July 31, 2022
EAST EDITION
Westside News Established 1953
Serving Suburban News North and South edition areas
Serving the communities of Spencerport-Ogden, Churchville-Riga, North Chili, Hilton-Parma
July 31, 2022
Issue No. 31
westsidenewsny.com
Firefighter Robert Fowler Memorial Highway designation becomes law
Ambassadors from the Village of Brockport and MVP Health Care demonstrate how to use the new Fitness Court.
New MVP Health Care Fitness Court opens at Brockport’s Corbett Park The Village of Brockport and MVP Health Care held a Grand Opening celebration on July 27 for the new MVP Health Care Fitness Court at Corbett Park. The new Fitness Court® is a free, open-air wellness center that allows users to leverage their own body weight to get a complete workout. Created with adults of all ages and abilities in mind, the Fitness Court allows users of all fitness levels to move at their own pace, with a seven-movement workout. There is a Fitness Court App that shows how to use the equipment at different levels of difficulty and offers workout challenges. The MVP Health Care Fitness Court is a result of a partnership launched this spring between MVP Health Care and National Fitness Campaign (NFC) to activate public spaces and encourage a healthy lifestyle. Learn more about NFC at www.nationalfitnesscampaign.com. Corbett Park is located at the corner of Smith and Clark Streets in Brockport. Provided information
Linda Ketchum, Village Parks Committee Chair; Stacey Barss, Leader of Field Marketing for MVP Health Care; and Annie Crane, Village Trustee, all gave remarks ahead of the ribbon cutting ceremony to open the Fitness Court on July 27. Photos by Suzette Coleman
On July 21, Governor Hochul signed the Firefighter Robert Fowler Memorial Highway bill (A8534) into law which was introduced by Assemblyman Josh Jensen (R,C,I-Greece). Residents will be able to honor the spirit of Fowler’s legacy and heroism for years to come on South Union Street in Spencerport between Lyell Avenue and Nichols Street. Robert “Bob” Fowler exemplified the true meaning of heroism. On February 22, 1997, he and his 15-year-old son responded to a call from Spencerport Volunteer Fire Department during Robert Fowler. Photo from the Naa heavy windstorm. tional Fallen Firefighters Foundation. While he was in his car on the way to the call, a 40-foot tree fell on his car crushing him and barely missing his son. For over 20 years, he willingly gave all he had to protect his beloved community from harm until he lost his own life in the line of duty. State Senator Robert G. Ortt said, “The renaming of a portion of State Route 259 in the Village of Spencerport to the ‘Firefighter Robert Fowler Memorial Highway’ is just one way we can help remind residents of the sacrifices our emergency responders make while serving our communities. The heroism and bravery our first responders display on a daily basis is something we should never take for granted. Although Firefighter Fowler may have given his life in service to our Spencerport community that evening in February, the memory of him and his dedication to protecting us will continue to live on for years to come.” “Today is a special day for the Fowler family, the Spencerport Fire Department, and residents of Spencerport and Ogden, as they can continue to honor Robert’s legacy while driving through the village each day. Bob selflessly put others before himself day in and day out, and it is such an honor to be able to memorialize him,” said Jensen. “We are so thankful to him and his loved ones for their dedicated service to keeping our neighbors safe. It’s a privilege to be able to show this small token of appreciation for our local hero, Firefighter Robert Fowler.” Jensen also introduced two other bills recognizing local fallen heroes, one that would designate a portion of State Route 259 in the town of Parma between Lake Ontario State Parkway and Dunbar Road as Specialist Jason Hasenauer Memorial Highway (A8535A). The other would recognize a portion of Latta Road and State Route 18 in the town of Greece as Sergeant Gary Beikirch Memorial Highway (A10110). The bills passed both the Assembly and Senate and are waiting to be signed into law by the governor. Provided information