HOPE585’s reimagine initiative co-designs a community-driven response that moves youth and their families from systemic trauma to a place of power and belonging.

For the past two-plus decades, the Leo Club has participated in this annual charity basketball game that brings students, family, friends, and the community together in support of a different cause each year.

The Churchville-Chili LEO Club is comprised of students in grades 7–12 in the Churchville-Chili School District. The group is proudly sponsored by the Churchville Lions Club and is engaged in a wide variety of community service activities. For information, contact LEO Club Advisor Janelle Hernandez at JHernandez@cccsd.org.

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The School Snack Cupboard began in September at the suggestion of 1^st Grade Teacher Nicole Gayton. Using funds donated by the community through the School Supply Drive, sponsored by the Bergen Business and Civil Association and the Byron-Bergen S.T.E.P. Boosters, Principal Kristin Loftus cleared cabinet space in the Main Office kitchen and filled it with snacks for students. When those snacks began to run out, Elementary School Social Worker Courtney Bapst arranged donations from local organizations, including the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern and the United Way. Currently, over 200 snacks are distributed each month through the School Snack Cupboard.

“It has been truly incredible to see the impact of this initiative on our students,” said Loftus. “Whether a child needs a snack because they’re hungry or because it supports a sensory need, having free and easy access removes barriers and allows them to focus on learning. It also reassures our teachers that they have the support needed to help meet the whole child — including their most basic needs.”

Kindergarten Teacher Ayn Gardner and Instructional Coach and Student Council Advisor Debbie Slocum met with the Student Council to discuss this year’s beneficiary for the annual school community service project. After reviewing the local organizations that have already benefited from the annual project, the Student Council held a discussion, took a vote, and decided to collect food to support the needs of their school’s student body.

“We have never done a community service project to support the District before,” said Gardner. “The students are using it every day. This year, it seemed to be a perfect fit!”

Student Council members helped track donations by coloring in thermometers for each item. Every grade level met the goal of 100 donated snack items. 

“I am deeply grateful to our school community for stepping up in such a generous way,” said Loftus. “The outpouring of snack donations reflects the care and commitment that make our school so special. We are beyond thankful.”

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A Brockport native, Wilson continues to earn rave reviews internationally for his vocally driven songwriting and passionate live performances. His career took him to Los Angeles for an MTV show called The Cut. He became one of only 10 artists to advance to the finals from a field of 160 competitors and over 10,000 hopefuls from around the world. Chris went on to win MTV’s “Viewer’s Choice Award” for his performance in the finals. He has received honors across the globe, including winning “Best Male Vocalist” and “Best Overall Performance” at the World Championships of the Performing Arts in Los Angeles, California. 

“His powerful vocals set him apart from anyone in his genre today. His songwriting serves his voice perfectly, with a blend of power and simplicity. Chris’s music is, simply put, honest and emotional, and St Luke’s is the perfect venue for hearing him,” said Serenades Chair Jacquie Davis.

Ample parking is available on the street and in the lot immediately behind St. Luke’s. The church, on the corner of Main and State Streets, has a ramp and stairs leading to the bright red door at the front entrance.

As with all Winter Serenades, a simple reception follows, with an opportunity to meet the artists and visit with friends. The free series is made possible with generous donations from many local music lovers and the volunteer committee members who believe that live music in a welcoming setting is important for everyone. The series was initially titled Cabin Fever for good reason: after many days of snow, ice, and sunless skies, it’s exciting to be able to get out again for live music.

Appropriate for all ages, Serenades are also available for home viewing during the performance and later. See www.stlukesbrockport.org for the streaming link or go directly to YouTube later.  

For more information, contact the Village of Brockport at 585-637-5300 or visit www.brockportny.gov. Sign up on the “Get Notifications” tab for up-to-date announcements, especially important if bad weather necessitates the cancellation of any performance.

The Winter Serenades series will conclude with a lively St. Patrick’s Day (a few days late) celebration with traditional Irish music at 3 p.m. on March 22.

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During a press conference on February 25, Senate Republican Leader Robert Ortt, along with members of the Senate Housing Committee and the Senate Republican Conference, unveiled a comprehensive package of housing legislation designed to help New Yorkers build homes that are affordable in an effort to keep homeowners here in the Empire State.

The package includes affordability incentives for first-time homeowners and lowers the construction costs by removing regulatory burdens, such as streamlining the environmental review process to build homes. The package aims to increase housing supply by establishing a task force composed of local government officials, state agencies, and other stakeholders to develop best practices for local governments to incentivize housing development. In addition, the package includes legislation that ensures rent-controlled and stabilized housing goes to those who need it most.

“To keep New Yorkers living here, we need to ensure that housing is attainable and reasonably priced. The lack of housing affordability remains one of the most difficult economic hurdles facing our state, and a major driver of the affordability crisis that has so many New Yorkers leaving year after year. This is a direct result of policies by our Democratic colleagues. In contrast, our legislative package is about cutting costs, building more, and keeping New Yorkers here,” said Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt.

“For some, it may be uncomfortable to talk about politics. But the reality is that Albany Democrats’ high taxes, costly energy mandates, and excessive regulations are making homeownership harder to achieve. New York families are working hard and trying to put down roots, yet rising construction costs and skyrocketing utility bills are pushing the dream of owning a home further out of reach. These policies are also making it more difficult for retirees to stay in their homes. My housing and energy affordability package offers real, practical solutions. It reduces costly energy mandates that drive up utility bills, lowers construction costs, increases housing supply, and delivers meaningful property tax relief. If the Governor and the Legislature are serious about affordability, they should set aside their politics and pass these bills. Let’s work together to lower costs, expand opportunity, and make it possible for families, seniors, and workers to build a future and stay in New York,” said Senator Pam Helming, Member of the Senate Housing, Construction & Community Development Committee.

Included in the package are proposals that would:

Increase Housing Supply

S.538 (Martins) – Means test rent-controlled apartments to ensure that people who need affordable housing are occupying them.

S.3545 (Borrello) – Streamlines the environmental review process to make it easier to build more homes.

S.529 (Martins) – Establishes the local initiatives task force on housing, in order to collaborate with local government officials, state agencies, and stakeholders to develop best practices for local governments to incentivize housing development.

S.576 (Helming) – Create tax incentives for manufactured housing developers to build affordable homes in rural areas.

Homeownership Affordability

S.850 (Helming) – Provides a first-time homebuyer tax credit for local property taxes.

S.8489 (Weber) – Freezes real property taxes for three years to provide relief to New York homeowners. New York has some of the highest property taxes in the nation.

S.852 (Helming) – Give homebuyers who rehabilitate dilapidated properties an exemption from property tax reassessment.

S.9270 (Chan) – Establishes a new part of the housing court dedicated exclusively to buildings 35 units or less. The owners and tenants of these smaller buildings would benefit from faster resolution of issues.

Lower Construction Costs

S.1167 (Mattera) – Repeal the All-Electric Building Act. The all-electric mandate will increase the cost of the average single-family home by about $20,000.

S.8621 (Mattera) – Allow building developers to comply with the less costly and less burdensome 2020 Energy Codes in lieu of the 2025 Energy Code. This would result in lowering the cost of an average single-family home by approximately $7,400.

“Too many New Yorkers, especially young families and first-time homebuyers, are watching the American Dream of homeownership slip further out of reach. Between crushing property taxes, excessive regulations, and programs that too often miss the people they were meant to serve, the deck is stacked against those trying to put down roots in the communities they call home. This package advances common-sense reforms to increase the housing supply, cut unnecessary regulatory burdens, and provide property tax relief. These are practical steps toward restoring opportunity, bringing down costs, and making it possible for more families to build their future right here in New York,” said Senator George Borrello, SD 57th.

SUNY Brockport has received a three-year, $373,360 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to strengthen the University’s capacity to pursue innovative, externally funded research—work that often grows through collaboration with regional industry and community partners.

SUNY Brockport will join NSF’s Enabling Partnership to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) program as part of the Supporting Partnership for Advancement, Research, and Knowledge (SPARK) cohort. The national program is designed to help institutions expand research capacity and build stronger partnerships that support innovation.

SUNY Brockport collaborated with three other SPARK cohort institutions—Guilford College, Rhode Island School of Design, and Southern Arkansas University—to submit the proposal.

“The NSF recognizes that a majority of the research they fund goes to highly resourced institutions, which can leave others behind in federal funding,” said Dr. Jose Maliekal, associate professor and principal investigator for the project. “Institutions like Brockport have the capacity to innovate, but our faculty don’t always have the time or resources to dedicate to projects.”

The grant’s aim is to create a collaborative environment that supports scholarship through community partnerships and that allows innovative work to take shape. Maliekal will serve as the principal investigator (PI) and lead the initiative at SUNY Brockport alongside co-principal investigators Dr. Martin Abraham, Dr. Laurie Cook, and Dr. Michael Coleman.

“Writing a grant is labor-intensive, so fewer faculty are writing them, which reduces our institution’s capacity for research opportunities,” Maliekal said. “We want to create an environment in which faculty feel supported as they seek collaboration and funding to advance their career goals.”

The EPIIC-SPARK grant will create conditions for more Brockport faculty to compete for external funding, allowing more students to participate in applied research and community-based projects that connect classroom learning to real regional needs. A central component of the initiative is collaboration with regional industry and community partners whose needs coincide with the expertise of SUNY Brockport faculty.

“External partners are not always aware of what we have to offer them,” Cook said. “EPIIC is essentially trying to bridge that gap between the needs of institutions and regional partners.”

As part of this initiative and community collaboration, more experiential learning opportunities will be available for students to take part in engaging research, internships, and shadowing/mentoring with regional partners.

“When faculty scholarship connects with regional partners, long-term connections are made and pipelines open up for our students,” Cook said. “Ultimately, that is where the NSF is going. They want to better prepare our students to enter the modern workforce.”

In addition, the initiative will recruit two Faculty Fellows each year, who will receive course release time and professional development. Each Fellow will build a small team of colleagues to develop a project and prepare a grant proposal—expanding the number of faculty positioned to compete for external funding and increasing opportunities for students to participate in applied research.

“The more faculty learn about opportunities like this, the better positioned they will be to take advantage of them,” Maliekal said.

Want to partner with SUNY Brockport?

Regional/industry and community partners interested in exploring research collaborations, internships, mentoring, or applied projects may contact Jose Maliekal at 585-395-5598 or jmaliekal@brockport.edu or Laurie Cook at 585-395-5757 or lcook@brockport.edu to discuss partnership opportunities.

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Craft Cannery has passed its USDA-Organic audit, officially making the Genesee County-based manufacturing plant approved to produce, label, and market its clients’ products as “USDA Organic” for compliant products. The contract manufacturing facility in Bergen specializes in producing pasta sauces, barbecue sauces, salad dressings, oils, marinades, and more on a large scale for local and regional food brands, retailers, and restaurants.

USDA Organic Certification is a regulatory approval issued by a USDA-accredited certifying agent to confirm that a facility operates according to the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) standards. The NOP establishes standards, rules, and regulations for the production, handling, and labeling of organic products.

“With our new organic certification, I confirm each organic ingredient has a full list of ingredients and documentation showing where it is sourced and grown organically,” said Craft Cannery’s Procurement Manager Nick Riggio. “I review data safety sheets, country of origin, regulatory claims, and other important documents in the process. I need to maintain quality on all ingredients, including every single ingredient that enters our doors, and confirm quality and safety on every single product that goes out our doors.” 

USDA Organic Certification confirms that the product is 1) Grown and processed without synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, genetically modified organisms, or prohibited substances; 2) Handled in a way that prevents contamination with non-organic products or materials, and 3) Traceable through every stage of production, processing, and packaging.

The audit focused on Craft Cannery’s infrastructure and working processes for organic standards. It also focused on how the manufacturing plant handles, processes, stores, and labels products in accordance with strict organic rules, and how the business consistently follows these rules. 

“All of this mitigates risk for raw materials, ensures quality and assurance, and drives overall cost savings for our clients. This is our process for clients running 10 cases… or 10,000 cases,” added Riggio. 

This certification adds to Craft Cannery’s growing accreditations and certifications. Craft Cannery is also backed by the FDA, USDA, Department of Agriculture and Markets, and Craft Cannery is SQF-certified with the ability to produce certified Kosher.

To maintain organic certification, Craft Cannery will undergo an annual review and inspection. 

For more information on Craft Cannery, please visit www.craftcannery.com.

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Pothole season is expected to make an early debut in Western and Central New York this year. Cracked and crumbling pavement creates ideal conditions for potholes to form. Moisture seeps into these cracks, causing them to expand and contract with freeze-thaw cycles. Over time, pavement deteriorates, and the weight of passing vehicles eventually causes it to form potholes. This year’s harsh winter and extended cold temperatures have taken their toll on area roads, leading to an earlier-than-expected pothole season.

Potholes can cause significant damage to a vehicle’s tires, alignment, suspension, and shocks. Every month, AAA responds to thousands of tire-related calls across Western and Central New York. Nationwide, AAA handles millions of such requests each winter and spring. Although AAA doesn’t track roadside assistance specifically for pothole damage, it’s clear that many calls during this time are due to vehicles hitting potholes. Tire-related requests make up about 10 to 14% of AAA emergency road service calls each month.

“While we’ve been inundated with requests to service dead batteries this year amid the cold spell, we expect to see more tire-related issues due to potholes now that temperatures are warming up,” said AAA Fleet Manager Jeremy Harrington. “This winter’s harsh conditions could make for an early and rough pothole season.”

In 2023, a AAA survey found that nearly 2 in 10 drivers had to get their vehicles repaired after hitting a pothole. Researchers estimated that pothole-related damage increased by 57% nationwide.

The average vehicle repair cost for pothole damage in 2022 was $406, and with automotive parts and repair costs rising, potholes are certainly even more costly this year. Some drivers undergo multiple pothole-related repairs each season, underscoring the urgent need to repair America’s roadways.

How to Save Your Car and Your Wallet from Pothole Damage

Check your tires, including tread depth, tire pressure, suspension, and alignment

• Tread depth—insert a quarter into the tread groove with Washington’s head upside down. If you can see the top of Washington’s head, start shopping for new tires.
• Tire pressure—check this at least once a month before driving, when the tires have been at rest and are not hot. Follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended inflation pressure found on a sticker inside the driver’s side door.
• Suspension and alignment—look for changes in vehicle handling, excessive vibration, or uneven wearing of tires, all indications of a problem with the suspension, like alignment or shocks.

Keep your eyes on the road.An alert and cautious driver is less likely to hit a pothole

• Scan the road ahead for potholes and, if it’s safe to do so, drive around any in your path.
• Standing water or puddles may disguise a deep pothole. Avoid driving through standing water when possible, but if you can’t, drive through slowly.
• If you can’t avoid a pothole, reduce your speed safely and avoid braking abruptly, particularly as you go over the pothole. Striking a pothole at higher speeds increases the chance of knocking the wheels out of alignment, affecting the steering, and bending or even breaking suspension components.

If you hit a pothole, pay attention to any new or unusual noises or vibrations. If you detect something is off with your vehicle, take it to a trusted repair facility for a full vehicle inspection as soon as possible.

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Looking for a way to connect with your family this summer and disconnect from everyday distractions? Family Camp at Camp Koinonia near Penn Yan, NY, offers all the fun of summer camp, plus an enriching, Catholic faith-based five-day family retreat. Staff at Family Camp make it easy for parents and families to relax and have fun. They provide three meals a day, lodging, family-centered mass, as well as age-appropriate activities such as arts and crafts, pool time, sports, campfires, dance parties, and more.

High school through college age volunteer counselors are also needed to staff camp. Counselors have a great opportunity to bond and serve the Lord with those who embrace their faith and are excited to share and celebrate it. Volunteering at Family Camp can be used to meet school service hours or sacramental preparation hours.

Visit www.campkoinoniany.org for more information and to register. Those interested in volunteering as a counselor can register at the same site by hovering over Family Camp and selecting Counselors.

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Genesee Country Village & Museum in Mumford invites visitors to welcome the changing season with programs and events that highlight maple season, historic foodways, and outdoor exploration. From maple sugaring traditions and seasonal workshops to Scout programs and historic meals, GCV&M offers opportunities to explore history, art, and nature throughout the month. For more information and tickets, visit https://www.gcv.org/events.

First Aid Scout Merit Badge Class: Saturday, March 7, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Scouts are invited to earn their First Aid Merit Badge during this hands-on class. Led by a certified Merit Badge Counselor, the program covers essential first aid skills, including CPR and AED awareness, assembling and using a first-aid kit, and treating common injuries and illnesses. Participants will apply what they learn through scenario-based activities designed to reinforce practical skills. All requirements for the First Aid Merit Badge will be completed during this class. Tickets must be purchased online in advance by Wednesday, March 4.

March Workshop

Museum experts guide participants in exploring new hobbies and skills and give a taste of life in the 19th century. The Butter, Biscuits, & Bites Workshop will be held on Saturday, March 14, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Learn traditional foodways by churning butter, making soft cheeses, and baking in a 19th-century woodstove.

Maple Festival Homeschool Day: March 20, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Homeschool families are invited to spend the day exploring maple sugaring traditions during Maple Festival Homeschool Day. Through hands-on experiences and guided learning, participants will learn how Upstate New Yorkers, including Indigenous communities, made maple sugar in the 19th century and the science behind the process.

Families can explore the Historic Village and Nature Center, take part in maple-themed activities and tastings, and enjoy Indigenous storytelling with Perry Ground. A special guided “All Things Maple” tour, designed specifically for homeschool families, offers a deeper look at the Sugar House Historic Sugar Camp and the Maple History & Science Trail. Advance registration is required for the guided tour.

Maple Sugar Festival: March 20–22 and March 27– 29, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Visitors are invited to explore the history, science, and traditions of maple sugaring through hands-on demonstrations, seasonal tastings, live music, storytelling, and family-friendly activities across the Museum. Festival highlights include maple sugaring demonstrations at the Nature Center and Sugar Camp, sugar-on-snow tastings, tree tapping, historic maple cooking and receipts in the Historic Village, Indigenous storytelling with Hodinöhsö:ni’ partners, live music under the festival tent on Saturdays and Sundays, and a market featuring local food vendors and artisans. Dining options will be available throughout the day, including the Maple Breakfast Buffet on Saturdays and Sundays, as well as offerings from the Depot Restaurant, Freight House Pub, and Meeting Center Café.

Tickets are available online and at the door; advance online purchase is recommended. Please note that Maple Sugar Festival admission and Maple Breakfast Buffet tickets must be purchased separately. The Maple Sugar Festival is supported through a Market New York grant awarded by Empire State Development, and I LOVE NY, New York State’s Division of Tourism.

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You can slice open a bud and see the tiny leaves and flowers that are folded up inside. A magnifying glass can make this task easier. Some trees have separate buds for leaves and flowers, while others have both flowers and leaves curled up in the same bud. Forming buds late in the growing season allows trees and shrubs to begin growth quickly in the spring.

You will notice that most deciduous tree buds have overlapping scales to protect the tender leaves and flowers inside. Some plants like magnolias and butternut trees have fuzzy buds. The buds on my magnolia are very prominent all through winter.

Because of the diversity of colors, shapes, and sizes, you can identify trees and shrubs in the winter simply by studying their buds and the arrangement of buds on the stem. In red and sugar maples, lateral buds are in pairs opposite each other on the stem. In elms, side buds spiral up the stem singly. Red oaks have a cluster of buds at the end of their branches – a terminal bud with many scales and two or three slightly smaller laterals. Other lateral buds alternate up the stem, according to northernwoodlands.org.

Wildlife can damage buds by eating them. They are packed with nutrition and can be attractive to deer. Additionally, squirrels, songbirds, and other animals can consume winter buds. I have watched sparrows eat the flower buds on my forsythia – the impact on the bloom can be quite noticeable in the spring.

If you have forsythia, crabapple, witch-hazel, or pussy willows in your yard, you can cut budded branches and force them into bloom inside. Michigan State University Extension says taking cuttings closer to springtime (right now) makes it easier to force them into bloom.

Use sharp pruners to cut branches that are at least one foot long. Have a bucket of warm water with you and immediately put the cuttings in the water. To help branches take up water, you can cut a short slit up the bottom of the stem before placing it in the bucket.

When you bring the branches inside, place them in a cool place, such as the basement, that stays around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep them out of direct sunlight, as that can dry out the branches and prevent blooms from opening. It can take two to five weeks, MSU says, for the branches to bloom. Change the water frequently, and misting the stems and buds with water can also help to keep them from drying out.

As the blooms begin to open, you can move the branches to a brighter location for display. Keeping them cool can prolong bloom time.