Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 8

8A DEMOCRAT AND CI IRON I CI, MONDAY, JUNK 23, 1997 Officials fear the tracks will still attract teens Teen-agers, village and Con rail officials hope the tragedy will keep people off the tracks, but all agreed that eventually some will return. "It's a horrifying tiling that happened," said Conrail spokeswoman Chris Wagner. "We hope families will take this opportunity to sit down and talk to their kids." Because Conrail and Monroe County sheriff's deputies routinely patrol the area, the only other method of prevention is continually trying to educate people about the dangers, Wagner said. Lifesaver, a national railroad safety organization, works with train companies, police and fire departments throughout the United States to get the word out, Wagner said. HV STAIT WRITER ANNETTE JIMENEZ I'lTTSFORD The deaths of two Brighton teen-agers, who were struck and killed by a train, won't others from hanging out along the village's railroad tracks, officials and teen-agers said yesterday.

"It should bo a wake-up call for cops to bo down there more," said Scott Roblin, 14, who will bo an eighth-grader at Pittsford Middle School. "It should be a wake-up call to parents (to ask) 'What are my kids doing? Why are they up Melissa Klotz, 14. and Jason Pollack, 16, were killed Saturday while with a group of six others on a trestle over the Erie Canal. through the village since the 1870s, Corby said. Saturday's accident was the second since that time, he said.

Another Pittsford teen-ager was killed in the early part of this century as he tried to catch a ride on the train, Corby said. Teen-agers gathered yesterday along Schoen Place and biking near the trestle said the area is a magnet for teens. Shane Mockboe, 17, of Pittsford, heard the train and people screaming after Saturday's accident. Mockbee spent time at the trestle until last September, when he was caught trespassing by police. "Nobody's going up there now, unless people don't know about" the accident, he said.

The organization will investigate how to better get the word out in Rochester and Pittsford because of the tragedy, she said. "Taking a stroll down a railnmd trestle is like taking a stroll down a major runway at Kennedy Airport," Wagner said. They're taking their lives in their own hands." Conrail trains travel through the Pittsford area daily. Saturday's freight train was traveling about 40 mph, which is the speed limit through the village, said Pittsford Mayor Robert Corby. The conductor of the 77-car train apparently hit the brakes as soon as he saw the teens, but it takes a train that size two miles to stop, officials said.

The train line has been going HIGH TECH WITH A SOFT TOUCH. Silhouette window shading! from Hunur Douglil Not quite a Mind, not quite a shade. Silhouette features soft-silky fabric vanes that float between two sheer facings. Experience this 1 beautiful window fashion today. The Best Price in town! Sacrifice doubles the sorrow in train tragedy in Pittsford Funeral arrangements mismm "Maybe we can make something good come out of this," he said.

Her mother hopes another tragedy can be avoided. "But it's just kids," she said. "Kids do what kids do and you think you'll always be there to catch them when they fall but you can't always be there." Includes reporting by ataff writer Lisa Hutchurson. Calling hours for Jason Pollack and Melissa Klotz are scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the Anthony Funeral Chapel, 2305 Monroe Brighton.

A funeral service for Jason is scheduled for 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Twelve Comers Presbyterian Church, 1200 S. Winton Road in Brighton. Funeral services for Mefissa will also be Tuesday, but a time and location had not been determined. WiWsnewatwiixcluIds school? Find out in Our Schools every Friday.

i TI 1 I MOLT WW I I i One Week Bonus Sale Fact: 50 of all illnesses are either caused by or aggravated by polluted indoor air. -nun FROM l'AGF 1A would never leave a friend. He was a member of the Brighton High School varsity wrestling team and had been dating Melissa for eight months. "Jason was a very loving, warm boy who loved his family and his friends," said his grandmother, Joanne Keegan. "I think he proved that at the end.

He died trying to help a friend that needed his help." Relatives said they did not know why Jason and Melissa had gone to the railroad bridge over the Erie Canal in Httsford on Saturday afternoon. Cagnina had spoken with her daughter shortly before the accident. Melissa told her she would be hanging around with friends, but did not say they were heading to the bridge, near Monroe Avenue. "Melissa was terrified of heights," Cagnina said. "I can't even believe she mustered the strength to got up there." Cagnina was shopping for a graduation present for Melissa's sister, Jessa, Saturday afternoon when police came to their house.

Jessa, 17, was the only person home at the time and had to notify her mother and father by phone. "It's been very hard on her," Cagnina said. The bridge was a popular spot for students who liked to "scum jump" a nickname for jumping into the canal. Melissa and Jason were playing on the tracks of the bridge with six other teen-agers about 2 p.m. when they heard a train approaching.

The tried to escape but Melissa, who was wearing "jelly sandals," got her foot stuck between railroad ties. ONLY 10 PER VENT No charge for the main duct eg.J79). yourself, Why? Why does it have to happen to the good A number of Melissa's and Jason's friends met last night at one of their houses to discuss the tragedy. "I think it's going to affect everybody," David Kwong, 16, who was a friend of Melissa's. "They were very popular kids." Melissa, a freshman, was known to her friends as her mother said.

"She was just a little shining star," she said. "She was a wonderful dancer and an artist." At least six counselors will be available at Brighton High School today to meet with students. The last day of school was Friday but students will be milling around the school as their grades are posted. "It has to be one of the most tragic, if not the most tragic thing ever to happen here," said Paul Principino, a counselor at the high school for the past 19 years. Melissa's father, Philip Klotz, said he may set up a fund in his daughter's name which would be used to promote awareness of train safety.

JIRO OSE staff photographer Remembrance Flowers mark the scene of the accident on the trestle in Pittsford. Jason was able to free her foot just before the train overtook them, pinning Melissa down and throwing Jason to the water below. "Jason wouldn't leave a friend and obviously he went back for Melissa," said Tony Gentile, who was his wrestling coach in the eighth grade. "That's what should be remembered of him." A sophomore, Jason was on the wrestling team this year. He played football and lacrosse last year but had temporarily left those teams while trying to improve his grades, said Marc Nelson, who had coached him in football and lacrosse.

"He was an extremely hardworking kid, very straightforward, respectful kid," said Nelson, who also knew Melissa because she was a cheerleader. "The type of kids you have to ask i Mjiiirk2 FREE VENTS SAVE $20 Docs anyone in the liou.se sutler from headaches, nasal congestion, or other sinus problems at night, or in the mornings? Do you notice a "stale" or "musty" odor when the furnace or air conditioner is running? Then it's time to have your air ducts professionally cleaned! IMPROVES THE AIR QUALITY IN YOUR HOME! Relieves symptoms of allergies, asthma and respiratory ailments. Removes dirt, dust, animal dander and pollen. Reduces air conditioningheating costs through increased efficiency. STI AMUSA uses imifeSMcmjl HI I'A fillulion, tlic mosl i'IIik live mrtituUr lilli'rs known.

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a I AKU UtTUU I Lahor included fxp 199? included fyp June 29 fa. -SyMa)'a BagaTOapMjm I SINCE 19-46 SINCE 19-46 41 47 If 6.. i i i nil parents community Oj 1 I I Would you recommend the Greece district to parents? rp) LllllLfflJga JJJJ J.L I TO parents community community 1 gV SEASON TAYLOR staff artist SOURCE: Gordon Pollster, Greece FROM PAGE 1A 50 ANDERSON AVE. R0CHESER, NY (NEXT TO VILLAGE GATE) ly iK discounted 'L rY AJPrior purchases excluded WltiJII fQ I tiCy Other discounts wl NOT yS. 3- iS NO rainchecks.

LJtcTtZ I t- Ilk I tfiy, rosrwveiy, cyckt i niiNL? in evocK or omer, property taxes low. "There are clearly ways to get the tax rate lower," he said. The question is whether people value the services and programs we offer. It's a dilemma." Charles Hubbard, president of Citizens for Accountability and Reform in Education, said the survey reinforces much of what CARE has complained about. The school board has a credibility problem," he said.

But Ellen Meyer, president of the Greece Parent-Teacher Association Council, said the results about the community's faith in its teachers shows that CARE members make up a minority. This shows a truer picture of what's out there than what we hear at the board said. "What we see at the meetings and what we saw with the budget defeat is that it is not an overwhelming number at all." Board member Mark Quadrini said the survey is an important tool that the district mast use. "When you couple the 'no' vote on the budget with this survey, it would illogic al to ignore the community input," he said. This is a trust issue and the community doesn't understand why we nii-d to spend the money we ask for." CRAFTS, DRESS GOODS, DECORATOR FABRICS, ALL The board adopted an austerity budget and will send two propositions one for sports and field trips and one for other equipment to voters July 16.

District officials have blamed recent budget defeats on a property re-evaluation last year that raised the property assessments on half of the homes in town. That meant higher taxes for those property owners. But the survey shows that the controversial assessment had little impact on the budget vote: 83 percent of parents and 75 percent of community members said the reassessment would not cause them to change their vote. Geraci said the survey results point to a communication gap lx-tween the school district and the taxpayers. "They have a real public relations issue in Superintendent Raymond Page said the survey which cost the district $1 1,500 shows that residents aren't pleased with the budget process.

Hut I'age said the bfard is in a constant struggle to meet the needs of students while keeping NOTIONS, BUTTONS, PATTERNS, DRAPERY HARDWARE, CARPETS, TAPESTRIES, QUILTING SUPPLIES, YES, GREAT PRICES WAVIRLY HOME FASHION ENSEMBLES WAVERLY 1vao HUGE SELECTIONS MQ Sugg Rctai NON-STOCK DRAPERY UPHOLSTERY FABRICS 0FF 30 CEUUIAR SHAMS MINI BUNDS VERTICAL BUNDS PUATED SHADf ALL WAVERLY WALLPAPERS.