My Hometown Magazine September 2023

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A Westside News, Inc. Publication

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

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4 OT - Occupational Technology: New Virtual Classrooms Change The Way Students Learn

6 Rochester Chapter NYCUA Awards Scholarships

7 Oh My Gourds! Art By Local Mother & Daughter On Display At Library

9 Churchville Soldier Receives Officer’s Commission

10 Crosby’s Hold Grand Reopening In Churchville

11 How Sheep Are Bringing The “Farm” To Solar Farms In Ogden

12 2023 Daniel’s Charity Race Results

13 Square Dancing: Does Anyone Do It Anymore?

14 Church of Epiphany Welcomes New Rector. Ogden Baptist Church Welcomes New Pastor

15 Greece Nine-Year-Old Writes Book

16 25th Annual Cycle The Erie Canal Bike TourOne Cyclist’s Experience

My Hometown Schools

by Colleen Onuffer

Technology continues to seep into more aspects of our dayto-day lives. That dependence only grew during the pandemic, when many aspects of life turned digital – from conference calls to online classrooms. School-based Occupational Therapy (OT) sessions also had to evolve with the changing environment. That’s when Alyssa Nagle, occupational therapist at Fairbanks Road Elementary School, developed a creative solution.

“As school-based occupational therapists, we focus on the curricular and extracurricular aspects to support a child’s role as a student,” said Nagle, explaining that OT assists students with social skills, behavior management, self-help, participation in sports, eating, reading, writing and more. “We do this by helping a student maintain a regulated sensory system, improving coordination, motor planning, strength, visual skills, executive functioning, etc.”

When COVID impacted in-school therapy sessions, Nagle created a virtual OT room to provide familiarity and comfort to her students.

“In this virtual therapy room, much like in my real classroom, there was a space to practice fine motor, handwriting, movement activities and games,” said Nagle. “I shared links to different movement videos created by yoga instructors and PE teachers across the country. I provided games that focused on visual perceptual and visual motor skills. I also included craft ideas that could be completed at home such as homemade play-doh that doubled as a hand strengthening tool.”

But Nagle didn’t do it alone. Her red golden retriever, Zinnia, joined as well!

“After meeting some students and joining in on Zooms, Zinnia joined the virtual therapy room for some fun and familiarity for the students,” said Nagle. She always dreamed of having a therapy dog and in 2020, Zinnia completed her American Kennel Club Puppy, Canine Good Citizen, and Therapy Dog training. “Dogs can relieve stress and boost moods. That was very helpful during COVID when school was virtual!”

Beyond her virtual therapy room, Nagle recommended having her OT students participate in everyday tasks around the house.

“There are so many skills that a child can work on in the home setting that don’t require any fancy equipment or supplies. For example, having a child help around the house such as bringing in groceries is a great task. It addresses strengthening, coordinacontinued on page 5

Alyssa’s therapy dog Zinnia is a favorite with the kids.

continued from page 4

tion, sensory input and more,” explained Nagle. “I also encouraged parents to spend as much time as possible outdoors to keep movement in their routine as well as take stretch/yoga/dance breaks between zooms.”

“During the pandemic, our teachers and service providers had to quickly learn ways to connect with kids,” said Todd Yunker, principal at Fairbanks Road Elementary School. “The positive thing to come out of that is that parents were educated and engaged with what their kids were doing in school – whether in the classroom or with OT. It also opened their eyes as to how they could provide support in the home. It ended up being a really positive thing.”

When students returned to school, Nagle found ways to incorporate her technology tools into in-person sessions.

“Children are very technology driven and it often motivates them. I was able to introduce students to games and activities that were not only fun, but they were functional,” said Nagle. She introduced students to visual activities that they could perform on a smart board, which helped increase arm strength by working on a vertical surface.

“Today’s technology opens up what our teachers and service providers can learn from as well as use in the classroom,” said Yunker. “Kids are really good with technology. They already have the interest and motivation, so they can pick up some things very quickly. It’s a really good reinforcement of skills.”

From a young age, Nagle dreamt of working in a school setting. With the help of her brother, a physical therapist, she discovered a career in Occupational Therapy, which combined her passion for teaching with her interest in anatomy and physiology.

“…not only did my dream come true, but I am now able to work in the same elementary building that helped me learn, grow, and have fun!” she exclaimed. Nagle is beginning her fifth

school year as a school-based Occupational Therapist. Before entering the school system, she worked with the nursing home rehabilitation population and spent three years as an Early Intervention/Preschool OT.

To become an occupational therapist, individuals need to earn an undergraduate and graduate degree, and pass the required exam to become licensed.

“I believe OT is a progressive profession and it is able to modify and adapt to the school curriculum, advances in technology, and research being completed,” said Nagle, noting that OTs are seeing more students with low strength and endurance due to handling controllers and tablets, and poor posture from positioning when using this technology. “I also believe that advocacy for the profession is very important as it brings awareness to the skills that are worked on in school-based OT and how it can make an impact on a child’s school day.”

Nagle’s main goal is to support the needs of the children to fulfill that significant role of being a student in any way that she can. She believes in a holistic approach to helping students to improve inside and outside of the classroom.

“The ability to work with passionate teachers, skillful specialists, and other dedicated staff and have them all come together to help students has been an incredible thing to be a part of,” she said.

Yunker agreed, saying, “At Fairbanks, and all of our schools in Churchville Chili, our service providers are a great resource for all of our teachers. They work together closely to brainstorm ideas to help support the kids. Alyssa in particular is a wealth of knowledge and has been a great resource to our school.”

“A student I worked with was struggling in the classroom and

continued on page 6

Alyssa’s virtual classroom includes lessons in counting, patterns and visualization.

continued from page 5 had very low confidence and motivation. Since reading was a primary focus for the student, I was able to work very closely with their teachers and reading specialists to develop activities that would address the skills they were working on but also provide an opportunity to be immediately successful,” said Nagle. The student would build sight words out of Legos, which not only helped with reading but also addressed their dexterity and motor planning goals. To work on their writing skills, Nagle created Jeopardy games on topics the student knew a lot about and had them write the answers. “Having a space for the student to be successful ultimately improved their confidence and motivation throughout the school day and they met their OT goals as well as improved as an overall student.”

For another one of her students, using technology to type was more functional and efficient than handwriting due to their physical disability.

“I created a keyboard overlay for their Chromebook that color coded the rows on their keyboard as well as included both uppercase and lowercase letters. Using the student’s favorite colors was motivating and they felt empowered by a personalized tool,” explained Nagle. “As this student was learning to type, I was able to provide them with a verbal cue for them to visually find the key easier. For example, saying ‘the E is in the purple row.’ This provided more independence for the student and made a difficult task a little more fun.”

The most rewarding part of Nagle’s job is helping students have a positive and beneficial school experience.

“Whether a student has a cognitive or physical barrier, we can help improve or adapt so that they can access all that school has to offer,” she said. “Seeing progress flow into all different classes and through the school day is a fulfilling thing to witness!”

Rochester Chapter NYCUA awards scholarships

Area credit unions have a long history of awarding college scholarships for eligible high school seniors. The Rochester Chapter of the New York Credit Union Association (NYCUA) selected eleven area high school students as recipients of 2023 scholarships from the chapter, including Sydney Heise (Hilton HS) and Giovanni Buonomo (Gates Chili High School).

Applications for scholarships were accepted from mid-November 2022 through the end of February 2023. Applicants were required to be a member in good standing of one of the participating Rochester Chapter credit unions, and be a senior in high school with plans to attend an accredited college or university for the 2023/2024 school year.

Winners were selected by an independent panel of judges based on three criteria: academic performance, community involvement and a written essay.

“We are honored to offer these scholarships to our members,” commented Laura Dewey, President of the Rochester Chapter of

the NYCUA. “Over the past 30 years we have come together as a chapter to raise over $210,000.”

Some of the participating Rochester Chapter credit unions are: Advantage Federal Credit Union, Brockport Federal Credit Union, ESL Federal Credit Union, Evergreen Federal Credit Union, Family First Federal Credit Union, Focus First Federal Credit Union, Gates Chili Federal Credit Union, Greece Federal Credit Union, Reliant Community Credit Union, St. Pius Federal Credit Union, Spencerport Federal Credit Union, The Summit Federal Credit Union, and Westside Community Federal Credit Union.

The scholarship is funded by the annual Rochester Credit Union Golf Tournament which takes place in June each year at Shadow Lake Golf Club in Penfield.

Applications for the 2024 scholarship will be accepted from midNovember 2023. Interested applicants should visit the website of their participating credit union for further information.

Provided information

Interactive lessons feature sensory and movement activities.

My Hometown Artists Oh My Gourds! Art by Local Mother & Daughter on Display at Rundel Memorial Library

As summer turns to autumn, many start thinking about carving pumpkins. But local mother and daughter duo are crafting with another fleshy fruit: gourds.

If you are like me and wondering the difference between the two – pumpkins are grown and harvested to eat; gourds are for decorative purposes only.

Monica Smith and her daughter, Gretchen Wolfs, are gourd artists, creating everything from bowls and vases, to trinkets and jewelry, to ornaments and nativity figurines.

“As a natural crafting material, gourds are a great medium for many types of projects,” Smith said.

This hobby began in 2019 with a trip to Gourdlandia in Ithaca, N.Y. Smith received a tour of the gourd gardens and gift shop from owner and gourd artist, Graham Ottoson, before learning how to make a gourd night light. Smith received free seeds to try growing her own gourds at home.

“Monica planted the seeds after the visit to Gourdlandia and has been hooked on growing and crafting gourds ever since,” said Wolfs. “When I saw the results of my mom’s first gourd crop and the versatility of gourds as an art material, I began crafting with gourds during the pandemic lockdown.”

The pair’s hobby combines their love of gardening with their love of crafts.

“As a hobbyist pyrographer (wood burning artist), I soon began incorporating wood burning onto the gourds,” said Wolfs. “Making gourd art has continued to be a favorite hobby and I have since put in my own gourd crop at my home.”

“We grow a majority of the large gourds used in our projects at home during the summer months, dry them over the winter, and clean and prepare them for use during the spring,” explained Smith. “It is a long process but worth it!”

Some of the smaller gourds used in their artwork are sourced from Etsy, gourd shows or from Gourdlandia, which grows many varieties of the plant.

“We’ve been doing gourd art together since we first started growing our gourds,” said Smith. “We have had a lot of fun learning different techniques from each other and trying out projects from the American Gourd Society magazine.” The two have been creative from early ages, and find their inspiration from gourd shows, YouTube tutorials, and Pinterest. Wolfs added, “There are a surprising number of gourd artists throughout the world to learn from!”

Now the gourd artists can inspire other crafters in the Rochester area. Their first official public display, “Mother

continued on page 8

Left-right: Monica and Gretchen with the gourd plants.

My Hometown Artists

continued from page 7

Daughter Gourds,” is up at the Rundel Memorial Library through the end of September.

“Gretchen has cotaught art classes at the Rundel Memorial Library in the past and recently taught a gourd workshop there. During the class, students learned how to make gourd mushrooms as a decoration for potted plants,” explained Smith. “The class was so well received that the Arts Department at the library asked if she would be interested in submitting an artist’s application to have her gourds on display at the library. We submitted a joint application, which was accepted.”

Smith and Wolfs hope to find other locations to display their artwork. In the meantime, some of their gourd creations, in addition to other handcrafted, personalized gifts, are for sale through Wolfs’ small Etsy shop, Burning Heart Handcrafts and shared on the Burning Heart Handcrafts Facebook page.

“I have really enjoyed using gourds as a ‘blank canvas’ for different art techniques,” explained Wolfs, who is currently a stay-at-home-mom with a background in social work. “I have always been especially interested in pyrography

(wood burning), and it’s been a lot of fun using pyrography techniques on gourds.”

In addition, Wolfs teaches do-it-yourself gourd workshops in the Rochester area.

Smith, who also resides in Chili Center, is a retired elementary school teacher. In addition to gourd art, she enjoys basket weaving, gardening, camping, pine needle basketry and being a grandma.

“It’s great to be able to spend time with each other,” she said, speaking to joy she gets from crafting with her daughter. “I also find it relaxing and satisfying knowing that I grew the art material myself.”

For more information about their artwork or gourd workshops, email BurningHeartHandcrafts@gmail.com.

Churchville Soldier receives Officer’s Commission with NY Army National Guard

The New York Army National Guard commissioned seven new officers August 13, 2023, at the Museum of American Armor in Old Bethpage, NY, following their successful completion of the New York and Connecticut National Guard Army Officer Candidate School.

Among them was Tyler Pratt, from Churchville, who received an officer’s commission as a second lieutenant in the Military Police branch and will go on to serve with the 105th Military Police Company in Buffalo. Pratt received his new rank insignia during the pinning ceremony from his wife, Leanna.

Pratt enlisted directly into the New York Army National Guard Officer Candidate Program in August 2021. He is a Police Officer with the Town of Gates Police Department. Second Lieutenant Pratt received his first salute from Spc. Michael Shipma.

Officer Candidate School is a three-phase training course that lasts approximately 15 months to prepare officer candidates for the challenges and opportunities to lead Soldiers in the New York Army National Guard.

Training began for this year’s class in the spring of 2022 held both at Camp Smith, New York and Camp Niantic, Connecticut. Skills included physical fitness training, land navigation, road marches, warrior tasks and the fundamentals of leadership.

Candidates then continued into an 11-month phase two of regular drill training to provide a foundation of Army leadership, military ethics, military justice, communication skills, military history and tactics.

The final phase encompassed a two-week training session where candidates were evaluated in their leadership skills while conducting tactics in a field environment.

The Officer Candidate School is administered by the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 106th Regional Training Institute and Camp Smith, New York, in conjunction with the Connecticut Army National Guard. Provided information and photo

Second Lieutenant Tyler Pratt received his new rank insignia from his wife, Leanna, during a pinning ceremony.

celebrated the grand reopening of its convenience East Buffalo Street in Churchville with a celebration the Friday, August 11.

Crosby’s family of convenience stores was excited to proreopening celebration at this location. Vice President and Manager of Crosby’s, Lenny Smith, stated, “Churchville is village and we’re proud to be part of it – we are so excited location for customers and serve this community in County.”

the ceremony, Crosby’s presented a $500 donation Churchville Volunteer Fire Department. In addition, they My Crosby’s Rewards card to the Churchville-Chili CenDistrict loaded with enough points for 20 of Crosby’s pizzas.

Churchville store, equipped with mobile ordering, offers of food options including Crosby’s signature freshserved whole or by-the-slice; fresh subs prepared calzones; and a wide variety of breakfast items, including breakfast pizzas. The Churchville location also serves chicken various sides.

is family-owned and operated, with 87 locations western New York and northwestern Pennsylvania. information, visit www.CrosbysStores.com, find them on Facebook at facebook.com/CrosbysStores, or follow them on Instagram at @CrosbysStores.

Provided information and photos

Crosby’s made a $500 donation to the Churchville Volunteer Fire Department during the ceremony.

My Hometown Farm

How sheep

by Mike Zale, Ogden Town Supervisor

Sheep and solar ener gy. Until recently, I never would have imagined how these two very dif ferent things could be linked. That is, until Town Clerk Noelle Burley, As sistant Building Inspector Sue Duggan and I took an impromptu workday field trip to a local solar site on Whittier Road to meet with a farmer who is revolutionizing the way we utilize land for both agriculture and industrial purposes in the town.

When we arrived at the solar field, we were greeted by Olesya Haze, owner of TIM Farms, and her flock of sheep. Within the confines of the perimeter fences, the flock happily devoured grass and other vegetation growing amid the solar panels, not the least bit concerned by the onlooking spectators.

It’s called solar grazing, also known as agrivoltaics, the practice of simultaneous use of land for solar panels and agriculture. TIM

purchased their first sheep. Since then, their flock has grown exponentially, and they have begun selling their stock and whole lamb to the local community and beyond.

With an eye for pasture, they noticed all the unutilized vegetation within solar fields as prime landscape for sheep grazing. They contacted the owners of these solar sites and proposed a collaborative approach that would bring the “farm” to the solar farm. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and their flock now provides vegetation management services at the neighboring solar site on Whittier Road.

Overgrown vegetation can shade and damage solar panels, so these sites must be regularly maintained. The standard mowing approach is both costly and tedious, and the land beneath the panels serves no real purpose.

That’s where the sheep come in. They consume the grass, weeds, tree seedlings and other vegetation, keeping the panels in peak operation. In turn, the panels provide shade on hot summer days, and shelter from the rain. The sheep also play a vital role in improving the soil, echoing the success of strip mine reclamation programs that restore degraded lands.

TIM Farms solar sheep project is among the first in our region and I’m sure it won’t be the last. It truly demonstrates the potential of combining energy with agriculture and maximizing land use for everyone’s benefit. It’s a win for the sheep, the farmers, and the owners of the solar fields.

Thank you to Olesya for allowing us to come by for a visit and for teaching us about this fascinating method. It’s a good day when you learn something new and get to feed alfalfa to a flock of sheep. We look forward to visiting again soon.

Sheep provided vegetation management at solar farms, eating the grass, weeds, tree seedlings and other vegatation. Provided photo.

My Hometown Fundraisers

Daniel’s Race top finishers

Daniel’s Race was held on Saturday, August 12, at ChurchvilleChili Middle School in remembrance of Daniel Myslivecek. The 5K race was first organized by Daniel’s friend in 2006 as an Eagle Scout project to help cover medical costs associated with his canmiddle

of a series of treatments, before losing his two-year battle with melanoma a few months later at the age of 16.

Individual prizes were given out to winners across age divisions and cash prizes were awarded to the overall winners, men and women. The top three finishers in each division were:

Male 50 to 59

First Place – Timothy Ciancione

Second Place – Paul Spaulding

Third Place – Shawn Bauer

Male 60 and Over

First Place – Kevin Sheehan

Second Place – Mark Assini

Third Place – Dave Yen

Female 12 and Under

First Place – G. Rumsey

Second Place – E. Paolucci

Third Place – T. Klim

Female 13 to 19

First Place – Michaela Goettel

Second Place – Hannah Khuns

Third Place – Mia Lyon

Female 20 to 29

First Place – Julia Hotchkiss

Second Place – Emily Stickles

Third Place – Ella Hotchkiss

Female 30 to 39

First Place – Kylie Catanzaro

Second Place – Stacy Wicks

Third Place – Jenna Gucciardo

Female 40 to 49

First Place – Jennifer Sikorski

Second Place – Kimberly Glennon

Third Place – Julie Gropp

Top Male Finishers – Open Division

First Place – Payton Gleason

Second Place – Nathan Sikorski

Third Place – Nathaniel Fisher

Top Female Finishers – Open Division

First Place – Annamaria Kostarellis

Second Place – Veronica Stauffer

Third Place – Jaylah Cossin

Male 12 and Under

First Place – L. Romesser

Second Place – R. Merriam

Third Place – F. Jamison

Male 13 to 19

First Place – Ryan Giglia

Second Place – Rahlin

Third Place – Cody Khuns

Male 20 to 29

First Place – Nathan

Second Place – Jesse

Third Place – Patrick

Male 30 to 39

First Place – Donald

Second Place – Andrew

Third Place – Michael

Male 40 to 49

First Place – Jon Jamison

Second Place – Scott

Third Place – Coach

Female 50 to 59

First Place – Lisa Bice

Second Place – Carolyn Kirkpatrick

Third Place – Marilyn Bader

Female 60 and Over

First Place – Gayle Long

Second Place – Pam Nudd-Brown

Third Place – Mitzie Lewandowski

Annamaria Kostarellis and Payton Gleason Top Finishers - Open Division

Tammie and Dean Daniel’s parents with grandson Michael.

Part of the proceeds from Daniel’s Race went to the family of Nataniel Hoffman, shown here are family and friends of the Hoffman’s.

Square Dancing: Does anyone do it anymore?

Yes, people certainly do still square dance.

The Western New York Federation of Square and Round Dance Clubs is a regional organization of 20 dance clubs in the Rochester area as well as parts of the Buffalo and Finger Lakes Region (www.squaredancingrochester.org).

Modern square dance is a great way to exercise to music. The music used nowadays ranges from traditional to Broadway hits to George Strait, Elton John, and Justin Bieber. A square is a “team” of eight dancers working together to execute a series of dance moves given by a square dance “caller” to music. Not only does one get exercise, there is also the opportunity to make new friends and social connections.

Every dance lesson is a party. There are square dance clubs, festivals, and camping groups nationwide. There are also square dance cruises and a National Square Dance Convention held every year in a different city.

Cloverleaf Squares will be hosting a free open house dance party on Sunday, September 17, from 5 to 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Chili, 3182 Chili Avenue. Singles (no partner needed) and couples are welcome. No previous dance experience of any kind is necessary. No special clothing is necessary. Come on out and join a friendly group of people for a free, fun, and enjoyable evening. For more information, visit www.cloverleafsquares.

org or call 585-987-5972.

The Copy Cats Square Dance Club will also be hosting a similiar open house on Tuesday, September 26, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Bay Trail Middle School, 1769 Scribner Road, Penfield. For more information, visit Copycatsdancing.wordpress.com.

Provided information

Church of Epiphany welcomes new rector

The Church of the Epiphany welcomed Rev. Gregory Kremer as its new full-time rector starting September 1. Father Greg received his Master’s in Divinity from Seattle University in Washington in 1997 and completed a certificate in Anglican Studies at Colgate Rochester Crozier Divinity School in December 2020. He was ordained into the priesthood in the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester in January 2021. Rev. Kremer most recently was at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Hilton

where he started as a Pastoral Leader and then transitioned to the Priest in Charge after his ordination. Prior to his ordination in the Episcopal Church, Father Greg had an extensive career in a variety of ministries, including youth and young adults, social outreach and evangelization.

Rev. Kremer is proud to be part of the Episcopal Church. He embraces the Episcopal mission of welcoming all, engaging community, and helping others in need. He is excited to partner with the parishioners of the Church of the Epiphany, Gates, and the surrounding community.

The Church of the Epiphany and Rev. Kremer invite the community to attend Sunday services with Holy Communion at either 8 or 10 a.m. The 10 a.m. service includes music and has a Sunday School for children, which runs from September through June. The 10 a.m. service is also live-streamed on Epiphany’s Facebook page.

The Church of the Epiphany is located at 3285 Buffalo Road, Gates. Contact the Church office at 585-247-4190 with any questions. Additional information about Epiphany can be found on their website at www.epiphany-gatesny.org or their Facebook and Instagram page at EpiphanyGatesNY.

Provided information and photo

Ogden Baptist Church welcomes new pastor

The Rev. Dr. Karma Denise Kagoro currently serves as the senior pastor of Ogden Baptist Church (OBC) located at 721 Washington Street, Spencerport. Above all else, Pastor Denise would like people to know she loves God, her family and the call upon her life to share God’s love with the world.

Pastor Denise holds a Doctor of Ministry, Boston School of Theology; Master of Divinity, Emory University; and Bachelor of Science, Columbus State University. With over twenty years of ministerial experience, Pastor Denise has a heart for preaching, teaching, pastoral care, small church leadership, development, global missions, and church administration. A dynamic practical preacher, Pastor Denise is known for sharing the gospel through the lens of everyday life experiences and application.

All are welcome to join Pastor Denise Kagoro and members of OBC for a special worship service “Welcome Home Sunday” on September 10, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. A community fellowship meal will follow the worship service.

Provided information and photo

Rev. Gregory Kremer

Rev. Dr. Karma Denise Kagoro

My Hometown Author Greece Nine-Year-Old writes a

by Tami Raco

Kayleigh Arcarese, a student from Paddy Hill Elementary School, took her school writing assignment beyond anyone’s expectations. At the end of third grade last spring, Kayleigh’s teacher asked the class to complete a writing assignment. Kayleigh wrote a story about a “potato” who started at a new school and really wanted to be accepted and have friends. Her idea evolved from a classroom writing assignment, to a journey that no one expected.

Kayleigh worked diligently to create hand drawn pictures about this potato’s journey in making friends at his new school. She then typed out her story to be like a book, included her drawings, printed the pages out, then stapled it and showed it to her parents. Kelly and Tom Arcarese, Kayleigh’s parents, were really “blown away” with what their daughter created, turning her writing assignment into a homemade book.

“When I came home and saw the homemade book, I said to my wife, wow this is really good,” Tom Arcarese said. Kelly and Tom were not only impressed by the heartfelt inspirational message written in the book, but also by the creativity in the artwork and their young daughter’s initiative to design it into a book. “Kayleigh has become friends with international students who have come to her school. She has friends that speak different languages and are from Ukraine and Vietnam. Based on her experiences with these friends, she tied other cultures into the book. We were impressed by Kayleigh’s commitment to complete this book. She would come home from school after a long day and spend her free time working on it,” Kelly said. This led to her parents researching how to publish Kayleigh’s writing into a book that can be used to help encourage other children who are moving, going to a new school, and facing the challenge of making new friends.

The book, “The Potato Who JUST Wanted a Friend,” is available on Amazon and will soon be available at Barnes and Noble. The book was released on August 15th, with more than 100 books

sold in the first week. Kayleigh has been invited to have a table at Greece Central School’s “Back to School Bash” where she can display her book and the inspiring message to help others adjusting to a new school. She was also featured on local television news stations including Bright Spot on WHAM, News 8, and Good Day Rochester (Fox). “I feel like a celebrity, and it’s been really cool,” Kayleigh said with a smile. Kayleigh set up a lemonade stand at her house where people who purchased the book could get them personally autographed. Brandyn, Kayleigh’s older brother, was asked how he felt about his sister’s book and the media exposure, “I like it, it has been cool,” he said.

The Arcarese family is working at making the book available in local libraries and it is already featured at Kelly’s hometown of Dunkirk in their South Dayton Library. Kelly is a Greece Central school counselor and feels it is great timing for the book to help children as they return to school.

As Kayleigh enters fourth grade this fall, she really hopes that her book will help other children make new friends and be a good friend. She also wants her writing to inspire others to “Don’t give up, and keep trying.” She is considering writing a series about the “potato.” When Kayleigh was asked if she wanted to be an author when she grows up, she chuckled and said, “No I want to be a school counselor like my mom and help teach kids how to be nice. That seems like a fun job!”

Kelly, Tom (parents), Brandyn and Kayleigh Arcarese.

Kayleigh with the board she created for the “Back to School Bash” at Paddy Hill Elementary School.

25th Annual Cycle the Erie Canal Bike Tour

by Barbara Burke

The “Cycle the Erie Canal” bike tour is an eight day, 400 mile ride along the Erie Canalway Trail from Buffalo to Albany. An annual event, this year’s tour was held July 9-16, 2023. It is fully supported and organized by Parks & Trails New York (PTNY). Activities along the ride include shopping, theatre, museums, parks, historical landmarks, locally sourced food, wine and beer, all accessible from the trail.

This year was the 25th anniversary of the Cycle the Erie Canal tour, New York’s biggest multi-day bike tour. There were 750 cyclists from 40 states, Canada and around the world who participated.

Riders spent the eight nights of the tour camping in Buffalo, Medina, Fairport, Seneca Falls, Syracuse, Rome, Canajoharie, and Schenectady, before finishing at Corning Preserve in Albany.

“It’s more than just a tour. Like a magic loom, Cycle the Erie Canal weaves people and experiences together as they move through the landscape. We’ve seen grandparents riding with their grandkids. We’ve celebrated weddings of folks who have met on the tour. Riders come back again and again, bringing more friends and family to experience the tour with them. Every year we’re not only welcoming upstate New Yorkers, we’re hosting folks from all over the United States and the world,” said Paul Steely White, Executive Director of Parks & Trails New York.

Each morning participating cyclists are given an itinerary for the day detailing points of interest, suggestions for breaks at historic sites, and recommendations for shopping and dining spots.

Cyclists experienced many welcoming community members from the towns and villages along the tour who are anxious to share the beauty and history of where they live. This year’s stops included many places where history was made, including:

•Lockport with the opportunity to take a boat ride through the “Flight of Five” locks.

•Western New York’s “-port” villages.

•Rochester with an opportunity to take an excursion along the Genesee Riverway Trail or a kayak ride in the Genesee River.

•Seneca Falls and a visit to the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.

•Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge

•The Erie Canal Museum with a concert, a blacksmith demonstration and food trucks

•Old Erie Canal State Park with stops at Chittenango Landing

Canal Boat Museum and Canastota Canal Town Museum

•Glacial potholes of Moss Island and the Arkell Museum

•A ride along the Mohawk River to Waterford where the Erie Canal ends

•Peebles Island State Park and Albany’s Corning Preserve.

For more information on registration for next year’s Cycle the Erie Canal event including costs, how to prepare, FAQs, services and volunteer opportunities, visit www.ptny.org/cycle-the-erie-canal

One Spencerport cyclist’s experience

Westside News staff photographer and Production Department manager, Karen Fien, participated in the Cycle the Erie Canal tour this year. Karen found out about the event when she had the opportunity to photograph the cyclists for a newspaper article last year when cyclists passed through Brockport. “I thought that it would be so much fun to participate, but wasn’t sure if I could do it,” she said.

Karen volunteered as a riding staff member with the tour. continued on page 17

Spencerport resident volunteered with this year’s ride. She is shown here (l-r) in Albion, Port Byron, Camillus, an ice cream stop between Rome and Canajoharie, and at the finish line in Albany. Provided photos.

My Hometown Neighbors

continued from page 16

Riding volunteers work four days and ride four days, alternating riding and working days. Work days consisted of an assortment of jobs including assisting cyclists with day to day needs, preparing signs for the camp sites, staffing information booths and, in general, providing information and answering questions for the cyclists. “I really enjoyed working with, and meeting all of the cyclists. It was a well organized event, that made sure all of the cyclists’ needs were met. Everyone had a wonderful time; I didn’t hear any complaints from the people on the tour. It was so much fun meeting all of the people from all over the country, and the world. Everyone had a story, and everyone was so nice.”

On her riding days Karen encountered all of the same experiences as the full time cyclists. She said, “I learned so much about New York State. I didn’t realize that you could bike across the state following the Erie Canalway Trail. It was so impactful to experience the visuals along the way. The boats, the peaceful water, the different bridges, the wildflowers along the trail, and all of the history and historic sites that we visited. We are so fortunate to live in New York State, and we have so many beautiful places to see and experience.”

Karen’s most memorable experience was the day the cyclists visited the Bryan M. Place Memorial Garden in Memphis, NY. The marker at the garden says, “Never To Be Forgotten.” The garden was started by Bryan’s mother in memory of her son who passed away in January of 2010 at the age of 39. Bryan was well known in the community as a financial expert, coach of youth sports, and athlete. Through the years, community members have helped with maintenance of the garden, which today is a beautiful remembrance of a young life lost. “It was such a beautiful place. The mother greeted each of the cyclists and passed out freeze pops to us. It was truly a positive memory that I will never forget.”

Karen’s favorite part of the tour was her feeling of self-accomplishment. “I wasn’t really sure that I would be able to do it. I never in my life rode 60 miles in one ride. When I got to Genesee Valley Park it came over me that I am able to do this, and that was huge for me,” she said.

To sum up her eight days biking along the Erie Canal Trail with 750 other cyclists that she never met before, Karen said, “It was the experience of a lifetime. All along the way the people in the towns and villages were so welcoming and anxious to share ev-

erything with us. I made friends from all around the country and other countries, too. Friendships that will last a lifetime, all centered around this beautiful experience of riding along the historic Erie Canal.”

More photos at westsidenewsny.com

Thank you to David Arilotta Photography for providing photos for our Daniel’s Race article in the August edition of My Hometown. We apologize for not giving you credit on some of our photos that we published.

Peggy, Wendy, Marie, Geoff, Karen, Sandi, Dave and Charley were part of the PM Information Crew. Provided photo.

My Hometown Neighbors

during a private showing at the Sweden-Clarkson Community Center.

A dream fulfilled after a 25-year journey, Fantasia Rose has a flowing gold leaf peek-a-boo mane and soulful, spirited eyes. The horse is lavishly adorned with Austrian Crystals and jewels and has a vintage, manual music box tucked away in her saddle back. The project came to life as a result of Miriam’s childhood wish to have a carousel horse.

Miriam was initially assisted on the project by her friend, Bruce Fernandez. He was a retired building inspector for the Town of Ogden, who found his true passion in his retirement years. He started Rochester Carousel Works and carved full size carousel animals and taught many people over the years how to carve their own carousel animals. Bruce helped Miriam structure the head before his passing.

Through the years, Miriam was met with several hurdles and obstacles that kept her from completing the project. The death of her Arab Quarter Horse pony, Amber Di, devastated Miriam but fueled her to complete her dream.

See Fantasia Rose at the Ogden Farmers’ Library on September 16.

A dream fulfilled

On July 15, 2023, Brockport artist Miriam Zaffrann unveiled her handcarved, full size, jumper carousel horse, “Fantasia Rose,”

An ardent supporter of rescuing horses, Miriam will be publicly auctioning Fantasia Rose in July 2024 with proceeds to be donated to horse rescues.

Fantasia Rose will make a public appearance on Saturday, September 16, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Ogden Farmers’ Library, 269 Ogden Center Road, Spencerport. All are welcome to stop by the free viewing to see her majestic beauty and detailed craftsmanship while enjoying a carousel presentation in honor of Bruce Fernandez.

Provided information and photo

Students from the Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Mini Chef Co. program recently made a donation of lasagna, chicken, stuffed shells, and cookies to residents of Eagle Star Housing’s Spencerport home, which provides transitional housing for veterans. Photo from @EagleStarNY on X.