Brockport students in grades K-12 will showcase their art skills to the community at the annual
district art exhibit May 21 to 25, 2018.

The exhibit is held at the College at Brockport's  Tower Fine Arts Building, located on
Holley Street.

An opening reception will be held Monday, May 21 from 6 - 8 p.m. in the  Tower Fine Arts Auditorium.

Student recognition ceremonies begin at 6:15 p.m. for students in grades K-1; 6:30 p.m. for
grades 2-3; 6:45 p.m. for grades 4-5 and 7 p.m. for grades 6-12. Student artwork will also be
displayed in the galleries, which will be open from 6-8 p.m. on the 21st.

Regular exhibit hours will be May 21-24 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and May 25 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Guests may park in a metered spot on the east side of the Tower Fine Arts Building (two hour
limit).

​The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Senior citizen residents of the Brockport Central School District are invited to a complimentary breakfast at A.D. Oliver Middle School, located at 40 Allen St., from 8 to 9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, May 15.

Hosted by student council members, the breakfast is held annually to recognize and support the important connections between our community’s youth and senior citizens.
 
The event includes a complimentary breakfast with student council members, staff, administrators and board of education members. Student performers will provide live entertainment during and after the meal.
 
Seniors are asked to RSVP via phone to 585-637-1860 or email to donald.voorheis@bcs1.org by Friday, May 11.

​One bus will be available for pick up at the Sweden Senior Center upon request. Seniors wishing to utilize the bus should include the request with their RSVP.

The local community-theater troupe, the BUM Players will stage their annual dessert-theater comedy at Brockport United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall at 7:30 p.m. April 13, 14, 20 and 21.

Witches Ball, written by Gary "Turk" Thomas, marks the theatre debut of Natalie Mesler, 12, of Clarkson, in the role of Sybil Clark, a precocious, spritely "witch-in-training" vainly trying to control magical powers beginning to manifest themselves. 

Rounding out the cast are adult actors Chuck Edwards (Sheriff Archie Dalton), Steve Richardson (Drew Powers), Paul Kimball (Forest Ranger Bob Paxton), Turk Thomas (Boyd Clark), Marita Keys (Witch Roxanne Taylor) and Bonnie Beiswenger (Witch Rosalynd Taylor). 

The play is directed by Thomas, with Mack McCarthy as Assistant Director. Serving as Co-Technical Directors are Thomas and Richardson. Jessica and Eric Sandler will serve as our Co-Dessert Coordinators.

Tickets are available in the Church Office 9 a.m. to noon, Monday through Thursday, or at the
door the nights of the show. Tickets may also be reserved by phoning the Church Office at 637-4240 or by calling 261-7381.

Prices are $9 general admission; $7 seniors (age 65+); and $20 per one-family household.

Delicious donated desserts and beverages will be available during intermission and are
included in the cost of the tickets.

Musical excellence earned twenty Brockport High School students induction into the Tri-M Music
Honor Society this year.

The Tri-M Music Honor Society is an honor society for secondary school music students that focuses on building leaders and music advocates. The goal of the society is to foster greater interest in musical performance and to provide more opportunities for personal musical expression.

Students are selected for membership in the honor society on the basis of musicianship, scholarship, character, leadership and service to their school and community. The organization’s
high standards serve to challenge students to greater effort and achievement and to encourage
them in the pursuit of excellence.

Twenty students from various music ensembles and classes were recognized during an induction
ceremony at Brockport High School on March 21.

As voted on by the candidates and current members, longtime music teacher Susan Boring was inducted as an honorary member for her dedicated service to the district music department and for upholding the standards and ideals of the Tri-M Music Honor Society.

The Brockport Tri-M Music Honor Society was formed last year under the leadership of music
teachers Kristen Swift and Victoria Valente.
​
New inductees:
Joshua Cappadonia
Hannah Christiansen
Jacob Coogan
Sam Coyle
Allie Cring
Neil Czerniak IV
Marlayna DiFante
Kaitlyn Fink
Abigail Foley
Claire Gratto
Jennifer Lippa
Lillyanna McNamee
Jenna Morganti
Ricky Noll
Laine Ramsay
Colby Riexinger
Sam Sevor
Natalie Smith
Austin Stroup
Allie Vergar

​On Sunday, April 22, the Village of Brockport will host the annual Canal Clean Sweep along the Erie Canal.

You and your family can help pick up trash along the north and south sides of the embankment between Park Ave. and Smith St.

To volunteer, meet at the Welcome Center at 11 Water St. at 1 p.m.

Garbage bags and gloves will be provided.  The NYS Canal Corp will provide free t-shirts to the first 50 event participants.

Volunteer registration is appreciated but not necessary at brockportny.org 

The Clean Sweep will end at the Corbett Park Pavilion (Smith and Clark Sts.).  There will be water, snacks and free Earth Day Celebration from 2 to 4 p.m.

​The celebration will include a make and take upcycled craft, pine cone bird feeder creation, composting demonstrations, information on reduce, reuse, recycle, and a Save Our Environment post card station. 

​The Community Hygiene Bank at Concordia Lutheran Church,   6601 Fourth Section Road
 (across from Wegman’s) will be open from noon to 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 10.

On a first come, first served basis, the bank will distribute personal care blessing bags. 

​Bags contain items for personal care such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, body wash, lotion, razors, toothpaste, feminine products, paper products, laundry detergent and cleaning items.                                                                   
Families and individuals in need (of any age) who live in the Brockport Central School District, as well as students from the College at Brockport, can receive bags.

Bags are free.  However, you must bring a photo ID and proof of residency (current bill with address) or a student ID.

In addition to the March 10 distribution, there will be distributions on May 12, July 14, September 8 and November 10 from noon to 3 p.m.

For more information visit  concordiabrockport.org/

Elementary and secondary teachers from the Brockport Central School District will go head-to-head during the third annual staff basketball game to benefit the Unified Sports Program.

​Game day is Wednesday, February 28. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. in the Oliver Middle School gym, located at 40 Allen St. in Brockport.

Donations collected at the door and proceeds from concessions and shirt sales will go towards
items such as awards and uniforms for the Unified Sports Program. More than $1,600 was raised
last year to benefit the program.

The Unified Sports Program pairs students of all abilities together to train and compete in
athletic games. Extending far beyond the scope of the game, the program inspires unity,
inclusion and empowerment for team members with and without intellectual disabilities.

Members of the Brockport CSD Unified Basketball Team will be honored during halftime.

Excellence in scholarship, service, leadership and character earned 45 Brockport High School
students admittance into the National Honor Society this year.

Students were presented with certificates during an induction ceremony held at Brockport High School on Jan. 8.

The evening began with greetings and remarks by High School Principal Dr. Brian Weller, then
National Honor Society advisors Patricia Arnold and Rebecca Barrett spoke about past NHS
successes and future opportunities.

This year’s keynote address was delivered by Garth Fagan, iconic dance choreographer born in
Jamaica who moved to Rochester where he established his own dance company.

Fagan inspired students with his messages of hard work leading to success. He shared the importance of both formal and experiential education and explained the philosophy of being demanding of oneself before putting demands on others.

The evening concluded with a reception for students, teachers and family members to celebrate
their tremendous accomplishment.

New inductees:
​
Lilly Bishop
Anna Burkhartzmeyer
Madeline Cherwonik
Jalyn Cox-Cooper
Rodric Cox-Cooper
Kathryn Crissman
Marlayna DiFante
Destinee Ellison
Brittany Ellsworth
Mya Enderle
Daniel Foley
Elizabeth Gardner
Dia Gauthier
Paul Gluck
Claire Gratto
Vander Hart
Erynn Hogan
Ashton Howlett
Wilson Huang
Adam Juzwick
Courtney Langelotti
Victoria Lesniak
Ashley Lippa
Jennifer Lippa
Madison Lloyd
Bryanna Manners
Marsella Monnier
Ann Marie Marseglia
Mateo Mortellaro
Alyssa Ouelette
Emily Parker
Laine Ramsey
Liam Schreiner
Sam Sevor
Colby Riexinger
Gina Sauro
Hannah Schultz
Jakeb Specht
Riley Spurr
Audrey Thurley
Kayla Thurston
Hannah True
Zach Turlington
Abigail VanGelder
Karina Zayas

In preparing my  February 4, 2018 Democrat and Chronicle column on the late Cpt. Robert Bager and Bobby's Valentines, I had the opportunity to talk to several of his friends from his time at the College at Brockport. 

Many of them had beautiful things to say about Bob and I want to share some of their words with you:
​
Bob was charismatic and had instant leadership skills, you never wanted to let him down or fail him.  He would listen to you and made you feel like you were a part of the team instantly.  In the fall of 2001 my National Guard unit was called up to respond to 9/11.  I remember going down there and helping out at ground zero and how it changed me.  I spent a lot of time talking to Bob about our duty to protect those who couldn’t protect themselves and to do good in the world.  He is the reason I joined the active army as an officer after that.  Gary Barney, Fairport

I had the honor and pleasure of knowing Bob Bager since my first day of college, when I was 18 years old.  From the first moment I met him, I knew he was a special person as his energy and personality would light up a room.   I was a few years younger than him and always saw him as another big brother and mentor.  He would always look out for me, as well as everyone else, and kind of became another guardian angel for many of us.  Scott Decaro, Victor
​
Bob was the epitome of a patriot, I always respected the fact that even though he did not have to go into the military, it was something he dreamed of doing and made his dream come true. The day Bob passed, society lost one of the good ones entirely too soon. Dwayne Hayward, West Henrietta

Buffalo Bills Defensive Backs Coach Gill Byrd will be the guest speaker at Brockport’s Christ Community Church at 10 a.m. on Super Bowl Sunday (February 4).

A former player for the Chargers, Byrd is currently in his 13th year as an NFL coach.  Byrd also coached cornerbacks for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014-2015, and coached for the Chicago Bears from 2006-2012. He began his coaching career with the St. Louis Rams in 2003.

Aside from playing and coaching, Byrd has been a corporate trainer and motivational speaker. He is the founder of a nonprofit called Players Chapel that uses Christian pro athletes to help raise funds for youth organizations. His personal faith story, involving conversations with Seattle Seahawks coach Sherman Smith, will be part of his talk.

Christ Community Church has been a part of the Brockport community since 1976, and this is their second major Bills connection. In late 2010, they brought in Jim and Jill Kelly to The College at Brockport to tell their personal journey with their son Hunter. The church is also well known for their “Bless Brockport” week every summer, where the church commits what they call “not-so-random” acts of kindness.

Christ Community Church is located at 36 Coleman Creek Road (across from the A.D. Oliver Middle School).

For more information, check out www.cccbrockport.org, or call the church at 585-637-3979.