Greece News December/January 2023

From the office of The Supervisor, Bill Reilich

As we enter the midst of the holiday season, I reflect back on all we have to be thankful for. Personally, I am so grateful to be Supervisor of our great town. It is a duty I do not take lightly, and it is a privilege to serve each and every one of you.

I would like to remind residents of our Winter Parking Ordinance, which is enforced November 1 – April 15 from midnight to 8:00am. This allows for safer and more effective plowing and salting of dedicated town streets and helps keep the cost of snow removal down, saving tax dollars for our residents.

We’ve been hosting many fun events at our Community and Senior Center as the center continues to undergo major renovations. Our most recent event was the Annual Thanksgiving Party. Over 150 seniors joined us and were treated to live entertainment and a Thanksgiving meal! As our Community Center continues renovation projects, some other businesses in Greece have received face-lifts as well. Recently we joined team at TOPS Friendly Market in Greece for their grand reopening. After months of renovations, the store officially opened again today. The renovations feature a new store layout, a Starbucks section, and so much more. Be sure to check it out! TOPS is located at 3507 Mt. Read Blvd.

I would like to invite you to follow my Facebook page: Bill Reilich Greece Town Supervisor. Factual information and town-related updates are posted to this page regularly. I hope everyone had a very happy Thanksgiving, and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and New Year! Stay safe and healthy, Greece!

Greece News

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Greece Chamber and Novoprint Collaborate on New Community Guide and Business Directory

The Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce and Chamber member NovoPrint USA, Inc., are collaborating on a new community guide publication for 2023-2024.

The 2023-2024 community guide will reflect our growth and showcase our beautiful, progressive community! We are on the leading edge of business, education, health care, transportation and economic development. This guide is a great tool to communicate information about your business to residents, other businesses and visitors to our community.

As an advertiser, your business will reach thousands through a low-cost-per-view advertising and will be positioned as a community leader and a community supporter.

In addition to printed distribution, this guide will also be available in digital form, hosted online by NovoPrint. It will also be showcased on the Chamber’s website. This digital copy will give your business added views, more exposure and further extend your advertising message.

To find out more and to reserve your placement today contact NovoPrint representative, Lori DeLaus, at (585) 737-3655 or lori@novoprint.com.

Advertiser Index

AireServ Heating & Air Conditioning 7

Blue Barn Cidery 17 BC Excavating 12

Christie Carpets & Blinds 3

Churchville- Chili Central School District 2 D. Ras Painting & Staining 5

D’Angelo’s Plumbing, Heating, Kitchens & Baths 20

Dominic Agostini, State Farm Insurance 6

EZ Tree Services 12

Foundations Unisex Salon 9

Happy Days On The Go 15

Hilton Family Dentistry 3

Home Safari Ltd. 2

JD Junk & Clean Out 8

Jim’s Ground 14

Mike DiSanto Heating & Cooling 12

RE/MAX Plus - Carolyn Stiffler 5

Russo’s Pizza 18 & 19

Tree & Yard Renovations 9

White Trash Rubbish 8

Provided Information and Photo

Free 2023 Erie Canalway calendar now available

The public is invited to pick up a free 2023 Erie Canalway National Heritage Corridor calendar at selected libraries and visitor centers throughout the National Heritage Corridor. The calendar, which was released December 1, features winning images from this year’s Erie Canalway photo contest.

“The Erie Canal transformed New York and the Nation and continues to contribute to the economy and sense of place of communities along it today,” said Bob Radliff, Erie Canalway Executive Director. “The calendar serves as a reminder to celebrate, preserve, and enjoy this incredible place all year long.”

Calendars will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, thanks to support from the NYS Canal Corporation and the National Park Service.

New York State Canal Corporation Director Brian U. Stratton said, “There is a reason they call December ‘the most wonderful time of the year!’ The annual Erie Canalway Calendar is a perennial favorite, beloved and eagerly awaited by all. Released at the start of the holiday season with photos captured by our friends and neighbors in canalside communities, this calendar is a testament to the beauty of this historic and scenic waterway. We are proud to continue to support this publication as it brings the charm of New York’s canals into our homes and offices for all to enjoy.”

This year’s cover features the Yankee Hill Lock at Schoharie Crossing State Historic Site near Amsterdam by Tim Stephen of Rotterdam Junction.

Locally, calendars are available while supplies last at the following locations: Hoag Library in Albion; Seymour Library and Brockport Welcome Center in Brockport; Newman Riga Library in Churchville; Greece Public Library; Hamlin Public Library; Community Free Library in Holley; Chili Public Library; Gates Public Library; and Ogden Farmers’ Library in Spencerport. Visit http/www.eriecanalway.org for more information.

Provided information

DMV reminds snowmobilers to register for the season

The New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) is reminding New Yorkers to register their snowmobiles. Snowmobile registrations must be renewed annually. DMV allows snowmobilers to renew registrations online on the DMV website, by mail or in person at a DMV office.

Learn more about registering a snowmobile in New York State on the DMV’s website at https://dmv.ny.gov/registration/register-snowmobile. Additionally, members of the New York State Snowmobile Association receive a $55 discount on snowmobile registrations. More information can be viewed here: https://nysnowmobiler.com/membership/.

All snowmobiles operated in New York must be registered and marked with a validation sticker. Riders who complete a registration online can print a temporary certificate, which is valid for 15 days. DMV generates a permanent registration and mails it to the recipient along with their validation sticker. There is no additional charge for the temporary certificate.

There are over 10,500 miles in the Statewide Snowmobile Trail System, traversing 46 counties and maintained by over 200 clubs. Revenue obtained through snowmobile registrations is used to support local areas through grants-in-aid for snowmobile trail development and maintenance, which is administered through 52 municipal sponsors.

Provided Information

Greece Kiwanis presents check

The Kiwanis Club of Greece recently presented a $500 check to Mothers in Need of Others, (MINO). Proceeds for this donation came from the October 8th, Arts & Crafts Show Fundraiser.

MINO provides support for babies, toddlers, mothers and families. The MINO ministry assists social service agencies and churches by providing emergency items to care managers and church outreach workers for families in crisis.

It’s a Holiday Tradition

Building Gingerbread Houses for George Eastman’s Exhibit

by Barbara Burke

The Gruver family of Greece loves to build Gingerbread Houses. Each year, since 2006, they have created a Gingerbread House for the George Eastman Museum’s Sweet Creations Gingerbread Display.

The process of building the gingerbread house is truly a team effort, involving the entire Gruver family, Mother, Andrea; Father, Bud; daughters Meagan and Faith and Son, Andrew.

Andrea is a mechanical engineer and handles the design each year. She said, “Designing the houses is a way for me to do an artsy thing along with using my design skills.” Bud and Andrew handle the roof work. Daughters help with the the sides of the house, which are fully decorated while laying flat, and then assembled. The entire family assists with the assembly, with Andrea attending to the fine details. “I’m a perfectionist,” she said. It takes nine to ten days to complete the house, five of those days involve intense decorating.

The Gruver’s gingerbread creation for this year is called, “The

I modify the reference photos to accommodate my design.”

Andrea has acquired some very useful information over her thirty plus years of building and designing gingerbread houses. She said, “Keep the theme general, with low key colors that last the season.”

The Eastman House calls The Gruver family creation for this year “spectacular” and named it one of their featured houses for 2022. Last year the Gruver’s gingerbread house, “Winter Wonderland,” was an imaginative house created all in white. It set an all-time silent auction record price of $610.

Sweet Creations Gingerbread Houses are on display thru January 1, 2023 at the George Eastman Museum. The museum’s website describes this year’s display as, “Dozens of cleverly designed, and deliciously decorated, gingerbread houses filling the mansion. This beloved holiday tradition provides a visual and aromatic treat for visitors of all ages.”

All of the Sweet Creations gingerbread houses are available for purchase in an online silent auction. The auction ends on January 1, 2023 at 5PM. For complete auction details go to https://www. eastman.org/sweet-creations-gingerbread-display-0

Andrea and Faith with “The Merry Merlot Chateau” at the George Eastman Museum. Photos by Karen Fien

Photos by Karen Fien

Chamber and Collette Offer 2023 Trips to Scotland and Thailand

The Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce and Collette have lined up two exciting trips:

•Scotland: Isles of Lore & Legend departing in August 2023 (with an optional 3-night London post-tour extension)

•Essence of Thailand departing in October 2023 (with an optional 4-night Singapore pre-tour extension).

Special package pricing and an additional $200 per person, per trip Chamber member discount is available for those who book by 1/27/23 for Scotland and by 4/27/23 for Thailand. Ask about our associate memberships.

“Collette is one of the Chamber’s larger business members with over 100 years of experience as an international tour operator. We are proud to partner with them in bringing exciting and

unique trips of high quality and value to our members and to the general public in our region and beyond,” said Greece Regional Chamber President and CEO Sarah E. Lentini.

While membership is not required to participate in the travel program, Greece Regional Chamber Associate and Business Members are eligible for travel discounts on many destinations. The public can find additional trips and more information on the Chamber’s travel program by visiting www.GreeceChamber.org, emailing Info@GreeceChamber.org, or calling 585.227.7272 or 585.944.5800.

Provided Information and Photos

Twenty-one local Firefighters graduate

A Firefighter graduation ceremony was held at the Greece Olympia auditorium. We would like to congratulate the twentyone newest firefighters that will serve their communities. These Firefighters from Barnard, Brighton, Fishers, Gates, Henrietta, Irondequoit, Lake Shore, North Greece, Ridge Road, and Saint Paul fire districts completed an intensive and educational twelve week Fire academy. The academy was hosted at the Monroe County Public Safety Facility and organized by the Ridge Road Fire District’s Battalion Chief Mark Quill, Captain Christopher Wil liams, and North Greece Fire District Lieutenant Mike Dorgan.

The academy was also supported by over 70 different instruc tors from the respective fire districts.

To watch the ceremony visit https://youtu.be/kI58TEeO0pg

Congratulations to: Barnard Fire District, Nicholas Hoffman Philip Sladden; Brighton Fire District, Patrick Payne; Fishers Fire District, Anthony Iacovino, Amanda Streeter, Benjamin Viruso (Professionalism Award); Gates Fire District, James Perreault, Ryan Potter (Instructor’s Award), Jeromy Walley; Henrietta Fire District, Ian Campo; Irondequoit Fire District, Jack Duncan, Jay Riesenberger (Valedictorian), Tanner Ross-Barco; Lake Shore Fire District, Alex Harding; North Greece Fire District, Salvatore Armeli, Anthony Cimino, Cameron Mattle; Ridge Road Fire Dis trict, Jack Borrelli, Robert Pelusio, Jacob Povio; Saint Paul Fire District, Charles Beckwith.

We would like to thank all the community partners that made

Robyn Egan

Keith Spindler

Route 390 trail extension project completed in Greece

A $1.6 million project that added a new, 1.2-mile section to the popular Route 390 multi-use trail in Greece has been completed. The project, which began in April, extended the trail from its previous southern terminus at State Route 104 to Ridgeway Avenue and created a direct link to the City of Rochester’s Eastman Trail, expanding recreational opportunities for pedestrians, hikers and cyclists.

“We are continuing to enhance our transportation network with multi-modal connectivity that can benefit all users, including those who seek access to recreational opportunities that can only be found in the beautiful Finger Lakes region,” said New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez. “By expanding and promoting greener modes of travel with multi-use trails like this one in the Town of Greece, we are advancing New York State’s ambitious climate goals and improving the quality of life for residents and enhancing the livability of our communities.”

With this new section, the Route 390 trail now stretches more than six miles from its northern terminus at The Lake Ontario State Parkway Trail and winds strategically through the Town of Greece, providing access to multiple parks, several Greece Central School District schools, and key commercial corridors such as along State Route 104. The trail’s new segment is adjacent to the Eastman Business Park, providing a new recreational amenity for hundreds of workers and boosting the site’s attractiveness and ability to attract new businesses.

As part of the project new benches were added at the corner of Ridgeway Avenue and Latona Road, and new curb ramps were installed for the trail crossing at Latona Road and Kodak Park. Large stones were placed along Paddy Creek Circle to create a natural seating area for visitors.

The Route 390 Trail is part of a network of nearby trails that includes:

•The Lake Ontario State Parkway Trail – 2.7 miles: A paved shareduse, east-west path within the Town of Greece and provides access to Charlotte.

•The Eastman Trail – 1.1 miles: A widened sidewalk along Ridgeway Avenue that extends from Latona Road to Mount Read Boulevard, enhancing connectivity into downtown Rochester.

•The Genesee Riverway Trail – 24 miles: An off-road trail along the Genesee River that runs through the heart of the City of Rochester, 11 different parks and the University of Rochester campus.

•The Erie Canalway Trail/Empire Trail – 750 miles: New York State’s network of trails that extends from Buffalo to Albany 365 miles along the Erie Canal, and from New York City to the Adirondacks.

Greece Town Supervisor William D. Reilich said, “This project puts us one step closer connecting Greece and surrounding communities with the Empire State Trail. My hope is that our recent collaboration with NYSDOT to develop a feasibility study for restoration of the existing Route 390 Trail north of Route 104 will position them to take the lead on that as a capital project. Restoration of the existing trail, along with the latest project and the eventual future connection with the Empire State Trail are all in keeping with recommendations from the Town’s Comprehensive Plan, and our 2016 Bicycle & Pedestrian Master Plan. These projects would not be possible without the leadership and resources NYSDOT brings to the table.”

Provided information and photos

Latona Road seating area.

Route 390 trail path.

Ridgeway Avenue seating area.

Stone seating along Paddy Creek Circle.

Greece Regional Chamber Offers Health, Dental, Vision, and Supplemental Insurance for Businesses and Families

The Greece Regional Chamber’s full-service health insurance brokerage firm, Greece Chamber Benefit Partners, has been providing health insurance assistance to residents of Monroe County, New York, and the greater Rochester region for more than 20 years.

They offer a complete range of health insurance plans for businesses and non-profits, along with individuals and families throughout the Greater Rochester/Finger Lakes Region of New York State, and offer access to a very broad variety of medical, dental, and vision plans from all major health insurance carriers.

You do not need to live or work in Greece to obtain health insurance through the Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Cooking with Kids

Apple Sauce

Ingredients

7 medium apples ½ cup apple juice or water ¼ cup sugar or honey, optional ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, optional

Instructions

Core and cut the apples into bite-sized chunks.

The Chamber’s Guardian group dental/vision plans can be used in and out of network, anywhere in the country. Enhanced benefits include coverage for both adult and child orthodontia in one of the dental plans and no waiting periods.

Greece Regional Chamber individual members and business members from throughout the region are eligible to participate.

For more information, visit www.GreeceChamber.org, or contact the Chamber at Info@GreeceChamber.org or (585) 9445800.

Provided Information and Photo

Put the apples into a medium saucepan. Add the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 15 to 20 minutes, stirring often, until the apples are tender.