My Hometown Feb 2023

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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Debbie Day Ext. 131 Tami Raco ext. 129

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My Hometown Neighbors Jack’s Sweet

by Colleen Onuffer

What started as a homeschool experiment has blossomed into a successful farm stand selling sweet snacks – but it didn’t start out that way. Jack’s Sweet Shack, located at 6609 Chili Riga Center, originally sold vegetables.

“We had been homeschooling since 2017. We started a garden just for learning purposes and it turned out, we were very good at growing all sorts of veggies!” explained Kelly Hammel, who runs Jack’s Sweet Shack with her family. “We had so many veggies, we didn’t know what to do with all of them. So we figured we would start to try and sell them at a stand at the road.”

Then, Hammel decided to add cookies and breads to the booth.

“Well, it turns out everybody wanted the cookies and breads and not the veggies,” she said.

Part of the stand’s success came from its timing.

“This was summer of 2020. We also had all been cooped up for SO long. Friends were thrilled to have a new place to go check out and something to do. Parents came with their little kids for cookies, and we were able to visit outside.”

The other part of its success is the deliciousness of the baked goods.

“I start with a base recipe that I can tell has good, rich ingredients. Then I tweak it and create my own flavors from there,” Hammel said, noting that she creates all the recipes herself. “Our first famous cookie was the Jamaican Me Crazy Coffee Cookie. It had Leaf & Bean’s coffee in it, espresso and chocolate chips.”

Hammel taught herself how to bake, dating back to 12 years old.

“My grandmother was ‘The Cookie Lady’ in Chili years ago. She baked 12 dozen cookies every Wednesday and shared them with the community: neighbors, doctors’ offices, the library, etc. So I guess it’s in my genes!” said Hammel.

In addition to creating recipes and baking, Hammel runs the bakery business. But Jack’s Sweet Shack is a family endeavor.

“My mom helps with baking and my oldest son helps with packaging and labeling. All of us help with greeting customers and answering questions,” she said. “My youngest, Jack, who is nine,

proudly calls himself the CEO since it’s named after him! He’s quite the little salesman.”

The stand is open year-round – with doors to keep rain and snow out, and coolers to keep things cold in summer – on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The menu of flavors changes weekly, but you can expect to see specialty flavor cookies, whoopie pies, sweet breads, shortbread crust cookie pies, fudge and specialty brownies. They also serve gluten free cookies and breads. Items range from $2 for basic cookies to $16 for cookie pies, and they accept cash, credit card and Venmo.

“Our best sellers are definitely our cookies and whoopie pies,” said Hammel. “We keep the cookie sizes in between home baked size and coffee shop size. I do this because they feel less indulgent and more like a little snack.”

Humans aren’t the only ones that can pick up a snack at Jack’s Sweet Shack.

My Hometown Neighbors

“We also offer homemade dog treats and catnip toys. My youngest helps make these. He adores animals; all of us in the family do,” explained Hammel. “Our dog treats are pumpkin, egg and oat based. We add a little ground organic flax meal and cold pressed hemp oil to make them super-duper healthy!”

Starting this summer, the booth will have free flowers for customers to pick up alongside their dessert. Beyond there, the future of the farm stand is a surprise.

“We are running with it and learning all about business, expenses, profit and marketing as we go,” said Hammel. Running the stand has been a learning experience for her and her kids, and they continue to discover more as the stand grows, week by week.

Hammel loves running the stand for the community. It allows her to work from home as her children grow, and she’s able to watch families, kids, even teenagers stop and pick up a snack.

“The best part are the smiles,” she said. “Recently, I was standing in the window at the mixer making something and watched a parent shop with their kiddos. When they pulled out to leave, the kids in the back rolled down their windows and waved excitedly when they saw me and then proceeded to give me a big thumbs up!”

Hammel loves people, which is why she continues to run the stand.

“We’ve had a few tough years and I felt people needed a bright spot in their day. If the stand can provide a little bright spot, then that’s wonderful! We’ve also made it a habit to take cookies with us wherever we go. We hand them out to older individuals in stores and parking lots as we feel led. We’ve never had a cookie turned down! All we see are smiles!”

Provided photos

Community attempts to break the world record for largest snowball fight

by Tami Raco

Would you like to be part of breaking the record for the largest snowball fight in the world? This rare opportunity will take place in Chili on Saturday, February 18. Saskatoon, Canada, holds the current world record for a snowball fight with 7,681 participants that was set on January 31, 2016.

The Pirate Toy Fund (PTF) is sponsoring this Guinness Book of World Records official attempt in Rochester.

PTF is a non-profit organization started in 1995 by a local family to honor the life of their daughter, Christie Simonetti, who died at eight years old from leukemia. During Christie’s terminal illness, the family experienced her precious smiles and joy when she would receive toys and stuffed animals to help her through her cancer battle. This inspired them to begin the local non-profit organization that provides toys to children in our community who are facing difficulties to lift their spirits and put a smile on their faces.

In the early years of the PTF, donated toys were distributed at local hospitals. Over 25 years, the organization has grown and now provides toys to 98 program partners, all of which are local. Program partners include local hospitals, police departments, the county jail, Salvation Army, and the Red Cross.

“We went from giving out 300 toys a year in 1995 to now more than 32,000 in 2022,” said Otto Harnischfeger, the Executive Director of the PTF.

Otto first began at PTF as a volunteer upon his retirement from the Rochester Police Department. He visited Golisano Children’s Hospital as Santa Claus and witnessed the miracle that came in smiles from chronically-ill children after receiving a toy donated through PTF.

Otto has since become the executive director and sought ideas to help unify the community for a good cause.

“As a thank you to the community for their support of the Pirate Toy Fund and as an opportunity to bring people together for a fun and exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we are sponsoring this free event,” said Otto. The fee to the Guinness Book of World Records to make this event an official challenge was paid by the PTF, making the event free to the community.

The day’s festivities will also include a snowman-building

contest, live music, food trucks, and warming tents. This family-friendly event is being held at the Archer Road Field in Chili. It runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the Guinness Book of World Records event is at 11 a.m. Many locations will be providing parking and shuttle bus services.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better partner than the Town of Chili. They have been so great to work with,” said Otto.

Registration is required to participate in this attempt to have our community break the world’s record. To register, volunteer, or for more information, visit www.worldslargestsnowballfight.com.

My Hometown Library

Bird Feeding Display at the Gates Public Library

Did you know that February is National Bird Feeding Month? Whether you already feed or want to get started, come and check out the bird feeding display in the Gates Public Library’s atrium. Throughout February there will be lots of informative handouts, free seed bag giveaways, and raffles to win some cool prizes. Get tips about feeding, help with identifying which birds are visiting your yard, and more. And while you’re at the library, take time to browse their non-fiction shelves for bird and bird-feeding books. The library has a large collection of books to borrow. Provided information and photos

My Hometown Conservation Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District launches 2023 Conservation Tree & Shrub Program

The Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District has released the spring 2023 species list for its annual Conservation Tree & Shrub program. For 47 years, the district has hosted this program, with over 29,000 native and naturalized trees and shrubs being distributed to over 470 landowners last year alone for local conservation purposes.

With almost 40 different species, including hardwoods, bareroot conifers, shrubs, and variety packs, the district is doing its part supporting conservation efforts, while assisting residents in beautifying their community. Order plants now through March 3 and pick them up on April 20 or 21, ready to be planted. In addition to plants, the district offers other products, including bat and bluebird houses, seed mixes, and more.

The district added three hardwoods and one new conservation pack this year. The new items are all great conservation species, providing numerous benefits from wildlife protection and food to increasing property aesthetics. New this year are Tulip Poplar, Witch-hazel, Ninebark, and a Pollinator Conservation Pack. Popular best-sellers like Paper Birch, Red Osier Dogwood, and Colorado Blue Spruce also returned this year. By planting these native plants, one can increase wildlife habitat, provide a windbreak, reduce

Spencerport Education Foundation hosting trivia night fundraiser

The Spencerport Education Foundation is hosting a specialedition trivia night on February 15 at Wood Kettle Brewing in Hilton. Come test your knowledge, while enjoying the company of friends and family.

Teams of up to six players will be welcome, and are required to pre-register in advance at https://www.spencerporteducationfoundation.org/events. The cost is $10 per player which can be sent via PayPal. Prizes will be given to the top finishing teams. The theme for this event is ‘Decades’ consisting of questions from the 80s, 90s, and 2000s!

Trivia will begin at 6 p.m., but the bar will be open prior for food and drink orders. Arriving early is recommended.

Provided information

erosion and stormwater runoff, do their part in being climate resilient, and help create pollinator habitat. Check out all the benefits of these and our other selections by viewing the catalog at https://www.monroecountyswcd.org/page-8.html.

Due to limited supply, pre-order by March 3, 2023, by mail, email, or online ordering. Pre-ordered plants can be picked up at the Monroe County ecopark on April 20 or 21 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will also be a first come, first served overstock sale on April 22 from 9 to 11 a.m. Note that many of the tree species come as young, small rooted clumps – the district does not sell full grown trees. Once planted, the small seedlings should take to the soil and grow leaves once spring arrives. This year, three of the conifers offered are transplants, meaning they are stronger and more mature when you plant them.

Those interested in this program can find the order form and a full color catalog at https://www.monroecountyswcd.org/page8.html. Those with questions or who would like a form sent to them, can contact the Monroe County Soil & Water Conservation District at 585-753-7380, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

My Hometown Businesses

Gates welcomes new restaurant, Tacos N’ Tequila

Gates-Chili Chamber Board Members and Gates Town Supervisor Cosmo Giunta, welcomed owner Loraine Veras and the entire Tacos N’ Tequila team to the Gates Community at a special ribbon cutting ceremony.

After spending the early part of her life in New York City, Loraine became a Rochester resident in 1997. Loraine owns and operates other businesses in the area as well, including a hair salon and a Dominican restaurant.

As well as running multiple businesses, Loraine enjoys spending time with her family and four children.

Tacos N’ Tequila is a locally owned and operated restaurant located at 730 Elmgrove Road in Rochester. The site was formerly home to Panorama Restaurant and Lounge, and Loraine was able to maintain many of the staff members that used to serve Panorama’s clientele.

Tacos N’ Tequila offers a vibrant and exciting venue with delicious food specials, fair prices, and the infamous 88 oz. Tower Margarita. You are guaranteed to enjoy yourself, and leave with a full belly.

Tacos N’ Tequila offers DoorDash, GrubHub and a banquet room for parties, corporate events and more. Provided information and photos

Right here in North Chili, NY! We are launching a New Patient Special of just $49 on your initial SoftWave visit! Come check out the biggest breakthrough in years in the field of regenerative medicine! Get out of pain fast and get back to living life to the fullest! Even with bone-on-bone cases we are seeing dramatic positive changes and our patients are ecstatic about their results!!

Sick and tired of injections, gels, shots, medications, pain management, doctors’ visits and no solutions?! Now is the time to get back to living! SoftWave Therapy is amazing at doing just that! You will be so happy you decided to come in and give it a try for yourself. Trusted and used by the Cleveland Clinic, professional sports teams in the NFL, MLB, NBA, UFC and more, hundreds of doctors in the USA and international including orthopedics, podiatrists, medical doctors, neuropathy centers, hospitals, colleges, physical therapists, chiropractors and more! Conservative, safe and effective. Research backed and results proven!

Within just 6-8 SoftWave treatments patients are experiencing significant improvements in pain, flexibility, range of motion, decreased inflammation, less swelling, breaking up scar tissue, improved blood flow and circulation and improved activities of daily living!

Real patient testimony from our office: “My knee is 90-95% better! I was diagnosed with significant arthritis in my knee prior to trying SoftWave. I can exercise and workout with less pain now. I want to avoid surgery and injections. I have been recommending SoftWave to others because it worked for me!”

Johns Hopkins Medicine states that the most common causes of knee pain are related to aging, injury or repeated stress on the knee. Common knee problems include sprained or strained ligaments, cartilage tears, tendonitis and arthritis.

617-4145

3237 Union Street

North Chili, NY 14514

According to the CDC, “About 1 in 4 US adults (23.7%) or about 58.5 million people have doctor-diagnosed arthritis.” Chronic pain caused by arthritis affects millions of people in the United States every year. About one in four adults with arthritis—15 million peo ple—report experiencing pain related to arthritis. Addition ally, nearly half of adults with arthritis have persistent pain

My Hometown Research

The AHEAD Study is looking to include younger and more diverse populations in Alzheimer’s research

Black American adults in the United States are about twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as non-Hispanic white adults and are also underrepresented in clinical research, making up fewer than nine percent of clinical trial participants.

The AHEAD Study seeks to change that. Funded by the National Institutes of Health and Eisai Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Eisai Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo), the AHEAD Study is the first Alzheimer’s research effort to enroll participants as young as 55 using tailored dosing of an investigational treatment. The study has a priority to enroll people who reflect the diversity of the United States, especially people at the greatest risk for Alzheimer’s such as Black Americans.

The inclusion of Black Americans in the AHEAD Study is key to addressing health disparities in the black community, according to study researchers.

“The research community recognizes that good science is inclusive science, and inclusive science will help ensure that Alzheimer’s treatments work for everyone,” said Anton Porsteinsson, M.D, Director of the University of Rochester Alzheimer’s Disease Care, Research and Education Program.

By recruiting individuals as young as 55, the study aims to catch the disease at its earliest stages. This is important because changes in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease can begin up to 20 years before symptoms are noticeable and the investigational treatment being studied has been shown to reduce these changes.

Discovering a treatment that targets brain changes early means that one day doctors may be able to prevent memory loss. To help find these treatments, researchers need participation from a diverse community of people but especially Black Americans.

“By inviting younger and more diverse participants without symptoms we hope to help individuals who are at higher risk – such as people with family history of dementia – get ahead of the disease with early intervention,” says Reisa Sperling, M.D., director of the Center for Alzheimer’s Research and Treatment at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School and coprincipal investigator for the AHEAD Study. “We know recruiting diverse participants is hard work, but we are committed to being intentional about being more inclusive to ensure treatments that work for everyone. Building trust, working within communities, and meeting people where they are, are just some of strategies we will be using to make good on this promise.”

The University of Rochester is one of the national research centers conducting the AHEAD Study.

“The AHEAD Study has the potential to be a breakthrough in Alzheimer’s research, but we need diverse individuals to help make that a reality,” said Dr. Porsteinsson. “Rochester residents from all walks of life can help us get ahead of Alzheimer’s by participating in this groundbreaking research.”

For more information on eligibility requirements, contact the University of Rochester at 585-602-5200 or visit AHEADstudy.org. Provided information

Learning CPR in Gates

In response to Damar Hamlin’s on field cardiac arrest during the Buffalo Bills game on January 2, Gates Ambulance began offering free Friends & Family CPR/AED classes. Dozens of people, many of them Bills fans, have attended the classes and received citizen first responder certificates. More classes will be added as long as there is demand. Go to https://bit.ly/3XFRLuN to see available sessions and to register. Photos from @GatesAmbulance on Twitter.

Game day party ideas

Football season has been in full swing for several months, and will soon culminate in the game of all games in early February — the Super Bowl. Watching the action on the field is exciting, but game day experiences can be enhanced by sharing the festivities with friends or family.

Football parties can take enjoyment of the game to the next level. The following are some ways to score touchdowns when hosting game day gatherings.

Create a DIY football field table cover

Head to the nearest party store and purchase green craft paper or a plastic tablecloth. Stretch it over the expanse of the table you need to cover and secure it underneath with tape or clips. Use white tape or ribbon to mark off the field yard markings and utilize white stick-on numerals to enhance the yard line measurements. Such a festive table can double as the perfect playing field for table-top football.

Decorate a drink station

Dress up your cooler with team colors and logos. Make a goal post out of PVC piping to add a little extra whimsy to the design.

Create game-inspired foods

Football-shaped foods, from mini meatloafs to calzones to cookies to doughnuts, will make the event even more fun. Invest in a football-shaped cookie cutter to cut just about everything, from sliced cheeses to sandwiches to pie crusts to that pigskin shape.

Set up games of chance

Buying “boxes” and gambling on the outcomes of the quarters is tradition for many people who participate in football parties. However, gambling isn’t for everyone. Party hosts can come up with other clever ideas to give people chances to win prizes. Purchase a few inexpensive gift cards to local coffee shops, sporting goods retailers or to supermarkets. Give out raffle tickets to all in attendance. Each time the team scores, pick a raffle ticket out of a bag or bucket. The called number gets a prize.

Consider a tailgate theme

Evoke the feelings of a true stadium tailgate by hosting the party outdoors in the neighborhood. Each home can have its own station in the driveway, with party-goers walking from home to home to load up on snacks and talk about the game.

Game day is a great time to get together with fellow fans, friends and family. (Metro)

My Hometown Garden

The latest All-America Selections flowers and vegetables

by Kristina Gabalski

If you’ve started the search for your 2023 garden seeds, you’ve seen the red, white, and blue All-America Selections (AAS) logo in seed catalogs on pictures of certain varieties of perennials, flowers, and vegetables. Since 1932, the AAS logo on a photo has meant that judges from across North America have tested the new variety and deemed it has proven superior qualities. This can be helpful to home growers as they strive to pick the best flowers and vegetables for their gardens.

According to AAS, winners are determined by independent judges who look for significantly improved qualities in never before sold varieties. Judges look for earliness to bloom or harvest, disease or pest tolerance, novel colors of flowers, novel flower forms, total yield, length of flower or harvest, and overall performance in picking the most outstanding new varieties.

Winners are announced three times each year and the latest round of winners includes a mix of nine flowers, foliage plants, and vegetables.

Coleus Premium Sun Coral Candy is the first ever coleus from seed to win AAS designation. Plants are compact with unique multicolored foliage. Leaves are narrow and serrated and hold their color well,

even in full sun. Mounded plants grow 10 to 16 inches high.

Another foliage plant, Colocasia Royal Hawaiian Waikiki – also known as elephant ears – has glossy leaves with bold coloration. Growing to 36 inches in height and width, the leaves feature pink veins and creamy centers. They can be grown in fullsun or large containers and are available only in plant form, not seed.

For perennial lovers, Echinacea Artisan Yellow Ombre has unusual golden yellow blooms all season. Available as seed, this echinacea has a uniform growth habit and multiple branches which produce large numbers of blooms.

Another flowering perennial, Leucanthemum Carpet Angel is a Shasta Daisy which grows to a height of six inches. This is the first-ever perennial ground cover to be selected by AAS, and spreads up to 20 inches. It features pure white blooms which look like angels dancing over a carpet of dark green foliage. It is available as a plant only.

Salvia Blue by You is also a perennial and sports rich blue flowers that bloom up to two weeks earlier than similar plants. This looks like a great selection for Western New York as it has excellent winter hardiness as well as heat tolerance, blooming from late spring into early fall. Remove spent flowers for repeat bloom. It is resistant to deer and rabbits and is available as a plant only.

Snapdragon Double Shot Orange Bicolor is a stunner with open-faced double flowers in shades of orange and orange-red. This plant is part of a new series of intermediate-height snapdragons with strong, well-branched stems which produce more blooms than similar type snapdragons. It grows 18 to 20 inches in height.

Veggie growers will want to seek-out Pepper Cayenne Wildcat with thick flesh walls, a smoky flavor, peppery sweetness, and a

mild pungency. High-yielding plants produce eight-inch fruits which are straighter than traditional cayenne peppers.

Pepper Jalapeno San Joaquin is a super choice for gardeners who like to can, pickle, or make roasted stuffed jalapeños for summer parties. Most of the fruit is set in a short window, with each plant producing about 50 fruits with a hint of heat.

Squash Kabocha Sweet Jade admittedly has dry flesh, but it is sweet and rich in taste. Plants produce high yields of singleserving sized squash with a deep orange flesh. Bake, roast, or puree.

If you’ve been waiting for a tomato selection, Tomato Zenzei is it. This highyielding Roma has fruit that ripens 70 to 80 days from transplanting, and the bushy and uniformly-shaped plants are easy to harvest. Zenzei is disease resistant, being less prone to blossom end rot issues than some Roma types. The fruits are meaty and flavorful.

Finally, if you’ve been searching for the perfect watermelon, Rubyfirm may be one to try. The fruits are small – about the size of a cantaloupe. The bright pink flesh is crispy and very sweet with minimal seeds. Plants yield two to three fruits per vine.

Tomato Zenzei is a high-yielding Roma tomato. It is among the new All-America Selections winners. Photo courtesy of All-America Selections.

Coleus Premium Sun Coral Candy is a stunner and a new All-America Selections winner. Photo courtesy of All-American Selections.

All-America Selections winner Snapdragon Double Shot Orange Bicolor is sure to make a colorful splash in the garden. Photo courtesy of All-America Selections.

My Hometown Clubs

Hubbard Springs Garden Club of Chili seeks new members

The Hubbard Springs Garden Club of Chili is actively seeking new members. It is a friendly, active group, which meets the third Monday of each month (September through June), 6:30 p.m., at the Chili Recreation Center, Room 212, 3237 Chili Avenue.

The club is involved in four civic beautification projects in Chili, including gardens at Hubbard Park, Streeter’s Inn, The Cobblestone School, and a new garden planned for the Chili Library. The meetings are focused on educational presentations about gardening, perennials, environmental conservation, swamp horticulture, flower arranging, and other interesting topics chosen by the members. There are many opportunities to socialize and make new friends.

Lions Club of Chili offers update

The Lions Club of Chili was extremely busy as 2022 came to a close. We were thrilled to once again serve some of the children of our community by providing Vision Screenings at Saint Pius Tenth School. Then with the help of valued community partners and businesses, we were able to provide food to 27 families and gifts to 29 children through our Holiday Gift Basket campaign. Finally, we were astounded by the generosity of the Chili residents as we participated in The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign.

Located outside Pet Supplies Plus, the Lions Clubs of Churchville and Scottsville braved the weather with us as we raised $1,361 for our community.

As we kick off 2023, we look forward to continuing to provide for our community. If one of your New Year’s resolutions was to get involved with a local organization, we hope you will consider the Lions Club of Chili. For more information, contact Membership Chair, Lion Bert at 261-0743.

Provided by the Lions Club of Chili

received a lot of help from area businesses and organizations. Thanks to the following organizations that helped make this happen to care for those in the community: Ace Swim & Leisure; Burger Express LLC; Paul Road School; Wegmans Chili-Paul; Canandaigua National Bank; Chili Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary; Clifton Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary; Dr. David D’Amico O.D.; Dr. Roger Kuntz, DVM; Drs. Calnon & Cilano; Leo M. Bean & Sons Funeral Home; SPX Federal Credit Union; Tompkins Bank of Castile; and Encounter Church. Provided information and photo.

| My Hometown February 2023

My Hometown Schools

Churchville-Chili

Last fall 71 new members were inducted into Churchville-Chili Central School District’s High School National Honor Society (NHS).

The NHS is a program for high school juniors and seniors with a weighted, overall grade point average of 90 or above. In addition to scholarship, members must also demonstrate character, leadership, citizenship and actively participate in community service. Students formally apply in the fall of their junior or senior year. Applications and letters of recommendation are reviewed by faculty in October, and new members are inducted in November.

NHS members complete community service/volunteer work when opportunities or needs become available. The expectation is that current members complete at least 20 service hours per year; many complete more. Common activities include: Black Creek Park trail pick-up; leaf raking/yard work for community members; winter clothing drives; help with teacher interview practice lessons; assist with the National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony; library book sales; peer tutoring; teacherof-the-month recognition and many others.

“This group always amazes me with their ability to balance school, extracurricular activities, work and preparing for life after Churchville-Chili,” said NHS Advisor Paul Glor. “They have a variety of personalities, but all bring something special to our school community. Every time I work with this group I know our future is in good hands.”

Each spring members of NHS are asked to nominate a high school teacher who has made an impact on them. The club officers and advisor look at the nominations, tally the votes, consider unique circumstances and then select that teacher to be recognized. This tra dition goes back many years, and the recipient is recognized with a certificate, gift and their classroom door is decorated. They are also asked to be the guest speaker at the fall NHS Induction Ceremony. This year’s Teacher of the Year was Mr. Micah Court, a SHS Math teacher who has been with the district for nine years. “Mr. Court is the first one here, is always teaching, gives 100% to his students

and is passionate about math,” said Glor.

The 2022 National Honor Society Inductees are: Angelia Agnello, Dominic Agostinelli, Christine Artyushok, Elijah Bailey, Camden Bean, Matthew Behlok, Andrew Berardicurti, Morgan Booth, Alexa Briggs, Ethan Britton, Dylan Bromage, Ashlyn Broussard, Jake Broussard, Gavin Carr, Leila Cody, Sabrina Cousins, Adriana D’Ambrosio, Osman Duru, Matthew Ewell, Talan Finnigan, Mary French, Sarah Gibbs, Ryan Giglia, Jr., Shane Girolamo, Lyla Gleason, Sydney Goettel, Conner Guenter, Matthew Hayes, Emma Healy, Jake Herring, Luke Herring, Quinn Hoak, Dominic Hoch, Olivia Hogan, Hannalee Hotaling, Skylar Jehlen, Ryan Johnson, Ricardo Lagares, Jr.,, Haley Leonard, Justina Loewke, Jared Mandrycky, Addison McDonough, Isabella Mettler, Jacob Miller, Abby Mineweaser, Tyler Nguyen, Madison Noll, Amani Nur, Daniel Panessa, Silas Payne, Aaliyan Qadri, Cal Raines, Coy Raines, Jesse Satter, Esmie Sauvé, Wesley Smith, McKenzie Snitchler, Sammy St. Denis, Colin St. Lucia, Grace Stella, Christopher Strong, Mackenzie Sutton, Gabrielle Toates, Malachi Tomaszewski, Aidan Vogler, Andrew Watkins, Deven Weeden, Sam Weilert, Robert Wilkinson, Ajani Wilson, and Maya Wynne.

Provided information and photos

Officers of the Churchville-Chili Chapter of the National Honor Society.

Valentine’s Day gift ideas for guys

A holiday devoted to love and affection is nestled in the middle of the chilly days of February. Valentine’s Day is a big day for retailers, and many advertising campaigns focus on gifting women everything from jewelry to chocolate to stuffed animals. That focus may not be unwarranted, but men also deserve tokens of love and appreciation on Valentine’s Day. With February 14 right around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about shopping for items that show you care. Consider this list of carefully curated gifts that can provide inspiration for gifting the special man in your life.

•Gaming gear: The appeal of video games is hard to ignore. A report from the gaming industry researchers at DFC Intelligence indicates that billions of people across the globe play video games. Gift ideas can include consoles and peripherals like headsets, gaming chairs and laptop keyboards, among others.

•At-home luxury: Some men steer clear of massage therapy clinics or spas. That doesn’t mean they should forgo the benefits of a deep massage. With a portable back and neck shiatsu massager,

he can enjoy a massage while watching the game or streaming movies or television shows.

•Treat bouquet: Floral bouquets may be unusual gifts for men, but a bouquet of another sort certainly may be a winning Valentine’s Day gift. More and more companies are getting creative with food bouquets. From cupcake bouquets that require a double-take to ensure they’re edible to exotic jerky bouquets, there are items to tempt every palate.

•Cordless earbuds or headphones: Fitness enthusiasts, movie lovers or music fans know that the freedom to move around can be impeded by cords on headphones and earbuds. A new pair of Bluetooth-enabled wireless headphones can be just the thing to make men smile this Valentine’s Day.

•Coffee mill: Many people are sticking closer to home these days. That may mean skipping a favorite coffee shop and barista on the way to work, and brewing a cup of Joe before heading to the home office. According to Sam Spillman of Dillanos Coffee Roasters near Seattle, the 2019 Barista winner of the U.S. Coffee Championships, coffee loses flavor minutes after it is ground. Buying whole beans and grinding fresh before every brew ensures a more flavorful cup. Gifting a coffee grinder, particularly a burr grinder, can help improve the taste of that morning brew.

These are just some of the many gift ideas to make men smile this Valentine’s Day.

Tricks to keep floral arrangements fresh

Who doesn’t enjoy receiving a fresh bouquet of flowers on a special occasion? Flowers traditionally are given for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, anniversaries, and other special events. While a beautiful bouquet can make a lovely gift, fresh flowers have finite lasting power.

Recipients of floral arrangements need not fret. Various strategies can help prolong the life of freshly cut flowers. Florists employ certain tricks to keep cut flowers fresh longer. In fact, that’s a person’s best bet to keep cut flowers fresh purchasing arrangements from knowledgeable florists who have done their part to ensure flower longevity.

Here are some additional strategies to consider.

Make fresh cuts in stems

Think back to the last time you purchased a fresh Christmas tree. What is the key to ensuring it gets enough water while on display? You guessed it: making a fresh cut in the trunk of the tree. The same concept applies to floral arrangements. Use a sharp scissor or pruning shears to cut about one inch from the bottom of each stem at a 45-degree angle. Continue this process every three days or so. The 45-degree angle prevents the stem from squishing during the cut and enables it to absorb more water.

Get them in water quickly

Place the flowers in a vase or other vessel with water promptly after making the cuts. Some florists like to cut the stems under water to prevent air bubbles from forming in the stems. Choose an arrangement first, then cut and place the flowers in water quickly. This gives fresh arrangements a good chance to last awhile.

Monitor water temperature

The temperature of the water in the vase should coordinate with the flowers on display. Do not use hot water or the stems will cook. Room temperature is best for most flowers, except for blooms from bulbs that flower during cooler months, such as tulips and daffodils. They’ll be more likely to thrive in cooler water, according to Consumer Reports.

Chill your arrangement

The experts at FTD by Design tested various theories for keeping floral arrangements fresh, including adding aspirin to the water or using sugar or concoctions that contain vodka. Sugar and vinegar served as a runner-up for long-lasting blooms, but the best solution for prolonging the flowers was putting the arrangement in the refrigerator each night for roughly eight hours.

Prune the foliage

Before placing cut flowers in a vase, remove extra leaves at the base of the stems that will fall underneath the water line. This helps to limit bacteria growth in the water and cuts back on foul odors. Plus, removing foliage focuses flowers’ energy on the main blooms rather than the leaves.

These steps can add life to cut flowers, helping arrangements thrive in any home.