My Hometown April 2024

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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4 The Experience Of Totality

5 Rochester Red Wings April Game Schedule

6 A Letter From The Publisher

8 A Brief History Of Earth Day

10 Byron-Bergen Basketball Coach Makes Section V History

12 Memorial Road Signs In Riga and Chili Honor Mercy Flight Pilot James Sauer

13 Chili Art Group Spring Show & Sale

14 Kingdom Wellness & Dispensary Opens New Location

15 Brynn King Named Division II National Indoor Field Athlete Of The Year

15 GCC Announces Annual Business Idea Pitch Competition

17 Irish True-Crime Podcast Tackles 1967 Rochester Murder Case

17 2024 Lake to Lake Quilt Guilt Guild Show

The Experience of Totality

Courtesy of www.greatamericaneclipse.com

From beginning to end, the eclipse lasts nearly three hours, including the partial stages, if you are within the narrow path of totality.

There are two general rules for safely viewing solar eclipses:

1. When any part of the Sun is visible, do not look at the Sun without approved solar filters that are used properly. Do not assume that sunglasses, exposed film, CDs, or any other ad hoc filter is safe. Failure to heed this rule may result in permanent eye damage.

2. During the few minutes of the total solar eclipse, it is indeed safe to look directly at the Sun’s corona with your eyes and through binoculars. But when totality ends and it suddenly brightens, instantly turn your eyes away and put your eclipse glasses or filters back on immediately.

Provided Photo

What will we be seeing? What is the timeline?

First contact. This is the moment when the Moon first nicks the perfect circular disk of the Sun. Do not look directly at the Sun, but if you are wearing approved eclipse glasses, you will notice a “bite” taken out of the Sun. For the next hour, the Moon will cover more and more of the Sun, until the Sun becomes a narrow crescent. During this first hour, daylight will still appear bright and if you had not known of the coming eclipse, you might not have noticed anything different. This will be a great time to

look at shadows cast on the ground from leaves of trees. You’ll see an amazing collection of crescents that is the tell - an eclipse is in progress.

10-15 minutes before totality. Although the eclipse will have been in progress for about an hour so far, there will have yet been no obvious signs of what is about to come. This will change quickly. You will start to notice an eerie quality of daylight. It will diminish minute by minute and shadows will grow sharper. You will also start to notice the temperature drop. If it is a hot day, this will come as a welcome relief. Start to watch animal life. Birds and other animals are frequently reported to react noticeably to the impending eclipse. What do you see? What do you hear? Are they acting like it’s evening? Are they confused.

1-2 minutes before totality. Your senses will seem to become hyper-alert; something big is about to happen. Sunlight will look strangely different, not day and not night. It will seem like a dim and diffuse kind of twilight. The sky will display a gradient of colors, dark to the west and blue to the east.

If you have a clear horizon, look to the west. You might see mountains or clouds in the distance turn dark. The Moon’s shadow has met them and is coming quickly towards you.

Look at the ground, especially any nearby white surfaces. You may see the elusive shadow bands which are sometimes seen just before and just after totality. Shadow bands flicker and dance and somewhat resemble the ripples of sunlight on the bottom of a swimming pool.

In the very last seconds before the Sun is extinguished by the Moon, you may see the very thin crescent of the Sun (through your eclipse glasses) suddenly break into a thin string of beads. These are Baily’s Beads and occur because the last rays of sunlight are peeking through valleys and low points on the Moon’s surface. They appear as beautiful and ephemeral sparkling points of light. The final Baily’s Bead lasts for only an instant and the

Diamond

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breath-taking sight of this last tiny bit of sunlight along with your first view of the corona is called the diamond ring.

Totality

Second contact, totality! When the moment arrives, it is unmistakable. For perhaps the first time in your life, you will be standing under the shadow of the Moon. It will be suddenly dark and there will be an audible reaction from you and others around you. If you have been wearing eclipse glasses, now you can take them off! During the total phase of the eclipse, it is safe to directly look at the corona with your eyes and binoculars.

Throughout the few minutes or so of totality, you will see something like a 360-degree sunset, brighter towards the north and south which are outside the path of totality. You’ll notice darkening first to the west and as the eclipse progresses, the darkening moves to the east as the Moon’s shadow rushes over you.

Photography. Our advice is to not attempt to take photographs if this is your first total solar eclipse; you will be gob smacked by the sight. Just soak in the magnificence of the spectacle and look at the corona and the sky. If you want to do photography, it’s best to either start a video camera or still camera in time-lapse mode on a tripod before totality so that you may watch totality without fiddling with your equipment. If you have a video camera or still camera in time-lapse mode on a tripod, set your lens on a wide-angle setting and try to include your family and friends in the view. There are solar filters for your cell phones so you can take quick images with your phones, but we encourage you to just watch.

Chromosphere and prominence. If you view totality through binoculars, you will notice an innermost and irregular layer of deep red. This is the Sun’s chromosphere. This is a shallow layer, so it is mainly visible against the edge of the Moon. You may also see what appear to be several small “flames”. These are solar prominences and their number and degree are variable from eclipse to eclipse, depending on the level of solar activity.

Third contact; end of totality. After a few minutes, depending on your location, the total solar eclipse will end all too soon. The end of totality will be marked by a second diamond ring and Baily’s Beads. Be sure to watch this only with your eclipse glasses back on.

From this point, all the phenomena leading up to totality will play again in reverse order. Watch again for shadow bands in the first minute after totality if you didn’t seen them before. Look at the shadows from trees and see if you can see the striking cres-

cent projections during the ending partial phase.

When the eclipse is over, we hope that you and others will share your momentous experience with each other and your larger communities. We also hope that the young people among you will be inspired by this event to take up the study of the sciences and/or astronomy, and come to understand our magnificent universe, sharing that with others.

A Letter from the Publisher

To our many advertisers, readers, various supporters, and the community-at-large, the time has come for me to announce that I am retiring from Westside News. I do this with a heavy heart. For more than 52 years, I have been associated with the business that eventually became Westside News – beginning with addressing newspapers for delivery by the post office and delivering papers to drop locations, to ad and page design, to sales representative, to company manager and finally, as publisher.

I am enormously proud of my association with Westside News and its predecessors. I was provided an opportunity, and with enthusiasm, desire, hard work, fortitude, and dedication, I was able to build a publishing company that produced weekly publications as well as monthly magazines. It was a great challenge and gave me great joy. And, it still does today. I love serving the west side communities and having the opportunity to come to know such a loyal readership.

I am proud of my staff, which to this day is second to none in its desire to provide the best possible service to our communities, and the many businesses that have supported those efforts over the years. The many awards that Westside News has received from our state association are all due to the efforts of those individuals that comprise our staff.

I am proud of the quality of our print products, and the service they provided to our communities. And, I am also proud of our

growth in website design, and social media platforms, which have enabled us to remain flexible, and communicate with various constituents in the way they want, and when they want it. Only a well-trained, and dedicated staff can maintain that level of commitment and quality.

As in all things in life, the season has come for me to move on, and to provide the opportunity for someone who has that same burning desire, as I did so many years ago, to take Westside

continued on page 7

The Westside News staff, Christmas 2001. Many of these people remain on staff today.

Keith Ryan working on ad design in 1974.

Westside News Publisher Keith Ryan

My Hometown Newspaper

continued from page 6

News to a higher level of communication. Therefore, I am placing Westside News up for sale.

This is not for the faint of heart. The work is demanding, the hours long, the need great, but the rewards are manifold. Print publication is still the heart of our business. But we have maintained the flexibility and the commitment to deliver news in the modern world of social media and other platforms. The challenge now is to find the right person, who has the wherewithal and the gumption to meld the two forms of communication and take them both to a higher plane. This is a business opportunity that typically comes along only once in decades. It will require someone who doesn’t mind working seven days a week to return to the profitable status Westside News once enjoyed before the Great Recession of 2008 and Covid-19.

It is important to note that if anyone thinks that print is dead, he or she must think again. The number of people in our market that look forward to receiving our publications is greater than 60 percent. According to a 20-something staff member from the MARION Integrated Marketing Agency:

• Printed ads are often more trusted than digital ads. With an increased volume of scams on the internet, print media marketing creates a sense of trust and credibility that digital marketing alone cannot provide.

• Reading print works better for retention. Studies show that people read slower when reading text on paper instead of on

a screen. This achieves higher retention rates compared to digital.

• Print materials are tangible and memorable. In a world of endless scrolling and popup ads, print collateral makes it easier for people to remember and recall when making purchasing decisions.

It is difficult to say goodbye to something that has been a part of my life for over 52 years, but I know the time is right. I thank all of you – my staff, businesses, advertisers, the community-atlarge, and my family for all your support during these years. I am a lucky person in so many ways. I could not have asked for a better way to make a living. I am grateful to have served our communities, and I am appreciative of your sustaining loyalty, as well as the kindness all of you have exhibited during these five plus decades. My life has been enriched by serving you all. My hope is that there is someone who will feel the passion I have had, to continue the work of Westside News, and further develop its role in the community. If interested, please contact me at keith.ryan@ westsidenewsny.com.

Sincerely, and with gratitude

Keith A. Ryan Publisher, Westside News

My Hometown Environment

A brief history of Earth Day

Earth Day is celebrated each April and range of issues affecting the environment. awareness in the hope of inspiring change.

Earth Day is observed on April 22. According to National Geographic, the first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970. Wisconsin senator Gaylord Nelson was inspired to begin a national celebration uniting the environmental movement after witnessing environmental activism in the 1960s. With the help of Denis Hayes, a graduate student at Harvard University, Nelson organized the first Earth Day. Twenty million people participated in events across the United States and strengthened support for environmental legislation like the Clean Air Act and the Endangered Species Act.

Earth Day was expanded to a global initiative in 1990 under guidance from Hayes. Nearly 200 million participants in more than 140 countries now join together in the name of protecting the planet. Awareness continues to be raised each year regarding renewable energy and climate change.

One of the hallmarks of Earth Day celebrations is the planting of trees. Researchers estimate roughly 15 billion trees are cut down each year across the globe. By planting a tree every Earth Day, people can make a difference. Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen and bolster ecosystems for wildlife. Shade trees can reduce reliance on fans and air conditioning systems.

The main message of Earth Day 2024 is the need to commit to ending reliance on plastics, says EarthDay.org. The goal is a 60 percent reduction in the production of all plastics by 2040. Plastics are bad for the environment a growing body of research indicates they have an adverse effect on the major systems of the body, including immune, respiratory, digestive, and hormonal systems.

Everyone can do their part to promote the ideals behind Earth Day. For 54 years, millions of people have been advocating for change to benefit the planet and human and animal health, and that fight is ongoing.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY

The publication you are reading - Westside Newsis now available to purchase. For the right person the opportunity is for a six-figure salary. If you want to be your own boss you should check out this opportunity to purchase the awardwinning Westside News.

For information please email keith.ryan@westsidenewsny.com

My Hometown Sports

Byron-Bergen basketball coach makes Section V history

On Saturday, March 2, 2024, Roxanne Noeth made Section V athletics history by becoming the first woman to coach a boys varsity bas ketball team to a sectional championship in the 103-year history of the organization. The win marks the first sectional championship in Byron-Bergen boys basketball history. The only other Byron-Bergen basketball sectional championship was in 1984 when ninth grader Noeth was called up from JV to help the girls varsity basketball team to victory.

As a member of the championship 1984 team, Noeth carved out a place for herself in Byron-Bergen athletics’ history, setting the single game scoring record in 1987 which was tied in 2022 by varsity boys basketball player Corden Zimmerman and broken by boys cap tain Braedyn Chambry this season. Noeth still holds the girls basketball single game scoring record and was inducted into the Byron-Bergen Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010.

After graduation, Noeth attended St. John Fisher where she played Division III basketball and softball. She is also a member of the St. John Fisher Athletics Hall of Fame. She coached collegiate women’s basketball at RIT before stepping away to raise her children. She returned to Byron-Bergen basketball in 2009 when she began volunteering for her children’s basketball teams. In 2017, she was hired officially as head coach of the boys varsity basketball team.

“It was never on my radar to be a boys basketball coach specifically,” said Noeth, “but the opportunity arose, and I’ve always had great support from the administration and community.”

Noeth was hired by Athletic Director Rich Hannan and Superintendent Pat McGee, who was High School Principal at the time.

“I couldn’t be prouder of Coach Noeth and the job she has

done with this program,” said Hannan. “I have watched her build the team for many years now. She is extremely knowledgeable and puts her heart and soul into giving her athletes the best opportunity possible to achieve their greatest potential. She leaves no stone unturned and is always prepared. Her passion rubs off on her team and you can see it in her players.”

Outside of the Byron-Bergen community, Noeth noticed some raised eyebrows. Despite the abundance of men coaching girls teams, Noeth was often the only woman in the room for boys basketball. According to Noeth, the first three years as head coach were tough, but she soon made a name for herself and the team within the division. In 2023, she became the first woman to be named Section V Class C3 Coach of the Year for Boys Basketball, a title which she has kept for the 2024 season in C2.

“Coach Noeth is an excellent role model for her players and all our future coaches,” said McGee. “The Sectionals win was huge for our community, but I also feel the enormous impact it has made on the future of Section V coaching.”

“Seeing Coach Noeth raise the Sectional trophy was a reminder of what is possible,” said Byron-Bergen Assistant Principal Katie Grattan. “The future coaches of Section V are watching.”

When asked about her legacy, Noeth states, “The impact of my coaching a boys team, the impact it is having on young girls and women, it’s definitely a positive side effect, but it’s not why I coach. I love this team. I love this sport. I’m just a coach.”

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Coach Roxanne Noeth was named Class C Coach of the Year. Photo by Warren Kozireski.

Assistant Coach Elliott Flint with Coach Roxanne Noeth after the Sectionals victory. Provided photo.

Coach Roxanne Noeth. Provided photo.

Memorial road signs in Riga and Chili honor Mercy Flight pilot James Sauer

Monroe County Executive Adam Bello joined County Legislators to dedicate memorial signs to James Sauer on Davis Road in the towns of Chili and Riga. Sauer, who had been a pilot with Mercy Flight since 2020, and flight instructor Stewart M. Dietrick were killed when their helicopter crashed during a training exercise on April 26, 2022.

The signs were installed on Davis Road, where the Sauer family have been long time residents. One sign is at the intersection of Attridge Road in the town of Riga and the other at the Union Street intersection in the town of Chili. The signs read “In Honor of James E. Sauer and his sacrifice for our community,” and display

ment, his military service, work with Mercy Flight, he difference in the lives of others made his community a better By dedicating Davis Road to honor that service and commit legacy to memory.”

“On behalf of the Sauer family, would like to express our sincere Monroe County for recognizing to making this dedication a Sauer, our wonderful idea be so proud! We love you! This will be a lasting honor, commitment and service. His sacrifice forgotten, and he will always be in our hearts.” served in the New York Army National Guard for 40 several tours overseas. He served as a Rochester 1993 to 2001 and later spent time with the Department and New York State Police. memorializing this road in honor of James Sauer, we reof a true hero. I was truly honored to sponsor see this memorialization go from a dream to a Legislator Tracy DiFlorio. “Jim’s dedication to Mercy ultimate sacrifice is a beacon of inspiration for us tells us in John 15:13, ‘Greater love has no to lay down one’s life for his friends.’ This a testament to his unwavering commitment reminder of the selflessness and bravery that community’s finest.”

this road in memory of James Sauer, we not legacy but also pay tribute to the profound imMercy Flight pilot, veteran, law enforcement

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Marie Sauer, wife of James Sauer, with Monroe County Executive Adam Bello at the dedication on March 18.

James Sauer. File photo continued

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and neighbor,” said Republican Leader Steve Brew. “Jim’s courage, compassion, and commitment to service will forever be remembered by our community. This memorial will symbolize gratitude and remembrance for his remarkable contributions and the lives he touched.”

“The loss of James Sauer has left a permanent mark on our

community. Jim’s lifelong dedication to our country and community service shall forever be remembered. It is fitting that we now honor his memory by dedicating this road in his memory,” said Chili Supervisor David Dunning.

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Get ready to laugh with new Golden Girls musical at OFC

Back by popular demand, OFC Creations in Brighton announces the return of the Rochester Golden Girls with a brand-new show, after previously performing sold out Golden Girls musical parodies in 2019, 2021, and 2022. Based on the 1980s sitcom, Rochester’s Golden Girls are played by a cast of professional male actors with a brand-new storyline set in the present day.

The new production, She Has Risen: The Golden Girls Musical, running April 11 through 28, is part of OFC’s professional Broadway in Brighton Series, featuring performers from New York City, Los Angeles, and across the country. The show stars Lucas Brady as Dorothy, Hunter Ekberg as Rose, Eric Schutt as Blanche, and Shawn Gray as Sophia.

The musical follows the four friends as they begin to fixate over the one conversation they’ve avoided throughout all the years – politics. As their friendship faces its biggest threat, Rose launches her 2024 campaign to become the President of the United States and has to attend the election’s most important event: The musical debate at Mar-A-Lago.

Comedy ensues as Dorothy, Blanche, Rose, and Sophia leave their Miami home and begin a hysterical road trip to the debate filled with song and dance from political characters they meet along the way. Paul Urriola, Ben Reiner, and Calvin Staropoli join the cast playing the parts of Nancy Pelosi, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, and many more.

The musical comedy features a range of parody tunes, including an intense tap dance battle between Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, and the Golden Girls.

“Rochester audiences have spoken – and they can’t get enough of the Golden Girls!” Eric Vaughn Johnson, director, writer, and co-owner of OFC Theatre says with a smile. “By poking fun at all sides of politics of present day, I hope this production brings our world closer together. Or, if nothing else, brings a lot of laughter

to our audiences!”

VIP Tickets include priority seating as well as an exclusive Golden Girls Easter egg to take home. Please note that this production contains mature content, including strong language and themes, however, this show does not touch on or joke about religion.

For more information on Golden Girls or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.ofccreations.com/goldengirlsmusical or call 585-667-0954.

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Chili Art Group Spring Show & Sale

The Chili Art Group will present its annual Spring Show & Sale from April 26 to 28 at the Chili Community Center, 3237 Chili Avenue. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. An opening reception will be held Friday, April 26, from 6 to 8 p.m.

The show will feature artwork in a variety of media created by members of the Chili Art Group. Painting, Pastel, Drawing, 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 event is free and open to the public.

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 thru April at the Chili Community Center. Membership information will be available at the show.

Learn more about the Chili Art Group at facebook.com/ chiliartgroup.

Provided information

My Hometown New Business

Kingdom Wellness & Dispensary opens new retail location

Kingdom Wellness & Dispensary Spencerport, a renowned provider of premium CBD, THCA, and Delta products, announces the grand opening of its latest retail location. They say this new storefront will become a haven for wellness enthusiasts and a cornerstone in the community for high-quality products.

The new Kingdom Wellness & Dispensary store, located at 3035 Buffalo Road, Suite 7 in The Plaza At Elmgrove, features a modern, welcoming environment designed to enhance shopping experiences. Spacious and elegantly designed, the retail space invites customers to explore a wide range of wellness products in a comfortable and serene setting. This location marks Kingdom’s third location, with more growth planned in the future.

Staying true to its commitment to quality, the new location boasts an extensive selection of the highest quality CBD, THCA, and Delta products. These include innovative formulations designed to cater to both new and experienced users. The product range showcases flower, edibles, topicals, tinctures, and more, all crafted with the highest purity and potency standards.

Antonio Pisa, a Spencerport resident, will be the owner/operator of this location. Antonio and his family have been residents of Spencerport for 22 years, and he states, “We believe fully in the wellness products that we bring and are excited to be able to share them.”

Mat Jewell, Co-founder of Kingdom Wellness & Dispensary, expressed his enthusiasm about the new location: “We are thrilled to bring Kingdom Wellness & Dispensary to the Spencer-

Gates Historical Society

port/Gates communities. This new store is not just a retail space; it’s a commitment to the wellness journey of our customers. We believe in providing products, education, and support to help our community embrace a healthier lifestyle. Our selection of CBD, THCA, and Delta products represents the industry’s pinnacle of quality and innovation.”

Kingdom Wellness & Dispensary invites the Spencerport/Gates communities and beyond to visit the new store and explore its range of products. For more information, visit www.KingdomROC. com or follow them on social media for updates and wellness tips.

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The Gates Historical Society’s April meeting will be held Monday, April 15, at 7 p.m. in the Gates Town Hall Annex. Don Alhart, Associate News Director and author will do a program entitled “A Generation of Idiots,” which includes taking a look at the changing face of journalism and how technology has changed news coverage. He will be bringing his book, Sibley’s Christmas Adventure, to sell for $20 and will autograph copies bought that night or previously. This program is free and the venue is handicapped accessible.

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Mother’s Day Geranium Sale

Lions Club of Chili is holding its annual Mother’s Day Geranium Sale on May 10 and 11. Cost is $2.25 per plant or $43 per flat of 20. Available in red, white, pink, salmon, purple, and variegated red. Hanging baskets are $27 each for 12” geraniums in red, pink, salmon, or purple. Pre-order by May 4 by calling 585-732-4757, 585-414-2400, or 585-704-7265. Pre-order pick up is May 10 after 1 p.m. at the Chili Community Center, 3237 Chili Avenue.

Provided information

Brynn King named Division II National Indoor Field Athlete of the Year

Roberts Wesleyan University’s Brynn King has added another prestigious honor to her long list of awards for the 2023-24 indoor track and field season.

King, the NCAA Division II women’s pole vault champion, was named the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field National Field Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on March 20.

The award caps a spectacular season that saw King break the NCAA Division II women’s pole vault record eight times, including setting the current mark of 4.65 meters (15-feet, 3-inches) at the NCAA DII Championships on March 8 in Pittsburg, Kansas.

King, who earned first-team All-America honors, is Roberts Wesleyan’s first NCAA Division II champion. She was named DII East Region Field Athlete of the Year by the USTFCCCA last week and was the organization’s DII Women’s Athlete of the Week five times during the regular season.

King, a fifth-year student from The Woodlands, Texas, was also named the 2024 East Coast Conference Indoor Track & Field Women’s Athlete of the Year as well as ECC Field Athlete of the Week five times.

all-time in NCAA history.

Her championship-winning effort of 4.65 meters was the best in all levels of the NCAA throughout the indoor season and she owns nine of the 10 best indoor performances in NCAA Division II women’s pole vault history. King’s indoor mark also ranks fifth

King holds a degree in Evolutionary Anthropology from Duke University and transferred to Roberts Wesleyan in 2023. She is coached by Roberts alum and 2012 Olympic gold medalist Jenn Suhr.

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GCC announces Annual Business Idea Pitch Competition

Every solid business venture starts with one thing - a pitch. Whether making a sale or convincing an investor, your business idea pitch has to be organized, well-thought out, powerful, and convincing.

“A solid business idea pitch is essential for every startup. This competition offers participants a valuable opportunity to acquire the skills needed to structure, refine, and present a compelling and persuasive pitch,” said Dr. Lina LaMattina, director of business programs at GCC.

If you have a passion you would like to turn into a business, but

you aren’t sure if anyone else will think it’s a good idea, consider participating in GCC’s Annual Business Idea Pitch Competition on Thursday, May 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in room T102 of the Conable Technology Building at Genesee Community College’s Batavia Campus.

To participate in this event, one must register by emailing Dr. Lina LaMattina at lmlamattina@genesee.edu no later than Friday, April 26, 2024.

The competition is free and open to the public and prizes of $100 for first place and $75 for second place will be awarded to the most outstanding competitors in the “most likely to succeed” and “most creative” categories. Pitches will be judged by local business leaders.

Among the leading causes for startup failure is a lack of basic business experience. In lieu of losing thousands of investment dollars, today’s entrepreneurs have found another way to gain that experience before launching their startup - education. Genesee Community College offers a degree, certificate and micro-credential programs in Entrepreneurship to prepare emerging business owners for success.

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A photograph of the 2023 Business Pitch Competition, courtesy of Genesee Community College.

Irish true-crime podcast tackles 1967 Rochester murder case

A true crime podcast series, Runaway Joe, from the Irish public service broadcaster, RTÉ, has just made an incredible breakthrough and closed what has been one of the longest unresolved cases on the books of the FBI.

Runaway Joe, freely available to listen on all major podcast platforms, tells the story of Rochester man Joseph Maloney (b.1935) – who in 1967 was charged with the first-degree murder of his wife June Fisk in upstate New York. Podcasters and the FBI believe Maloney poisoned the 26-year-old Fisk at her son’s fifth birthday party by spiking her cocktail with methyl alcohol. While await ing trial, Maloney escaped from the authorities before going on the run. A massive manhunt followed – but drew a complete blank.

For much of the last six decades, the fate of Joseph Maloney – and his whereabouts – has remained a mystery.

RTÉ’s Runaway Joe is now reporting that Joseph Maloney is in fact dead –having learned that Joseph Maloney’s third wife, Sheila, who spent more than 20 years on the run with him, informed her family in Dublin in 2005 that Joe Maloney had died.

Runaway Joe also reveals that Ma loney fathered at least six children in the U.S. at the time he was accused of murdering his wife. Through the help of DNA testing via Ancestry.com, the podcast series has also reunited these six chil dren, almost none of whom knew about each other until now.

now uncovered that when Joe Maloney and his Irish wife, Sheila, fled Ireland in 1986, they first settled in Berlin, East Germany, before then moving to Northern Cyprus after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Both destinations did not have extradition treaties with the U.S., which is why Maloney fled there. While the FBI had engaged in extensive media campaigns both nationally and internationally during the 1990s (including America’s Most Wanted, Unresolved Mysteries), all efforts drew a

From their investigations, and since the podcast began, the RTÉ team behind Runaway Joe has come further than any of the authorities in discovering what really happened to Joe Maloney since he went on the run in 1967. He first fled to Ireland, where he lived for almost 20 years under the alias, Michael O’Shea. Eventually apprehended by the Irish authorities, they were forced to release him from custody when the extradition treaty between the U.S. and Ireland dramatically collapsed. In 1986, Maloney walked out of an Irish prison, and has never been seen since.

Through extensive interviews and research, Runaway Joe has

we hope this brings some sense of closure to the family of June Fisk – and a new future for all of these adult children who have now been reunited as a result of this podcast series.”

The nine-part podcast series includes interviews with law enforcement in the U.S., FBI agents, Irish Police, the Irish Judge as well as friends and family of June Fisk and Joe Maloney and experts in coercive control and domestic violence. Runaway Joe is available on all major podcast platforms. For more information on the series, visit www.rte.ie/runawayjoe.

Provided information and photos

2024 Lake to Lake Quilt Guild, Inc. Show

Finally back after COVID, the Lake to Lake Quilt Guild is excited to announce that their 2024 Spring into Color Quilt Show will be held on Friday, April 26, and Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Seneca Falls Community Center, 35 Water Street, Seneca Falls. The show runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Guest Lecturer will be Robin Long of Robin Ruth Design who will speak about her method of making a Modern Mariner’s Compass – Strip – Pieced. There will be raffle baskets, a raffle quilt, quilts, a Quilt of Valor Display, appraisals by appointment, bed turning by Genie Barnes both days and the opportunity to visit the vendors, too. Admission is $8, children under 12 enter free with an adult. Quilt Consortium of NY members with a passport pay $7. Passports are available for purchase at the door. More information is available at www.lake2lakequiltguild.com and on Facebook (Lake to Lake Quilt Guild). Provided information and photo.

June Fisk’s yearbook photo.

Joe Maloney’s 1967 mug shot.