My Hometown Magazine March 2024

A Westside News, Inc. Publication

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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 Celebrating Women’s History Month

6 Total Solar Eclipse: Monday, April 8th, 2024

7 Happy Birthday Gates Volunteer Ambulance

8 Gates-Chili Alum Works At Super Bowl LVII

9 Two CCCSD Athletes Sign To Play Collegiate Sports

10 Soup-er Bowl Food Drive Supports Local Food Pantry

11 Many St. Patrick’s Day Traditions Are Not From Ireland

12 Plan Ahead For An ‘Eggceptional’ Easter Egg Hunt

14 CCCSD Wrestling Receives Sportsmanship Award

14 Coy Raines Becomes Saints First State Wrestling Champion

16 Mean Girls Hits The Churchville-Chili CSD Stage

16 Spencerport Artist Transforms Common Things

My Hometown History Women’s History Month

by Colleen Onuffer

March marks many different events and occurrences: the college basketball tournament, St. Patrick’s Day, this year’s Easter, and Women’s History Month. Dating back to 1981, Women’s History Month (then Women’s History Week) celebrates the contributions that women have made over the course of American history. There are many women who have once called Rochester home and have left a lasting legacy still felt today.

she started considering her collection as a museum. When she died in her sleep at the age of 72, her collections and most of her finances were left to start a museum. The Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum, now known as The Strong National Museum of Play, opened to the public in 1982.

One of the Finger Lakes area’s trailblazing females is Harriet Tubman. Many people are familiar with her brave pursuits helping countless enslaved individuals escape to freedom along the Underground Railroad, but not as many people are familiar with the rest of her story. During the Civil War, Harriet Tubman became the first female to lead a major U.S. military operation when she and 150 other soldiers rescued more than 700 enslaved people in the Combahee Ferry Raid. Afterwards, she settled in Auburn, NY in the Finger Lakes region, where she spent the last 50+ years of her life. Not only an abolitionist, Harriet Tubman was also a humanitarian. Her efforts ranged from taking care of kids she brought home from the city’s children’s asylum to raising funds to start the Tubman Home for the Aged, which was among the earliest assisted living facilities for African Americans in the country.

Antoinette Brown Blackwell, born in Henrietta in 1825, was the first woman to be ordained as a minister in the United States. Blackwell completed her early education by the age of 16 and went on to receive her literary degree from Oberlin College. Afterwards, she convinced college administration to allow her to study theology, a program that wasn’t open to women at the time. She would go on to be ordained as a Protestant minister, as well as address issues such as abolition, temperance, and women’s rights.

Florence Brasser was another female who respected education. She was born in Greece in 1901 before moving to Chili, where she attended grade school. Following graduation from Roberts Wesleyan College, she began teaching in the Gates Chili elementary school, when it was a one-room schoolhouse. Over the course of her 38 years teaching in the district, she left an impact on students across first, third, fourth and fifth grades. When she retired in 1955, the school was renamed Florence Brasser Elementary School. A portrait of Brasser was painted by a member of the Student Council and remains hanging in the school hallway to this day.

Tubman was also actively involved in the suffragist movement, giving speeches in major cities around the country alongside women’s rights activist Susan B. Anthony. Her home on Madison Street in downtown Rochester served as the headquarters of the National American Woman Suffrage Association while she served as president. Now turned into a museum, the home’s front parlor was the scene of her famous arrest after voting in the 1872 election. Her tireless efforts – traveling the country, giving speeches, and gathering signatures on petitions – helped contribute to the 19th amendment that granted women the right to vote. Anthony was laid to rest in Mount Hope Cemetery, where her grave marker is adorned with “I Voted” stickers during elections.

Another notable woman buried in Mount Hope Cemetery is Margaret Woodbury Strong. Throughout her life, Strong built up a large collection of items – many relating to play. As her outstanding acquisitions of toys and more than 27,000 dolls grew,

Rochester City School #3 on Adams Street is one of Rochester’s oldest schools. It’s named after Dr. Alice Holloway Young, who moved to Rochester in 1952. That year, she was one of the first African American classroom teachers in the Rochester City School District. She became the only African American reading specialist in the district and the first African American Vice Principal and Principal of elementary schools. Other accomplishments include being a founding trustee of Monroe Community College and creating the Urban-Suburban Program so children could attend schools in other districts.

At the age of 38, Nellie L. McElroy was appointed to the Rochester Police Department, becoming the first policewoman in New York State and the ninth in the country. Her casework dealt with the offenses of women, and she became a mentor to the many at-risk women she encountered. McElroy believed crime could be prevented with patience and understanding, and in 1913, she created a voluntary probation option that monitored and mentored women who had committed a crime only to survive.

Also part of the Rochester Police Department, Kathryn Green Hawkins became the first African American woman appointed to the force in 1956. Less than ten years later, she rose to the level of Lieutenant and became the Department’s first African American supervisor. Hawkins served Rochester as a police offer for 25 years until her death in 1980.

All of these women – and many more – have left a mark on our corner of the world. This month, celebrate their contributions, honor their impacts, and consider how you will leave behind a legacy on our community.

Harriet Tubman

Susan B. Anthony

Florence Brasser

My Hometown Event

Total Solar Eclipse: Monday, April 8, 2024

Churchville-Chili Central School District, along with most of the other districts in the greater Rochester area, will be closed on Monday, April 8, for the total solar eclipse. This total solar eclipse is the last opportunity for large segments of our country to experience a total solar eclipse until 2045. Rochester sits in the center of the path of totality for the April 8 eclipse. The last time Rochester experienced a total solar eclipse was on January 24, 1925.

According to the Rochester Museum and Science Center, the eclipse will begin at 2:07 p.m. and end at 4:33 p.m., with totality beginning at 3:20 p.m. and lasting for 3 minutes and 38 seconds. During totality, the sky becomes as dark as deep twilight, bright stars and planets appear, and the Sun’s outer atmosphere, called the corona, shines around the black disk of the Moon’s silhouette. Changes in temperature, winds, and animal behavior occur during the time around totality.

To prevent eye damage, do not look directly at the Sun during the partial phases of an eclipse. Don’t look into a mirror at a reflected image of the Sun. Instead, look through a filter or “glasses” made specifically for solar viewing, or project the Sun’s image onto some surface. Eclipse Glasses can be found throughout the Greater Rochester Region including the Rochester Museum and Science Center and in limited supplies at various Monroe County Library System member libraries. Check availability at your local library.

The Churchville-Chili Central School District campus will be closed to everyone who is not an employee on Monday, April 8.

There will be many opportunities in Churchville, Chili and the surrounding area for those who would like to view the eclipse.

The Town of Chili is hosting an eclipse event at the Community Center from 1 to 3 p.m. on April 8. The community is invited to learn how to safely view the eclipse while enjoying building-wide stations of fun. You can even earn a pair of solar eclipse glasses by completing activities. More information about the event can be found on the Chili Recreation website, http://tinyurl.com/jrbv5bds.

The Town of Riga and Village of Churchville are working with the Newman Riga Library, American Legion, and the Greater Churchville-Riga Chamber of Commerce to also provide an opportunity for those in our community to experience the eclipse. A viewing party will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Town of Riga/American Legion campus on April 8. There will be outdoor and indoor viewing locations, food and beverage, and activities for those attending. Due to anticipated traffic congestion that day, those who are within walking distance are encouraged to walk to the event.

The Rochester Museum and Science Center will also host the Roc the Eclipse Festival that weekend, with activities Saturday, Sunday and Monday. There will be speakers, activities and opportunities to learn more about the eclipse before watching the event on Monday.

Learn more about the total solar eclipse on the Rochester Museum and Science Center website: https://rochestereclipse2024. org/.

Provided information

Happy Birthday, GVAS!!

The Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service (GVAS) turned 60 years old on Friday, February 23, 2024. A lot has happened in the last 60 years since ambulance service was started in the Town of Gates.

service for its residents.” The Gates-Chili News reported that the physicians hailed the proposal as a step in the direction of better health and safety for town residents.

The need for an ambulance service in the Gates heightened in the late 1950s and early 1960s during the town’s transition from a rural, agriculture area into a suburban community. Preceding the founding of the Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service (GVAS) on February 23, 1964, ambulance transportation in Gates was provided by hospitals (the St. Mary’s Hospital Ambulance, for example) or from commercial ambulance firms. The response times and the expense were the often-voiced reasons for establishing an ambulance service for the town.

The first public word of the proposed town ambulance service came September 12, 1963 when a group of Gates physicians endorsed the proposal of Dr. J. Walter Knapp. Dr. Edwin J. Boerschlein, Dr. Jack L. Connelly, Dr. James W. Carlin, and Dr. John E. Montione agreed “that the Town of Gates represents an area of population concentration which was in need of an ambulance

Gates Volunteer Ambulance Service (GVAS) was officially founded in 1964 to serve the emergency needs of the residents of the Town of Gates. In March of 2014, GVAS and Spencerport Ambulance merged to become one larger agency. To date, GVAS has grown to over 100 volunteer and career members with a fleet of 12 vehicles and 1 UTV housed out of 3 stations. GVAS now covers a district of over 52 square miles with its headquarters located at 1001 Elmgrove Road.

GVAS responded to over 9,900 calls for service in 2023, with most of the responses requiring Advanced Life Support. In addition to the calls for service, GVAS also hosts weekly blood pressure checks, monthly CPR, AED, and Stop the Bleed training, and other advanced classes for healthcare providers.

Provided information and photo

Gates Greece Lions Club Medical Loan Closet

The Gates Greece Lions Club serves the community through its Medical Equipment Loan Closet, located at 1299 Long Pond Road behind the Annex building of the Greece Ridge Fire Department. It is a grey shed featuring the Lions emblem.

The Medical Equipment Loan Closet receives in excess of 1,000 calls per year from people needing short-term medical equipment loans, which are offered at no charge. Walkers (four-wheeled and

two-wheeled), crutches, canes, commodes, shower chairs, transfer benches, transport wheelchairs, and regular wheelchairs are currently available for loan.

Equipment donations are accepted if the equipment is in good working condition and has been cleaned.

Call 585-746-1179 or email lionsgr0@gmail.com for more information.

Provided information

Gates Historical Society program

The Gates Historical Society meets Monday, March 18, at 7 p.m. in the Gates Town Hall Annex. Karen Russell, Historic Site Assistant, will present “Mr. Letchworth’s Vision: The history of Letchworth State Park.” All are welcome to hear this fascinating

tale of the land, a man, and his park. This program is free and handicapped accessible.

Provided information

My Hometown Neighbors

Gates Chili alum works at Super Bowl LVIII

It’s 4 a.m. and two Slippery Rock University (SRU) students are awake in Las Vegas, fixing their eyes on something that, to them, seems like a dream. Italia Romano, a Gates Chili graduate, and Artie Prioletti, from New Castle, Pennsylvania, got permission to see something that hours later would become the most watched event in U.S. television history: the playing surface at Super Bowl LVIII.

More than 123 million people watched the game and there were 15 SRU students and three professors who had the opportunity to work on site at Super Bowl LVIII during the week leading up to the game.

Romano and Prioletti, both junior sport management majors, said the pre-dawn glimpse of the field inside Allegiant Stadium gave them butterflies in their stomachs and tears in the eyes.

“It feels surreal that we were there,” Romano said. “I never in a million years would have thought that I would get this opportunity.”

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Prioletti said. “It was great just to be a part of the Super Bowl, because I know a lot of people can’t say that. It was a blessing to be there and such a rewarding experience.”

SRU’s sport management program was selected by the NFL to provide students experience working at the league’s marquee event. SRU was one of a few schools in the country invited by the NFL to staff the event with college students.

“This opportunity solidifies our position as one of the elite undergraduate sport management programs in the country,” said Brian Crow, professor of sport management and department chair. “I couldn’t be more proud of the way the students conducted themselves professionally and they really represented SRU well.”

The SRU students helped staff the NFL Fan Experience on February 9, assisted with the Bart Starr Awards Breakfast on February 10, and provided hospitality at Allegiant Stadium for event staff in the morning and afternoon on game day, February 11. By kickoff, they were back at their hotel watching the game after a full day’s work.

An estimated 600 college students from across the country volunteered at Super Bowl LVIII activities through a variety of companies and organizations. SRU was limited to 12 spots for students, so sport management majors were selected by department faculty to attend

based on an application process. additional students were selected Allied Universal to assist in event rity and operations based on their ceptional game day service at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh last fall.

“I’m very proud to be a part of partment that has such a strong estab lishment in the industry,” Romano “SRU has so many connections and a strong network of alumni that us to have these opportunities.”

SRU students met with alumni who were working at the Super Bowl in various capacities, including Jon Radke, ‘02, director of facilities operations for the Washington Commanders, and Randy Boczkowski, ‘07, branch manager at Contemporary Services Corporation, a security firm.

Additionally, because the group flew home by way of Los Angeles, they visited Connor Dodd, ‘15, who works in sales for the Los Angeles Rams and offered a tour of SoFi Stadium, site of the Super Bowl two years ago, and Olivia Beach, ‘20, an athletic compliance coordinator at the University of Southern California, who showed them USC’s facilities.

The SRU students also attended a professional development networking event for college students hosted by the NFL at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

“It was great networking with other students and the people that we worked with for the NFL who were our managers,” Romano said. “They were amazing and we want to keep in touch with them.”

The SRU professors were even taken aback by the experience. In addition to Crow, Robertha Abney, associate professor of sport management, and Robert Zullo, instructor of sport management, were a part of the group from SRU. Abney has worked more than seven other Super Bowls during her career.

“I’ve never seen an event of this magnitude,” Crow said. “It was good to see even the small details and how important they were, not just on game day, but the entire week.”

Romano and Prioletti said they appreciated engaging with children during the NFL Fan Experience, throwing footballs and running through drills as part of the league’s Play 60 initiative. They also benefited from being part of working an event of such a large scale, and how they can apply lessons to much smaller events in the future.

“The one thing I keep learning is there are more jobs out there and there’s so much you can do,” Romano said. “It was eye-opening just how much goes into an event like this and seeing the behindthe-scenes of the event management is definitely something we can apply in our careers.”

“I want to work in the sport industry and there are going to be long days and long nights,” Prioletti said. “This type of work is what I want to do and I really enjoyed the whole experience.”

Provided information and photos

Italia Romano (second from left) was among the Slippery Rock University faculty and students who worked at the Super Bowl in Las Vegas.

Italia Romano

Two CCCSD athletes sign to play collegiate

Two Churchville-Chili senior athletes committed to competing at the collegiate level during a college signing ceremony, held on Tuesday, February 6, at Churchville-Chili High School. Students attended the ceremony with family 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 Churchville-Chili and their plans for the future. Students were invited to sign their National Letter of Intent in front of the crowd.

Athletes who participated in the signing event include:

•Olivia Hogan – St. John Fisher for soccer

Olivia is a three year varsity soccer player who has also participated on the unified basketball and unified bowling teams. As a sophomore, Olivia earned the Most Promising Saint Award. During her junior year, she was named to the Section V All Tournament Team while helping lead the team to a ranking of 20th in New York State and reaching the sectional finals. As a senior, Olivia was named the team’s Most Valuable Player, earned First Team All-County honors and was chosen to participate in the Exceptional Senior Game. She also served as captain of the team during her junior and se-

nior years. She ended her soccer career at Churchville-Chili with a total of three goals and three assists.

•Andrew Berardicurti –

Houghton University for soccer

Andrew is a three year varsity athlete with 13 goals and 8 assists.

Andrew Berardicurti and Olivia Hogan.

He was selected for First Team All-County and Second Team All Greater Rochester as a senior this year, as well as Second Team All-County during his junior year. Andrew helped lead the Saints to win two Monroe County Division 2 titles in 2021 and 2022, and also led the Saints to the sectional finals in both his sophomore and senior years. During his senior season, he helped lead the Saints to win the Section V Class AA title. This was the Saints first Section V boys soccer title since 1990.

Provided information and photo

Soup-er Bowl Food Drive supports local food pantry

Churchville-Chili’s Fairbanks Road School helped members of

Students brought in food donations throughout the week before the big game, using their donation to show their support for one of the teams playing in the Super Bowl. While dropping off their donation, students selected one of two boxes – representing the -

At the end of the week, donations were tallied from each box. At Fairbanks Road School, the 49ers came out on top with 463 items versus 201 for the Kansas City Chiefs. A total of 664 items were donated for the Churchville Lions Club Food Pantry.

Provided information and photos

Support group for widows meeting in Spencerport

Naomi’s Circle is dedicated to providing a safe place for widows and widowers to express themselves, freely, about how widowhood has impacted their lives. The group will meet at noon on the second Thursday of the month through May (March 14, April 11, and May 9) at the First Congregational Church, 65 Church Street, Spencerport. Naomi’s Circle will meet in the Fellowship Hall for a

light luncheon and a conversation on widowhood. Attendees are asked to bring a small dish to share.

The group is open to anyone that is a widow. Members can attend as a support person in the group if needed. Those with questions may contact the church office at 585-352-3448 or admin@spencerportucc.org

Provided information

My Hometown Holidays

Many St. Patrick’s Day traditions are not from Ireland

St. Patrick’s Day is made special by various traditions. Everything from dyeing major cities’ rivers green to parades to enjoying green foods has become part of the pageantry of St. Patrick’s Day.

The next time you raise a green beer to your lips, you may wonder which traditions are authentically Irish and which ones were created by regions with an abundance of Irish emigrants. Surprisingly, many seemingly Irish traditions likely began elsewhere.

First parade

It would be accurate to assume that various elements associated with St. Patrick’s Day began where St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, once resided, including the first St. Patrick’s Day parade. However, some of the first parades held in St. Patrick’s honor took place in two North American cities, New York and Boston, that had high numbers of Irish immigrants. But historians say the first ever St. Patrick’s Day parade was actually held in St. Augustine, Florida in 1601, a year after gunfire blasts were used to honor the saint. The parade may have been at the request of an Irish priest living there at the time.

Corned beef and cabbage

What would St. Patrick’s Day be without an authentic meal of corned beef and cabbage? This dish is not so authentic after all, and actually is an American innovation. Ham and cabbage was

widely eaten in Ireland, but corned beef was a cheaper alternative found in America by immigrants. Therefore, corned beef became a staple of poor Irish immigrants living in lower Manhattan. The salted meat was boiled three times to remove some of the brine and make it palatable.

Green beer

Green beer is not an Irish custom, but an American one. The most common beer consumed in Ireland is Guinness, which is dark brown to black in color, making green dye useless in Irish pubs since it would be largely invisible in the stout.

Golf tournaments

One would not associate golf with St. Patrick’s Day unless they reside in Nome, Alaska. Golf is a popular Irish pastime, and each year the Bering Sea Ice Classic Golf Tournament takes place right around St. Patrick’s Day. Bright green golf balls are used, and breaks are factored in between holes to warm up at local bars.

Wearing green

According to The Christian Science Monitor, individuals in the United States started wearing green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the early 1700s. They believed it “made one invisible to leprechauns.” The official color for the holiday used to be a sky blue known as “St. Patrick’s Day Blue,” established during the reign of King George III.

In addition to these traditions, specialty items, such as coffees and shakes, also are very popular. However, most of these do not have origins on the Emerald Isle, either. Yet, no matter where traditions began, there’s no denying St. Patrick’s Day has long inspired celebration. Metro

Irish soda bread makes the perfect St. Patrick’s Day appetizer

Irish cuisine may not be as widely recognizable or familiar across North America as Chinese, Italian or Mexican fare. But that doesn’t mean Irish food lacks fans and flavor. As the world prepares to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on or around March 17, individuals who want to include some popular Irish fare in their festivities won’t want to exclude this recipe for “Irish Soda Bread” from AllRecipes.com.

Irish Soda Bread

Yields 20 servings

4 cups all-purpose flour

1⁄2 cup margarine, softened

4 tablespoons white sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 tablespoon baking powder

1⁄2 teaspoon salt

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1⁄4 cup butter, melted

1⁄4 cup buttermilk

Preheat the oven to 375° F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet. Mix flour, softened margarine, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round and place on the prepared baking sheet. Combine melted butter with 1⁄4 cup buttermilk in a small bowl; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an ‘X’ into the top of the loaf. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, 45 to 50 minutes. Check for doneness after 30 minutes. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.

Metro

My Hometown Holidays Plan ahead for an ‘eggceptional’ Easter egg hunt

Easter is steeped in both religious and secular traditions. Each year on Easter Sunday, many families feast on ham or lamb. Hot cross buns may be served as morning treats. And faithful Christians may dress up in their Sunday best to attend religious services.

Easter egg hunts are another time-honored component of this festive occasion. According to History.com, the Easter bunny and his eggs may initially have been derived from stories about an egglaying hare introduced to Americans by German settlers during the 1700s. Children would make nests and the hare would leave behind colored eggs.

Children often relish in the idea of scouring their homes and yards in search of brightly-hued plastic or hard-boiled eggs. A little planning on the part of Easter egg hunt organizers can make this festive tradition even more fun.

•Set the date. If Easter egg hunts are more than just family affairs and involve neighborhood searches or hunts with a close knit group of friends, it may be smart to schedule in the days before Easter. This helps ensure that a good crowd will be available.

Hunts on Easter itself may not get as many participants because celebrants could be at church or celebrating privately.

•Gather supplies early. Easter decorations and plastic eggs sell out rather quickly, so it’s wise to stock up on items as soon as they reach store shelves. If you’ll be using real eggs, consider boiling and coloring the eggs a week before the egg hunt so you won’t feel a time crunch. Simply store the dyed eggs in the refrigerator until ready for use. Color around six to 12 eggs per participant. •Designate a search area. Aim for a relatively private spot for the egg hunt. A park may seem like a good idea, but people who were not included in the egg count could wander in. If you use a public space, rope off an area where the eggs will be hidden. In addition, have a backup plan if the weather will not cooperate. School gymnasiums, libraries or church recreational centers are some potential indoor options.

•Have pails at the ready. Some children will forget to bring a basket. Therefore, have extra, inexpensive pails or buckets on hand. Sturdy gift bags also work in a pinch.

•Keep ages in mind when hiding eggs. Avoid choosing hiding spots that can be dangerous or prove too difficult for kids to find the eggs. Prior to hiding eggs, count how many you have, which will help to ensure all eggs were actually collected later on. Next, identify hiding spots that will work for various ages. For example, toddlers will need conspicuous spots and older children more challenging nooks and crannies. A map of where every egg is hidden can help as well. Real eggs may not matter outdoors since wildlife could simply dine on any undiscovered eggs. However, plastic eggs are not good for the environment and every attempt should be made to collect them all.

•Send children out in stages. Let the youngest kids go first, and then group each search team by ascending age. This helps make sure the older kids won’t simply snatch up the more easily found eggs.

•Reward with prizes. Be sure each child has some sort of takeaway prize. However, it’s fine to reward the best egg hunter with a more substantial prize.

•Gather and celebrate. Encourage guests to bring a small dish to contribute. After the hunt, everyone can gather to enjoy some refreshments. Metro

Batavia Train Show scheduled for April 14

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers will be holding the Spring 2024 edition of the Great Batavia Train Show on Sunday, April 14, at the Richard C. Call Arena on the campus of Genesee Community College in Batavia. Show hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Admission is $6 adults, $3 under age 18, and free for children under 13. Parking is free, and a snack bar will be available.

For 50 years, the Great Batavia Train Show has been one of the premier hobby events in Western New York. All forms of model railroad and train-related merchandise will be available. Over

100 vendors will be offering all scales of model trains and historic railroad items. Modeling demonstrations, and a limited number of portable layouts, will be part of the fun.

The Genesee Society of Model Engineers was founded in Batavia and has promoted the hobby of model railroading in the Western New York area for over 50 years. This not-for-profit organization is headquartered at 50 Main Street in Oakfield. In their facility above M&T Bank, club members maintain four operating model train displays. Visitors are welcome on Tuesday evenings, and an open house is offered free to the public each December.

For information, visit

https://www.gsme.org or email bataviatrainshow@ gsme.org.

Provided information

• Get paid while training

• Flexible schedule and hours

• Health and dental insurance

• Paid time off

• Summers off

February 10.

CCCSD wrestling receives sportsmanship award

The Churchville-Chili wrestling program is being recognized for demonstrating good sportsmanship. The program has been selected by the Wrestling Officials Association of Section V to receive the Earl Fuller/Frank Marotta Sportsmanship Award for 2023-2024 for Section V Division 1 schools. This award is given for demonstrating good sportsmanship at all levels including Varsity, JV and Modified, as well as the coaches and fans.

The award is named after two men who spent decades with Section V wrestling. Earl Fuller, former wrestling coach at RIT, was one of the founders of the Section V Wrestling Officials Association in the late 1950s. He conducted wrestling clinics throughout the area that were instrumental in the development of high school

wrestling in Section V. Frank Marotta, who coached at the former Madison High, continues to serve as the Executive Secretary of the Section V Wrestling Officials Association and works with the State Wrestling Committee.

“The Saints program takes pride in our conduct on and off the mat,” said Churchville-Chili wrestling coach Justin Raines. “For this to be seen and recognized, will just thrill all of those on the team.”

The program was presented with a plaque prior to the finals of the New York State Qualifier at SUNY Brockport on February 10. Provided information and photo

Coy Raines becomes Saints first State Wrestling Champion

Three Saints wrestlers, led by Coach Justin Raines, competed in the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championship Tournament held February 23 and 24 at the MVP Arena in Albany.

Gael Sanchez, Cael Raines, and Coy Raines all competed and represented Churchville-Chili and Section V in the tournament. New York has 30,000 wrestlers statewide and only 540 earn the opportunity to compete at State Championship.

Gael (285 lbs.) finished in eighth place and Cael (138 lbs.) in the top 12 in their respective weight classes.

Senior Coy Raines became the first State Champion in the ChurchvilleChili wrestling program’s history. He defeated Section I’s Alexander Berisha in a 3-1 decision in the final round to secure the 215 lb. championship.

Carr won the 55 meter hurdles in 1995, both for indoor track.

Additionally, Coy was selected to receive Section V’s Sportsmanship Award and led his Section V wrestler teammates to the awards ceremony, closing the tournament. Provided information, photos from @CCCSDWrestling on X.

Coy is just the third student-athlete in Saints history to win a state championship in any sport. Nikki Prad won the state title in long jump in 1994 and John Coy Raines Coy Raines atop the podium at the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championship.

The Churchville-Chili wrestling team was presented with the Earl Fuller/Frank Marotta Sportsmanship Award for 2023-2024 for Section V Division 1 schools on

irish Gold

Single 900 Double 1300

A popular seasonal option: Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Peach Schnapps, orange juice and ginger ale

Gold Rush

1000

Old Forester Bourbon, homemade honey syrup and lemon juice in an old-fashioned style glass

Seasonal Sangria

800

Strawberry Margarita

Single 700 Double 1000

Our signature margarita with a sweet strawberry syrup and a sugar rim

Fuzzy leprechaun

700

Vodka, Peach Schnapps & Blue Curacao, mixed with orange and pineapple juices

N/a Yellow Jacket

400

Lemon Juice, pineapple juice and orange juice. Topped with Sprite.

Mean Girls

Churchville-Chili Senior High School will perform the musical, Mean Girls High School Version, this spring. Performances are at 7 p.m. on March 14, 15 and 16, and at 2 p.m. on March 17 at the Churchville-Chili Performing Arts Center.

With more than 70 students participating in the cast, crew and orchestra pit and the spectacular scenery, choreography, costumes and professional-quality light and sound production, ChurchvilleChili will be the first high school in our area to perform the show on stage.

The musical, based on the Pictures film Mean Girls, addresses in and accepting yourself in high Cady Africa to Illinois, she learns about the popularity pecking order and what it takes to land on top. How far will she go to unseat the Queen Bee, and at what cost?

This winter, the high school has used the upcoming production to tie in to an anti-bullying campaign titled Positively PINK! for students in grades nine through 12. Each week leading up to opening night, students have been discussing the major themes found in Mean Girls from “don’t judge a book by its cover!” to “apologize when you know you’re wrong!” to “mean is a choice!”

with others. Each after school session concluded with an action item, whether it was to sign a pledge to Choose to Be Kind to completing random acts of kindness throughout the school day. This campaign has also helped reinforce this year’s theme of “We All Belong” in Churchville-Chili Central Schools.

Tickets are available at www.cccsd.org/FineArts. Presale tickets are available online for $13. Tickets are also available at the Box Office on the day of the show for $15. The CCPAC is located at 5786 Buffalo Road, Churchville.

Provided information and photo

Spencerport artist transforms common things

Artwork created by Spencerport resident Teresa Schreiber Werth will be on display through March 29 in an exhibit titled “Common Things Transformed” at 1570 Gallery at Valley Manor in Rochester. Known to many from her writing, including articles printed in Westside News, Werth has now embarked on a whole new creative phase, creating artwork, large and small, from all things natural.

Werth said, “When the ‘pandemic dust’ settled, I realized a new and unexpected connection with nature. I began making original artwork composed almost exclusively of natural elements such as: catalpa, peony, mesquite and lotus pods, fern fronds, pine cones, tree bark, burnt wood, drift wood, seashells, acorns and feathers.”

In addition to these natural materials, Werth uses paint, fabric, vintage jewelry, second-hand frames and unusual objects to provide context.

“When people look at my artwork, I hope that they begin to

see these natural elements differently, these dried remnants of once-green and living things that live on as expressions of beauty, even as they have, in a sense, ‘died.’ My objective is to transform these disparate pieces into assemblages that are fresh, unique and expressive,” Werth said.

1570 Gallery at Valley Manor is located at 1570 East Avenue, Rochester. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. When visiting the 1570 Gallery, sign in at the front desk of Valley Manor and be prepared to wear a mask while in the facility. Werth also asks attendees to sign the guest book in the gallery to let her know who stopped in to see her work.

For more information, visit teresawerth.com.

Provided information and photos.

Teresa Schreiber Werth

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