Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Evan Gaesser (left) took second place honors and Creagan Maclaren (right) was selected Mr. Kendall 2016 Friday evening at Kendall Central School.

KENDALL – Kendall High School Senior Creagan Maclaren was crowned “Mr. Kendall 2016” during the 3rd Annual Mr. Kendall Pageant Friday evening at Kendall Jr./Sr. High School.His “bio” in the program stated: “Cregan’s favorite activities in school (include) wrestling, golfing, and being an absolute lady killer.”

“I’m glad to finally take the crown,” Creagan said as he paraded around the stage following his victory. He wore his lion costume from the “Individual Talents” portion of the pageant. “Last year I got so close,” he said.

Contestants perform a group dance number at the opening of the Mr. Kendall Pageant Friday evening. They danced to the song, “It’s Raining Men.” The pageant was “crashed” by two female students – Student Council Event Coordinators Maddie Rath and Kacey Menge. Both were disqualified at the end of the competition for “not being males.”

Mr. Kendall Pageant contestants strut their stuff Friday evening during the workout wear competition.

Creagan was the only participant this year who also participated in 2015. Senior Evan Gaesser came in second place. Other participants were seniors Brandon Lewis and David Maslyn, and juniors Brandon Miller, Bobby Wilson and Kenny Price.

The tongue-in-cheek event is organized and hosted by members of the Kendall Jr./Sr. High Student Council and provides an opportunity for upperclassmen to “strut their stuff, show off their talents, and support a good cause,” the program states.

Mr. Kendall contestant Kenny Price (left) performs his “Teacher Impersonation” of instrumental music teacher Ashlea Strouse with the help of a fellow student.

Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Grace Lang/Amber Liese Memorial Walk in May. In recent years, the walk has benefited Teens Living With Cancer, the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, and the Kendall Ambulance. Grace Lang was a school nurse and Amber Liese, a Kendall graduate, died of cancer in 2010.

Participants competed in several areas: formal wear, a group dance number, teacher impersonation (an audience favorite), workout wear, strongest/smartest, sleep wear, interviews and individual talents.

Mr. Kendall contestants Creagan Maclaren (left) and Kenny Price (right) listen intently to a question during the “strongest/smartest” portion of the pageant.

The talent portion was won by Kenny Price; workout wear by Brandon Lewis; teacher impression by David Maslyn; sleep wear by Brandon Miller and interview by Ryan Barrett – who wasn’t an actual contestant, but who gave contestants their questions during the interview and managed to change his costume between each contestant.

Guest judges were former Student Council members Matt Schuth and Marisa Hanlon, former “famous teacher” Kris Stumpf, and Kendall Jr./Sr. High School Principal Carol D’Agostino.

Audience members were able to participate in the competition through social media. Student Council members Sarah Pieniaszek and Lexi Payton manned the Twitter booth and reported on tweets during the evening.

Contestant Brandon Miller – sporting his sleep wear – is questioned by Student Council Member Ryan Barrett during the personal interviews. Barrett changed costumes incredibly quickly between contestants.

Ryan Barrett wore a “Dorothy” ensemble to question Mr. Kendall contestant Bobby Wilson who was asked what his campaign slogan would be if he ran for president. Wilson responded: “Sponge Bob is awesome 24.”

Evan Gaesser, who took second place, performs “Artistic Stylings” during the talent portion of the Mr. Kendall Pageant. His “artwork” was a “Vote for Evan” poster which he presented to the judges.

Contestant Brandon Lewis performed “magical” for the talent portion. He made several items “disappear” by putting them in his pockets, throwing them away or tossing them off-stage.

Former Mr. Kendall contestants in attendance took the stage momentarily during judging. On the far right are brothers Mark and Adam Washington – the winners of the first two Mr. Kendall Pageants.

Photos by Kristina Gabalski
KENDALL – Abby Rice stars as The Cat in the Hat and Sarah Knapp is JoJo in the opening number of Seussical.

Tonight is opening night for Seussical, this year’s musical presentation at Kendall High School. This evening’s performance begins at 7 p.m. and performances on Saturday are set for 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. All performances are in the Jr./Sr. High School Auditorium. There will be additional activities for children at the afternoon performance on Saturday.

Sophomore Sarah Knapp plays JoJo, senior Abby Rice plays The Cat in the Hat and sophomore Caleb Henion plays Horton, the elephant, a part Caleb said he relishes.

“I love being Horton,” Caleb said. “He has a lot of powerful songs and I love singing loud. I get to fill the whole stage.”

This is Caleb’s fourth Studio K production through Kendall.

Members of the cast of Kendall High School’s production of Seussical perform “Oh the Thinks You Can Think.”

Horton and JoJo are characters with kindred spirits and Sarah Knapp says JoJo (a teenage resident of Who-ville) is trying to find his way.

“He’s a kid who doesn’t know what he’s doing,” she said. “He’s always getting into trouble.”

Eventually, however, JoJo finds acceptance because of his unique imagination. This is Sarah’s third Studio K production.

Senior Abby Rice has been in every Studio K production since seventh grade, but this year she has had to overcome a particularly difficult obstacle in taking a starring role in Seussical.

“I’m standing,” she said. “I had my knee replaced in December and I’m off my crutches.”

Abby said she is a cat person, which has helped in her role.

“It’s been a little bit difficult, but fun,” she said.

The three agree that the children’s stories of Dr. Seuss – on which the musical is based – transition well to the stage.

Tickets are available at the Kendall Jr./Sr. High School Main Office or at the door.

Seussical is directed by Michael Billotti (Drama) and Daniel Lauritzson (Music). Choreography is by Michael Billotti, Kierstyn Christensen, Michela Hanlon and Megan Hardenbrook.

Horton, played by Caleb Henion, is certain that he hears someone calling for help in “Horton Hears a Who.” Bird Girls and Jungle Animals look on.

Sarah Pearson portrays Mrs. Mayer and Ryan Barrett is Mr. Mayer in Kendall High School’s production of Seussical.

Michela Hanlon plays the Grinch.

Hanna Hofstra plays Gertrude, a bird who is trying to win the affection of Horton the Elephant.

Gertrude, played by Hanna Hofstra, listens while Mayzie, played by Morgan Reed, explains how she changed from a plain bird into “Amazing Mayzie.”

KENDALL – The 2016 round of NYS Grade 3-8 Assessments is just around the corner and parents in the Kendall Central School District Tuesday evening were invited to an informational forum presented by Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES on understanding standards and assessments in New York State.The district hoped that the presentation, which Monroe 2-Oreans BOCES staff has been making for its member districts, would help remove anxiety and misconceptions about new standards and the 3-8 tests.

Marijo Pearson, assistant superintendent for BOCES 2, and Bridget Harris, coordinator of the BOCES 2 MAARS program, presented information to district administrators, school board members, students and their families during the forum held in the Jr./Sr. High School Library.

Pearson noted there has been much press around the assessments as well as, “a lot of misinformation.” She explained the difference between standards – what students need to know – and curriculum – how the district will teach the standards. The four types of assessments – formative, benchmark, summative and state assessments – were also discussed.

Kendall Jr./Sr. High School Principal Carol D’Agostino said the new standards are having a positive impact on students.

“It’s a real application of understanding,” she said. “I see it coming to life in the classroom, it’s powerful.”

Pearson explained the status of the AIMHighNY survey which the NYS Education Department conducted recently to review Common Core Learning Standards and ensure those standards are right for New York’s students.

Work has just wrapped-up on analyzing the results and the process of revising standards will begin soon.

“They are looking at the standards and re-writing, fine-tuning them to make sure they are appropriate,” Pearson said. She noted the survey found ELA standards for preK-Grade 3 may be a little challenging as well as those for Math for K-Grade 4.

New standards are expected in the spring of next year and then districts will begin to re-align their curriculum documents, Pearson said.

Examples of Data Report and Analysis documents from State Assessments were explained and one parent in attendance expressed the worry she experienced when she first received her child’s NYS Education Department Score Report, saying she became anxious because she felt the results might be part of her child’s future transcript sent to colleges.

District officials in attendance and Pearson told the parent results of the Grades 3-8 Assessments are not part of a student’s transcript.

The assessments are not for graduation, Pearson explained.

“They are about where (the student) is in relationship to their peers, and help teachers learn what they need to do differently. It’s valuable for teachers,” she said.

Pearson said the state is working to make the reports better and easier to understand. She also announced the most recent changes for the 2016 Grade 3-8 Assessments.

The tests will have fewer questions and will not be timed. Students will have the time they need to complete the tests, she explained. There is also greater teacher involvement in both creating and reviewing the assessments and opportunities will be expanded for teachers to be more involved in future test development.

Finally, the state is moving to a new test vendor, Questar Assessment Inc. Questar has partnered with the State Education Department on the recent changes. Questar Assessment tests will be administered beginning in 2017, Pearson said.

In the near future, the state will release more test questions and release results before the end of the school year. Additionally, the Assessments will be completely computer-based by 2020, Pearson and Harris said.

Kendall School District Superintendent Julie Christensen said the entire presentation will be available on the school’s website (Click here).

Photos courtesy of Kendall Central School – Kendall students compete against staff in a game of scooter basketball.

Press Release, Kendall Central School

KENDALL – Kendall elementary students proved once again that they have caring hearts when the school celebrated a “Week of Character” from Feb. 8-12.

Students participated in activities that encouraged caring for themselves, their classmates and their community. They collected food donations for the Kendall Food Cupboard, participated in heart-healthy activities to take care of themselves and practiced using kind words and actions with their peers.

Students were encouraged to sit with a new friend during lunch, wear a team jersey one day and red another day to show team spirit, and take a walk with their class and use a water bottle at school to practice healthy habits. Ten boxes of donations were collected for the Kendall Food Cupboard by the end of the week.

On Friday, Feb. 12, Elementary Student Council members competed against faculty and staff in a game of scooter basketball. Participants sat on scooters and tried to shoot baskets at a moving target as they scooted around the gym after each other.

There is a sea of red as students and staff cheer on the competitors and performers during the Feb. 12 assembly.

Students attended an assembly on Friday where they participated in Drums Alive, a cross-curricular activity involving fitness and music. K-6 students rehearsed drum routines during the week with music teacher Jeremy Rath and physical education teachers Judy Weber and Justin Laureano, then performed them at the assembly. Students encouraged each other as they enthusiastically learned the routines and practiced their endurance when drumming.

Special area teachers also awarded golden trophies to acknowledge classes demonstrating exceptional caring. Classes received a golden sneaker, book, glockenspiel, tambourine, paintbrush, or mouse based on their behavior during physical education, library, music, art or technology classes.

Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Participants in this morning’s Lego Camp at Kendall Elementary school prepare Lego “vehicles” which will run down a “zipline.”

KENDALL – Dozens of Kendall Elementary students and their parents enjoyed a fun morning of creativity today at the first ever Lego Camp organized by the Kendall Recreation Department and hosted by Kendall Elementary School.

Kendall Recreation Director Michelle Werth said the first-time event is the brain-child of parent Alicia Charland, who wanted to offer something fun and creative for kids who might not have an interest in the Recreation Department’s many sports programs.

“We have 55 kids registered,” Werth said. “It was offered for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.”

Appropriately enough, kindergartener Cooper Hughes makes a Lego snowplow guy with Mrs. Colucci.

The morning started off with the construction of a Lego “worm” – a simple block structure in which participants tried to create the longest and most creative “worm” on a small Lego board.

Participants were then free to visit a number of stations where they could make Lego vehicles, Hexabug habitats, play Pictionary with Legos, make Lego constructions from bagged sets, make free form Lego figures and constructions, race cars with Mega Blocks, create Legos to run down a “zipline,” and more.

Large Mega Blocks were used in the Elementary School hallway to create a racetrack/obstacle course for toy cars.

Refreshments were provided and The Lego Movie and other videos featuring Legos were shown.

Alicia Charland said her sons love Legos and she knew they would really enjoy the Lego Camp. “We decided we would make it happen,” she said.

Legos were both donated and collected from garage sales and will be stored for use at future Lego events.

“We are thinking about a four-day camp in the summer that would likely be held in the mornings,” Charland said. She noted Legos fit well with the STEM-based school curriculum and are a great way for children to express their creativity.

Third-grader Stephen Elliott made a Lego speed boat during this morning’s Lego Camp at Kendall Elementary School.

Participants wore lanyards with their name and received a star to place on the lanyard each time they completed a project, or cleaned up after their snack.

“When they get five stars they become a Master Builder in Training,” Charland said.

She commended the many volunteers who helped make the event possible, including Kendall High School students. Charland was also impressed by the number of fathers who came to enjoy the event.

“It was three hours in the morning, something local and something affordable,” she noted.

Kendall Elementary Principal Sharon Smith attended and lent a helping hand. She said the camp was a great winter activity.

“We hope it is the first of many activities as part of a partnership between the school and the town,” Smith said. “Our doors will always be open for Kendall Recreation Department activities.”

The first-ever Kendall Recreation Lego Camp proved to be a popular activity during Winter Break week. The event was held in the Kendall Elementary School cafeteria.

Kendall High School students volunteered to help participants during the Lego Camp event, including 10th-graders, from left: Caleb Henion, Megan Hardenbrook and Michela Hanlon. They are at the Hexabug Habitats station.

KENDALL – Members of the Kendall Board of Education have approved $3.03 million in construction bids in the second phase of an upgrade at the school campus, a $25 million overall capital project ongoing since 2014.

The following bids were approved on Wednesday evening:

General trades – Holdsworth Klimowski Construction, Victor, NY for $1,903,000.
Plumbing – Thurston Dudek, LLC, Ontario, NY, for $284,400.
HVAC – Nairy Mechanical, LLC, Webster, NY, for $425,700.
Electrical – Suburban Electric of Albion, Inc., for $417,200.

Phase II of the project is much smaller than Phase I which included a new cafeteria at the Jr./Sr. High School and extensive improvements to school libraries, hallways, classrooms and the fitness room at the Jr./Sr. High School.

Phase II includes work on both the Kendall Jr./Sr. High School and Kendall Elementary School and will involve upgrades to elementary classroom bathrooms, the Jr./Sr High School Science wing and site work.

Remaining work from Phase I including the Jr./Sr. High School main office, main entrance and counseling area is expected to begin in June with completion of all Phase I and Phase II work expected by September 2016.

KENDALL – Members of the Kendall Town Board will continue to research and discuss solar energy options for the town.

Councilman Bruce Newell reported last week on NYS Affordable Solar /Community Distributed Solar – programs the state hopes will make solar easier and more affordable through community-driven initiatives.

Newell said the town is looking at “improving the energy situation,” and explained that he took part in a webinar in mid-December on the topic.

“There are two different approaches to get solar better distributed,” he explained.

The first approach includes additional support for low-income installations – households most in need of electricity cost reductions. Under this approach there is “double the amount of financial support” for installing solar in homes by helping homeowners overcome roadblocks such as not having the capital upfront for installation, Newell said.

The second aspect supports community distributed generation of shared solar. Newell said state programs provide opportunities for renters, homeowners, low-income residents, schools and businesses to join together to set up shared solar projects.

In Kendall, for example, the fire department, post office, town hall and schools could band together for community-distributed generation, Newell explained. He noted there is also interest in solar energy on the county level.

Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata told Newell to continue his efforts exploring solar opportunities.

“Green energy continues to be a hot topic at the county, state and national level,” Cammarata said. “We’ve got be ahead of the game.”

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Sixth-grade members of the Kendall Elementary School Student Council stand behind their new “Buddy Bench” as they explain its meaning and function to members of the Kendall Central School Board Wednesday evening at Kendall Jr./Sr. High School.

KENDALL – Sixth-grade members of the Kendall Elementary School Student Council presented a new “Buddy Bench” to Board of Education members during their meeting on Wednesday.

The new bench will be a place for students to sit who are looking for a friend.

“The Buddy Bench is for children feeling lonely or sad, or who want to make new friends,” the students explained.

Student Sara Mattle even wrote a poem about the project which was inspired by Christian Bucks, a second grader in Pennsylvania:

“We made it with some tools, some screws and a wrench.
So when you’re feeling lonely, you can have a seat on the buddy bench.
And then a friend will come, and ask you to play.
Then you and that new friend will have fun all day!”

Advisors Amy Leone and Vicki Spurr assisted the students with the project.

“The teachers talked about it and presented the idea to (Principal) Sharon Smith and (Superintendent) Julie Christensen,” Spurr said. “We felt it was something we needed.”

The bench is painted in a bright and welcoming shade of red and will be located on the elementary school playground. It will be installed in the spring.

“Thank you for all the work you have done,” Superintendent Christensen told the students.

The Buddy Bench will be dedicated with a plaque in memory of the father of Principal Sharon Smith, who said the students are already working to raise funds for a second Buddy Bench.

“They hope to have four eventually,” Smith said.

KENDALL – The Cottages at Troutburg is proceeding, slower than originally projected.

Town Councilman Bruce Newell provided an update on Troutburg during Tuesday’s Town Board meeting.

The Wegman Group is developing the 126-acre former Salvation Army camp along Lake Ontario into seasonal homes. The developer says the site has room for 400 units.

Newell and Code Enforcement Officer Paul Hennekey reported that the town recently received a letter from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation informing them that it has raised the number of cottages from 8 to 20 that can be served by a temporary sewage treatment process by which an on-site facility is used as a holding tank and pumped. Hennekey said there are currently eight cottages onsite.

“I would like to hear more explanation about why the DEC thought it was appropriate,” Newell remarked regarding the increase in allowable cottages built before the treatment plant is fully operational.

Hennekey said an official at the DEC told him the holding facility, which will eventually function as a treatment facility, will function better in that capacity once 20 cottages have been built and that there would be no problem constructing additional cottages and issuing certificates of occupancy.

Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata said he wants Hennekey to contact the DEC again in order to pin down a time for the DEC to come out and inspect the facility.

“If they can give you factual data (the town) would be more comfortable with where we are at this point,” Cammarata said, and explained that if the current set-up is adequate, the cottages could proceed, but if it is not, the DEC could make recommendations regarding what should be done.

Hennekey noted that work is progressing on getting the treatment plant operational.

“They are working on it – it could be weeks away or months away,” he said.

In other action at the town meeting, Kendall Highway Superintendent Warren Kruger was welcomed to the regular Kendall Town Board meeting Tuesday evening with a round of applause from Town Board members. High winds and snowfall this week have kept Kruger and members of his department busy. Cammarata noted Kruger had spent the better part of the previous 24 hours working.

“Warren has been out all night and all day and has done a terrific job to keep our roads safe and clean,” Cammarata noted earlier in the meeting. Kruger joined the meeting in progress and Cammarata had given the highway department report prior to his arrival.

“We very much appreciate everybody in the highway department’s efforts to make Kendall a safe community to drive through,” Cammarata said.

Kruger noted that crews and plows are holding up well.

“Winter’s here and it’s blowing and drifting, it’s not the snow it’s the wind,” he said.

Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Kendall Supervisor Tony Cammarata is sworn in to a second term in office by Town Justice Debbie Drennan. Cammarata’s wife, Sharon, holds the Bible.

KENDALL -Town Board members held their 2016 organizational meeting Tuesday evening. Newly elected Councilperson Barb Flow, Councilperson Margaret Lynn Szozda and Supervisor Tony Cammarata all took their oaths of office, officiated by Town Justice Debbie Drennan.

During his remarks, Supervisor Cammarata said he is “honored to serve” Kendall again as supervisor. In the coming year, he noted that, “New water districts will be our priority,” and added that a joint meeting will be held Jan. 13 at the Hamlin Town Hall regarding the distribution of assets from the former Hamlin-Kendall Water District.

Newly elected Councilperson Barb Flow was appointed to fill a vacancy on Town Board in the summer of 2015 after retiring as Kendall’s long-time recreation director.

Kendall Town Justice Debbie Drennan officiates as Kendall Councilperson Margaret Lynn Szozda takes the oath of office. Szozda was re-elected in November. Councilperson Barb Flow holds the Bible.

She was elected to the post in November. Councilperson Margaret Lynn Szozda and Supervisor Tony Cammarata were re-elected in November.

Additionally, council members approved a long list of appointments and designations including the appointment of Andrew Meier as town attorney; the appointment of Patrick Bolton as chairman of the Zoning Board of Appeals; the reappointment of Andrew Kludt as chairman of the Planning Board; the reappointment of Michelle Werth as director of Youth and Adult Recreation; the re-appointment of Heather Koch as town historian; the re-appointment of Eileen Grah as Town of Kendall librarian; and the re-appointment of Paul Hennekey as code enforcement officer.

Newly elected Town Councilperson Barb Flow takes the oath of office while her husband, Vince, holds the Bible.

Town Board meetings will be held the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Kendall Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd., and work sessions are scheduled for the first Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. and the Saturday preceding the third Tuesday of each month at 9 a.m.

The salary schedule for 2016 includes: Supervisor – $8,400.00; Councilperson (4) $3,120.00; Town Clerk – $28,428.00; Code Enforcement Officer – $11,400.00; Superintendent of Highways – $49,750.00; Justice 1 – $7,725.00; Justice 2 – $6,600.00.

LaBella Associates of Rochester was appointed the engineering firm for the town. Margaret Lynn Szozda was appointed deputy supervisor and Tony Cammarata was appointed budget officer.