My Hometown April 2023

A Westside News, Inc. Publication

Pubisher Keith Ryan

Managing Editor Gary Sajdak

Email: gary.sajdak@westsidenewsny.com

Contributing Writers & Photographers Barbara Burke, Maggie Fitzgibbon, Colleen Onuffer, Tami Raco, John Robortella, Joe Territo

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5 Easter Egg Hunts and Other Egg-ceptional Traditions

6 New Book Highlights Record-breaking 1965 C-C Basketball Game

7 Registration Open for 2023 Chili Challenger Baseball

8 Churchville Teacher Receives Golden Apple Award

9 Weekly Group Tours at the Museum of Transportation

11 CTE Students Win 12 medals at SkillsUSA Area 1 Regionals

12 Indulging a Hobby - Dave Kane

14 School Robotics Teams Earn Regional Honors

15 Churchville-Chili Student Receives Do The Right Thing Award

16 Fun and Educational Ways to Celebrate Earth Day

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My Hometown Events

Chili Art Group holding Spring Show & Sale

The Chili Art Group will present its annual Spring Show & Sale from April 28 through 30 at the Chili Community Center. The show will feature artwork in a variety of media created by group members.

Painting, Pastel, Photography and Mixed Media works will be for sale.

This year, the show will encompass the lobby, corridor and banquet hall and include a gift shop as well.

The Chili Art Group has been an important part of the Chili community since 1961 and encourages local creative residents to join. The group meets the second and fourth Thursdays of each month from September through April at the new Chili Community Center. Membership information will be available at the show.

Provided information

Gates Historical Society April program

The Gates Historical Society’s April program will be Monday, April 17, 7 p.m., at the Gates Town Hall Annex. Ethan Fogg, a collector of keys and locks, will talk about how he became interested in keys at age seven. His present collection includes over 26,000 antique locks, keys and vintage hardware. Donations of keys and locks are welcome at this meeting. This facility is handicapped accessible and the program is free. Provided information

My Hometown Holiday Traditions

Easter egg hunts and other eggceptional traditions

Easter is celebrated in various ways. Traditional religious commemorations include Saturday evening Easter vigils and Sunday morning Resurrection masses. Parents may spend Easter weekend putting the finishing touches on Easter Bunny baskets, and many families favor a combination of traditions.

Since religious as well as secular imagery and traditions have melded to form the Easter most individuals recognize today, a mix of customs may be part of your Easter festivities. Among them will be colored eggs, egg hunts and possibly even egg rolls. Just how was the Easter egg tradition hatched?

Pre-Christian societies

Before Christianity was as widespread as it is in modern times, many societies associated eggs with spring and new life. Many birds and animals lay eggs early in spring, and these eggs tend to hatch upon the arrival of the warm weather, budding flowers and buzzing insects.

Ancient Persians are believed to have painted eggs for Nowrooz, their new year celebration that would fall on the spring equinox each year.

Eggs also have been part of Passover celebrations. A hardboiled egg dipped in salt water is served at a Passover seder, symbolizing both new life away from oppression and the Passover sacrifice at the Temple in Jerusalem, according to Chabad. org.

Lent, Christianity and eggs

In medieval times, eating eggs was forbidden during Lent, when both dairy and meat were avoided. To reduce waste, eggs laid during Lent were boiled or preserved in some way.

The fast ended on Easter Sunday, and eggs became, once again, important and nutritious staples — especially for poor families that couldn’t afford much meat. Eggs also were given to the church by medieval English villagers and also to the lords of the manor. Royals eventually got in on the act, and decorated eggs were distributed to the household in a tradition that was one of the earliest to include eggs.

Egg hunts and more

Some historians suggest that egg hunts can be traced back to German Protestant reformer Martin Luther, who organized egg hunts for his congregation. The men would hide the eggs for the women and children to find. This symbolized the story of Christ’s resurrection, when the tomb was discovered by women. The eggs also represented Jesus’ new life and his emergence from the tomb.

Egg hunts are not the only egg-related games that were hatched for Easter celebrations. According to the website Learn Religions, some European children go from house to house begging for Easter eggs, like children may ask for treats on Halloween. The custom is called “pace-egging,” a term derived from the old word for Easter, “Pasch.” Egg rolls also are symbolic of rolling away the stone from Christ’s tomb. Various countries have their own rules on egg rolls. In Germany, for example, children roll

their eggs down a track made from sticks.

Easter eggs are an integral symbol of the holiday that hold both secular and religious meaning.

My Hometown Author

New book highlights record-breaking 1965 C-C basketball game

Churchville-Chili graduate and retired newspaper sports editor and writer, Ron Johnston, has recently released his debut book, One-Game Wonder: A Hoops Memory and Compilation. In this work of non-fiction, Ron tells the story of his role in a recordbreaking basketball game and shares memories of the school and community in the 1960s.

On Friday night, January 8, 1965, the 5-1 Churchville-Chili boys basketball team hosted Greece Arcadia in the Saints gym. It was the first game of the new year and would turn out to be school record-breaking as C-C won 101-55. All 14 Saints on the roster played and scored. Ron, a junior non-starter, became a one-game wonder when he scored a game-high 16 points in almost two quarters of action on the hardwood. He couldn’t miss, draining seven straight perimeter shots in the “pre-3-pointer era.”

Ron says he “never had a C-C varsity game quite like that again.”

His accomplishment was even more remarkable considering he has a condition known as bronchiectasis that he never revealed publicly until the writing of this book. Only his parents, immediate family, and doctors knew about it. The lung disease, which he has had all his life, did not in any way hinder Ron’s participation in athletics at both the prep and collegiate level. In fact, competing in sports, running, and walking have benefitted him.

“But the book is so much more than a memoir and one game,” Ron says. “It’s a love story back in the time of teenage innocence. It’s about teammates, cheerleaders, classmates, coaches, teachers, soldiers and good people.”

One reviewer of the book said, “Ron has written a great tribute to the people, school, and town where he grew up showing how we are all made of a mosaic of memories – athletics to sicknesses to sledding. Good read!”

Contest Winners!

One-Game Wonder is available for purchase at Lift Bridge Book Shop in Brockport. Copies of the book are also available for borrowing at the Newman Riga Library in Churchville and the Chili Public Library.

First Place: Anthony and Allison posted by Mari Hamilton.

Second Place: Posted by Gianna Montalbano.

Third Place: Cousins, Toby and Blake posted by Caren Davis.

My Hometown Sports Registration open for 2023 Chili Challenger Baseball

Chili Challenger Baseball is now accepting registrations for 2023 participation. The program is available to children and adults with physical and mental challenges.

For the 25th consecutive year, games will be played at Davis Park. The season will consist of six Sunday evening games throughout June and July, while also including an additional game at Innovative Field (formerly Frontier Field) and a complimentary Red Wings game.

To register or request additional information, email challenge@ chilibaseball.org or rich.randall24@yahoo.com. The deadline to register is April 15.

For over 30 years, the Chili Challenger Baseball program has provided the local community an opportunity for kids and adults of all ages with special needs to play baseball.

Provided information

The Rochester Chapter of the American Sewing Guild will be hosting its 2023 ASG All Things Sewing Sale on Saturday, April 15, from 9 a.m. to noon at the First Baptist Church of Rochester, 175 Allens Creek Road, Rochester. This annual event features fabrics, notions, gadgets, patterns, books and sewing machines for sale at fantastic prices. Scissor sharpening will be available from Diamond Edge Sharpening Services while you shop. The sale is open to the public.

The mission of the American Sewing Guild is to advance sewing as an art and life skill. The organization is dedicated to people who believe sewing is a rewarding and creative activity. The Rochester Chapter was organized in 1991 and currently has 128 members. New members are welcome and membership is $60 per year.

For information, visit www.asgrochester-ny.org.

Provided information

My Hometown Schools

C-C teacher receives Golden Apple Award

Churchville Elementary School teacher Katie McArdle is the latest to receive WROC TV Channel 8’s coveted Golden Apple Award. She was nominated by the parents of one of her kindergarten students.

The Golden Apple Award was presented to Mrs. McArdle in a surprise visit to her classroom by WROC reporter Katrina Irwin and CES Principal Kate Daly. While McArdle was completely caught off guard, her students loved the excitement of the TV cameras, and several were interviewed about their teacher.

The Golden Apple Award recognizes excellence in teaching around the Rochester area. The nominating parent wrote, “Mrs. McArdle is every parent’s dream… she shines in how she goes

above and beyond. Whether it is getting all her students to write and draw pictures for Damar Hamlin or getting her entire hallway (and now school) to decorate during the holidays… (She) had all of kindergarten dressed as Minions, singing minions songs… fun seeps out of her room into the whole school. She makes people want to be at school, kids and teachers alike. Mrs. McArdle just always adds a little bit extra, but it makes a big impact.”

The spot will air on WROC TV 8 on March 28 between 5:30 and 6 p.m.

Provided information and photos

Golden Apple winner Katie McArdle with her kindergarten class.

My Hometown Museums

Weekday group tours at the NY Museum of Transportation

From toddlers to seniors, a weekday guided tour of transportation history and a ride on a vintage trolley car is fun and educational at the New York Museum of Transportation, in Rush. With the easing of Covid restrictions, the museum has announced the return of these popular tours.

Tours are tailored to the interest and comprehension level of the group and include full size trolley cars, a steam locomotive, large model railroad and the Midtown Plaza Monorail. Unique in New York State, a 20-minute trolley ride through scenic Genesee valley countryside is included as a highlight of the visit.

Tours are offered weekdays, by ap pointment, June through October. Daycares, senior homes, clubs, home schools, and other organizations plan ning their summer schedule will want to contact the museum soon at info@ nymtmuseum.org for further infor mation and to reserve a date on the calendar.

Provided information and photo

Click here to schedule your appt.!

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• Being on your feet all day for work.

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A note from Dr. Sam Camarata (Owner)

CTE students win 12 medals, area vice presidency at SkillsUSA Area 1 Regionals

Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Career and Technical Education students, teachers, staff and administrators made the drive from WEMOCO CTE Center to Alfred State on March 7 for SkillsUSA New York State Area 1 Regionals. Twelve medals and an officer position made the ride back with them.

Two BOCES 2 CTE students placed first in their respective competitions. Steven Kent (Heavy Equipment Operation and Maintenance, Greece) earned gold in Action Skills while Eloy “EJ” Soto (Carpentry, Brockport) garnered the top spot in Carpenter Assistant Basic.

WEMOCO students won five silver medals. Logan Cameron (Introduction to Construction Trades, Greece) placed second in Carpenter Assistant Basic. Second place in Small Engine Service Basic went to William Ross (Outdoor Powersports Technology, Brockport). Mika Richardson (Welding, Greece) nabbed the second spot in Welding while Abigail Steines (Criminal Justice, Gates Chili)

placed second in CPR/First Aid. Rounding out the second-place finishers was Macaria Johnson (Cosmetology, Spencerport) in the Cosmetology Senior competition.

Five WEMOCO students placed third in competitions: Arrow Peryea (Digital and Visual Communication, Gates Chili) in Photography; Katherine Zerrillo (Digital and Visual Communication, Churchville-Chili) in Advertising Design; Tiana Yaw-Owen (Cosmetology, Brockport) in Esthetics Skin Care with Ariana Sutton (Cosmetology, Greece) serving as the model; and Arrieanna Brown (Medical Laboratory Assisting and Phlebotomy, Hilton) in Job Interview.

The next step in SkillsUSA competitions is the New York State SkillsUSA Competition held in Syracuse at the end of April. Also at Regionals, Kayla Waddle-Martin (Dental Assisting, Greece) was named New York State Area 1 Vice President. Provided information and photos

Mika Richardson, Greece

Abigail Steines, Gates Chili Macaria Johnson, Spencerport

Arrow Peryea, Gates Chili

Katherine Zerrillo, Churchville-Chili

Tiana Yaw-Owen, Brockport, and Ariana Sutton, Greece Arrieanna Brown, Hilton

Kayla Waddle-Martin, Greece

Indulging a Hobby

by Barbara Burke

In the Spring of 2021, after 40+ years as a radio broadcaster, Greece resident Dave Kane retired from his job as mid-day host at WCMF. Kane wasn’t off-air for long, “I’m still retired, I’m just indulging a hobby, it’s like a part-time job,” he said.

After much encouragement and requests for his return to radio from dedicated, loyal listeners, social media friends, and a meeting with Michael Black, Radio Program Director at WRUR, Kane resurrected his Breakfast with The Beatles radio show on Labor Day Weekend 2022. “Working at WRUR is the right fit. The focus here is on the music, live and local. Being part of the WXXI family, in partnership with the U of R, I feel flattered by this opportunity. There are a lot of veteran media people working here, and it is an education,” Kane said.

Breakfast with The Beatles, airs on Sunday mornings from 10AM to Noon on WRUR. It is the ultimate, perfect mix of past and present, group and solo Beatles music, on this date facts, history, back stories and accounts, all narratives chronicling the life and times of The Beatles. The main focus of every show is kept on the songs.

The Beatles are a group that Kane knows well, and says their musical meeting, and the resulting accomplishments, were the perfect storm. “They were four incredibly talented individuals that came together creatively. It was a tough time for our country, and they brought a message of peace and love that still resonates today. It is a hard thing to explain.”

Preparation for each week’s Breakfast with The Beatles show is a labor of love for Kane. “I’m still learning something new in my research. I work about five hours a week prepping the show. It is my

only focus, and there is a wealth of information on The Beatles that we now have unlimited access to. I have the time now, and I am re-reading my library of Beatle books and searching the internet for information. Working in a commercial free format gives me more time to broaden out a great deal on the songs I play. The new deluxe box set for the Revolver album has a wealth of notes, song mixes and new information. You really hear Revolver in a different way.”

Kane came to the Rochester area in 1975 to study Journalism at SUNY Brockport. When he found out that he had to write something everyday, he wasn’t so sure of his career choice. “You know how you have great teachers that make a difference? I had a teacher that made a motivating speech in class that prompted me to visit the college radio station. I found what I wanted to do for life.”

Kane grew up in Brooklyn, with a father that enjoyed classical music and opera, in a house where music was always playing. It nurtured, in him, an appreciation for music. “Growing up in the 70s, close to New York City, gave me the opportunity to go to live concerts, at all the classic venues. The great artists and bands all toured through New York City. That’s what it was for me, concerts, concerts, concerts. Being in radio for my entire career was a dream come true. It gave me so many opportunities that I really never thought possible.”

And then there is the instantly recognizable, well acclaimed, gifted voice that Kane says is his everyday voice. “I never tried to develop a radio voice. I just speak in my natural way.” Ironically, Kane’s first job in radio came in 1979 from a small station in Geneva where the program director hired him, not for the sound of his voice, but because he could read copy. “At the beginning of each show I had to read five minutes of news. The program director said he hired me because I could put sentences together, and read in a pleasing way. Radio is really all about your ability to connect with your listeners on the other side.”

Kane’s broadcasting successes have not gone unrecognized. He was honored with a “Special Merit Award” during the induction of WCMF to the Rochester Music Hall of Fame in 2019. He was also nominated for the prestigious “Radio Personality of the Year” Marconi Award. He is a six-time nominee for

Billboard Magazine’s “Music Director of the Year.” Kane’s alma mater, SUNY Brockport, recognized him as a “Communicator of the Year” as well as a Communications Department “Alumni of the Year.” In 2018, he received SUNY Brockport’s “Outstanding Service Award,” and in September 2019, he was inducted into the WBSU Hall of Fame at SUNY Brockport.

As Dave Kane has said for years, “What’s better than a Sunday morning, waking up with a cup of coffee and The Beatles. You can listen to Breakfast with The Beatles every Sunday morning from 10am to 12noon on FM 88.5 WRUR/ 90.1 FM WITH, or stream online at wrur.org withradio.org or differentradio.org

Photos by Karen Fien, Beatles photo provided

My Hometown Schools

Spencerport’s Ranger Robotics Team 3015 competed in the Finger Lakes and Long Island Regionals in March, and with their alliances, won both. The Finger Lakes Regional had 55 teams and Spencerport’s alliance included Canandaigua Academy and Greece Gladiators. The Long Island Regional had 45 teams Spencerport’s alliance included teams from Hicksville and Cold Spring Harbor. The Rangers also won the Excellence in Engineering Award in Long Island. Next up is the New York Tech Valley Regional from March 29 to April 1 in Albany.

Twitter.

Churchville-Chili Robotics Team 340 made it to the finals at RIT’s Greater Rochester Robotics FIRST Competition and earned a second place finish.

Photo from @CCCSDtweets on Twitter

Photo from @SpencerportCSD on

My Hometown Neighbor

C-C’s Dominic Turturro receives Do the Right Thing Award

The Rochester Police Department’s Do the Right Thing Award was presented to Churchville-Chili High School student Dominic Turturro in a ceremony on March 2. Turturro was nominated by 911 tele-communicator Kathleen Burns for the way he handled a recent family medical emergency.

Back in September, Turturro was watching his twoyear-old sister while their mother was at work. He called 911 after his sister had what appeared to be a seizure. During the call, the young man was able to stay calm and focused as he provided the information needed in order to send the appropriate help. Thanks to his actions, his sister is happy and healthy today, and his family is proud of him for being such a caring big brother. Tele-communicator Burns said that she could tell during that phone call just how much he loves his little sister!

The Do the Right Thing program recognizes the outstanding youth in our community who demonstrate courage, kindness, heroism or leadership and become role models for their peers by “doing the right thing.”

Provided information and photo

Dominic Turturro was recognized for his handling of a family medical emergency.

My Hometown Environment

Fun and educational ways to celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day is an annual holiday that has been celebrated since 1970. Despite somewhat humble beginnings, much of the globe now celebrates Earth Day, which this year takes place on Saturday, April 22.

Earth Day has long drawn attention to issues affecting the planet and its climate. The effects of those issues have grown increasingly noticeable in recent years, which makes this Earth Day and all subsequent celebrations an ideal opportunity to celebrate the planet while learning about the many challenges it faces in the years to come. The following are some unique, fun and educational ways to celebrate the planet this April.

• Leave the car at home. Winter weather is a distant memory by late April in many places, making Earth Day an ideal time to travel by foot or by bicycle instead of by car. That’s not only fun, but also a great opportunity to learn about carbon emissions. The United States Environmental Protection Agency reports that a typical passenger vehicle emits about 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. Vehicles also emit a substantial amount of methane and nitrous oxide. This is why gas-powered vehicles are so often linked to climate change, much of which is driven by greenhouse gas emissions. A car-free Earth Day can be fun and serve as a catalyst for conversation about the effects of gas-powered vehicles on the health of the planet.

• Volunteer with a local environmental organization. Environmental organizations are committed to the ideals behind Earth Day all year long. However, each Earth Day many of these organizations sponsor eco-conscious efforts to help the planet and raise awareness about issues like climate change. Volunteering with a local beach or park cleanup or signing up to walk and raise money for a local environmental charity makes for a fun and educational way to spend your Earth Day.

• Get your hands dirty and plant. The National Forest Foundation notes that planting trees can have a profound and positive

impact on the planet. According to the NFF, planting more trees helps forests to sequester carbon, which can have a significant effect on climate change. The NFF estimates that 100 mature trees can remove 50 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and 430 pounds of pollution from the atmosphere. Even if you can’t work with a local forestry organization to plant more trees in a nearby forest, planting native trees on your own property can help combat climate change.

• Involve children in your efforts to combat climate change. Today’s adults likely won’t be the ones forced to confront the more challenging consequences of climate change. Unfortunately, that cost is likely to be passed on to future generations. That makes this Earth Day a great time to involve kids more directly in efforts to combat climate change. Explain the significance of avoiding the car, volunteering or planting trees in terms that kids can understand, emphasizing that the future of the planet could very well be in their hands.

Earth Day takes on greater significance each year as the effects of climate change become more noticeable. This year the holiday can be celebrated in various ways that are both enjoyable and educational.