my Hometown Magazine - February 2022

February 2022

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Chili celebrates its Bicentennial

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Valentine’s Day Challenge to honor veterans

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Save the Snowpeople promotes active living and learning for families this winter

10 Meet Miss Mary Jo from the Gates Public Library 11 Why Presidents’ Day actually goes by another official name 12 Byron-Bergen students attend National FFA Convention 13 Winter bird feeding tips 14 Churchville-Chili Middle School protects our ecosystems 15 Roberts Wesleyan Hall of Famer, Jack Fraser has died 16 Popular candies share sweet word of love 17 Saints wrestlers win tournament and division title

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My Hometown February 2022 | 3

My Hometown History

A First for Chili

Chili Presbyterian Church Photo by Dick Halsey

Excerpt from the “Historical Digest of Early Chili,”

by Jay Widener, former Town Historian and written by Melissa Cunningham, Chili Bicentennial Committee Member February 22, a significant date for the Town of Chili, a “first” birthday if you will, as the New York State Legislature passed an act that annexed a portion of the Town of Riga (eastern section), into the current day Town of Chili, in 1822.

Judge Joseph Sibley, known as the “Father of Chili,” was the town’s first supervisor, holding the town’s initial town meeting on April 2, 1822, at the home of James Coleman. Sibley operated an early mill on Black Creek. Sibley’s Mill (located on Black Creek near Stuart Road and Chili Avenue) was later operated by Gertrude Hertz. The property on which the mill was located is now on the National Register of Historic Sites.

Judge Sibley was said to have remarkable memory, excellent judgement, but was most known for his willingness to help his neighbors …a strong trait, 200 years later, that is the heartbeat of our community.

The Sibley-Stuart-Dillenbeck House in Chili was built in 1834.

Photo courtesy of Phillip Supernault.

In discussing “firsts” below are a few “firsts” for the Town of Chili…

There are two theories concerning the origin of the name of our town, “Chili.” The first theory is that the town was named after Chile, South America, and that the name was somehow mispronounced. Local people may have been sympathetic to Chile in its struggle for independence. Early authors when writing about this theory always qualified their statements with words such as “maybe,” “perhaps,” “possibly,” etc.

The second theory was that the Town of Chili was named after the Chiliast or Chilian religion. This was the religion of some of the earliest settlers in the South Chili area. They came from Pennsylvania and they were of German, Dutch, and Flemish origins. They believed that one thousand years of peace would be followed by the return of the lord.

The first road was Scottsville Road. It was laid out by Peter and Jacob Sheffer in 1792. It ran from Oatka, or Allen’s Creek, to the falls of the Genesee River in present day Rochester.

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The first land owner in what is now Chili was Peter Sheffer. He arrived in 1789 and purchased his land from Ebeneezer Allen.

Though he owned land in Chili, Peter Sheffer actually lived in Wheatland.

The first recorded settlers, arriving in 1792, were Captain Joseph Morgan and his family. He was a Revolutionary War veteran like many of the early pioneers. He purchased his land from Peter Sheffer in the Scottsville Road area, south of what is present day Morgan Road. Morgan was followed in 1794 by Andrew Wortman, Stephen Peabody, and Leonard Widener. Josiah Fish settled at the mouth of Black Creek in 1794 and later became the first supervisor of the old Town of Northhampton. Henry Widener and his family of 11 adult children and step-children arrived in 1796.

Stephen Peabody operated the first business, a distillery, in the Town of Chili. Another early business was the Jacob-WidenerJoseph Carey Saw and Grist Mill.

The first tavern was the Checkered Tavern. It was located near the intersection of Morgan Road and Chili Scottsville Road and was built by Henry Widener.

The first church was the Chili Presbyterian Church on Chili Avenue at Stottle Road. It was erected in 1832. Other businesses quickly followed which included taverns, hotels, schools, and churches.

Most of the first settlers were German and Belgian from the Pennsylvania and New Jersey areas. They probably heard about the Chili area and its fertile land from soldiers returning from Sullivan’s expedition against the Indians in 1779. The settlers used the Williamson Road through Tioga to New Town (now Elmira) and then followed the Sullivan route from Kanadesago (now Geneva) to the Genesee River. After the war of 1812, there was a major immigration from New England.

The first road to the interior was the Braddocks Bay Road. It ran from Braddocks Bay to the present-day Morgan Road where it turned east towards the river and Scottsville. The road is now known as Union Street.

The first railroad ran from Rochester to Buffalo in 1812 and the old Genesee Valley Canal was opened in 1862 connecting Rochester to the Allegheny River.

The first airport in Monroe County. December 1919, Rochester Common Council acquired 110 acres of land and a 66-foot roadway off Scottsville Road in Chili for the establishment of an aircraft base, initially named Britton Field, now home to the Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport.

The first organized fire department. The Chili Volunteer Fire Department (CFD) was organized on October 6, 1931, with 22 active members and Seth Widener listed as the department’s first president. To this day, CFD continues to proudly serve the community through their dedicated volunteers.

The first college was opened in North Chili in 1860 in a former tavern and stage stop on the northwest corner of Buffalo Road and Union Street. It was called Chesborough Seminary and it was operated by B.T. Roberts. Chesborough Seminary later became Roberts Wesleyan College. One of the first students was Richard P. Hubbard. The old tavern and stage stop is still there today.

The Town of Chili was founded 200 years ago; our community has since had numerous “firsts,” however, we continue to celebrate our past as we continue to grow and create new opportunities within our community.

Celebrating the Bicentennial

As we celebrate the year 2022 and the Town’s Bicentennial, the volunteer Bicentennial committee has planned a variety of events to commemorate the birth of Chili. Please visit the Town of Chili’s website for the complete list of all upcoming Bicentennial events, details, to purchase gala tickets, and registration information.

Every birthday needs a party, the Bicentennial is no different.

Join the town in celebrating Chili’s 200th Birthday at our Bicentennial Gala, being held March 5 at 6:00 p.m. Jack’s Place of the Chili Country Club are our gracious hosts for the evening. $40 per person includes an evening filled with many local culinary favorites, a viewing of a rare collection of Chili artifacts, dancing, dinner, door prizes, and a commemorative ornament. Visit www. townofchili.org to purchase your tickets.

Chili Library staff, in conjunction with Peter Widener and Tammy Canfield from the Historical Society, created an interactive timeline which tells the town’s story in a fun and educational way. The timeline is a great tool for families, individuals, and educators to share with their classrooms.

On March 26, The Chili Historical Society is sponsoring “Life and the Longhouse” speaker Perry Ground, a traditional Storyteller and Cultural Educator from the “Haudenosaunee” indigenous people of our area. The presentation will begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Chili American Legion Post 1830, no registration required.

Chesbrough College is now known as Roberts Wesleyan College and this is the tavern in which the college was organized.

On Saturday, April 2, the Chili Historic Preservation Board will place a Historical sign at the Clifton Fire House. Later that day, at noon, the Chili Town Board meeting will commemorate Chili’s first meeting in 1822 with the unveiling of a historical sign marking the occasion.

Are you a Chili business owner? If so, April is your month to shine! April is Business Month. Bicentennial Committee members will be visiting local businesses to encourage participation. During April, local businesses will be encouraged to shine a spotlight on their specialty / products by offering special menus, incentives, or discounts.

Residents will in turn be encouraged to participate by obtaining a passport from the town website, community center, or town hall and patronize participating businesses!

The last week of April (24-30) will be just for your taste buds.

“Restaurant Week” will be dedicated to the various food and beverage establishments that call Chili home.

Business owners who are interested in participating in either of these opportunities or to gain more information, can contact Councilwoman Mary Sperr at MSperr@townofchili.org or Councilman James Valerio at JValerio@townofchili.org.

A free, self-directed Scavenger Hunt that will take you and your family through Chili will be offered throughout the entire month of May. The scavenger hunt is an interactive way to explore the town, have fun, and learn some interesting historical facts. Scavenger Hunt sheets will be available to print on the town website or to pick up at the community center and Town Hall locations.

Your creativity is needed on May 6. Come to the Community Center to help paint 200 rocks that will be hidden and shared throughout the town in honor of the Bicentennial. This familyfriendly event is a great way to get everyone involved with the celebration. Registration is required; snacks and supplies will be provided.

Additional events will be forthcoming, and the Bicentennial celebration will last throughout 2022. Stay tuned as updates for events will be posted on the Chili Recreation and Chili Library Facebook pages, in the upcoming town newsletters, as well as on www.townofChili.org. We hope you can join the celebration!

Cover photos provided by the Chili Historical Society Paintings by the Chili Art Group Sibley-Stuart-Dillenbeck House photo courtesy of Phillip Supernault

My Hometown February 2022 | 5

My Hometown Veterans

Valentine’s Day Challenge to honor veterans

Those of all ages are invited to make Valentines for veterans at the Batavia VA. Shown (l-r) are Bridgette Montesano and Briana Lynch, Renzyn Litolff and Mason Prevost, and Grace Lynch with cards they made in 2020. Provided photos.

by Pamela A. Moore, Harvey C. Noone Legion Post #954 Family

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Again this year, Harvey C. Noone Post #954 Legion Family and the Newman Riga Library are collecting Valentines for veterans at the Batavia VA. This project began four years ago and the number of Valentines delivered has increased every year. Last year, 1,236 Valentines were delivered. With a goal to top that number this year, Legion Family is putting out a challenge to the community.

Remember how much fun it was to go to school on Valentine’s Day and receive lots of Valentines from classmates? All are invited to help recreate that joy for our veterans.

Valentines can be store bought or homemade. Just buy or make a Valentine, or better yet, organize your friends, family, church, or community group on a fun project to warm the hearts of veterans who receive them. Sign the Valentine, and if desired, add a message of thanks for serving our nation. If using an envelope, write something like, “To My Hero” or “To My Valentine.”

Drop off Valentines at the Legion, 6444 Buffalo Road, Churchville, or the Newman Riga Library, 1 South Main Street, Churchville, through February 8. For information, email pmoore@pmoorelaw. com.

Legion hosting Beatles tribute band for Valentine’s Show The Harvey C. Noone American Legion Post #954 will be hosting Beatles tribute band “Eight Days A Week” for a special Valentine’s Show on Friday, February 11, from 7 to 9 p.m. Admission is $5, free for Veterans. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 293-1364. Please leave a name and phone number.

My Hometown February 2022 | 7

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My Hometown Recreation

Save the Snowpeople promotes active living and learning for families this winter Monroe County 4-H Youth Development has launched Save the Snowpeople, a challenge that encourages families to get active throughout the winter via outdoor explorations and activities in Monroe County Parks.

Youth participants are special agents on a mission to save the snowpeople—now an endangered species as climate change makes our winters warmer and shorter.

Geared to families with children ages five to 19, Save the Snowpeople invites families to complete five activities in five different Monroe County Parks before April 1. Those completing the challenge can enter to win grand prizes, including $100 Wegmans Gift Cards (courtesy of the Ontario Beach Park Program Committee) and $100 in Rochester Public Market Gift Token packages (courtesy of Friends of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County).

Monroe County 4-H will host two free guided winter walks offering participants opportunities to complete two of the five activities. On Tuesday, February 22, is Twos-day “2-EET 2EET!” Guided Bird Walk at Mendon Ponds Park. Meet at 2:22 p.m. at entrance to Wild Wings, 27 Pond Road, Honeoye Falls.

More information can be found at http://monroe.cce.cornell. edu/events/2022/02/22/twos-day-bird-walk. Conifer Clamber is Saturday, March 19, at Black Creek Park. Meet at 10 a.m. at 3835 Union Street, North Chili. The exact meeting site at the park will

be relayed to registrants via email. Learn more at http://monroe. cce.cornell.edu/events/2022/03/19/4-h-conifer-clamber. Families can register for both free events at http://monroe.cce.cornell. edu/events.

“While hibernation is tempting for many of us during our upstate New York winters, we need to exercise our bodies and minds year-round to be our healthiest and happiest,” said Andrea Lista, Executive Director of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Monroe County. “So bundle up the kids, head to your county parks, and save the snowpeople!”

For full information, including the Save the Snowpeople registration link and the downloadable Save the Snowpeople mission guide, visit www.tinyurl.com/savethesnowpeoplechallenge. Hard copies of the Mission Guide are available at the CCE-Monroe Office, 2449 St. Paul Boulevard, Rochester. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Monroe County 4-H Program is offered through Cornell Cooperative Extension to the youth of Monroe County. 4-H is a worldwide youth development program open to all youth ages five to 19, who want to have fun, learn new skills, and explore the world. In return, youth who participate in 4-H find a supportive environment and opportunities for hands-on or “experiential” learning about things that interest them.

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My Hometown February 2022 | 9

My Hometown Neighbors

Meet Miss Mary Jo from the Gates Public Library

by Daniel Hoock If you have ever visited the children’s section of the Gates Public Library, there is a good chance you know Miss Mary Jo. When you first meet her, you are immediately drawn to her eclectic personality. There is absolutely no doubt that she was put on this Earth to be a children’s librarian. This year, she will be celebrating her 40th year in the profession (the last 34 of them spent in Gates). She is friendly, seemingly always has a smile on her face, and is completely against the stereotype that the library should be a “quiet” place.

Mary Jo grew up in Henrietta. She had a love of books at a young age, which is not a surprise to hear a librarian say. She also won a few poetry awards while she was in high school. This led to her majoring in English at SUNY Geneseo. She remembers taking a few library science classes during her first couple of years at Geneseo as being instrumental in her decision to attend graduate school in Buffalo to get her MLS (Master’s in Library Science).

She landed her first professional job in New Briton, Connecticut.

At that time, filmstrips, 45s, and comics were popular among library patrons. A few years later, she took a new position in Farmington, Connecticut. Mary Jo and her husband enjoyed life there, but when a children’s librarian job opened up in Gates in 1988, they were thrilled at the opportunity to move back home.

Clearly, they made the right move; she holds the same position to this day.

There is no question that Mary Jo loves her job. Everything in the children’s section has her stamp on it – from the selection of books to the puzzles and toys to the Early Learning Center (an area she lists among her top career accomplishments). She has played a major role in everything you see. Walking into the children’s area is like entering a colorful world that you would only find in picture books. Even on the rare occasions when Mary Jo is having a bad day (happens to the best of us, right?), she says that her interactions with the children can change that in an instant. She even described a philosophy about how books help us to understand people better, which can then help to make the world a kinder place.

You get the sense that Mary Jo could talk about books for hours.

Perhaps that sounds cliche, but a glow radiates from her when she begins to educate me on some of her favorite books. At the top of her list is Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. She calls it a “perfect” story and, after hearing her describe it page by page, I immediately went to the shelf to check it out. She also recommends anything written by Mo Willems. Our book conversation bounced from Magic Treehouse to Harry Potter to her childhood

Mary Jo in 1989.

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Miss Mary Jo has been the children’s librarian in Gates for 34 years.

love of Pippi Longstocking. When the question came up as to what fictional character she would most want to be, you could see the wheels in her head spinning. Eventually, she settled on Alice from Alice in Wonderland, in large part because of the magical world that was created by Lewis Carroll. We also discussed whether she had ever considered writing her own children’s book. After a smile and a long pause, the answer was no. Mary Jo explained that it was too hard to imagine herself being able to live up to all the amazing stories that have already been written.

Outside of work, Mary Jo clearly loves the arts (singing, movies, live music, theater), but also spends a lot of time in more active pursuits. She enjoys traveling, biking, and working out at the gym.

She lives with her husband, Andy, and has two children, Madelein (age 32) and Luke (age 22). Talking about them is the other topic that matches her enthusiasm for books.

There will come a day when we walk into the Gates Public Library and her desk will be occupied by someone else. It might not come anytime soon, as she seems as passionate and motivated in her 40th year as I imagine she was at the very beginning of her career. When she does decide to put a final period at the end of her impressive career, Miss Mary Jo will be missed by many. I suspect though, that her legacy will live on for a very long time, just like a storybook character from one of her favorite books.

My Hometown Holidays

Why Presidents’ Day actually goes by another official name An official list of federal holidays in the United States won’t feature “Presidents’ Day” among the observed holidays. Some may say that’s preposterous, as they’re certain that post offices and other federal entities are closed on such a day each February.

While the third Monday of February is commonly referred to as “Presidents’ Day” throughout the United States, the day is legally referred to as “Washington’s Birthday.”

According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, this holiday is designated as “Washington’s Birthday” in section 6103(a) of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for federal employees. Though other institutions, such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is OPM policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law.

The idea to give presidents a little extra fanfare originally was established in 1885 in recognition of George Washington. After his death in 1799, Washington’s birthday on February 22 became a day of remembrance, according to History.com. Its observance as an official holiday was signed into law in 1879 by President Rutherford B. Hayes. Originally, the holiday only applied to the District of Columbia, but in 1885 it was expanded to the entire country.

Abraham Lincoln, another revered American president whose birthday was February 12, also was largely celebrated during the month of February as a state holiday, particularly in his home state of Illinois. In the 1960s, when Congress proposed a measure known as the Uniform Monday Holiday Act that designated Monday as the day to celebrate various federal holidays, the proposal also

included a provision to combine the celebration of Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthdays to provide more equal recognition of these two influential leaders. The name Presidents’ Day was proposed at that time. However, when the bill moving the celebration of Washington’s birthday to the third Monday in February went into effect in 1971, Congress rejected the name change, so it remained Washington’s Birthday. That name stands to this day.

No matter what the holiday is called, Presidents’ Day offers citizens a chance to learn more about the history behind Washington and Lincoln - two pivotal statesmen in American history.

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My Hometown February 2022 | 11

My Hometown Schools

Byron-Bergen students attend National FFA Convention Five students from Byron-Bergen High School (BBHS) had the opportunity to travel to Indianapolis, Indiana for the 94th National Future Farmers of America Association (FFA) Convention & Expo.

Rachel Best, Maddie Pimm, Alex Schuck, Gracie Erin, and Brendan Pimm joined students from FFA chapters across New York state for the trip.

FFA is a youth organization for students who are interested in agriculture and leadership. Through agricultural-based, hands-on educational experiences, members develop the tools and leadership skills that translate into real-world personal and professional successes.

The event was held from October 27-30, 2021, and over 56,000 members attended. There are many activities at the convention, including an agriculture-focused career and college fair, judging of national finalists for various career and leadership development events, inauguration of the following year’s FFA officers, and presentation of FFA degrees to new recipients.

“My favorite part was the sessions,” said Pimm, a senior at BBHS. “A lot of the FFA members would go up and talk about how FFA has impacted their life and it was really eye-opening.”

Rachel Best, a BBHS senior, originally learned of FFA when attending animal science camps at Genesee Valley BOCES and had no idea it would lead to her not only meeting people from all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, but being asked to serve as a New York State delegate at the convention.

“It was really cool to get that experience, to work with the state officers and do the business portion of FFA,” said Best.

“I never realized how big of a necessity agriculture is, and I think without FFA I never would have learned,” continued Best.

“We’re not just cows and plows, we’re a big leadership organization. Before FFA I wouldn’t have even wanted to talk to you. Now, I don’t stop talking.”

“One of the major portions of FFA is that we’re getting agriculture leaders,” said Jeff Parnapy, FFA advisor and agriscience and FACS instructor at BBHS. “Maybe you are a shepherd, and you own these sheep, but you’re going to have to be that leader who has to speak up to your industry. Maybe it means becoming a member and a leader with your local farm bureau, or maybe you need to advise your legislators.”

Five Byron-Bergen students traveled to Indianapolis for the National FFA Convention in October.

Parnapy’s FFA involvement allowed him to qualify for and receive a $1,500 scholarship grant from the Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education (CASE) to use toward a CASE food science course in the summer of 2022 which will benefit BBHS’s agriscience program. The scholarship was sponsored by Farm Credit East.

While in Indiana, students were also able to visit the Cleveland Museum of Science and tour Fair Oaks Farms. The trip was organized by the NYS FFA alumni and supporters.

The National FFA Convention & Expo is held annually, and registration is open to all FFA members.

In 2022, the event will take place from October 26-29 at the same location.

Provided information and photos

12 | My Hometown February 2022

My Hometown Habitat

Winter Bird Feeding by Kristina Gabalski Bird feeding is a popular pastime for homeowners, particularly during the winter months. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says more than 50 million North Americans feed wild birds. The presence of wild birds in your landscape is a good sign, but is the supplemental feeding of wild birds helpful to them?

In an article entitled “Analysis: Do Bird Feeders Help or Hurt Birds?,” the Cornell Lab of Ornithology takes on that question and utilizes three decades of Project Feederwatch and Christmas Bird Count data to try to answer the question.

Both Project Feederwatch and the Christmas Bird Count are citizen science projects which help scientists at the Lab of Ornithology collect data on how often species use feeders and how species are doing over time.

The Lab of Ornithology recognizes that there is still much to learn about the impacts of feeding birds, including the possible indirect impacts on migratory species or on generalist predators that might impact populations of non-feeder birds, but their research did provide some positives.

Focusing on 98 species of birds that use feeders at least a moderate amount of time, Cornell found that species that use bird feeders the most tend to do just as well as, or better than, species that use feeders more sporadically. Cornell also considered the important role that bird feeding plays in connecting people to the natural world. “That joy and connection are not trivial,” Cornell notes.

“On the contrary, it can help people to engage in environmental advocacy and conservation action to help many species that need more than sunflower seeds.”

If you would like to set up a feeding station in your yard, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology offers these tips.

Winter can be an especially hard time for birds to find food, particularly after heavy snowfalls. A backyard feeder can help make life easier for birds and add enjoyment to your life. Setting up a feeding station where it is easy to see from the comfort of your home is

a great way to disconnect from screen time and learn about the species of birds in your yard and their behaviors.

There are several types of bird food from which you can choose, including sunflower seed, safflower seed, corn, millet, and suet cakes. Black-oil sunflower seed attracts the greatest number of species, Cornell says. The seed is very nutritious, high in fat, has a high meat-to-shell ratio, and is easy for birds to handle and crack.

Striped sunflower seed has a thicker seed coat and is larger. The Lab of Ornithology’s Seed Preference Test shows that high-energy black-oil sunflower is the favorite of most birds who visit feeders.

Choosing a standard seed mix that includes varieties of seeds most birds do not like can be wasteful.

Additionally, suet cakes available at many stores are attractive to insect-eating birds such as chickadees, woodpeckers, and nuthatches. Small, plastic-coated wire cages are the best way to offer suet.

If you can, offer water in the winter with an immersion-style water heater that can keep your birdbath unfrozen.

Choose sturdy, well-made feeders. Tray feeders are placed close to the ground for ground-feeding birds and can also be mounted on deck railings or posts. Hopper feeders are hung from trees or posts and are good for larger birds like cardinals, jays, and grosbeaks.

Tube feeders, which are also hung from trees and posts, are great for finches, titmice, and chickadees.

Keep your feeders clean. Wash them about once every two weeks with soap and water and a sturdy brush. Rinse well and allow to dry before re-filling.

Finally, Cornell advises to avoid overcrowding at feeders by placing feeders several feet apart. Keep food storage containers dry and free of mold and insects, and check your feeders for any sharp or damaged edges or parts that could scratch birds and lead to infection.

My Hometown February 2022 | 13

My Hometown Schools

Protecting our ecosystems at Churchville-Chili Middle School Fifth graders at Churchville-Chili Middle School have been learning about the importance of clean water in the environment, and on January 7 they welcomed Rochester Institute of Technology’s Environmental Education Specialist Kaeti Stoss to their classrooms to dive deeper into the subject.

Stoss is an ambassador for RIT’s water quality-focused environmental education programming for grades K-12. Her mission is to increase awareness and inspire young people to protect this vital resource. Fifth-grade classes had just finished a standard science unit on water and are venturing into a study of ecosystems and macro invertebrates, so Stoss’s presentation made an excellent learning bridge. Participating students learned about the unexpectedly high amount of water we use every day, the part water

Water samples contained a wide variety of healthy fish, insects, larvae and mussels.

plays in building healthy ecosystems, the many threats to water quality, and practical actions they can take to cut down on pollution. They were also introduced to the concept of pH and learned the effects acid rain has on waterways.

Students were then able to do several hands-on experiments with lab equipment and water samples from Irondequoit Creek that Stoss supplied. With the help of Churchville-Chili Enrichment Specialists Andrea Lynch and Stephanie Ricci, students tested the water’s pH and then examined their healthy stream water for myriad life forms, including tiny fish, crane fly larvae, and water beetles.

Team members tested water from Irondequoit Creek that was collected by guest Kaeti Stoss that morning.

Students compared their test tube samples to the pH chart to determine if the creek is able to support a range of healthy life forms.

14 | My Hometown February 2022

Provided information and photos

Students were asked to share their thoughts and experiences on how to keep waterways healthy.

My Hometown Legacy

Roberts Wesleyan Hall of Famer, Jack Fraser has died Roberts Wesleyan athletics hall of fame member, Jack Fraser passed away at Unity Hospital on January 9, 2022, at the age of 88. Fraser was a 1957 graduate of Roberts and had a long, rich history in Roberts Wesleyan athletics as a student-athlete, coach, and administrator.

Fraser was a member of the men’s basketball team from 1953 to 1957. He finished his career with 919 points, averaging 12.1 points per game over 76 total games. Fraser holds the record for free throw attempts in a season with 247.

Ten years after graduating from Roberts, Fraser returned to the athletics department to serve as Athletics Director and head coach for the men’s basketball team. Fraser coached basketball for seven seasons until 1974 when he transitioned to head coach for the men’s soccer team from 1974 to 1980. During his stretch with the soccer team, Fraser led the men to the NAIA National Championship game (1979). It was one of only three times that had been accomplished as a member of the NAIA. Fraser also earned NAIA Coach of the Year honors that season.

Fraser served as Athletics Director for 13 years (1967 to 1980).

He was inducted into the Roberts Athletics Hall of Fame in 1982.

“The Roberts community mourns the loss of Coach Fraser,” said Bob Segave, current Roberts Director of Athletics. “A friend and coach to many, Jack was a larger than life person to me who became a good friend. He was always there with his trademark strong handshake and a word of encouragement. He was always interested in the state of athletics at the college. As he shared his stories of the successes and challenges that came with the Director of Athletics chair, he was able to inspire me with his strong voice. I will miss that voice, but when days are tough I will hear my friend Jack’s strong voice guiding me.”

Jack is survived by wife Priscilla, sons John (Laurie) and James (Teresa) and daughter Jennifer (David), stepsons Andrew (Kimberly) and David (Jodi); 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

He was born November 9, 1933, in Monticello, in the Catskill mountains. He was an avid sports fan his entire life and had a love for the New York Yankees and Buffalo Bills.

A special achievement for Fraser came at the age of 86 when he recorded a hole-in-one at Churchville Golf Course on the fourth hole, witnessed by long-time family friend and Roberts grad David Heimberger.

In his later years, Jack enjoyed traveling with his wife Priscilla to beautiful parts of the country to visit children and grandchildren in Tennessee, Colorado, and Arizona.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jack’s memory can be sent to the Roberts Wesleyan College Athletic Department. A celebration of life will be held on February 19 at Pearce Memorial Church on the Roberts campus, 4322 Buffalo Road, North Chili.

Visit time with the family will take place on February 19 from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. and the Memorial Service will follow at 1:30 p.m.

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Jack Fraser

March 1st, 2022

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My Hometown Holidays

Popular candies share sweet words of love There are many ways to say, “I love you.” For Valentine’s Day celebrants, various sentiments may be expressed with candy - particularly candy hearts.

Candy hearts, also called Conversation Hearts® and Sweethearts®, are sweet, chalky confections that have been around for more than 100 years. The conversation about candy hearts began back in 1847 when Oliver Chase, a Boston pharmacist, wanted to get in on the apothecary lozenge craze that was popular at the time. Lozenges were common remedies for sore throats and bad breath, and were growing in popularity as a convenient medical treatment.

Chase invented a machine that could roll out lozenge dough and press it into perfect discs, a time-saving improvement on the manual process used until then. Chase eventually abandoned making lozenges and the pharmacy business, ultimately realizing his machine could be used to make candies. He formed the New England Confectionery Company and began producing what would eventually be known as NECCO wafers.

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Wanting to get in on his brother’s candy empire, Daniel Chase saw an opportunity to build on the growing popularity of Valentine’s cards by printing words on candy with vegetable dye during the cutting process. In 1866, conversation candies began as round confections and were much bigger than today’s heart varieties. It wouldn’t be until 1902 that conversation candy hearts became available.

Through the years, the candies became smaller and the sentiments expressed on the hearts have been updated to stay current with the times. Phrases like “LOL,” “BFF,” and “Text me” have replaced some less modern sentiments.

At the height of the candy’s popularity, NECCO estimated that it made nearly 100,000 pounds of the hearts each day throughout the year in preparation for Valentine’s Day. In 2019, NECCO filed for bankruptcy and did not produce the iconic candy hearts while it was being purchased by an investment company called Round Hill Investments, LLC. Round Hill decided to sell NECCO to another candy company. Fortune magazine reported Spangler Candy Co., which took over rights to NECCO’s iconic brands, would manufacture candy hearts in 2020. Similar conversation hearts also are available through Brach’s candy company.

Candy hearts have long been a way to share sweet words of affection and a sugary treat with the ones you love.

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My Hometown Sports

Saints wrestlers win tournament and division title

Churchville-Chili’s wrestling team won the Steve Garland Memorial Tournament on January 15, posting wins over Pavilion-York, Arkport-Canaseraga, Holley-Kendall, LeRoy, and Attica-Batavia. Evan Morse, Drew Hambley, Cael Raines, Tyler Jeffers, Coy Raines, Xander Tomaszewski, Jon Jeffers, Jeff Morgan, Jon Cullen, and Gael Sanchez all finished 5-0. Earlier in the month the team won the Monroe County Division II title for only the second time in program history. The last time the Saints won the division title was in 1966. Photo from @CCCSDWrestling on Twitter.

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