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index 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 Advertising 585-352-3411 Lori Antonelli ext. 133 Rachael Blair ext. 139 Debbie Day Ext. 131 Tami Raco ext. 129 Mary Lou Rockow ext. 134 Gary Sajdak ext. 135 Ellen Stevens ext. 130
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Winter Fun Is In Season Help Needed For Gates Library Warm Coat Drive Reviving a Gates Chili ‘Tradizione’ Homesteads For Hope Is A Feeling - Peter’s Story Spencerport’s Schneider Named 2023 National Coach of the Year Military Museum Seeking Veterans’ Stories For History Collection State-Level Spotlight On Gates Chili Gates Chili Serving Free, Nutritious Meals Churchville-Chili HS Recognized As W!se Blue Star School RMSC Presents A Multisensory, Immersive Concert Experience Churchville’s Kraft Impacting Cornell Hockey As A Freshman Chili Presbyterian Awards Scholarship To Recent Graduate First Presbyterian Church of Chili’s Raffle To Support Food Cupboard Town of Ogden To Host Comprehensive Plan Open House Event Churchville-Chili Athletes Participate In College Signing Ceremony YouTube Cooking Series For Older Adults Surpasses One Million Views
Production 585-352-3411 ext. 126 or 128 Vicki Caspersson, Karen Fien, Joanne Michielsen & Suzette Coleman News Submissions: editor@westsidenewsny.com
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My Hometown January 2024 | 3
Winter Fun is IN SEASON! by Colleen Onuffer
The new year comes with a fresh start – and what better way to celebrate than breathing in the fresh air of the outdoors? Here are 14 ways to enjoy winter activities while admiring the snowy season’s stunning beauty around our area. Be sure to check weather conditions and operating hours online before heading out! 1. At 1,505 acres, Black Creek Park in Chili is one of the largest parks in Monroe County. It is home to five hiking trails with beautiful winter views, ranging from one mile in length to three miles. Other winter fun includes cross-country skiing and a designated sledding hill where you can feel like a kid again. 2. In Greece, the trails at Braddock Bay Park and Wildlife Management Area offer easy, hushed hikes for spotting winter animals. As the season turns to spring, you’ll see more birds (and bird watchers) stopping for food and shelter along their migration flight path. 3. For a quiet day soaking in seasonal scenes, Oatka Creek Park in Scottsville welcomes winter walks, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing along its non-groomed trails. 4. Want to try cross-country skiing or snowshoeing – but don’t have the equipment? Henrietta’s Tinker Nature Park rents out skis, snowshoes and poles on Tuesdays through Saturdays for $5 a pair. The handicap accessible park has a 1.2-mile walking trail, a half-mile nature trail and a half-mile, self-guided HikYoga walk.
5. On Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford is open for winter weekends, where you can step back in time as you explore some of the historic buildings around its campus. It also grants you access to the Nature Center Trails where you can choose your activity: snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or sledding. 6. Although most notably known for the Lilac Festival, Highland Park’s 150 acres are beautiful all year round. During the winter months, enjoy peace and quiet as you walk among snowtopped evergreens. Don’t forget your skates to go ice skating on Lily Pond, a groomed, natural-ice surface located on South Avenue, or your saucer for sledding behind the conservatory.
Highland Park
Tinker Park
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7. Greece residents are welcome to enjoy the icy surface of the Greece Community Ice Rink, located on the Greece Town Hall campus. Residents must present proper identification at the Welcome Shed to receive an admission tag. Free skate rentals are available, thanks to the generosity of Brian and Harvest Gionta. The rink is big enough for all skaters of all levels room to learn or twirl. 8. Churchville Park is home to a groomed, natural-ice rink that is open all week long (when ice conditions allow) from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The skating rink is located by the Church Lodge with nearby warming huts when you need a break from the crisp air. Equipment rentals are unavailable so be sure to pack your own skates. 9. Head indoors for ice skating at Scottsville Ice Arena. Open public skate takes place on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, allowing you to get out on the ice in a safe and fun environment. 10. Another indoor facility, Lakeshore Hockey Arena and Sports Center, runs open skate for teens (ages 13 and up) and adults on Friday evenings, or bring the whole family on Saturdays and Sundays. Skate rentals are available on-site along with blue walkers for skaters under the age of 6. If your child is just starting continued on page 5
My Hometown Winter Activities continued from page 4
out, consider signing them up for learn to skate lessons, offered through Lakeshore Skating School. The final session runs from January 20 through March 2.
11. Ready for some adrenaline? Pack your sled or toboggan for Northampton Park’s designated sledding hill, located across the street from the Ski Lodge on Hubble Road. The Park is also the site of a downhill skiing hill with rope tow, where Swain Ski Resort (https://swain.com/northampton-park-2/) offers ski camps, classes and private lessons for those looking to learn how to ski and snowboard. Day tickets, season passes (good for Northampton AND Powder Mills Park!) and equipment rentals are available for open ski hours during select times during the week. 12. Bristol Mountain in Canandaigua features the highest vertical between the Adirondacks to the east and the Rocky Mountains to the west. All skiers and snowboarders – from beginners to experts – will find a slope their speed with over 39 to choose
from. The resort’s Snowsports School teaches private or group lessons for ages four and up. 13. For the ultimate sledding experience, check out Snow Tubing at Greystone. Dress warmly and enjoy an exhilarating ride down one of ten, 1,000-foot snow tubing lanes. (Plus, there’s a kiddie hill for the little ones!) Afterwards, the power lift will effortlessly glide you and your tube back to the top of the hill. 14. Sign up or cheer for the outdoor hockey tournament of Westgate Winterfest, on Saturday, February 3, at Westgate Park. Individual players, ages 18 and older, can sign up to participate. Teams will be drafted the morning of the event and play a series of round robin games before a single elimination tournament to crown the winning team. Food and drinks will be available in the Westgate Shelter. Looking for other ways to stay active this winter? Learn a new skill or join an indoor league through the area’s recreation departments. View the Town of Chili’s winter newsletter, Ogden Parks and Recreation 2024 Winter/Spring Program Guide and Gates Recreation 2024 Winter Program Guide for a variety of programs. See links below.
Chili: http://www.townofchili.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Chili-2024-Winter-Spring-Final.pdf Ogden: https://issuu.com/ogdenparksandrecreation/docs/winter_spring_2024_program_guide_-_final Gates: https://gatesrecparks.org/docs/winter2024brochure.pdf
Gates Public Library Warm Clothing Drive: Your Help Is Needed! Do you have warm adult clothes that are gently used (and clean) and not worn anymore? This is your opportunity to give it away to a good cause and help your neighbors in need. During the month of January, the Gates Public Library will be accepting donations of winter/outdoor clothing and accessories. Donations will benefit Matthew’s Closet (www.matthewscloset. org), an organization dedicated to assisting those in need in the Rochester area. Items to donate include: •New and gently used (and clean) winter outerwear for adults, including, but not limited to coats, jackets, parkas, sweaters. All adult sizes are needed.
•Winter, outdoor accessories for adults, including, but not limited to gloves, scarves, hats, and mittens. •New socks are also needed (all sizes); no used socks, please. In these difficult times and colder months, your warm clothing donation can go a long way to helping those with limited resources in our community. Donations can be dropped off during business hours in the boxes marked “Clothing Drive” in the library’s atrium. The clothing drive will be active throughout the month of January. Questions? Call the library at 247-6446. The Gates Public Library is located at 902 Elmgrove Road. Provided information
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My Hometown Schools
Reviving a Gates Chili ‘tradizione’ The spirit of tradizione came alive once again as the World Language Club at Gates Chili High School hosted the Whatsa Matta for You Bocce Ball Tournament fundraiser on October 17. The event brought students and staff together to raise funds for Prime Time, the all-night party that follows Senior Ball. The bocce ball tournament holds a special place in the hearts of the Gates Chili community. This longstanding tradition was estab-
lished by former Italian teacher Franca Cinelli, who dedicated three decades to teaching Italian at Gates Chili High School. Cinelli’s love for the game and her passion for fostering cultural connections made her the driving force behind this unique event. “What was cool about [the tournament] is that it wasn’t just the kids in the Italian club playing, the whole school got involved and then the teachers too,” Cinelli recalled. “You know, people came out that wouldn’t normally come out to do things and they were very creative in getting a name for their team…and it brought around camaraderie.” Cinelli’s retirement in 2017 put the tournament on hiatus. That is, until last year when Gates Chili alumnus and English teacher Vanessa Arena-Amesbury revived the cherished tradition. Having fond memories of playing in the tournament both as a student and a staff member, Arena-Amesbury saw an opportunity to rekindle the community’s love for bocce. The return of the bocce ball tournament was met with enthusiasm and anticipation. Nearly 20 teams of student and staff members took to the bocce courts last year, battling through three rounds of spirited competition. This year’s competition attracted an even larger number of participants, with more teams registering to join the event. “It was great; a lot of fun,” said junior Cole G. “We’re all out here just enjoying ourselves, having friendly competitive battles.” The resurgence of this cherished event symbolized the spirit of community and the importance of preserving beloved traditions. Provided information and photo
SPRING SEMESTER STARTS: January 22
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My Hometown Neighbor
Homesteads for Hope is a feeling - Peter’s Story As Homesteads for Hope wraps up another season, the people of this local organization have so much to be grateful for. In the last year, their “Community Farm Experience” has been able to accomplish so much to help families and individuals with disabilities – from opening their doors to new program participants, members, volunteers and school districts, to completing the “Forever Homestead” project. The newest community center offers a door always open, expanding the non-profit’s impact 12 months a year – nearly seven days a week. All of this was only possible because of the endless support that the Greater Rochester area has shown, yet there is much more work to be done to help families and individuals of all abilities. Take Peter, for example, who joined the farm’s programs over the summer and simply never left. As someone who utilizes a wheelchair with limited control of muscle movement, Homesteads for Hope’s staff were honored at how quickly he and his family jumped on board and trusted them to provide the right accommodations for him to participate on the working farm. With his creative mind and keen eye, Peter found a passion for flower gardening and arrangements right away, and even hosted his own U-Pick Workshop towards the end of the season. When asking Peter how he feels, he stated, “I like coming to the farm because the things I do here make me feel accomplished. I
Peter joined Homesteads for Hope this summer and developed a passion for flower gardening.
Homesteads for Hope has accommodations that allow Peter to participate on the working farm.
like that everyone can come together and we can be ourselves, and I know I have a purpose here.” Not only is he feeling valued, he also has the farm to call home, and the same goes for his family. Because of the work of the Homesteads for Hope team, Peter’s family is now surrounded by a caring community. He continues to grow his purpose and feels included in goals for the future. There are countless more stories like Peter’s, of individuals who are seeking a place to belong. Homesteads for Hope is currently serving over 600 families who are involved in programs, memberships, and volunteer experiences with thousands of community visitors each year seeking to get involved. Since opening the Forever Homestead Community Center, the opportunities keep knocking and the farm needs support to keep opening the door. Homesteads for Hope has plans to expand their membership experience, mission-based programs, farm agritourism and new partnerships with other non-profits, agencies, and school districts. They want everyone to experience what Peter feels when he’s at the farm. This requires operational support to expand program offerings, hire additional staff and continue to ensure the 2024 experience is better than ever before. Visit www.HomesteadsforHope.org to learn more about how to get involved. Provided information and photos
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Spencerport’s Schneider named 2023 National Coach of the Year Spencerport girls varsity soccer coach Jamie Schneider was named the Girls High School National Coach of the Year for Large Public High Schools. The United Soccer Coaches Association announced the award on December 15. “Coach Schneider exemplifies everything that is great about high school athletics,” Spencerport Superintendent Ty Zinkiewic posted on X. “His integrity and character are always on display and he instills these principles with his student-athletes. He leads with humility and is richly deserving of this honor.” The Rangers achieved a perfect 23-0 season and won the Section V Championship (for the eighth straight time), Regional Championship, and New York State Championship. They are also ranked ninth in the nation. Coach Schneider was named Coach of the Year for Section V Class AA and All Greater Rochester. He was also selected as the United Soccer Coaches Region Coach of the Year. The Section V championship was the coach’s 250th career win. His 21-year career record now stands at 253 wins, 112 losses, and 34 ties. Schneider will be honored during the USCA annual banquet on January 12 in Anaheim, California. Jamie Schneider
Provided information and photo
New York State Parks Centennial Challenge 2024 marks New York State Parks Centennial, and with it, lots of reasons to celebrate. As you head out on your next adventure to a New York State park or historic site, you are invited to take on the Centennial Challenge. New York State Parks has come up with a list of 100 activities to give you a chance to get outdoors and discover state parks, to learn more about New York State history at historic sites, and to give back to preserve all of its properties for the next generation.
Not sure you can complete all 100 activities in a year? That’s okay. The goal is to complete 24, after which you’ll earn a commemorative Centennial prize, as well as an entry into a random drawing for one of 24 three-year Empire Passes and a Centennial swag bag. Take the Challenge on the go by downloading the Goosechase app from either the iPhone or Android app store. Create an account then search for “NY State Parks Centennial Challenge” to join and start collecting points. Prefer the tried-and-true method of pen and paper to track your Centennial Challenge progress? Download the checklist at https://parks.ny.gov/documents/100/OPRHPCentennialChallengeChecklist.pdf or pick one up at your local state park or historic site. Once you’ve earned as many points as you can, mail in your checklist to New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, 625 Broadway, Albany, N.Y. 12207, Attn: Centennial Challenge. Remember, you only need to complete 24 activities in order to collect 24 points and earn your Centennial prize and entry into the promotional giveaway. Those who earn more than 24 points will receive one extra entry into the promotional giveaway for every extra ten points earned. Submissions will be accepted from January 1, 2024, to January 10, 2025. Winners of the promotional giveaway will be announced the week of January 13, 2025. For more information, go to https://parks.ny.gov/100/challenge/. Provided information and photos
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My Hometown January 2024 | 9
New York State Military Museum is seeking veterans’ stories for oral history collection The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center in Saratoga Springs has resumed its veterans’ oral history collection program which was put on hold during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and is seeking interview subjects. Museum docents Fred Katz and Wayne Rozen conduct the interviews under the direction of James Gandy, the museum’s librarian, and archivist. Interviews can be conducted in person at the museum, or they can be conducted over a Zoom call for those who live outside easy driving distance.
Milton A. Eager, a World War II veteran, is interviewed by NYS Military Museum staff on January 3, 2008. Eager, a sergeant from Newburgh, fought in the South Pacific.
To date, the museum has conducted 1,275 interviews with veterans of conflicts ranging from World War II to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The interviews are posted on the New York State Military Museum’s YouTube channel, and can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/@ newyorkstatemilitarymuseum6253/videos The interview collection program resumed earlier this year. Since then, four oral history interviews have been conducted. The interviews can range from 45 minutes to several hours, depending on how much the veteran wants to say, according to Gandy. To participate in the program, veterans should email the museum at nysmm.oralhistory@gmail.com. Museum staff will send back information on how to participate, along with a four-page service questionnaire. The form helps the interviewers prepare for an informed discussion and becomes part of the historical record of New York citizens’ service in the military. Veterans can also download information and the questionnaire directly by going to the oral history page on the museum website, https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/research/oral-history-project. Once the interview audio or video recording is completed, it is digitized and posted on the museum’s YouTube channel. Currently, there are 2,158 interviews – about half conducted by other entities – posted on the museum YouTube channel. All of these interviews are about New Yorkers and their military service. The New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center is administered by the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs. The museum is a repository of 16,326 photographs and photographic collections, 4,345 archive and manuscript collections, 16,322 books and articles, and 28,984 artifacts – including 2,305 military flags, 700 firearms, and a variety of uniforms, medals, artwork and personal objects, and a Sherman tank – which tell the story of New Yorkers at war. The museum’s website, https://museum.dmna.ny.gov/, allows access to thousands of digital photographs and 1,093 documents, books, magazines, and records. Provided information and photo
State-level spotlight on Gates Chili Gates Chili High School students and staff highlighted Gates Chili to a statewide audience this fall during a special webinar series hosted by the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Students Marissa H. and Laila G. and staff members Dr. Stacy Killings and Kathy White represented Gates Chili during the series titled, Elevating Student Voice as Leaders to Advance Equity and Inclusion. During the webinar, students and staff shared their experiences planning and hosting the ROC 2 Change Student Summit on Race last spring. The group represented the high school’s Multicultural International Club, which led the charge in planning that event on March 31. “ROC 2 Change opened several opportunities to make change in our community and school,” shared Marissa. “Everyone was so kind and open-minded and really sought change within our schools and community. Although the work was hard, we did our best to work through any of our differences to create a cohesive program. I’m really proud of all the work our school has done to help improve diversity, equity and inclusion.” Provided information and photo
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My Hometown Schools
Gates Chili serving free, nutritious meals every day Gates Chili cafeterias have always been full of hustle and bustle, especially during mealtime, but this year, they’re also full of free, nutritious meals for kids, thanks to a new federal and state partnership. That partnership is the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), a program that allows every Gates Chili student to receive a free breakfast and lunch at school every day in the 2023-24 school year. “The availability of free meals for all students is certainly a proud moment for our school district,” said Superintendent of Schools Christopher Dailey. “It removes barriers that hinder success and reflects our commitment to equity, inclusivity, and the well-being of our entire school community.” “Students perform better in school when they have had a healthy breakfast and nutritious lunch,” said Janice Phillips, director of school nutrition. “We are thrilled to be able to provide this resource at no cost to families this school year.” Gates Chili qualified for this program due to its percentage of free and reduced meal recipients—more than 56% of students districtwide. While free meals are a certain advantage for families who traditionally qualify for free and reduced meals, the availability of free meals has also been an asset to district parents like Kathy Phelan. Her family has never qualified for free or reduced meals, but her three Gates Chili students always buy lunch at school, so she has always needed to budget for those meals in addition to groceries. Having access to free meals at school has had a major impact on her family. “When you consider that the price of groceries is already inflated, paying for lunches for three kids every day can be almost as
much as a monthly car payment,” she said. “With a family of seven at home, it’s such a relief to not have to budget for lunches.” School meals also come with an added health benefit, meeting several nutritional requirements, and making them a great option for any family. Each meal is packed with protein, whole grains and fresh fruit or vegetables. The cost-free meals, coupled with the nutritional value, has resulted in a major spike in meals served already this year. In just the first two months of school, there was a 47% increase in meals served year over year. For students like middle-schooler Liam H., it’s not about the nutritional value or the bottom line; it’s about the food. “The food is great and I just love it,” Liam shared. “The pizza is my favorite; the sauce is so good. I get breakfast almost every day too.” Families do not have to complete any forms for their student(s) to receive free meals at school. However, families are strongly encouraged to complete the Income Eligibility Form, which is tied to other important benefits for students. These include fee waivers for advanced placement exams, dual-credit tuition assistance, state funding and more. State funding helps offset costs that keep local taxes reasonable while providing great programs and services for students. To learn more about free meals and/or complete the Income Eligibility Form for other benefits, go to gateschili.org/FreeMeals. Provided information and photos
Churchville-Chili High School recognized as W!se 2022-2023 Blue Star School Churchville-Chili High School has been recognized as a Working in Support of Education (W!se) Blue Star School for the 2022-23 school year. Churchville-Chili High School administered the W!se Financial Literacy Certification Test to students following a course on personal finance. To earn the Blue Star School award, the high school achieved an 80% passing rate on the national standardized test.
Students who passed the test became Certified Financially Literate™ and earned a W!se CFL™, demonstrating that they have developed sound financial knowledge and skills. The high school has been recognized by W!se as a Top 100 school every year since 2014 (except in 2020 during the pandemic), however, this is the first year the school has been recognized as a Blue Star School since 2014. Provided information
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My Hometown Concert Experience
fivebyfive will perform eclipse-inspired music in Rochester January 20 and 21.
The RMSC presents a multisensory, immersive concert experience In collaboration with fivebyfive, the RMSC presents a one-ofa-kind concert experience with live music and immersive visuals presented on the dome of the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium on January 20 and January 21, 2024. Described as “classical turned loose in the toy store,” “topflight,” and “imaginative,” fivebyfive is an award-winning, artist-led ensemble known for its impeccable musicianship and adventurous spirit that permeates innovative, cross-genre programming and community engagement. fivebyfive has been inspired to connect people in an engaging public event to build awareness and excitement for the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse on April 8, 2024. “We’re thrilled to be partnering with fivebyfive for this collaborative concert in January,” said Jim Bader, RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium Director. “Visitors will be able to immerse themselves in newly commissioned works by fivebyfive, while celestial visuals illuminate the Planetarium dome, creating a truly unforgettable atmosphere.” fivebyfive will present its eclipse-inspired program Light & Dark: Eclipse Music in Rochester at the Planetarium and other communities within the path of totality. Performances will include newly commissioned works by composers Jessica Meyer, Marc Mellits, Kamala Sankaram, Glenn McClure, and a new arrangement by Julie Herndon. “These concerts will truly be the prelude to the Total Solar Eclipse,” exclaimed Laura Lentz, fivebyfive Artistic Director. “We can’t wait to share this multi-level concert of brand new eclipseinspired music with new beautiful images, making for an incredible all-sensory eclipse experience!” Tickets are now on sale for this one-of-a-kind concert at https ://rmsc.org/events/fivebyfive-eclipsemusic/. The RMSC is also of-
fering experience gift packages including tickets to the Light & Dark concert, admission to the RMSC ROC The Eclipse festival, and RMSC eclipse glasses to use for the upcoming Total Solar Eclipse. Provided information an photo
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Churchville’s Kraft impacting Cornell hockey as a freshman by Warren Kozireski
It is hard enough for a freshman to break into the lineup of any Division I hockey program and to do so with a nationally ranked team such as the Big Red from Cornell University is doubly impressive, but Churchville native Jake Kraft is doing just that. At the recent Adirondack Winter Invitational held at historic Herb Brooks Arena in Lake Placid, the 5’8”, 170 lb. Kraft was the extra forward for the first game against the University of Massachusetts but was elevated to top line left wing for the championship game versus Arizona State University. “It’s definitely exciting; I think more (opportunity) than I expected coming in (this year),” Kraft said. “I just go out and work as hard as I can every day to try to get the most opportunity and try to see where I fit in to the team.” Kraft scored his first collegiate goal on home ice at Lynah Rink against Harvard November 11 Jake Kraft. Provided photo. after registering his first two points – assists – in the second series of the season at Yale and Brown University. He had played in all 13 games of the season as the calendar turned to January. He started getting serious about hockey at 13 years old and dressed with the Rochester Monarchs for two seasons before jumping to the Buffalo Jr. Sabres for his 15U and 16U campaigns, the latter where he scored 39 points in 50 games. Then came two prep seasons with the Kent School in Connecticut, though the first was abbreviated due to the pandemic. His 2021-22 year with 25 goals and 44 points in 28 games put him on the USHL radar and he joined Cedar Rapids for the 2022-23 season where he played with current teammate, Ryan Walsh, from Penfield. There he scored 17 goals with 32 points in 56 games and committed to Cornell that December. “He’s fast, he’s physical for being his size but I think his biggest asset is his speed; he can get to places really quick which is nice,”
Churchville native Jake Kraft on the ice for Cornell. Provided photo.
Walsh said about his former and current teammate. “He’s a great passer and can score so he’s a great all-around player, but his speed is his biggest attribute which is great to be on a line with. “We have ten freshmen on the team, which is a lot, so (head coach Mike) Schafer definitely giving us a lot of opportunities to fill big roles early on which helps build confidence right away and shows that he trusts you a little bit.” “I’ve always been an undersized guy, so I feel like I try to fight my way through everything,” Kraft said. “It’s accumulated over the years, but definitely picked up in the more physical college game.” As for why Kraft chose to play college hockey at Cornell? “I always knew the tradition of Cornell (hockey) was second to none and being close to home was definitely something so my parents can get up and watch pretty much every game,” Kraft said. “And then once I toured, I fell in love with it…it felt like home.” Kraft does have at least one quirk where he is often the first player off the ice after a pre-game warmup. “I always kind of just got off the ice first; I try to be one of the last guys on the ice when we go out, so just keep it short and sweet. Maybe a little superstition is involved.” No need to change what has obviously been working.
Chili Presbyterian awards scholarship to recent graduate The First Presbyterian Church of Chili honored a member of its Church Family, Pauline Smith, on December 10, 2023. She currently works at URMC in Pediatrics, Outpatient, as a Community Health Navigator for infants, newborn to six months. She is also working on her Lactation License. Pauline recently graduated with her Associates Degree in Business Health Administration from Eastern Gateway Community College. Her future plans are to attend SUNY Brockport, working toward a degree in Social Work and Business Health. A representative of the church said, “Pauline is a hard worker
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with a bright future ahead of her. We were happy to present her with a scholarship from her Church Family, to support her as she continues to pursue her dream.” Provided information and photo
Pauline Smith
Raffle supports Food Cupboard by First Presbyterian Church of Chili’s Food Cupboard On behalf of the First Presbyterian Church of Chili’s Food Cupboard, the committee would like to thank the community for their support in our basket raffle at the Chili Community Center’s Craft Show held on December 2. The raffle was very successful. The money raised will help provide necessary supplies for our cupboard and to maintain the ever-growing needs of our community. We are so thankful for everyone that took chances on our many baskets – and happy for all those who won a basket! It was a wonderful event and, hopefully, we will be able to participate once again next year. The First Presbyterian Church of Chili’s Food Cupboard is open at our church, 3600 Chili Avenue, the third Saturday of each month from 10 to 11:30 a.m. If you need food, we would like to help your family. Wishing everyone a Happy New Year and thank you again for your support.
The Food Cupboard Committee: Sue Atwater, Sharon Breeze, Sue Edwards, Jan Hoyt, Sue Johnson, and Jane Schulitz. Provided photo.
Town of Ogden to host Comprehensive Plan Open House event On Wednesday, January 17, the Town of Ogden will hold a Comprehensive Plan Open House event at the Ogden Town Hall, 269 Ogden Center Road, Spencerport. A comprehensive plan articulates a community’s vision and acts as a general guide to decision-making for the next decade. The Town of Ogden is updating the 2012 Comprehensive Plan with input
from the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee, residents and town officials. The Open House gives the community an opportunity to review draft materials and share their ideas and feedback. There will be no formal presentation, so residents are invited to drop in to the Ogden Town Hall meeting room anytime between 5 and 7 p.m. Provided information
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My Hometown Athletes
Churchville-Chili athletes participate in college signing ceremony Ten Churchville-Chili senior athletes committed to competing at the collegiate level during a college signing ceremony, held on Tuesday, November 28, at ChurchvilleChili High School. Students attended the ceremony with families and friends, representing their future college by displaying apparel and items from the school. The ceremony began with an introduction from Athletic Director Michael Murray. Coaches then introduced the athletes, detailing the student’s athletic accomplishments while at ChurchvilleChili and their plans for the future. Students were invited Ten Saints seniors signed to compete in college athletics. They are (l-r): back row – Cameron Gefell, Colin Duncan, to sign their National Letter of Coy Raines, Alexa Briggs, Hannalee Hotaling; front row – Patrick Hoff, Nathan Sikorski, Ryan Giglia Jr., Cael Intent in front of the crowd. Raines, and Skylar Jehlen. Provided photo. Athletes who participated in the signing event include: four-year varsity lacrosse player at the completion of the spring •Alexa Briggs – Niagara University for cross country/track. In high season. In his career so far, he has amassed 116 goals and 42 asschool, Alexa participated in cross country, indoor track, outdoor sists for 158 points along with 12 ground balls and 9 takeaways. track and softball. She attended the cross country state meet in His 116 goals and 158 points are both good for seventh in school tenth, eleventh and twelfth grade. This year, Alexa earned first history. His 50 goals in 2022 are the ninth most in a season in team all-county, first team all Section V and first team all Greater school history. He was named second team all-league attack in Rochester for cross country. 2022 and honorable mention in 2023. •Ryan Giglia Jr. – Canisius College for cross country/track. In high •Cameron Gefell – College of Saint Rose for lacrosse. Cameron school, Ryan participated in cross country, indoor track, outdoor will be a four-year varsity lacrosse player at the completion of track and baseball. He attended the cross country state meet this the spring season. He was named team captain in 2023. He has fall and had the best finish by all Section V runners in Class A. This registered 21 goals and 19 assists for 40 career points, with 38 year, Ryan earned first team all-county, first team all Section V and ground balls and 18 takeaways as a do-it-all midfielder. He was first team all Greater Rochester for cross country. named honorable mention all-league midfield in 2023. •Nathan Sikorski – St. Bonaventure for cross country/track. In •Patrick Hoff – Chowan University for lacrosse. Patrick will be a high school, Nathan participated in cross country, indoor track, four-year varsity lacrosse player at the completion of the spring outdoor track and soccer. He attended the cross country state season. He was named team captain in 2023. He has accounted for meet this fall and the NIKE NY Regional Championship. This year, three assists, 81 ground balls, and 69 takeaways. His 69 takeaways Nathan earned first team all-county, first team all Section V and are currently the second most in school history and his 33 takes first team all Greater Rochester for cross country. in 2023 are third most in a season in school history. Patrick was •Cael Raines – University at Buffalo for wrestling. Cael has comnamed second team all-league defense in 2023 and honorable peted on the varsity wrestling team since seventh grade. He was a mention in 2022. two-time NYS Tournament participant, a four-time Class AA finalist •Skylar Jehlen – Lemoyne College for volleyball. Skylar has played and a two-time Class AA Champion. He is number two on the allon the varsity volleyball team since eighth grade. She was named time win list, with 137 career wins. Cael is projected to compete MVP this year, as well as first team all-county. Skylar is the all-time at 141/149 lbs for the University at Buffalo. assist record holder for CCCSD, with 2,023 assists. She also holds •Coy Raines – University at Buffalo for wrestling. Coy has comthe all-time aces record with 277. peted on the varsity wrestling team since seventh grade. He •Hannalee Hotaling – Delaware State for soccer. Hanna joined competed in the 2023 NYS Tournament with a sixth place finish. the Churchville-Chili girls soccer program as a junior in the fall of Coy is number three on the all-time win list, with 135 career wins. 2022. She finished her junior year with two assists for the team and He is projected to compete at 184/197 lbs for the University at earned Section V All Tournament team honors as she helped the Buffalo. team reach the sectional finals. As a senior this past season, she •Colin Duncan – University at Albany for lacrosse. Colin will be a was named captain and finished with one goal and two assists.
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Provided information
YouTube cooking series for older adults surpasses one million views The New York State Office for the Aging’s (NYSOFA) monthly cooking demonstration series has reached one million views on YouTube. “What’s Cooking with NYSOFA” also streams live each month on Facebook, where it generated more than 980,000 views during its most recent 2022-2023 season. The fourth season of “What’s Cooking” is set for a January premiere. As part of its role in the statewide SNAP-Ed NY program, NYSOFA launched “What’s Cooking” in 2021 as a Zoom livestream from an iPad hosted by Registered Dietician Wendy Beckman. NYSOFA enlisted the New York Media Services Center (MSC) the following year to transform its second season into a full-fledged production with helpful graphics and close-ups of food preparation, accompanied by a statewide marketing campaign. “What’s Cooking” has a greater impact than ever, helping older adults learn more about affordable ways to add vegetables into dishes, vary protein while cooking, keep portion sizes in check, and more. “During the pandemic, the SNAP-Ed nutrition program had to quickly pivot away from in-person classes, so going virtual was a great way to reach older adults who were encouraged to stay at home,” Beckman said. “We were hopeful that the food demon-
strations would engage people who were feeling isolated to try some healthy recipes. I am amazed by what we’ve accomplished since then, building a homegrown program into a world-class production.” “Even though the show’s main goal is to help older New Yorkers prepare healthier meals and better understand nutrition, what’s great about it is that anyone can jump in and learn something new,” said MSC producer Joe Walsh. “We’re really excited to be a part of the project, but even more thrilled that so many people have taken to it.” Episodes of ”What’s Cooking” typically run around 15 minutes, making them more accessible and easier to follow than a fulllength cooking show on broadcast television. The whole series is always free to watch on YouTube and new episodes air on the last Friday of each month at 12:30 p.m. on Facebook. NYSOFA’s monthly SNAP-Ed NY nutrition programs also include a livestream called “Ask The Experts: Nutrition Edition,” hosted by NYSOFA Registered Dietitian Lisbeth Irish and guests. The program invites viewers to ask nutrition-related questions that concern older adults.
Provided information
Spencerport Rotary holding Trivia Night fundraiser The second annual Trivia Night, sponsored by the Spencerport Rotary Club, will be held on Tuesday, February 6, at Pinewood Country Club, 1189 Ogden Parma Townline Road, Spencerport. Guest trivia hosts will be: Chris Mears, Spencerport School District; Julie Carney, Rotary District Governor; Travis Gray, Ogden Police Chief; and Rebecca Tschudy, Homesteads for Hope. Those wishing to participate are encouraged to sign up early as there are a limited number of teams of four players each. The cost is $10 per player ($40 per team). Doors open at 5 p.m., and the first game will be played at 6 p.m. There will be prizes for first
and last place teams, plus 50/50 and raffles. Dinner and cash bar will be available. See the menu at pinewood. cc/pub-menu. Register team names and process payment at: http://tiny. cc/szygvz. Partial proceeds will be donated to the Rotary Polio Plus campaign to eliminate polio in the world. If you would like to donate a door prize or have questions, email colleen1031@yahoo.com or call 489-0333. Provided information
My Hometown January 2024 | 17
My Hometown Health and Wellness
Healthy resolutions that are easy to keep The dawn of a new year is a great time to take stock of the year that just passed and set goals for the next 12 months. Resolutions focused on improving personal health are especially popular, and for good reason. Improving one’s overall health can have positive implications for years to come. Even with the best intentions, resolutions have historically proven hard to keep. Simplifying health-based resolutions can lead to a higher success rate and a healthier you. • Walk more. It is easy to get preoccupied with the “10,000 steps per day” mantra that many people follow and that certain fitness trackers promote. Walking 10,000 steps daily, which equates to roughly five miles per day, is a healthy goal, but it may not be realistic for everyone. Take stock of how many steps you currently take each day, and then resolve to walk 2,000 more. As your body acclimates to walking more, add another 2,000 steps, continuing to do so until you reach 10,000 steps. • Learn something new about being healthy. Informed health decisions require gaining a greater understanding of your body. Rely on a reputable source such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to learn more about how to be healthy. • Spend less time on social media. Staring at your phone or tablet for multiple hours browsing tweets or checking messages might not be the best thing for your physical and mental health. Browsing the internet may take up time that could be better spent engaging in physical activity. According to Dr. Elia Abi-Jaoude, a staff psychiatrist at the Hospital for Sick Children and Toronto Western Hospital, various studies have shown how excessive social media usage can adversely affect relationships, sense of self, sleep, academic performance, and emotional well-being. • Eat more whole foods. Whole foods, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, whole grains, and fish, contain various nutrients the body needs to function at peak capacity. These foods may help reduce the risk of many diseases and help people maintain healthy body weights. Start slowly by introducing a new whole food to your diet each day. A gradual approach is more manageable than going on a drastic diet. • Avoid sweetened beverages. You are what you eat, but also what you drink. A report published in 2006 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, particularly carbonated soft drinks, may be a key contributor in the epidemic of overweight and obesity. Skip sweetened beverages (even fruit juices can be unhealthy if consumed in excess) and opt for more water or unsweetened teas. • Find a physical activity you like. Rather than resolving to join the gym or signing up for a 5K because it’s what everyone is doing, find a physical activity you truly enjoy and aim to do it a few times a week. Maybe it’s a sport like tennis or recreational cycling with the family. But if the idea of a gym membership excites you, then by all means sign up. Avoid restrictive health and wellness resolutions that can be unsustainable. By downsizing expectations and taking small steps en route to your goals, you may be more motivated to stay the course and realize your resolutions. Metro
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20 | My Hometown January 2024