worked to repair downed lines and restore power after the wind storm. Photo by Karen Fien.