District also approves buying produce from Partyka Farms

KENDALL – Board of Education Recognition Week is Oct. 26-30 and members of the Kendall BOE were honored at the board’s October meeting on Wednesday.

The five members of the board were presented with certificates recognizing their service. District Superintendent Julie Christensen said the district also had a gift for board members which they would receive in the near future and also read a proclamation from Governor Andrew Cuomo designating the last week in October as a time, “…acknowledging the commitment and contributions of members of local school boards.”

“They are volunteers, they receive no compensation,” Christensen said, noting Board of Education members work to support students and are rewarded by seeing students flourish. Their job involves “countless hours” of work.

“We appreciate your support,” Christensen told the board that includes President Nadine Hanlon, VP Chris Gerken, Charles Patt, Martin Goodenbery, and Chaley Swift.

In other business, board members awarded a bid to Partyka Farms in Kendall to provide fresh local vegetables and fruit to the school.

“We will be getting apples, cabbage and tomatoes from our local farmer,” Hanlon said.

Board members also approved a proposal for new elective courses which may be offered at the Jr./Sr. High School next year. Principal Carol D’Agostino said students were surveyed regarding what courses they would like to see offered and teacher input was also collected. She explained that good electives “energize the staff, and are courses students want to take.”

Potential new course offerings include robotics, world history on film, cooking around the world, fish and wildlife conservation biology, computer skills/keyboarding, statistics, AP physics and video game design.

During the visitors’ comments portion of the meeting, two members of the Kendall Sr. Class, who are also part of the school’s video game design club, spoke in favor of offering the game design elective.

Both Jake Richardson and Austin Clay told board members the elective should “be approved for a class.” Clay noted the course would fit well with the STEM curriculum. They told the board the game design club currently has 21 members.

Principal D’Agostino explained that decisions are still pending on exactly which courses will be offered. “Just because you approve them doesn’t mean they will run,” she said.

She noted there currently are staff members available to teach the courses. “We want to provide Kendall students with every opportunity,” D’Agostino said.

Christensen said the innovative electives would “help keep students here as well as prepare them for life after high school.”

Photos by Kristina Gabalski
KENDALL – Dark skies and cool temperatures didn’t prevent people from coming out today and enjoying festivities at the Kendall Community Scarecrow Festival Saturday.

Firefighting vehicles were moved outside the fire station to allow room for vendors to set up away from the cold and windy conditions outside. This year’s event included musical entertainment, wagon rides, a kid’s fun run, a K-9 Demo and St. Mark’s Farmer’s Market. The theme for this year’s annual contest was “Animals.”

The top photo shows a cute “doggie” scarecrow entered by the U.S. Post Office in Kendall.

A Noah’s Ark fit well with this year’s “Animals” theme.

The entry by the Kendall Lawn Chair Ladies was flamboyant and full of bling.

This entry was made by a class of sixth graders at Kendall Elementary School.

“Some Pig” was another entry outside Kendall Elementary.

Some of the entries, like this one on the lawn of Kendall Elementary School lost the battle with windy conditions.

A serpentine entry slithers its way out of a tree.

The Kendall Ladies Auxiliary’s entry featured a high-flying, cow-jumping-over-the-moon scarecrow.

The “Cameron the Chameleon” entry was very colorful.

A “life-size” Clifford the Big Red Dog is made of straw bales.

The Kendall Lions Club chose to create a lion scarecrow.

Maya Tatar, Grace Robinson (in blue) and Grant Johnson enjoy activities and vendors inside the Kendall fire station during the annual Community Scarecrow Festival.

KENDALL – Three students from the City of Rochester are part of the Kendall student body in 2015-16, the first year Kendall is participating in Urban-Suburban Program.

District Superintendent Julie Christensen reported to the Board of Education on Wednesday that the three Rochester students are in first, third and seventh grades.

“They are beautiful little girls,” Christensen said.

She noted they are on the bus for a little while, being the last stop on a route that also stops in Hilton and Brockport before reaching Kendall.

The Kendall Board of Education embraced the program to help boost student enrollment. The district also expects to receive abut $12,000 in aid for each student in the program.

Christensen reported that currently there are 719 students attending school in the district. That’s down from 727 last year at this time.

Kendall also is offering enrollment to non-resident staff children, with a charge for tuition.

District Student Services Coordinator Nick Picardo has a daughter in first grade at Kendall. The family lives in the Hilton school district.

Picardo told the Board of Education he is very happy to have her attending Kendall, where she has received a warm welcome. He noted that when asked which school she would rather attend she responded, “I would rather be in Kendall.”

“Thanks for that option,” he told the Board.

Kendall Central School’s Twitter page – Kendall Central School posted this photo on Twitter, showing a view from the commons back to the new cafeteria.

KENDALL – Kendall School District officials and Board of Education members say changes in both the Elementary and Jr./Sr. High Schools due to the ongoing Capital Improvement Project have boosted spirits and infused a positive energy into both students and teachers during the first week of the school year.

“The beauty of the building is just stunning,” Elementary School Principal Sharon Smith told Board of Education members on Wednesday during the BOE meeting. “Everybody who walks in is just stunned. There is a positive attitude amongst the kids, they were in awe.”

The Elementary School was not part of a community open house held just before the beginning of this school year, meaning those students got their first look at changes and improvements when the school year began. “The students have noticed,” Smith said.

The district says the new cafeteria is “a great place to eat. Sunny and inviting!”

Board President Nadine Hanlon thanked administrators and district officials for their work overseeing Phase One of the project, which is being completed.

“On behalf of the Board, I want to thank everybody,” Hanlon said. “It is just beautiful. I felt like my own house was being built.”

Board Vice President Chris Gerken said the project has been a source of pride for everyone in Kendall.

“The project affects the whole community,” he said, “It is nice that it is for the whole district.”

District Student Services Coordinator Nick Picardo, who works in both the Jr./Sr. High School and the Elementary School, said the results of the project have been “breath-taking.”

“I can’t even put it into words,” he said. “I commend the Board of Education. Kendall is a way better place today than it was in June. The buildings are something to brag about.”

Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Kendall students, parents, staff, teachers, administrators and community members enjoyed their Sports Boosters’ Chicken Barbecue in the brand new cafeteria.

KENDALL – Expressions such as “I love it,” “It’s beautiful” and “It’s so different,” could be heard throughout Kendall Jr./Sr. High School on Thursday evening as the community toured the major capital improvements at the school.

“Everyone is really excited,” Principal Carol D’Agostino said. “Everyone thinks it is so bright and new.”

She noted that the open house to kick off the school year was truly a community gathering with the Sports Boosters’ Chicken Barbecue, informational displays/booths set up by GCASA, WEMOCO, Kendall Music Boosters and the Kendal PTSA, which sold root beer floats for $1. Entertainment was provided by Kendall band and chorus students.

Members of the Rice family enjoy their chicken barbecue in the new cafeteria at Kendall Jr./Sr. High School during an open house Thursday evening. Sitting along the left side are Tim, Olivia, Abby and Chuck Connor. On the right are Michelle and Katie. Michelle Rice was impressed with the renovations. “It’s very nice, we love it,” she said. One of her daughters begins seventh grade at the school this year and another will graduate in 2016. “We couldn’t believe all the nice improvements,” she added.

The school campus has received extensive renovations, plus a new cafeteria in the Jr./Sr. High School, all part of a $25 million capital project.

“People are walking in and saying ‘Wow,'” Kendall Superintendent Julie Christensen said. “They say it is beautiful and amazing. People who went to school here are shocked at the transformation. The kids are beaming.”

Kendall Jr./Sr. High School Librarian Sara Baglioni stands in the newly renovated, re-decorated and tech savy library. Upgrades include a smart board and wired tables for laptops and other electronic devices. New upholstered seating offers space to relax, read and study. Baglioni says she got her first glimpse on Tuesday. “I was completely taken aback with the change and how wonderful it is,” she said.

The project includes new roofs for both the Elementary and Jr./Sr. High School buildings, as well as energy efficient improvements, heating and ventilation work, and updated security measures. Both sites also have improvements to parking lots and sidewalks.

“I haven’t been here in 16 years,” former Kendall student Kate Czeh said. “I’m getting lost. It’s so different. It’s beautiful. I don’t even recognize it as Kendall.”

Debbie Nowak, a member of the custodial staff for 20 years, said it is the biggest construction project to take place in the time she has worked at Kendall.

“It’s been a lot of work, it’s been non-stop cleaning,” she noted and added that the project still isn’t complete. “It will be a another year before it’s done.”

Students also had the opportunity to set up their lockers in preparation for the first day of school.

Kendall 8th grader Ashlyn Fowler found all the changes a bit disorienting, “I think I’m gonna get lost,” she said while preparing for the start of the school year. Her mom, Jennifer, who went to Kendall, is pleased with the changes. “It’s different,” she said. “I love it with all the Kendall blue and white.”

The open house was well-attended and community groups set up information tables. Those attending enjoyed cookies and lemonade.

Press Release, Sheriff Scott Hess

KENDALL – A Holley woman is facing charges for driving while intoxicated, Aggravated DWI, Driving with a Blood Alcohol Content at .08 percent or higher, Endangering the Welfare of a Child, and Leandra’s Law, following a 2-car crash this afternoon in the Town of Kendall.

The incident occurred at about 3:15 p.m. at the intersection of West Kendall Road and Roosevelt Highway (Route 18).

A 2005 Chrysler Suburban was traveling north on West Kendall Road. The driver failed to yield right-of-way at the stop sign and made a wide right turn into the path of a 2015 Chevrolet pick-up truck travelling west on Route 18. Collision between the two vehicles subsequently occurred.

The driver of the Chrysler is identified as Kristen E. Richardson, 45, of Holley. There were two 13-year-old children in her vehicle. One child was Richardson’s, and the other was the child of a friend. Neither Richardson nor her passengers were injured.

The driver of the Chevy truck is identified as Gregory A. Fitch, 52, of Olcott in Niagara County. Fitch’s children, ages 15 and 19, were passengers in his vehicle. Neither Fitch nor his passengers were injured.

Following the arrest process, Richardson was released to the custody of her husband. She will appear in Town of Kendall Court on Sept. 14.

The incident investigation and arrest was conducted by Deputy A.L. Jenks, with assistance from Deputy B.M. Larkin.

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Newly appointed Kendall Recreation Director Michelle Werth is ready to get to work in her office at the Town Hall.

KENDALL – Kendall’s new recreation director is well prepared for the job.

Kendall native Michelle Werth graduated from Kendall High School in 1994 after growing up playing rec. sports. She has coached teams, served as a recreation commissioner since 2010, and she has three young boys currently involved in the Kendall recreation program.

“I have now transitioned into this role,” she says of her new position.

Her children, ages 9, 6 and 4, “all play soccer, baseball and basketball.”

Werth took over the position Aug. 1 with the retirement of long-time director, Barb Flow.

“I’m nervous and excited about taking this on,” she says, and adds that she is happy Flow is nearby for guidance and advice.

“Barb has been great,” she says. “I can call her anytime.”

Flow is still a presence at the Town Hall. She was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Town Board, effective Aug. 1.

The Kendall recreation year just came to a close and Werth says this is a great time to start fresh. She says she has several ideas for the department including looking into programming for kids that goes beyond sports, “perhaps a Lego camp or a kids craft night,” she says.

She would also like to see youth who participate in the recreational sports program reach out and become involved in service projects to engage them further in their community.

The entire Rec. Department should have a greater presence in the community, Werth explains. She envisions the department serving as a place where people who work on events like Home Grown Days and the Scarecrow Festival can come and work together.

She would also like to see more girls become involved in sports programs.

Additionally, Werth says she would like to have recreation commissioners more involved in programming including both sports and community programs, with certain commissioners focusing on the area of their expertise.

A greater presence online is also a priority and Werth says she is looking at recreation departments in nearby communities to “see what other towns do.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – An early morning fire at a lakefront house in Kendall destroyed the home owned by MaryAnne Wedow.

The top photo shows fire from the attic. Fire officials said an investigation will continue into the cause of the fire at 16003 Lomond Shore West. No one was injured in the blaze.

Firefighters were dispatched at 12:33 a.m. for a house fire.

Two firefighters are up on the roof, trying to ventilate the smoke from inside.

The fire was smoky on the narrow road where houses are close together.

Firefighters work on the exterior of the house. Some of the walls were cut open to let out smoke and make it easier to put out the fire inside.

Firefighters head to the roof, including one firefighter with a chainsaw to help ventilate the roof.

This firefighter uses a ladder for support while cutting into the roof.

There were firefighters from Kendall, Holley, Carlton and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray at the scene.

A National Grid truck arrived about 2:15 to disconnect power from the house so there weren’t live wires on the property.

Contractors have been busy at Elementary School

Photos by Kristina Gabalski

KENDALL – Kendall Jr./Sr. High School Principal Carol D’Agostino, left, and Board of Education President Nadine Hanlon see some of the improvements to the Kendall Elementary School Cafeteria, including new flooring.

Students at Kendall Central School will return to school next month to buildings that have received extensive makeovers as part of a $25 million capital project.

The project includes new roofs for both school buildings, as well as energy efficient improvements, heating and ventilation work, and updated security measures. Both sites will also see improvements to parking lots and sidewalks.

Members of the Kendall Central School District Board of Education and administrators toured both school buildings Wednesday evening following the regular school board meeting to see how the capital project is progressing just weeks before school opens. Here, Project Manager Vince Donowski shows them work being done in the District Office located in the elementary school.

An eagle on the second-story facade of Kendall Elementary School overlooks construction materials in the front yard. Part of the Capital Improvement Project includes work on the front entry steps and stone. This photo was taken from the second-story library.

Shiny new tile brightens up a hallway in the Kendall Elementary School. Work this month at the school has included ceilings, casework, painting, flooring, HVAC equipment connections, equipment placement and assembly in the basement and boiler rooms, grading and paving of the parking lot, skylights and front entry foundations.

In addition to duct cleaning, asbestos abatement, ceiling and floor replacement and painting, work in the Elementary School also included some restoration. District officials decided to keep the original wood entry doors which have been refinished.

Orleans Hub will post photos from the Junior-Senior High School later today.

That school was built in 1971 in an “open classroom” model that didn’t include contained classrooms. The school included partitions to try to reduce noise and hallway distractions. The capital project gives all the classrooms four walls and their own door.

The district will have an open house for the community on Sept. 3 to tour the renovated Junior/Senior High School.

For more information on the project, click here.

Photos by Kristina Gabalski

KENDALL – Kendall Board of Education members and school administrators toured the Jr./Sr. High School on Wednesday evening. The school is receiving major renovations, including a new cafeteria with a wall a windows.

Kendall school officials look at exterior work on the Jr./Sr. High School. New PVC roofing is being installed as well as metal panels which will update the look of the facade.

Work in the school includes new placement of the main corridor and refurbishing of other corridors which now feature bright white and blue tile and flooring.

The bright blue and white color scheme continues in classrooms. This is a middle school classroom featuring a bright blue wall to contrast with the white walls in the rest of the room.

A water fountain in the Jr./Sr. High school features a spot to fill water bottles.

New public restrooms just off the cafeteria feature intricate tile work in Kendall School colors.

The district is planning an open house for parents, students and other community members at the Jr./Sr. High School on Sept. 3 from 4 to 7:30 pm.

The event includes a Sports Boosters’ Chicken BBQ. Kendall band and chorus students will provide entertainment and tours/locker setup/meet and greet teachers and administrators will be from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Roof work is well underway on the exterior of the Kendall Jr./Sr. High School.

KENDALL – The excitement continues to build in Kendall where major portions of the Kendall Central School District’s Capital Improvement project are expected to be complete by the beginning of the school year, now about one month away.

District Superintendent Julie Christensen gave an update on progress of the project during her report at the regular School Board of Education meeting Wednesday evening.

“I can’t wait for the kids to come in,” she said of the return of students in early September. Christensen explained that the main entrance to the Jr./Sr. High School will look very different to students.

“It’s now a bright space,” she noted. “You can see light from the door.”

Work on the new cafeteria and the middle school wing are wrapped up, Christensen said, and the library is also undergoing a transformation.

“The library will look totally different,” Jr./Sr. High School Principal Carol D’Agostino said. “It will look more like a college resource area.”

This rendering from SWBR Architects shows how the Junior-Senior High School will look after renovations. The top left picture shows the school before renovations.

The Commons area will also be transformed into a study hall/ gathering spot, much like on a college campus, both D’Agostino and Christensen said.

D’Agostino is keeping the community updated on progress of the project on the school’s twitter page.

Superintendent Christensen also updated ongoing work at the elementary school. Progress is moving ahead of schedule on the roof. Painting of the interior is ongoing as well as the installation of new floors. Christensen said the primary wing is done, the west wing by the gym is done and the kindergarten area is close to being done. Upstairs, the classrooms are done and work on the art room will start soon.

“The sixth grade is the last spot to come back online,” she noted, adding “the parking lot is moving along.”

Kendall residents approved the $25 million capitol project in May 2013. The district then worked with the State Education Department on the final designs for the work. Construction started last October.

“The Jr./Sr. High School is a real transformation,” Christensen added. “The Elementary School is a face-lift.”

Students will see the transformation for the first time during a community open house planned for Sept. 3. Tours begin at 6 p.m. and a chicken BBQ will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. The jazz band and chorus are expected to perform.

“We want to make it a celebration,” D’Agostino said.