Greece Ice Skating
2025 Business, Health & Home Expo coming to Greece Ridge Mall
The Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce invites the public to its 2025 Business, Health & Home Expo which will be held Saturday, March 15, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at The Mall at Greece Ridge, 271 Greece Ridge Center Drive, Rochester (Greece), NY 14626. Both admission and parking are free.
The Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce is partnering once again with a wide array of businesses in the region to bring the 12th annual Business, Health & Home Expo to the public. The event provides businesses and organizations throughout the region an opportunity to share their expertise, products, and services with the community. Local businesses of all types will showcase their products and services related to health, home, and better living, inspiring attendees to enhance and improve various aspects of their lives. The March 15 Expo will include business promotions, giveaways, free drawings, and activities for kids. Opportunities for businesses to exhibit, sponsor, and advertise are available now. Visit www. GreeceChamber.org, or call 585-227-7272 for more information.
Sponsors to date for this year’s event are Greenlight Networks and The Mall at Greece Ridge. There is no cost for the public to attend.
“Please join us for the 12th Annual Business, Health & Home Expo where you can speak directly to organizations and their rep-
Greece News
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resentatives on a large range of services, finances, health care, or other commercial activities that are of importance to you and your family,” said Chamber President and CEO Joe Robach. “For any questions, feel free to visit our website at www.Greecechamber. org contact us at 585-227-7272 or Info@GreeceChamber.org.” Provided information and photo
Rochester-area woman patents product to make skincare regimen easier
After a bout with melanoma, Kathe D’Alfonso, of Penfield, realized she needed to be more proactive with her sunscreen regimen and quickly found that it wasn’t always easy applying sunscreens or moisturizers to her back, by herself. “My frustration grew over the years of waiting for my husband to put lotion on my back, which drove me to create a quick solution with incredible reach,” she said
Kathe spent three years developing and creating numerous prototypes before she was satisfied with her finished product – Solo Beauty, a wand with a flexible mitt-covered head that’s
Solo Beauty helps in applying lotion to those hard-to-reach areas.
angled to access that hard-to-reach reach area of your back. “My product is very lightweight and designed to reach over your shoulders, upper back, mid and lower back, your feet, legs and your entire body. With having washable mitts it saves time and money for people.” There are different mitt options, including a lotion applicator, body exfoliator, and face exfoliator. The mitts are durable enough to be washed over 500 times.
This was Kathe’s first invention, and her patent acquisition was completed in April 2024. This enabled her to begin selling her unique, locally-made product to the public.
Kathe D’Alfonso
Consumers say they love the sense of independence Solo Beauty provides. “I am very happy when I hear from my customers how much they love the products and it is truly solving a problem,” Kathe said. Her customers with a decreased range of motion or who are wheelchair-bound, have found this to be a most helpful product to improve their daily lives. “With my applicator and washable mitts I feel people can gain their power back to take care of themselves on their time and never wait again!”
Visit Kathe at Solo Beauty in Irondequoit, or order online at solobeatyroc.com. Many options are available and custom design requests are welcome for the reusable, washable mitts.
Provided information and photos
Outdoor ice skating is a long-time favorite in Greece
by William Sauers
The opening of the outdoor skating rink on the Greece Town Campus should bring back memories of the “good old days” to many of us who have lived in the area for a half century or more. Back then there were many opportunities for outdoor ice skating, including public schools, community parking lots and natural ponds.
Residents of Greece were frequent visitors, until 1991, to the Maplewood Park pond. In fact, the building near the pond that is now City offices was specifically built with ice skating in mind. The Ontario Beach Park parking lot was another favorite spot for us, as were the nearby ponds along the lake.
A January 4, 1948 Democrat & Chronicle article talked about the thousands that crowded area skating rinks. In the 1940s and 50s, Barnard and Britton schools, and I am sure other schools, were also sites of public ice skating and they were true community endeavors. The DPW would roll down the snow and bring in an old voting booth as a shelter. The local volunteer fire department would flood the field. No plastic liner or safety bumpers back then. When the snow needed to be cleared off the ice, plenty of shovels were available for anyone who wanted to help clear the snow.
In 1948, a group of volunteers from the Greece Youth Foundation cleared four acres of land on Britton Road near Forgham Road for a rink with water supplied from Fleming Creek. It was on private property, but was used by anyone who came by.
By the 1960s, the Town converted the lighted tennis courts at Carter Park into an ice rink in the winter and, in 1975, built a shelter large enough to provide a place to change skates.
We all had ice skates back then, whether you were a good skater or not. New skates were always a great Christmas gift. If not a Christmas gift, there was always Cook’s Hardware ,which did a thriving business in used and new skates along with sharpening skates.
As indoor rinks opened and times changed, outdoor ice skating seemed to disappear around the early 1990s, albeit for a few artificially cooled rinks around the County.
The Town of Greece Community Ice Rink
Located on the Greece Town Hall Campus, 1 Vince Tofany Blvd., to the west of the library, the Community Ice Rink opened in December of 2016. It is a natural rink that is dependent on weather conditions for ice quality. Hours are Monday thru Friday 3 to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The status of the ice rink will be determined by 2:30 p.m. each day. Call 585-723-2425 or visit the Town of Greece website www.greeceny.gov for complete information.
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Outdoor ice skating
continued from page 10
The Greece Community Ice Rink is for Greece residents only and gives skaters of all skill levels plenty of room to enjoy. Skates are available and residents must check in at the Welcome Shed and present identification with proof of address to receive an admission tag. In addition, there is a heated shelter on site to provide a comfortable place to change in and out of skates. The use of this facility is at your own risk. By using this ice rink, participants are acknowledging that there are inherent risks involved in the activity of ice skating and are voluntarily assuming those risks.
In October of 2017, hometown hockey hero Brian Gionta and his wife, Harvest, donated ice skates to the Town of Greece for residents to use on the outdoor rink, free of charge. His generous donation included 50 pairs of brand-new ice skates ranging in sizes from youth to adult, as well as one dozen helmets for optional use. Requirements to borrow skates include a valid NYS driver’s license, which will be retained while using the skates. Skates cannot be removed from the rink site and must be returned in the same condition in which they were loaned. Skate aids are also available at the rink. In addition to the warming shed, there are restrooms on site.
Historical photos and ads provided by Greece Historical Society.
Greece Community Ice Rink photos by Karen Fien
Megan, Levi and Selah Owens
Annabelle, Anthony, Nate and Krista Woods
Joshue, Daisy and Rodi
Gates Greece Lions holding snow golf fundraiser
The Gates Greece Lions Club is holding its annual Snow Ball Golf fundraiser on Saturday, February 1, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gates Lions Park, 100 Kentucky Avenue (off Long Pond Road), Gates. Proceeds benefit “The Lions Den” shelter rebuild at Gates Lions Park.
The game will be played with a 9-Iron and a tennis ball on a 12-hole course varying in length from 25 to 150 yards with both natural and man-made obstacles. It takes about one hour to play a full round, and participants can start at any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. No snow is required and both children and adults can play. No prior golf experience is needed.
The price is $5 per round per person, and the Lions provide the tennis ball. Participants can bring their own 9-Iron or rent one for $1.
Food, kids games, prizes, and warmth will be available inside the Gates Lions Park Building. Come for lunch as burgers, hot dogs, and drinks will be available for purchase.
Call ahead or just show up and play. Call 585-746-1179 or email wfrance1@rochester.rr.com for information and tickets.
Provided information and photo
Greece Historical Society presents “She, Unsung”
Tuesday, February 11, 7:00 p.m.,
GCSD Transportation Center, 1790 Latta Road.
Our Tuesday evening program on February 11 will feature Chandra McKenzie and Anne Coon telling stories about a unique set of women who made a commitment to others and produced a lasting legacy of influence and leadership in the community.
The diverse group of women featured in this talk cross several generations. They possessed the ability to foresee opportunities. They made a commitment to others and produced a lasting legacy of influence and leadership in the community. Many enjoyed notoriety far beyond Rochester, and some profoundly altered the way women were perceived, physically and professionally. Too many of these notable women and their contributions have become virtually “unsung.”
Chandra McKenzie and Anne Coon are both poets and pub-
lished writers who retired from academic careers at RIT. In the past, they worked together on volunteer projects for various arts and cultural organizations in the Rochester community. They have been working on this collaboration since early 2020. This engaging presentation will appeal to the intellectually curious, as well as to fans of Rochester history, women’s stories, and popular culture.
Provided information and photo
Chandra McKenzie and Anne Coon
Join the growing Greece Chamber family
The Greece Regional Chamber represents members throughout Greece and the greater Rochester region and beyond. The Chamber’s membership is strengthened by its variety of members, and they are delighted to have so many exciting and accomplished businesses, non-profits, and individuals in their growing regional business and community network.
“I want to thank our existing members and welcome our new members that joined the Chamber family in 2024. It was a great year and we are looking forward to an even stronger 2025!” said Greece Regional Chamber President and CEO Joe Robach.
Find out how your business can start taking advantage of networking and ribbon-cutting events, media and marketing opportunities, community and business recognition events, exclusive member benefits, and much more. For more information on the Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce and its membership benefits, available to businesses and individuals throughout Monroe County and beyond, call 585-227-7272, visit www.GreeceChamber.org, or email Info@GreeceChamber. org.
Greece Regional Chamber welcomed the following new or upgraded Premium Business Member in 2024:
•Advantage Federal Credit Union
•Assured Partners
•Atlas Automation
•Bartolomeo &Perotto Funeral Home
•Bob Johnson Auto Group
•BTB Wood Fired Pizza Bar & Grill
•Budget Blinds Northwest Rochester
•Chef’s Event Center & Party House
•Deerfield Golf & Country Club/ Ironwood Tavern
•Elmwood Agency
•Faber Builders, Inc.
•Five Star Bank
•Franks Basement Systems
•Greenlight Networks
•Hose 22/The Stutson House
•Monroe Medi Trans, Inc.
dba Monroe Ambulance
•Premium Mortgage Corporation
•PrivacyGuard
•Rochester Group
•Rochester Pest Pro
•Rochester Regional Health/ Unity Hospital
•The Mall at Greece Ridge
•The NSR Group, LLC
•The Summit Federal Credit Union
•The Village at Mill Landing
•The Village at Unity
•University of Rochester
•Wegman Properties
•WM
Greece Regional Chamber welcomed the following new Standard Business Members in 2024:
•101 Mobility of Rochester
•AAA Western Central NY -
Greece Branch
•Advant Automotive
•AireServ of Rochester
•Antelli Salon
•At A Glance Accounting
•Avril Blackwood,
Hunt Real Estate ERA Columbus
•Bansbach Law, P.C.
•Bill Reduction Pro
•Boot Barn
•Buckman Enterprises
•Carnegie Companies, Inc.
•Cedar Park Group
•Christie Carpets
•Compass Cycle + Flow
•Dale Carnegie Training of Western NY
•Delta Monic’s LLC
•Dock Hardware
•Electronic Merchant Systems
New York
•Enrich Marketing
•Ferra’s Furniture Service and Repair
•First Learning
•Flooring Plus
•Frisbee’s Landscaping, Ponds & Patios
•Genesis Communications Inc.
•Greece Community FCU
•Home Away From Home
Child Care Center
•Howard Hanna Real Estate Services
Greece Office
•InfoPreserve Inc.
•Isaac Heating & Air Conditioning
•JP White Trash LLC
•Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York
•KB Coatings and Contracting, LLC
•Lady Bugs All Pest Solutions
•Lattimore Physical Therapy of South Greece
•Ledgers Inc East
•Lollypop Farm, Humane Society of Greater Rochester
•Markson’s Furniture
•MC Carpentry Plus Inc.
•Mi Rancho Alegre
•Mission Advancement Group LLC
•Monroe County Executive Adam Bello
•Monroe County Legislator Blake Keller
•Moyer & Associates, P.C.
•Nine Ten Construction and Excavation
•NYS Assemblyman Josh Jensen
•NYS SBDC at SUNY Brockport
•NYS Senator Jeremy Cooney
•One Stop Janitorial & Office Supply
•Open Door Mission
•Panther Graphics Inc.
•Pathstone Enterprise Center
•Paychex - Albert Rivera
•Refined Restoration
•Roc Auto Service & Tires LLC
•Roc Industrial LLC
•Spectrum Sounds, LLC
•State Farm Insurance -
Dominic Agostini Agency
•Trophies & Awards by NYRA
•USI Insurance Services
•Vision Financial Group
•Volpe & Associates
•Whelpley and Paul
Provided information and photo
Whelpley and Paul was one of the businesses that joined the Greece Regional Chamber in 2024
Greece Chamber offers Collette trips for 2025 and 2026 to Ireland, Italy, Hawaii, Japan, Greece, and more
Travel with the Greece Chamber and Collette to exciting destinations. The Greece Regional Chamber of Commerce and Collette have lined up several exciting trips for 2025 and 2026:
•Australia’s Outback to New Zealand’s South Island (with optional three-night Figi post-tour extension)
•Spain’s Costa del Sol & Madrid
•Canadian Maritimes and Coastal Wonders
•Shades of Ireland (with optional three-night London pre-tour extension and/or optional three-night Edinburgh post-tour extension)
•Tropical Costa Rica (with optional three-night Jungle Adventure pre-tour extension)
•Southern Italy & Sicily featuring Taormina, Matera and the Amalfi Coast (with optional two-night Rome posttour extension and/or optional two-night Palermo pre-tour extension)
•Hawaiian Adventure
•Treasures of Japan
•Greece Island Hopper featuring Athens, Mykonos and Santorini (with optional threenight Istanbul post-tour extension)
The Greece Chamber is proud to partner with Collette, a familyowned company and the most experienced and longest-running tour operator in North America. The Collette team’s expertise keeps you well-prepared for your travel, taking care of all the details so you have peace of mind and can travel worry-free. All trips are open to the public. View more information about current trips at https://tinyurl.com/2hys4t4m.
“Collette is one of the Chamber’s larger business members with over 100 years of experience as an international tour operator. We have partnered with them for many years to bring exciting and unique trips of high-quality and value, both to our members and to the general public in our region and beyond,” said Greece Regional Chamber President and CEO Joe Robach.
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 https://tinyurl.com/2hys4t4m, emailing Travel@GreeceChamber.org, or calling 585-227-7272.
Provided information and photos
Greece partners with ESL to increase funding for GRIP grants
The Town of Greece Residential Improvement Program (GRIP) has been a long-running grant opportunity for Town homeowners struggling to keep up with the cost of home rehabilitation costs. Funded by a Community Development Block Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, GRIP has helped countless Greece residents since its inception in 1974. The program has evolved and changed and, in recent years, the maximum grant amount was even increased to mirror the acrossthe-board increased costs of building material and labor, with major drivers like COVID-19 supply chain interruptions and inflation. As a result, and due to an ever-increasing number of applicants, requests for assistance surpassed the funding the Town received for this program.
In a roundtable meeting with other local nonprofit housing rehabilitation organizations, organized by Rochester Energy Efficiency and Weatherization (RENEW), a connection with ESL Charitable Foundation was made, and the Town was invited to apply for a grant to bridge the gap between the funds available from HUD and the demand for the program. The grant of $250,000 was applied
for and received by the Town. As of August, the Town had already committed to funding twice as many GRIP applications in 2024 as it had in standard years, allowing the Town to clear the backlog.
“It was a perfect match between the Town’s mission with GRIP and ESL’s stated purpose of building strong neighborhoods in the greater Rochester area,” Supervisor Reilich said. “We’re thrilled to be able to serve more Greece homeowners with this expanded capacity. My sincerest thanks to ESL for supporting this worthy program for our residents”.
The Town’s vision for GRIP has long been to provide quality housing at an attainable price, to improve the Town’s housing stock, and to allow those on limited or fixed income to remain in their homes and in our community.
This 2024 program funding has been fully allocated and a new round of GRIP funding will be announced early this year with new applications accepted in the spring. The Town looks forward to continuing its relationship and communications with ESL with the hope of securing additional grants to support Greece’s GRIP program in the future.
Provided information
Explore the cultural treasures of Japan.
Greece Athena Musical Theatre Department presents Footloose
This February, the Greece Athena High School Theatre Department invites you to join them as they bring Footloose to the Greece Central Performing Arts Center on January 31 and February 1, 2, 7, 8, and 9.
The explosive movie musical bursts onto the live stage! Footloose celebrates the exhilaration of youth, the wisdom of listening to one another, and the power of forgiveness.
Footloose first burst onto the silver screen in 1984 and quickly became a cult classic. The soundtrack reached #1 on the Billboard charts generating such hits as its title song “Footloose” made famous by Kenny Loggins, “Let’s Hear it for the Boy” (both of which received Academy Award nominations), plus “Holding Out for A Hero,” “Almost Paradise,” and “I’m Free.”
Footloose is the story of Ren McCormack, a teenage boy from Chicago, played by senior Anthony Raymond, who moves to the small town of Bomont and finds himself at odds with most of the town, including the Reverend Shaw, senior Vincent Mussumeci, who has convinced the town to outlaw dancing, which Ren finds unbelievable. With the help of Reverend Shaw’s daughter Ariel,
senior Sophia Butera, and country boy Willard, who becomes his best friend, played by senior Michael Giordano, Ren convinces the Reverend to let the teenagers hold a dance and, in the process, helps the town to heal from a tragedy that affected them all.
Come experience the best kind of blast from the past and “kick off your Sunday Shoes” with the rockin’ rhythm of this Top 40 score.
Footloose is presented by the award-winning Greece Athena High School Musical Theatre Department with six performances at the fabulous Greece Central Performing Arts Center. Athena is well known for their talented students, outstanding costumes, sets, and superb orchestra.
“Mama Says” you won’t want to miss out on this amazing performance which demonstrates the importance of listening to one another amidst the endless noise and pressures we all face on a daily basis.
Tickets are available online at cur8.com and at the door. All evening shows are at 7 p.m. and the Sunday matinees are at 2 p.m.
Provided information and photo
Monroe County opens satellite office in Greece to connect residents with services
for older adults and veterans
Monroe County has opened two new service centers to support county residents seeking access to vital services. The convenient, accessible offices will help connect residents with knowledgeable staff and serve as a resource for veterans and aging services. These offices are located at Greece Ridge Mall in the town of Greece and Bay Towne Plaza in the town of Webster, and made possible with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
“These new service centers will help us to better connect with residents by meeting them closer to home,” said County Executive Adam Bello. “We want to make sure that local veterans get all of the benefits they’re entitled to, and we want to connect older adults and caregivers with the services and supports that can
improve their quality of life. Thank you to our friends at Lifespan for partnering with us on this effort, as well as the County workers who will serve these locations.”
The Monroe County Veterans Service Agency (VSA) will provide free assistance to veterans and their families at each location. Specifically, the VSA can help navigate the United States Department of Veterans Affairs’ claim system, including filing appeals for denied claims, and will review eligibility for all programs to make sure a veteran is receiving all of the benefits they’ve earned.
Lifespan of Greater Rochester, experts in aging services and a continued on page 17
The cast of Greece Athena’s production of Footloose.
valuable partner of Monroe County’s Office for the Aging, will also have staff available at each location to assist older adults and caregivers with guidance about aging services and other supportive programs. This includes information about home care options, housing, transportation, wellness programming, financial support, health insurance counseling appointments, caregiver supports & resources, and referral services to a host of local programs and services.
“As a community, we have an obligation to take care of the men and women who’ve served their country, and the VSA works every day to help our veterans connect with the supports and services they’ve earned,” said Nick Stefanovic, Director of the Monroe County Veterans Service Agency. “We know the need for help is strong and the capacity to help is strong, and these new locations will help make those connections more easily.”
“We are thrilled to support County Executive Adam Bello’s efforts to make services more accessible to people in the County,” said Ann Marie Cook, President/CEO, Lifespan of Greater Rochester, Inc. “It is difficult to understand aging services, including eligibility for benefits and other programs. These satellite sites will provide people an opportunity to meet with professionals in a convenient location so they can get access to services and understand benefits.”
“Today’s ribbon-cutting at the westside Veteran and Senior Services Center marks a transformative step in how Monroe County delivers support to those who need it most,” said Legislator Jackie Smith. “With this center and its eastside counterpart, we are en-
From the office of The Supervisor, Bill Reilich
As we reflect on the past year, I want to express my gratitude to all the residents of Greece who make our town such a wonderful place to live. I hope everyone enjoyed a safe and happy holiday season!
suring veterans and seniors have streamlined access to essential services, honoring their contributions and strengthening our entire community. This initiative reflects our unwavering commitment to making Monroe County a place where every generation in every part of this community is valued and supported.”
Each office will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The locations are:
•Greece Ridge Mall, Inline Space F5
271 Greece Ridge Center Drive, Rochester, NY, 14626
585-753-2802
•Bay Towne Plaza, Suite 645
1900 Empire Boulevard, Webster, NY 14580
585-753-2812
Last month, hundreds of residents braved the cold to join us for the annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony and Family Christmas Party. The evening featured a fantastic musical performance and a visit from Santa Claus. The Tree Lighting Ceremony was followed by a stunning fireworks display that lit up the night sky. Thank you to everyone who participated in this festive event!
The ice rink is now open! The hours are:
• Monday-Friday: 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Please note that all skaters aged 13 and younger must be accompanied and supervised by an adult. Don’t own skates? No problem! Greece residents can enjoy free skate rentals thanks to former NHL player and Greece resident Brian Gionta. We have over 100 pairs available, ranging from toddler to adult sizes. A valid license or photo ID is required to borrow skates.
During last month’s Greece Town Board meeting, I had the privilege of recognizing two outstanding team members, Katie and Will, for their heroic actions during a medical emergency. During a routine table tennis session in The Center gymnasium, a player suffered a sudden medical emergency that appeared to be a heart attack. Katie quickly retrieved the AED machine, while Will began chest compressions. Thanks to Will’s persistence during the second set of compressions, the individual regained consciousness. Katie and Will remained by his side, ensuring his
stability until paramedics arrived.
Provided information
We are immensely proud of Katie and Will for their professionalism, composure, and teamwork. Their actions exemplify the very best of our Greece Town team, and we were honored to recognize them during the Town Board meeting.
As always, I value feedback from residents regarding programming and other town-related matters. If you have any concerns or suggestions, please don’t hesitate to visit our website. Stay tuned for updates about town-sponsored events and news by following our social media pages.
From my family to yours, I wish you a safe and happy New Year!
Supervisor Bill Reilich presented Will Warner and Katie Decker with proclamations for jumping into action and saving the life of a resident suffering a medical emergency at the Community Center. Provided photo.
Officials participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the westside satellite office in Greece Ridge Mall. Photo from @CountyExecBello on X.
w/Mozzarella, 14 Chicken Tenders or 12 Mozz. Sticks or 10 Wings
w/Mozzarella, 28 Chicken Tenders or 24 Mozz. Sticks
