Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 1

if IK Jf. jtT i ir-' vcjs no. GARTH FAG AN DANCE RETURNS 'NUTCRACKER' ON STAGE AND MORE INSIDE 4 1 i 2, 2004 50 CENTS NEWSSTAND UR appoints urge csi tnro si dtq mw Blues' fees stuns area businesses Scramble begins to find other options for health coverage. JOY DAVIA STAFF WRITER Elaine Benedict of Ontario ARC was surprised Wednesday when she heard that next year's rates for the local BlueCross health plans were to jump by almost 15 percent. Workers at the Canan-daigua company had already chosen next year's health plans based on rate increases of 9 to 11 percent the advance estimate the company gets through an agreement with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Rochester Region.

The estimates are typically close to the actual rates, Benedict said. But this year, there is such a INSURE, PAGE 2A ROCHESTER DemocratandChronicle.com new president 1 versity of Arizona College of Law, 1995-99. Law school faculty at Northeastern University, George Washington University and University of Michigan, 1977-95. Author or coauthor of 20 books. Family: Married to Friederike.

Children, Andrea, 20, and Peter, 18. president on July 1. "By temperament, I'm a builder, not a cutter," Selig XI 1 1 1 ma HI IWfJ THURSDAY, DECEMBER INSIDE TODAY SPORTS NO. 3 SYRACUSE POUNDS ST. BONAVENTURE, 91-67 TURN TO PAGE ID 1 LIVING GWEN STEFANI LEAVES NO DOUBT ABOUT HER PASSIONS TURN TO PAGE 1C LOCAL STATE SENATOR SAYS CITY'S CHANCES OF BUYING THE FAST FERRY THIS MONTH ARE 'ONE IN A MILLION' TURN TO PAGE IB LIVING ON THE THIRD DAY OF COOKIES, WE BRING YOU PEANUT BUTTER BISCOTTI TURN TO PAGE 1C tv LOCAL IRONDEQUOIT STUDENTS GET LESSON IN SIMPLE MACHINES TURN TO PAGE 3B BUSINESS STATE TRYING TO GET MORE DATA OUT ABOUT VOICE YOUR CHOICE PROGRAM TURN TO PAGE 10D SPORTS DAIMON SHELTON IS UNSUNG HERO OF RESURGENT BUFFALO BILLS TURN TO PAGE ID Copyright 2004 Gannett Rochester Newspapers Six Sections Metro Why health premiums are rising JAY CAPERS staff photographer Joel and Friederike Seligman on Wednesday are welcomed with applause to a news conference at which he was named the University of Rochester's next president, to succeed Thomas Jackson, who is returning to teaching.

Local leaders hail focus on university growth Area insurers say medical costs will continue to rise in 2005, warranting next year's jump in health insurance premiums. Here's how much costs are rising in key areas: If, Inside Seligman is 10th in a stellar line. 11A man said during a Wednesday news conference at UR's Rush Rhees Library. "This is a school that has such great strengths to build on." When he assumes the presidency, the 54-year-old expert in the field of securities law will instantly UR, PAGE 9A Naomi Silver Wings' CEO wins award also given to her father in 1974. Red Wings win minor leagues' top award The Rochester Red Wings have won the John H.

Johnson President's Trophy, the top team award in minor-league baseball. It is presented annually to just one of 160 minor-league teams, and is based on team stability, contributions to league stability, work in the community and baseball promotion. The Red Wings also won the award in 1974. STORY: ID MATTHEW DANEMAN STAFF WRITER The University of Rochester's next president arrives with goals of boosting the school's profile locally, nationally and beyond. The university's board of trustees on Wednesday voted to hire Joel Seligman, dean of the law school at Washington University in St.

Louis, as Thomas Jackson's replacement. Jackson, who has served as head of UR since 1994, Excellus Hospital outpatient 11 Prescription drugs Physician services Hospital inpatient 6.5 Ranges from 6 to 7 percent. SOURCES: Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, Region, and Preferred Care Preferred Care's rates Preferred Care on Wednesday announced rate increases averaging 8 percent on its commercial health insurance premiums. For example, rates will fall 8.8 percent for the insurer's Basix health plan which officials said was priced too high. But rates for its Comprehensive plan will jump 14.6 percent.

Monthly premiums for Preferred Care's most popular plan, TriVantage, will increase almost 8 percent to $256 for a single person and $666 for a family. Preferred Care has about 25 percent of the area's market share. Preferred Care I Hospital outpatient 13.4 Prescription drugs b.a.a,.felfeaj,'a "7 Physician services Hospital inpatient 7.1 Rochester KEVIN M. SMITH staff artist AISO Beyond the headlines: Bush in Canada 3A an opportunity to "foster a wide international consensus" on three great goals: spreading freedom abroad, improving cooperation in the war on terror and expanding democracy in the Middle East. Canada joined coalition forces in the war in Afghanistan but opposed the Iraq war.

Still, Bush urged Canada to step up efforts in postwar Iraq. "Sometimes, even the closest of friends disagree," Bush said. Bush noted that it's sometimes hard being the United States' neighbor. "Sometimes, our laws and actions affect Canada every bit as they affect us, and we need to remember that." if Bio Name: Joel Seligman. Age: 54.

Education: 1971 graduate of UCLA and 1974 graduate of Harvard University School of Law. Career: Dean of School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis since 1999. Dean of Uni will leave that post in June to return to teaching. Selig- man will become UR's 10th 3 At Bush thanks Canada, seeks help for Iraq Strong Memorial boosted with $21 million addition KNIGHT RIDDER HALIFAX, Nova Scotia President Bush delivered a long-awaited thank you Wednesday to the Canadian people for taking in tens of thousands of Americans who were stranded when their flights were diverted after Sept.

11, 2001, and he challenged Canada to help more in Iraq and the war on terror. "How does a person say thank you to a nation?" Bush asked the audience of citizens, federal and local officials. "Well, that's something a president can do. And so let me say directly to the Canadian people you for your kindness to America in an hour of need." Bush said his next presidential term will give him LAUREN STANFORTH STAFF WRITER Fina Santiago's eyes grew wide as she progressed down the hallway. Santiago was getting a personal tour of the soon-to-be opened pediatric intensive care unit at Golisa-no Children's Hospital at Strong.

She and her family are intimately familiar with the old unit; Santiago's 4-year-old son, Nicolas, has been there three times for health problems related to a muscle disorder. As Santiago's feet passed over the new PICU's green and purple floor, the compliments flooded out. "Just the colors, it's positive reinforcement," said Santiago, 29, of Ironde- WILL YURMAN staff photographer Israel Santiago comforts son, Nicolas, as nurse Laura Downs treats him at Golisano Children's Hospital. quoit. Then she entered you see the TV?" one of the rooms.

"Being The new unit, set to able to (hook up a com- open Dec. 14, establishes puter) and send an e-mail Rochester as the site of the is just phenomenal. Then you have this big TV did STRONG, PAGE 11 A III III II blustery index Restaurant reviews -o oo EDITORIALS DEATHS TELEVISION LOTTERY CLASSIFIED -SS I I 33 2o See where our critic has been eating. New review online every Thursday. 'V i(90iWool' 7 Expanded Weather GB MA.

2B 5C 2A IE DemocratandChronicle.com click on "EntertainmentFood DrinkReviews" I DemocMaifdCErbnicle.com lB G39SQ 1.