KELLY NOLAN
Creative Director & Lead Designer
KARA IVISON
Assistant Creative Director
SARAH CHRIST Graphic Designer
VICKI CASPERSSON Ad Designer
JOANNE MICHIELSEN Editorial Curator
KAITLIN DONNAN Proofreader
SALES
LORI ANTONELLI
ELLEN STEVENS
TRISH WALTER Marketing Consultants
MANAGEMENT
STEVE HARRISON President
MANUEL KARAM General Manager
JEFF WASSON Production Supervisor
MIKE PRATT Prepress Supervisor
The Town of Greece opened its own animal shelter in January 2025 to provide short-term housing and care for lost pets. Since then, the shelter has become a safe haven for animals in transition and a resource for families searching for their companions.
“When we opened our new animal shelter earlier this year, I announced that we would also create a volunteer program to support shelter operations and provide an exciting opportunity for residents to contribute to the welfare of animals in our community,” said Greece Town Supervisor Bill Reilich. “I want to thank Police Chief Mike Wood and Director of Animal Services Chris Fitzgerald for establishing this program and creating a great opportunity for those interested in volunteering at the shelter.”
“Pets bring joy, comfort, and companionship to our lives,” said Chris Fitzgerald, Director of Animal Services. “Volunteers are vital to ensuring every animal that comes through our doors receives the love, attention, and care they deserve. From walking dogs and playing with cats to helping reunite pets with their families, volunteers make a direct difference in the lives of animals and the people who love them.”
Greece Animal Services is now accepting applications for volunteers to help with all aspects of animal care and community support. Opportunities include handson care, enrichment activities, community outreach, and promoting pet adoption. Learn more and sign up at https://greeceny.gov/departments/animal-services/ animal-services-volunteer/.
The Town encourages residents across the Greater Rochester area to get involved—by volunteering, adopting, or fostering a pet. Foster caregivers are especially needed. Foster homes provide a healthier, more comfortable environment for animals and open space at the shelter for other pets in need.
Foster-to-adopt opportunities also allow families to spend time with a pet, helping to ensure the right fit before making a lifelong commitment. To learn more about fostering, visit https://greeceny.gov/departments/ animal-services/animal-services-foster/.
It’s almost time for the Gates Chili Fall Family Fest: Harvesting Health and Wellness in our Community. This family-friendly event will be held Thursday, November 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Spartan Field House at Gates Chili High School, 1 Spartan Way. The evening will feature fun games, live performances, community resources, the annual coat drive and much more.
Flu shots will be available from 5 to 7 p.m. for individuals ages four and older. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are encouraged. To schedule, call 716-805-1020 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Most insurance plans are accepted; please bring your insurance card. For those without insurance, the cost is $45 per person. For more information, contact info@INCnursing.com.
The annual Spartan Way Coat Drive begins later this month. Coats collected will be distributed at the Fall Family Fest on November 6.
Donations of new or gently used coats, hats and mittens will be accepted from Monday, October 27, through Friday, October 31, at the following locations: Gates Chili District Office, Gates Chili Operations Center, Gates Chili Transportation Center, Gates Chili High School, Gates Chili Middle School, Imagination Childcare Academy, Florence Brasser Elementary School, Neil Armstrong Elementary School, Paul Road Elementary School, Walt Disney Elementary School, Gates YMCA Elmgrove, and the Chili Public Library.
More than 300 acts from around the globe (Japan, the U.K., Vietnam, Germany, Alaska, and beyond) will unite at 75 Stutson Street in Rochester to perform over seven days, October 20–26, during “Avant Garde a Clue II,” a free, all-ages festival, presented with no corporate sponsors.
Originally “Rochester Experimental Week” in 2022, the festival took a year off and rebranded with full
At left: Performers at the 2024 Avant Garde a Clue festival. Photo by Adam Arritola. music acts that performed non-stop, back-to-back, and on schedule, executed with minimal hiccups.
Following an 18-day tour of Japan earlier this year, the festival returns to Rochester this month with over 300 genre-defying performances from acts from all over the world. Acid Mothers Temple (one of Japan’s most prominent psych acts) will play the only two-and-a-halfhour-long set of their entire U.S. tour; world-renowned guitar virtuoso Gabriel Marin returns with two sets; Apollo C. Vermouth (a moniker associated with Sir Paul McCartney) is mysteriously billed, in addition to the plethora of other performers, ranging from seemingly amateurish outsiders to some of the most refined masters of their craft, to perform throughout the week.
“By expanding our horizons of what music is, this festival is a real gift to Rochester, already recognized as a music town,” says Rauncie Reynolds, better known as “Granny Goth,” who attended and performed last year. (Her project, Anagogic Delphi, appears this year on Tuesday, October 21.) “The visionary organizer, Adam Arritola, is bringing together great musicians from around the world. I look forward to taking part and discovering new music.”
Performances at 75 Stutson, an independent venue in a former church, run continuously from afternoon until after late, starting October 20, and even earlier on the weekend. This will be the last major event there before the venue’s ownership changes hands.
Check the festival schedule at www.eclecticoverdrive.com for when doors open each day and the complete musician roster. Admission is first-come, first-in, and free of charge. When capacity is reached, the policy is one-in, one-out.
Gates Chili High School presents “Super Scary” and “Night of the Macabre” on Thursday, October 23 at 7 p.m. in the Gates Chili Performing Arts Center (GCPAC).
First, a storyteller’s night of spooky tales goes awry when everyone in the theatre keeps interrupting to share their own, less-than-chilling versions of the stories. This Halloween comedy will leave the audience screaming with laughter. Then, a hunt for horror finds four friends at a wax museum featuring scenes from classic scary stories, but the real terror happens when the exhibits start to come to life.
Tickets are $10 and available online at https://gateschili.booktix.com or at the door.
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With only 1 in 4 children in the U.S. getting the recommended amount of daily physical activity, Greece’s Craig Hill Elementary School is working to create a healthier future through the Kids Heart Challenge™. Led by the American Heart Association, the school-based program equips students with the tools and confidence to care for their physical and emotional well-being.
The Kids Heart Challenge™ is rooted in proven science which has shown that kids who are regularly active have a better chance of a healthy adulthood. In addition to improved physical health, the benefits of physical activity for children include better grades, school attendance and classroom behavior. Physical activity can also help kids feel better, improve mental health, build self-esteem and decrease and prevent conditions such as anxiety and depression.
As part of the celebration, the school received new physical education and playground equipment through the Recess Reboot initiative, sponsored by John W. Danforth Company. The Recess Reboot program helps schools enhance physical activity opportunities by providing new PE and recess equipment. The John W. Danforth team is committed to student health and wellness, and they joined the school for the equipment presentation during their Kid’s Heart Challenge kickoff assembly on October 3.
“We are proud to sponsor the American Heart Association’s Recess Reboot initiative to support student wellness,” said T.R. Casamento, co-chairman of the Rochester Heart Ball and VP of operations at John W. Danforth Company. “This program represents a proactive investment in heart health, encouraging physical activity and fostering lifelong healthy habits. We are confident it will have a meaningful impact on students, their families, and the broader community.”
Later this school year, Craig Hill Elementary School will also receive rink panels for its field hockey unit as part of the Recess Reboot initiative. The school is the first of three schools in
the Rochester area to receive Recess Reboot equipment.
“Supporting youth initiatives is an essential part of building stronger communities,” said Ken Burns, cochairman of the Rochester Heart Ball and VP of sales at John W. Danforth Company. “By collaborating with the Heart Association, we’re helping ensure that children have the resources they need to stay active, learn about heart health and develop habits that will benefit them for years to come. It’s an honor to be a part of this effort and see the excitement it brings to students and educators alike.”
“The Kids Heart Challenge is an opportunity to empower students with the knowledge and tools to live heart-healthy lives,” said Megan Vargulick, executive director of the Heart Association in Rochester. “With the Recess Reboot, these students are learning about heart health and gaining access to equipment that will help them stay active and engaged throughout the school day.”
For nearly 50 years, the American Heart Association has been working with educators in elementary, middle and high schools across the nation to help educate students about healthy living. The Kids Heart Challenge™ and American Heart Challenge™ are service learning-based fundraising programs that give students the opportunity to feel good while doing good. For more information, visit https://www.heart. org/en/professional/educator/school-programs.
As the leaves begin to change color, I would like to remind residents that the 2025 Town Leaf Collection Schedule can be found on the Department of Public Works webpage on the Town of Greece website. I would also like to remind residents of our upcoming Winter Parking Ordinance, which is enforced November 1 through April 15 from midnight to 8 a.m. This allows for safer and more effective plowing and salting of dedicated town streets and helps keep the cost of snow removal down, saving tax dollars for our residents.
Last month, we hosted the final Concert and Food Truck Rodeo of the season. The concert that evening featured Carl Dixon’s Wild North Rock Show. Food vendors that participated included local favorites Al & Steve’s Steakout, LuGia’s Ice Cream, J&S Fried Dough, Melt Food Truck, Sammie’s n’ Sweets, Rob’s Kabobs, Al Dente Pasta, and Kona Ice. We were happy to offer this event to residents as an official goodbye to summer and hello to fall!
This past month we recognized the two recipients of the Jerry J. Helfer Youth Engagement Scholarship. This year’s recipient, Jeremy Neely, received a recognition proclamation and check in the amount of $2,000. This year’s runner up, Hailey Dresser, received a recognition proclamation and check in the amount of $500. The Jerry J. Helfer Youth Engagement Scholarship provides the Greece community with the opportunity to recognize a student that regularly upholds exemplary moral values, devotes time and energy into helping serve the Greece
community, and consistently displays outstanding leadership skills. This scholarship has been established by the Town of Greece to highlight Jerry’s exceptional character, virtue, and lifelong love of learning and public service. With over 25 years of public service, Jerry served on the Greece Youth Board, was elected as Town Councilman for 10 years, and served as Deputy Supervisor until his untimely passing in July of 2014.
Both Jeremy and Hailey have been very involved in the community, both inside and outside of school. Jeremy’s school activities have included being involved in Ski Club, Model UN, and Jazz Band, to name a few. He has shown great leadership skills in his extensive involvement with Boy Scouts. Hailey has been active in school with various sports and has also been involved in community volunteer activities, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester and Hope Church Kids Camp. She has shown responsibility, hard work, and leadership skills through two jobs. The Town of Greece is very proud of these two fine individuals and stands behind them as they continue to set examples of volunteerism and leadership in our community. If you have any questions or concerns or are looking for factual information regarding town happenings, call Greece Town Hall at 225-2000 or visit greeceny.gov.
We have expanded and built an all new service building to better serve the automotive needs of our community and fellow car enthusiasts. Bring us your modern or vintage vehicle for regular maintenance, conventional service or specialized custom requests.
The Town of Gates and Total Sports Experience are hosting Trunk or Treat on October 26, 10 a.m. to noon, at TSE, 880 Elmgrove Road, Rochester. This free event includes over 20 trick-or-treating stations featuring community organizations as well as a costume contest with awards. Please pre-register at https://totalsports-experience.com/events/tses-trunkor-treat/. Participants are asked to consider bringing a donation for the Center for Youth.
The Gates Historical Society will host author Marie Poinan on October 20, 7 p.m., at the Gates Town Hall Annex. Her presentation, entitled “Along the Genesee River to the Port of Rochester,” will explore how the river has impacted the life of Rochesterians since the late 18th Century. The program is free, and the facility is handicapped accessible.
Today’s economy and tomorrow’s well-being depend on innovations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), but a troubling gap exists when it comes to women in STEM occupations. Women make up almost half of employment across nonSTEM occupations but just over 29% of the STEM workforce. That’s why the American Heart Association, devoted to a world of healthier lives for all, is bringing Go Red for Women®’s STEM Goes Red to Rochester. STEM Goes Red addresses the underrepresentation of women in STEM and inspires young women to pursue rewarding careers in STEM fields.
Rochester STEM Goes Red, hosted by University of Rochester Medical Center’s Office of University Engagement and Enrichment, brings to life stimulating and impactful careers in STEM and gives participating schools access to leading employers, local experts and an insider look at what a career in STEM could entail.
“STEM Goes Red draws on the American Heart Association’s strong legacy of science, education and discovery, offering an immersive experience that propels young women into this exciting world,” said Megan Vargulick, executive director for the Rochester and Buffalo American Heart Association. “By ensuring a new generation of female scientists, doctors, inventors and changemakers, we’re taking critical steps to secure their future as well as our own.”
Of 100 female students working toward a bachelor’s degree, only three will work in a STEM job 10 years after graduation, leading to persistent disparities in women’s health. By equipping and inspiring young women to pursue STEM careers, we can ensure women are represented in critical sectors that impact health and well-being such as healthcare, research and technology.
The American Heart Association’s STEM Goes Red launched in 2017 as part of the Go Red for Women® movement. For more than 20 years, Go Red for Women has served as a
catalyst for change, improving women’s lives by advancing equitable research and care, advocating for inclusive health policies and raising awareness of women’s No. 1 health threat— cardiovascular disease.
On September 26, Rochester STEM Goes Red hosted 67 students from 17 Rochester-area high schools, including Greece Arcadia, Greece Odyssey, and Greece Olympia.
During the four-hour interactive program, students explored STEM career paths—such as medical research, health care and engineering—through hands-on breakout sessions, a panel of female experts and meaningful connections with top employers.
“STEM Goes Red is a vital initiative because it opens doors for young women to explore careers in science and technology and other areas where the gender gap is still far too wide,” said Ana Gómez Parga, Ph.D., director of TIDES at the University of Rochester Medical Center Department of Surgery. “By inspiring the next generation of female leaders in STEM, we’re helping to build a more equitable future, where everyone has the opportunity to innovate and create solutions that can change the world.”
For more information about the Rochester Go Red for Women movement, contact Michelle Marks-Hook or visit Heart.org/GoRedROC.
Beginning in early fall, pumpkins begin to arrive at farmer's markets, supermarkets, nurseries, and fall harvest festivals. Pumpkins are versatile in that they make colorful fall home decorations, but also can be utilized in all sorts of recipes. In fact, pumpkins are a type of winter squash.
While some people may be quick to think that the larger the pumpkin the better it is for baking up delicious treats, that's actually not the case. According to the gardening resource Gardener's Path, although most pumpkin cultivars are edible, the big pumpkins carved into jack-o-lanterns for Halloween tend to be pretty bland, watery and stringy. They've been hybridized to produce a large Halloween-friendly shape, not for flavor. Those traits are not ideal for a delicious pumpkin pie or pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.
The best pumpkins for purees used in recipes are those that were specially cultivated for cooking. When shopping for pumpkins for your next recipe (if you're opting for fresh, rather than canned puree), select one of the following:
· Cinderella
· Baby Bear
· Early Sweet Sugar Pie
· Dickinson
· Jarrahdale
· Galeux d'Elsines
· Orange Smoothie
· Small Sugar, among others
Once you've selected your perfect cooking pumpkins, it's time to whip up a pumpkin pie.
Enjoy this recipe, courtesy of McCormick, which can be served anytime from Halloween through Christmas.
Pastry for 9-inch pie crust
2 eggs, well beaten
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons McCormick®
Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin (or equivalent in fresh puree)
1 teaspoon McCormick®
All Natural Pure Vanilla Extract
1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk
Preheat oven to 425 F. Line 9-inch pie plate with pie crust.
Mix eggs, brown sugar, pumpkin pie spice, flour, and salt in medium bowl until smooth. Stir in pumpkin and vanilla. Gradually add evaporated milk, mixing well. Pour into pie crust.
Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 F. Bake 40 minutes longer or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Serve warm or cold. Garnish with whipped cream and sprinkle with additional pumpkin pie spice, if desired. Store covered in refrigerator.
The Buffalo office of the National Weather Service, in cooperation with the Monroe County Office of Emergency Management, will be conducting a Winter SKYWARN spotter training seminar at the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center, 1190 Scottsville Road, Suite 200, Rochester on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 7 p.m.
SKYWARN is a national effort to save lives during severe weather and winter weather emergencies with a network of trained volunteer weather spotters. SKYWARN spotters support their local community and government by providing reports of severe winter weather directly to the National Weather Service in Buffalo by phone using the NWS spotter hotline, or by various online reporting methods. The services performed by SKYWARN spotters have saved many lives.
The National Weather Service has several devices for detecting severe winter storms. Included in these are Doppler radar and satellite imagery. However, one of the most important tools for observing winter weather is the trained eye of the storm spotter. By providing observations of snow and ice, SKYWARN spotters assist National Weather Service staff in their warning decisions and enable the National Weather Service to fulfill its mission of protecting life and property. Storm spotters are, and always will be, an indispensable part of the winter warning program.
The basic training session provides a brief overview of the National Weather Service organization and its responsibilities, winter weather safety, and winter weather meteorology including how lake effect snowstorms and larger scale snowstorms develop. Anyone can become a winter weather spotter for the National Weather Service. SKYWARN training is free and open to the public.
For further information, call the National Weather Service at 716-565-0204.
Registration is required. The registration form link and additional information is available at https://www. weather.gov/buf/Skywarn.
This October, the Dryden Theatre embraces the uncanny, the ghostly, and the weird with a chilling lineup of classics and cult favorites in its Halloween at the Dryden film series.
From the gothic shadows of The Others to the surreal satire of Sorry to Bother You, this series explores cinema’s many approaches to fear and the supernatural. Silent landmarks like The Queen of Spades and The Phantom of the Opera appear alongside the B-movie classics of Cat People and its sequel. While from the ’80s, both David Cronenberg’s
adaptation of Stephen King’s The Dead Zone and Joel Schumacher’s vampire film The Lost Boys are also being screened.
Visit https://www.eastman.org/halloween-dryden for the complete schedule. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Dryden Theatre box office. The Box Office opens 45 minutes prior to the screening and can be reached by phone at 585-327–4839.
Friends of the Greece Public Library are holding a Fall Book Sale at Buckman’s Plaza (lower
There will be a Members Only Preview Sale on Friday, October 24 from 4 to 7 p.m. Membership can be purchased at the door ($5 single or $10 family). The sale will then be open to all from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sat., October 25.
Selections include general fiction, non-fiction, children’s, young adult, mystery, adventure, romance, Christmas holiday books, some puzzles, CDs, DVDs, and more. Cash only. Please bring your own shopping bag.
The Greece Historical Society will hold its annual Holiday Craft & Collectibles Sale on Saturday, October 26 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Greece Museum, 595 Long Pond Road, Rochester. There will be a full house of crafting vendors.
Items available for sale will include crocheted doilies, candle holders, wine cork grapes, towels, greeting
cards, eyeglass cases, jar openers, coasters, lighted wine bottles, seasonal centerpieces, knitted snowmen, owls, pumpkins, table runners, checkbook covers, selfpublished books, and more.
This is a perfect opportunity to find unique gifts for your family and friends. The Museum Shop will also be open during sale hours.
The Monroe County Department of Public Health Addiction Services’ Improving Addiction Coordination Team (IMPACT), in conjunction with Delphi Rise, is offering a new grief support group for individuals affected by substance userelated loss of a loved one. The free sessions are offered both in-person and online.
“Losing someone to substance use can be isolating and many families carry that grief in silence,” said Monroe County Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Marielena Vélez de Brown. “This group offers a safe place to share those experiences, connect with others who understand and begin to heal. By creating space for care and community, we can help people move through their grief with support rather than stigma.”
Individuals who experience the loss of a loved one to substance use often face complex emotions and a lack of understanding from those around them. Dedicated grief support groups provide an opportunity to share experiences in a safe environment, gain practical tools
The meetings are offered during day and evening hours.
Daytime meetings are held in person at 72 Hinchey Road, Rochester, from noon to 2 p.m. on the following dates: October 16, November 6, November 20, December 4, and December 18. Walk-ins welcome.
Evening meetings are held on Zoom from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the following dates: October 28, November 11, November 25, December 9, and December 23. Register at https:// www.monroecounty.gov/addiction-griefsupport.
For information on the grief support group, treatment options, naloxone or test strips, visit monroecounty.gov/addiction, email IMPACT@MonroeCounty.gov, or call the Addiction Services hotline at 585-753-5300 anytime.
Owner, Senior Helpers
2080 W. Ridge Rd. #2, Rochester, NY
Phone: (585)-837-2137
Mobile: (585)-397-6431
Email: info3632@seniorhelpers.com
Web: https://www.seniorhelpers.com/ny/north-rochester
Fred Bonn, Regional Director of the Finger Lakes State Parks, has announced the 2025-2026 hunting schedule for the region’s state parks. The complete list of parks and the types of hunting that are allowed can be found at: https://tinyurl.com/mkxnf524.
For all state parks, hunters must check with the park office to obtain a self-issue permit for any hunting and are responsible for referencing the New York Department of Environmental Conservation (D.E.C.) Hunting and Trapping Guide for the current dates and additional rules.
Other Park Rules and Regulations that apply:
Imagine waking each day to choices that excite you. Would you do morning yoga or linger over breakfast? How about a sing-along class or a bus trip to the casino? Then you’re back in time for happy hour before dinner with friends. And that’s just a Tuesday. At Legacy at Cranberry Landing, the good life becomes the great life.
• All portable tree stands must have the owner’s name, address, and phone number. They must be removed at the end of the season unless otherwise noted.
• Safety zones and restricted areas are posted to ensure the safety of other park patrons and regional personnel. Signs will be posted at all parks during hunting season to notify patrons of this activity.
• Handguns are not permitted in any State Park.
• No trapping is allowed at any of the State Parks in the Finger Lakes Region.
• A valid New York State hunting license with the proper hunting credentials must be carried with all hunters at all times.
by Erika Zobel
Did you ever think about joining a group? Maybe the PTA, a home association, or even Scouting America? Consider joining the American Legion Greece Post 468!
I’m sure you are wondering, what we do? Well, we do a lot of great work within our surrounding community, and we represent the largest service organization that advocates for veterans, service members, and military families. We are a close-knit family consisting of four units.
Activists for veterans since 1919 and founded by an act of Congress in the aftermath of World War I. This family advocates for our veterans, service members and families who pledge to protect our nation. Some of the areas of need include the destigmatizing of mental health support, offering peer resources, and strongly encouraging everyone to Be The One in the fight to end veteran suicide. Facebook: The American Legion Greece Post 468
Founded in 1919, we support The American Legion. Our job in the family is to make life better for our veterans, military, and their families. We promote patriotism and national security while supporting our youth and advocating for those who served.
Facebook: The American Legion Auxiliary –Greece Post 468
Founded in 1932 as an organization within The American Legion. SAL’s family is made up of boys and men of all ages whose parents or grandparents served in the United States military and became eligible for membership in The American Legion. Just like the other family members, SAL places high importance on preserving our American traditions and values,
improving the quality of life for our nation’s children, caring for veterans and their families, and perhaps most importantly, teaching the fundamentals of good citizenship.
Founded in 1993 to promote the goals of the American Legion. Rider chapters are known for their fundraising, flag ceremonies, charitable work for our youth, veterans, schools, hospitals, and scholarship funds. They ride and honor fallen military men and women. They ride to welcome our heroes home. They are a group who love to ride and ride with a passion for patriotism, community, freedoms, and country.
Facebook: American Legion Riders – Greece, NY Post 468
I bet you’re still asking, why you should join? I say, be the voice, be heard, and share in those freedoms that we have all adhered to. It’s not just for you, but for our veterans, community, family, and youth. That’s why I joined.
The American Legion Greece Post is accepting new members year-round. We are located at 344 Dorsey Road, Rochester, NY 14616. Visit us online at: greeceny468legionpost.com.
Membership is based on meeting requirements.
