It has been a busy week in our town and a very successful one for the 11 young people who will benefit from the yard sale held on Saturday by the Springwater United Methodist Church. Many people donated items to be sold so school supplies could be bought for these children. With the help of volunteers from my family and people who are members of the Springwater congregation, enough money was collected to fill all of the items listed on the teacher’s school lists for these children. Not bad for a first time effort where only a few items were priced over 25 cents.
Items not sold were sorted and distributed to the Asbury First United Methodist Church in Rochester that sponsors a program for people re-entering the work force who need good clothing items suitable for job interviews and work. Household items not sold were donated to the Zion House in Avon where young women veterans are given assistance in finding work and transitioning into their own homes after their military service.
Pastor Ray Shaw was in attendance greeting the buyers, meeting and thanking the residents who were not necessarily church members but were supporters of the project. Terri White, who coordinated the Fall Giveaway project on behalf of the church and the Hand Up program, assures me that this event will continue until there is no longer a need. All of us involved in Saturday’s project thank the volunteers, the people who donated some very nice and usable items, and the many people who made donations beyond what they purchased.
Last Monday, the Springwater town board held their monthly work meeting and several matters were brought before the board. Supervisor Deborah Babbitt-Henry named the new Town planning board committee and their terms of service: Bob Raidell for seven years, Judy Tripp-Neu for six years, Laurie Hill for five years, Mike D’Ambra for four years, Nancy Pennell for three years, and Jackie LoFurno for two years. There is a vacancy currently existing for someone to serve the one year term and that information will be posted by the town clerk. Anyone wishing to serve on this committee should contact the town supervisor at 585-669-2545 or get an application from the town clerk during regular business hours. Two alternate nominees, Steve Todisco for one year and Adam Tatlock for two years, declined permanent status due to prior commitments but agreed to fill in when necessary.
It has been a busy week in our town and a very successful one for the 11 young people who will benefit from the yard sale held on Saturday by the Springwater United Methodist Church. Many people donated items to be sold so school supplies could be bought for these children. With the help of volunteers from my family and people who are members of the Springwater congregation, enough money was collected to fill all of the items listed on the teacher’s school lists for these children. Not bad for a first time effort where only a few items were priced over 25 cents.
Items not sold were sorted and distributed to the Asbury First United Methodist Church in Rochester that sponsors a program for people re-entering the work force who need good clothing items suitable for job interviews and work. Household items not sold were donated to the Zion House in Avon where young women veterans are given assistance in finding work and transitioning into their own homes after their military service.
Pastor Ray Shaw was in attendance greeting the buyers, meeting and thanking the residents who were not necessarily church members but were supporters of the project. Terri White, who coordinated the Fall Giveaway project on behalf of the church and the Hand Up program, assures me that this event will continue until there is no longer a need. All of us involved in Saturday’s project thank the volunteers, the people who donated some very nice and usable items, and the many people who made donations beyond what they purchased.
Last Monday, the Springwater town board held their monthly work meeting and several matters were brought before the board. Supervisor Deborah Babbitt-Henry named the new Town planning board committee and their terms of service: Bob Raidell for seven years, Judy Tripp-Neu for six years, Laurie Hill for five years, Mike D’Ambra for four years, Nancy Pennell for three years, and Jackie LoFurno for two years. There is a vacancy currently existing for someone to serve the one year term and that information will be posted by the town clerk. Anyone wishing to serve on this committee should contact the town supervisor at 585-669-2545 or get an application from the town clerk during regular business hours. Two alternate nominees, Steve Todisco for one year and Adam Tatlock for two years, declined permanent status due to prior commitments but agreed to fill in when necessary.
The next meeting of the Springwater town board is the last opportunity the public will have to ask questions or give their opinions on the anticipated water rate increase. That meeting is Aug. 27 at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall. Any homeowner or landlord affected by the water rate increase is encouraged to come to this meeting and find out firsthand what the new charges will be for service, repairs, and water usage. This is not a public hearing, simply an opportunity for people impacted by these changes to respectfully give their input and ask questions.
Another item of great interest is the proposed merging of the Springwater Fire Department’s ambulance service with that of the Wayland Fire Department’s ambulance service. The fire commissioners are researching the possibility of forming a corporation between the two ambulance services and going to a paid system of service. As reported by a member of the Springwater Fire Department who attended these meetings, this merger would allow for fewer dropped calls, and eventually put into place a system similar to that in Bloomfield and Livonia. All calls for service would probably result in transports to a hospital simply because Medicare and Medicaid will not pay for ambulance service otherwise. This is still in the research stage but it is anticipated within the next six months it will become a reality.
The cost of paid service is not cheap. Babbitt-Henry related in previous discussions that she received a bill for the services provided to her family member in excess of $1,000 this past winter and she actually transported the ailing person to the hospital. It is time we re-educate all of our family members on what constitutes a real emergency when we should dial 911 for service. It is not for the simple tummy ache, toothache or headache.
Serious emergencies usually involve bleeding, loss of consciousness, chest pains, breathing problems, imminent births, etc. If we start now in re-educating our family members and rely more on our urgent care programs provided by our hospitals and doctors’ offices, we can eliminate the waste of tax dollars and delays in emergency rooms for non-emergency calls. Our volunteer members in the ambulance service respond from their homes and their jobs for calls to the 911 service and they are losing precious time for calls that could easily be handled with a phone call to the family doctor. We are going to have to rely more on family members, friends, neighbors and our own devices for assistance in non-emergency situations, and learn to call 911 for true emergencies.
The Springwater Board of Fire Commissioners meets again to discuss this proposal on the first Tuesday of every month at 7 p.m. and more residents should attend these meetings to hear firsthand their discussions. All too often only a few people decide important issues that impact our whole community, so if you want to be part of this planning process, you need to mark your calendars and attend some of these meetings.
Another item that Babbitt-Henry discussed was that of maintaining the town cemeteries. East Avenue/Capron, Green Gull and Ford/Christian do not receive regular maintenance because they have no cemetery association. Babbitt-Henry has stated many times that she will find the necessary funds to provide gas and trimmer string for neighbors who want to adopt these cemeteries and tend to them with loving care.
Using people who are weekend inmates at Livingston County Jail has allowed us to keep one step ahead of total abandonment of these cemeteries, but we need to do a bit better. Many of these cemeteries are the final resting places of people who put their blood, sweat and tears into making Springwater the town it is today and they deserve our best efforts to keep their final resting places in good order. As deputy town historian, I receive many calls and e-mails from descendants of these early settlers who have come into Springwater from out-of state looking for the final resting places of their ancestors only to be met by deplorable conditions.
Town Historian Havilah Toland is mending nicely from his knee replacement surgery and was also present at the last Town board meeting. He reminded all dozen people present and the town board that we will soon begin planning the town’s bicentennial celebration. Our town was founded in 1816 from parts of Sparta and Naples.
Homer Fogle, Tom Canute Sr. and Joyce O’Neil all responded to last week’s inquiry regarding Slaughterhouse Hill Road. As I now know it is at the end of Mill Street extension and I will soon be asking homeowners there if I can check out the property for possible grave sites. Thank you for taking the time to call me with the information. I should remember that our former milk route people know most of the roads that are now abandoned, and I am most grateful for the information you provided.
Karen Deutsch of the Wayland Free Library wants everyone to know space is limited on the bus carrying people to the Big Band Christmas Spectacular at the King Concert Hall-Rockefeller Arts Center at SUNY Fredonia on Dec. 6. Cost of this trip which includes lunch is $109 and one-half of the payment is due by Sept. 21.
Plans are underway for a Christmas-themed gala to bring people into town and perhaps start a tradition of activities that will highlight Springwater in the winter. More help is needed to make this a reality and there is plenty of room for individuals to participate both in the planning and execution of these festivities. A Holiday in the Park theme with participation of choral groups of all faiths and some fun winter activities for everyone is one idea being floated. Lighting Main Street and having Christmas banners is another goal. Supervisor Babbitt-Henry is behind this promotional event and the Springwater-Websters Crossing Historical Society also has some plans for a fundraiser to coincide with Christmas. This could be fun and I am up for the challenge. Anyone who cares to join me, call me at home at 585-669-2683 or e-mail me anytime at jtrippneu@aol.com.
Have a great week!
