Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 13

DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2000 3B NEIGHBORHOOD NOTEBOOK Victor goes with Monroe water flow BY STAFF WRITER MEAGHAN M. McDERMOTT VICTOR Village residents will soon get all of their water from the Monroe County Water Authority. The Village Board approved an agreement with the Water Authority this week to provide problem with the spring is that it's very hard water," said Walker. The village is using Monroe County water because it is already hooked up to its water lines and no other water would be available without building lines through the town of Victor to Canandaigua which isn't economically feasible, said Walker. He also said that water rates should not rise as a result of the switch.

Another benefit is that Monroe County's water is all fluoridated, while Victor does not fluoridate water from the spring, said Walker. The plan still needs to be approved by the New York state Department of Environmental Conservation and the Ontario County Board of Supervisors. Walker estimated that approval would take at least "a couple of months." more water. Currently, the village gets about 60 percent of its water from Monroe County, and the rest from a spring on East Main Street, said Mayor Tom Walker, "One of the benefits of going to county water is a more reliable, better quality source one SPREADING CHRISTMAS CHEER Anir IFoirce. Airmmy veteran accepts Duns state's thmhs Medals recognize Perinton man's service in Korean and Vietnam wars.

I vj mm iim'i Ill 1 imiiMiniirii llit 11 Wmiimm ianilM'1 Cobbles Elementary first-graders Bobby Davis, front, and Nicholas Mastrolonardo listen yesterday to Christine Sheechan explain how to make paper gingerbread men for a toy drive at the Penfield school. Students donated holiday items to kids at Strong Hospital. Nature Conservancy, Penfield close on farm BY STAFF WRITER LIZ F. KAY FAIRPORT Perinton resident Lloyd E. Mitchell weighed only 107 pounds when he first lifted a 9-pound, 6 rifle.

"I was crying because it hurt so much to hold it," he said. But it wasn't the last time he raised a gun for his country. Yesterday, the 69-year-old received two New York state military decorations for his four years of service in the Army and 26 years in the Air Force, with tours in Korea and Vietnam. He retired in 1975 as a master sergeant. The Conspicuous Service Star honors New York citizens who received unit commendations during combat.

The Medal for Merit, a new award given by the state Legislature, recognizes veterans who received a valor, achievement, commendation or meritorious service decoration, or who directly supported combat operations. Mitchell, originally from Newcastle, had already been awarded several medals, including the Korea Service Medal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross. Assemblyman David Koon, D-Perinton, presented him with the awards. Mitchell volunteers in the assemblyman's office, where he acts as a source of information. "Mitch helps us explain military issues," said Denise Shukoff, a staff member who deals with veterans affairs.

"He has become part of our family here," Koon said. Several people at the office suggested that he apply for the awards, but it was only after his son, Tod, expressed an interest in Mitchell's military background that he consented. Volunteering at the assemblyman's office is a good choice for Mitchell, who spends hours each day watching Congress in session on television. Mitchell also chats with his son and other family members online each night, and plays video games on his PlayStation, Nintendo and Super NES. GREECE Mrs.

New York to speak here Kathy Kasprak, Mrs. New York 2000, will appear at the first annual literacy fair hosted by the Greece Public Library, 2 Vince Tofany from to 3 p.m. today. Kasprak will meet with representatives of local literacy groups and speak about adult literacy, her special interest. The library also has plans to dedicate space to be set aside for adult tutoring.

The public is invited. PERINTON Forum explores death of pets Pet owners who have recently suffered the loss of a beloved pet may find some relief at a grief seminar today at the Humane Society of Rochester and Monroe County at Lollypop Farm. "Getting Through The Grief: Living With Pet Loss" begins at 1 p.m. at Lollypop Farm, 99 Victor Road. There is no fee to attend, but reservations are required.

For details, or to register, call 223-1330, ext. 251, or visit www.lollypop.org. HOPEWELL FLCC displays artists' work Fine Arts Gallery 34 at Finger Lakes Community College is presenting "Still Life," a display of paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture done by FLCC artists and faculty members. The gallery is on the FLCC campus, 4355 Lakeshore Drive, and is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Fridays. The free show continues through Jan. 5- WALWORTH Gananda seeks alumni athletes Sports boosters in the Gananda Central School District are seeking former members of the district's volleyball and basketball teams to participate in the annual alumni volleyball and basketball night on Dec.

28. Any graduates interested in playing can contact Gananda Athletic Director Marc Blankenberg at (315) 986-3521, ext. 122. HENRIETTA Nature center honors holidays The Tinker Nature ParkHansen Nature Center and the Tinker Homestead and Farm Museum will host arts and crafts, story telling and homestead tours during its annual Christmas celebration this weekend. The nature center will have children's crafts and natural history displays from 1 to 4 p.m.

today and tomorrow and storytelling at 2 p.m. both days. Visitors can also tour the decorated Tinker Homestead, view displays in the barn and visit with Kris Kringle from 1 to 4 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. The Tinker Nature ParkHansen Nature Center is located at 1525 Calkins Road, ap proximately 34 mile east of Pinnacle Road.

For more information, call 359-7044 or visit: www.ggw.orghansen BROCKPORT VFW sponsors meal with Santa The auxiliary of Brockport Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2890 will sponsor a breaktast with Santa from 8 to 11 a.m. to morrow at the Brockport Area Vets Club, 222 West Ave. There also will be free toys for children 10 and vouneer. The breakfast price for that age group is $2 per child. For older children and adults, it's $4 per person, a NEWS TIPS: Call Assistant Metro Editors Chris Buckle and Marketta Gregory for regional or suburban tips: 258-2252 Outside Monroe County: (800) 767-7539 T3 00 ft MAX SCHULTE staff photographer Llovd E.

Mitchell receives his medals from Assembly-man David Koon yesterday. The state awards were the Medal for Merit and the Conspicuous Service Star. 1 8 1 I bt i i r- "I find it refreshing, to keep your mind active," he said. "He's our technology expert," Shukoff said. Still, the video games even when played on Mitchell's 61-inch television, are nothing like the real thing.

"There's no feeling in the world like being in a combat situation," Mitchell said, describing it as exhilarating. "I was too young, too impressionable, too brainwashed," he said. "They brainwashed me so much that I was in my 50s before I knew I wasn't invincible." ver's-side door. Sheriff's spokesman Jim Pringle said the car was traveling eastbound when it struck the brother and sister as they approached a school bus. Both children were taken to Strong Memorial Hospital.

Christy is in serious condition with internal injuries. Michael was treated and released, a hospital spokeswoman said. "The investigation continues," said Pringle. "We're doing the best we can to track this down." Anyone with information is asked to call the Monroe County Sheriff's Office at I 7 STAFF REPORTS PENFIELD Town government and the Nature Conservancy have closed on the purchase of the 90-acre Rothfuss family farm at 1610 Five Mile Line Road. In a ceremony yesterday at Town Hall, state Sen.

Jim Alesi, R-Perinton, presented Supervisor Channing Philbrick with an oversized Schools Spencerport's next superintendent had applied for position once before. DANESE KENON staff photographer Town park officials consider the site ideal for a park and hope to develop soccer fields there in a couple of years. There is also talk about building a new community center there someday. Conservancy officials felt buying the site would offer environmental protection for the Thousand Acre Swamp, the nature preserve it owns nearby. boss about 4,500 in Spencerport.

One thing about Spencerport that appealed to him is the district's "long-standing tradition of continuous improvement (of students)," Langton said. "That's not true of all districts." The district's size and breadth of offerings means more opportunity to work with the children and the community, he said. A native of Coventry, England, Langton was about 6 when his family moved to Toronto. About 10 years later, the family moved to Waterloo, Seneca County. Langton became a naturalized citizen in 1976.

He holds a bachelor's of science degree from Cornell University and a master's of science degree in educational administration from the State University College at Brockport. Before becoming the Manchester-Shortsville superintendent, he was executive director of instruction for the North Syracuse school district for four years. Prior to that he was principal of Park Road Elementary School in Pittsford for four years and principal of the kinder-garten-12 building in the Gananda school district in Macedon for about 10 years. He is president-elect of the Section 5 Athletic Council. Langton and his wife, Gail, the new director of language arts for the Hilton school district, have three grown daughters and four grandchildren, $350,000 check.

The check represented the state grant that helped make the purchase happen. The conservancy will put $200,000 toward the purchase. Town government will cover the balance. "That's a lot of money for a town like Penfield, but as we've said before, it's the right thing to do," Philbrick said. hire new Phillip W.

Langton is credited for his curriculum development work. where our needs were." For example, Langton has been "very involved in upgrading the academic program" at Manchester-Shortsville, said Fenity. He has established a "strong record in academic improvement and being aware of programs that were out there for kids." One of Langton's greatest contributions to that district was "rewriting the curriculum" said Kerry Adams, president of the Manchester-Shortsville school board. Under Langton's leadership the district, for example, established its first program of advance placement courses (now numbering about eight) and is now in the application process for the international baccalaureate program, she said. "I'm certainly going to miss him," Adams said.

"He's done a great job for our district. But I understand. It's the nature of the job, that people want to try a new challenge." The student enrollment in the Manchester-Shortsville school district is 1,100, compared with Deputies seek driver of car that injured 2 BY STAFF WRITER DOLORES ORMAN SPENCERPORT For Phillip W. Langton, the Spencerport school district's new superintendent, the second time around was the charm. Superintendent of the Manchester-Shortsville (Red Jacket) school district in Ontario County since 1993, Langton, 54, was one of three finalists for the Spencerport superintendent position two years ago.

The school board chose Richard Timbs, instead. This year, the job came open again when Timbs decided to take the superintendent's job at the Erie 2-Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Board of Cooperative Educational Services. Encouraged by a friend and fellow educator, a reluctant Langton applied. He was one of 38 candidates and again became a finalist. The school board picked him during its meeting Nov.

21. Langton is scheduled to start work in Spencerport Jan. 29. "Our feeling was that all three of the finalists were really qualified people," said Lawrence Fenity, Spencerport school board president. "It was more of how he'd (Langton) fit in particular with our district's needs right now, what skills he had that fit with BY STAFF WRITER GARY McLENDON BROCKPORT Monroe County Sheriff's Office officials continue to search for the driver of a car believed to be involved in a hit-and-run accident yesterday that slightly injured one child and seriously injured another.

Michael Mottshaw, 15, and Christy Mottshaw, 11, of Brockport were struck by the driver of a dark gray 1987 to 1989 Chevrolet Corsica while walking across Route 531 near Owens Road at 7 a.m., according to the sheriff's department. There is believed to be damage to the vehicle's dri-.