Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 8

I WHERE YA GQIfIG? Want to get from here to there, but don't know what's running? CONNECT will soon be able to match you up with the right transportation. Story on 4B. HOHDAY APRIL 2. 1984 ROCHESTFR NEW YORK SECTION 4B AT THE MOVIES 5B WHO'3 CHARGE? 6B SIGN LANGUAGE 6B OBITUARY Democrat (fbronicle in 1 on i i I I LJt Lawyers seek workers to testify against Xerox The four lawyers st up shop Friday and Saturday at the Qualify Inn Gatehouse in Henrietta, and more than 1.50 people came to ask questions about the suit and determine whether they should join it "They wondered, 'Will I be a marked man or woman if I put my consent I did my best to reassure them," said Robert Jaffe, a New Jersey attorney who has been handling age-discrimination cases for nine years. Jaffe said he thinks Xerox is not likely to attempt any systematic retribution against people who join the class-action suit.

Last month the lawyers sent out packages Wh- $-t ft 1 Employees interviewed in age-discrimination case By John J. Byczkowski Democrat and Chronicle Business Lawyers for the plaintiffs in an age-discrimination suit against Xerox Corp. visited Rochester over the weekend to talk with current and former Xerox employees about joining the suit But many of the employees said they feared corporate retribution. 4- it XttV. iff.

v3t -Tf ieMl i 4 of information and consent forms (duplicated on a Xerox 9700 electronic printer, said attorney Steve Adler) to more than current and former Xerox employees over age 40 across the country. About a third of them are in the Rochester area, Adler said. The suit charges that Xerox illegally discriminated against older workers during a reduction in its work force that liegan in May 1980, either by laying them off, forcing them into retirement, denying them promotions or refusing to hire them. In addition to the 13 named plaintiffs who began the suit nearly t00 people over 5 sr Lance Wynn Utnuicrdt drid Chrorncie Three trout destined for the pan hang from angler's chain at Powder Mills Park. 4 V' i to have consented to join, Jaffe said.

The law firms representing the plaintiff's are Cole, Geaney, Yamner Byrne and Jaffe Schlesingcr, both of Patterson, N.J. At one point Saturday morning Jaffe told about 40 people in the meeting room that the lawyers were looking for a "pattern or practice" of age discrimination by Xerox. "We need names, we need instances, we need secifics," he said. Many people were clearly concerned that if they consented to join the lawsuit and TURN TO PAGE 6B Bay bottom improving Experiment could prompt more aquatic life in depths By Dan Bowerman Lvrnor.f.il Ch'om ic An experiment to control oxygen robbing algae in an Irondequoit Bay cove has proved successful, and researchers are proposing to extend the project to the bay itself. "We've had a percent reduction in phosphorus in the cove," said Richard Burton, associate chemist in the Monroe County environmental health laboratory.

"We continue to see oxygen in the deep water." Phosphorus is a nutrient that encourages the growth of algae, and it has been present in Irondequoit Bay waters in large quantities lor years. The bottom of Irondequoit Bay and Ide's Cove is a deep lied of muck composed of decayed and decaying algae. As it. decays, the algae releases phosphorus and consumes oxygen, making the waters inca- -pable of supporting fish and plant life below about 20 feet. The released phosphorus then encourages more algae growth.

But in a $141,000 demonstration project that began in September 1982, Monroe County and University of Rochester researchers coated the bottom of Ide's Cove with a layer of liquid alum aluminum sulfate forming a seal between the phosphorus-rich bottom mud and the water. After more than a year of monitoring the cove on the west side of Irondequoit Bay, the experiment has been successful in reducing algae growth and in increasing oxygen in the deep water, Burton said. In September 1982, for instance, the researchers found 2,300 parts per billion of phosphorus in the water of Ide's Cove at a depth of about 25 feet. A year later, however, the alum application had reduced that to about 300 parts per billion. "We expect that we would have at least, as" good if not significantly better results in the bay," Burton said.

Researchers propose coating about 50 percent of the bay floor all areas that are 30 feet deep or deeper with alum in the summer of 1986 at a cost of $350,000 to $550,000. Half the cost would he paid by the federal government. Burton said the project is necessary to continue improving the quality of the bay waters so that sport fish such as salmon and trout could survive at depths up to 40 to 50 feet. The water quality improved dramatically in recent years after Monroe County Pure Waters construction programs diverted sewage from several small treatment plants on the bay to the Van bare sewage treatment plant, Burton said. Those projects cost about $200 million and reduced algae growth by about 40 percent, he said.

But it wasn't enough to make the water capable of supporting fish and plant life below 20 feet. With an additional investment of about $550,000, the hay could support life, he said. "It'll be the biggest impact for the amount of dollars invested," Burton said. "It has the TURN TO PAGE 4B A shoulder-to-shoulder line of anglers trying for the elusive trout in Irondequoit Creek at Powder Mills Park yesterday when a crowd estimated by a fish hatchery employee at 3,000 turned out for the first day of the summer trout season. Anglers came streamin' to the streams Serious fishermen and 'relaxers' alike tried luck in trout season opener f.

Man killed in crash on Rte. 31 in Pittsford A 19-year-old Pittsford man died yesterday when the car he was driving smashed into a utility pole on Pittsford-Palmyra Road, Route 31, in the town of Pittsford about a half-mile west of the Interstate 490 interchange. State police identified the man as Todd P. Hoffman of 26 Santa Drive, Pittsford. Trooper Gordon Lanphere said Hoffman was driving a 1977 Mercury westbound on Pittsford-Palmyra Road about 6:20 p.m.

when he tried to pass another car. He apparently lost control of the car, slid off a three-foot embankment and smashed into a utility pole off the south side of the road in front of 5633 Pittsford-Palmyra Road. The force of the collision snapped the utility pole, crumpled the front end of the car along the driver's side and crushed the roof of the car. Pittsford firefighters used saws to cut through the car to reach Hoffman, who was alone. Traffic was blocked for several hours near the accident scene.

Several residences in the area were without electricity because authorities cut power to avoid danger from downed lines while trying to free the man from the car. Man's body found in river The nude, badly decomposed body of a man was found yesterday in the Genesee River near Seneca Park, a Monroe County medical examiner's office spokesman said. Authorities were trying to identify the body last night. They say the man was white, 5-10 and 180 pounds. The body was seen about 4 p.m.

yesterday by three off-duty firefighters who were in the park. The body was recovered by the U.S. Coast Guard. Authorities believe the body was in the river for at least a couple of months, the spokesman said. An autopsy is scheduled today.

Foul play is not suspected. $7 million in grants awarded At least 20 Rochester-area agencies and projects received more than $7 million in grants in the $35.6 billion state budget approved by the Legislature Saturday. The Rochester City School District received $4.1 million for its magnet school program. This was the largest of the grants awarded in Monroe County. The Monroe-Livingston Demonstration Project received $1 million, the second largest sum in Monroe County.

The money will be used to help relocate mentally and physically disabled persons from hospitals into the community. In nearby Ontario County, the Finger Lakes Performing Arts Center in Canan-daigua, the summer home of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, received $1.5 million for improvements. Others that received state grants include: East Bloomfield Schools in Ontario County, which received $32,500 for computers; Police And Citizens Against Crime Together (PAC-TAC) programs of the Rochester Police Department, Penfield Senior Citizen Program, Rochester schools "Cool Off Room," Holocaust program in Rochester area schools East Irondequoit special education, East Rochester gifted and talented program, Rush-Henrietta schools pre-kindergarten, West Irondequoit in-service education program, Lake Ontario Board access site Attica, Wyoming County, water treatment plant improvements, Henrietta Volunteer Ambulance Service, Rochester Displaced Homemaker Program the Monroe County Developmentally Disabled hotline, town of Greece park improvements, Genesee Valley Voluntary Action Center Center for Missing Children, $40,000. In Wayne County, the Lyons schools received $3,500 for a handicapped access ramp; Sodus Point received $15,000 for a water supply pump; and the Wolcott treatment plant received $20,000. License renewals extended State Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner John A.

Passidomo has extended the March 31, deadline for renewing motor vehicle registrations and drivers' licenses until midnight today. The extension doesn't apply to auto liability insurance. $210,582 for Easter Seals The Easter Seals Society of Monroe County netted $210,582 in its donation drive on WROC-TV Channel 8 yesterday. "Everyone is thrilled," said Colleen Flynn, spokeswoman for the Easter Seals Society. Organizers hoped to receive $200,000 in the 12-hour charity drive, but thought yesterday's pleasant weather would lure people away from their sets.

Critical after Gates shooting A 22-year-old Gates man was in critical condition last night at Park Ridge Hospital after being shot early Saturday morning. Ronald Ferrera of 51 -C LeChase Road was shot at least once in the chest about 2:30 a.m. Saturday while sitting with friends in a car parked at Wegmans grocery store, 2301 Lyell Gates, police said. Christopher M. Hazzard, 23, of 6130 Chili-Riga Center Road, Churchville, was arrested Saturday and charged with second-degree assault and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the shooting, said Gates Police Chief Thomas J.

Roche. Franco Harris here April 14 Franco Harris, the star running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, will be in Rochester April 14 to help begin the Week of the Strong Child, an annual program to teach children about staying healthy. Is fife I 7t cer in charge of five towns in that area, "The fish hit real gcxd for the first couple hours, so everyone had a chance to catch a few, or at least see 'em caught, anyway," Hanggi said. About 620 of those fishing in Naples were entrants in a contest of the local Lions Club. Ed Sullivan, the derby's chairman, said 223 of the contestants caught fish.

Ronald Christiano of Blaisdel caught the largest, a 9-pound, 15-ounce trout, while Kirk Kinski of Elma was close behind with a 9-pound, 11 -ounce fish to give him first place in the under-16 category. The leading woman angler was Deborah Castronova of Rochester, whose fish weighed 5 pounds. Another 150 to 200 fishing buffs tried their luck in the waters of Maxwell Creek and Sodus Bay in Wayne County, said Mike Haher, owner of Haher's Sodus Point Bait Shop. For some of those out fishing yesterday, the opening day of trout season was the real first day of spring. "It's the first time out," explained Chris Gorman, 27, as he and his wife, Maureen and their 2-year-old daughter, Amanda, stood on the banks of Irondequoit Creek in Powder Mills Park.

Amanda clutched TURN TO PAGE 6B businesses to the area. Benjamin Case, managing partner of the Touche Ross and Co. accounting firm of Buffalo, said he has been "kicking around" the idea of an international accounting network a pipeline to seven western New York counties from 85 countries. Six of the "Big Eight" U.S. accounting firms have offices in Buffalo.

Under Case's plan, accountants working in foreign countries for those firms would watch for clients who are on the verge of expanding, then suggest western New York as the site. Industrial development agencies and chambers of commerce in western New York would then pick up the foreign business person's travel expenses and "roll out the red carpet," said Richard Weigel, executive director of the Genesee County Industrial Development Agency. Case said the plan is only in its preliminary stages and he has just begun discussing it with the parties that would be TURN TO PAGE 3B 'Rattlesnake Pete' was local legend By Edwin Sayers Democrat and Chronicle One of the early Revolutionary War flags depicted a coiled rattlesnake above the inscription, "Don't Tread On Me." It was the kind of Hag the early settlers in the Genesee Valley would have appreciated. This was rattlesnake country. In 1812, when Hamlet Scrantom erected the first cabin on the site of the present Powers Building, he was quickly introduced to the fact.

Rattlesnakes tried to take it over. Social serpents in a chilling sort of Would-be presidents shortcut upstate, stump NYC where the voters are By Erik Gunn Democrat and Chronicle Jim Duffey and Gary Condello were up at 4:30 in the morning yesterday, but it was a good eight hours or more before their efforts paid off. Still, for the two Fairport teen-agers the opening of trout season was a success. Duffy, 14, caught a 14' a -inch trout and Condello, 15, a lO'a-incher. "We caught more, but we couldn't keep them," said Duffey, tired but smiling, as he and Condello left Powder Mills Park in Perinton yesterday afternoon.

The other catches had been snagged on the side, making them illegal, he said. Throughout western New York, the opening of trout season was greeted with early breakfasts and the whirr of fishing reels yesterday. The season will run through the summer. "It was a Z(x," said Ken Ruedin, fish culturist at the Powder Mills hatchery, where trout are raised to stock nearby Irondequoit Creek. "There had to be 3,000 people out there." Ruedin was speaking just for Powder Mills Park.

Elsewhere, as many as 5,000 people were fishing in the Naples Creek area, said Gideon Hanggi, a state Department of Environmental Conservation offi Proposal aimed at foreign firms Buffalo accountant has plan to entice industry By John O'Brien Democral and Chronicle American business people thinking about expanding their companies don't give western New York a second thought anymore, says Timothy Spellman. "They've got this bad image of snow and rusted steel plants," said Spellman, executive director of the Orleans County Industrial Development Agency. "We have a lot more to offer, but they don't want anything to do with it." So Spellman was all ears when the head of a Buffalo accounting firm came to him two months ago with a plan to lure foreign TALES OF A CITY ROCHESTER REMEMBERED For the past several months, Edwin Sayers has pored over newspaper clippings, scrapbooks and history books to capture slices ol life in Ftnrhpster'c: lt) iairc Sayers. who lives in VlUlY SWU Rochester, is a freelance Vl- writer and has written several articles about local history tor Upstate magazine. His sesquicentennial stones will run in the Democrat and Chronicle three times weekly a Si' is scheduled today to make his first campaign isit to Rochester since September.

He plans to meet supporter and talk with reporters at the Rochester-Monroe County Airport at 8:1 a.m. before traveling to Syracuse. Originallv. Mondale had planned to lie in Rochester on Wednesday for the spring fundraising dinner of the Monroe County Democratic Party, but he cancelled his visit to debate the other candidates in New York City. He tried to come to Rochester the next day.

but cancelled the trip because of bad weather. Gary Hart campaigned in Rochester twice. On Tuesday, he held a press confer ence at the airport and campaigned in the Ontario County tovvh of Shortsville. He re- TURN TO PAGE 2B their hunters had to go farther afield, usually up the river. There, the snakes remained so plentiful that a resourceful stalker with a club could easily dispatch a hundred in an afternoon.

But there was more to the business than just bounty money. Snake oil was held in great esteem as a cure for stilt joints, and the gall was used tor fevers. The oil sold for 50 cents an ounce not bad money at a time when $2 would carry one nicely through an entire week. And snakes made good eating if you weren't too squeamish. Indians used to cut off their heads and tails and make a meal out of the rest, considering snake meat a delicacy.

TURN TO PAGE 3B Although all three Democratic pre-iden-tial primary campaigns have mounted vigor ous efforts in Monroe County, the candidates themselves have spent most of their time campaigning in New York Citv. The reason for that is in the numbers. More than half of the state Democratic Party's li.5 million members are in New-York City. About another 25 percent are in the densely populated suburban areas around the city, within easy access of the New York City media market. About percent of the party's voters are I'pstate, according to the vote totals from the I its gubernatorial primary.

But idl three candidates have campaigned Upstate and, after today, all three will have visited Rochester. Former Vice President alter V. Mondale way, they sought shelter under the split log floors of cabins, and occasionally even found their way into one's bed. There were so many snakes in the early days that it was not unusual to spot one slithering along Main Street or toiled under a board sidewalk. There were so many colonies of them lined along the banks of the river below the Power Falls it was appropriately labeled Rattlesnake Point.

Snake-killing became a sport and then developed into a business, as village authorities offered a bounty of about 75 cents for every dead snake. Instead of a menace, the snakes became something of a cash crop and-were quickly hounded out of town by folks hoping to pick up some pin money. As the snakes retreated from the village..