Village of Caledonia

   Louise Wadsworth, director of the Alliance for Business Growth, a program of Livingston County Economic Development, met with the Caledonia Village Board to inform them about the Downtown Revitalization Program offered through the Microenterprise program. The program offers grants and assistance to perspective small business owners. Several Caledonia businesses formed an association and are working to promote downtown Caledonia.

   The Village of Caledonia condemned a Main Street house that was in an unsafe condition. With the help of the Caledonia Fire Department, the structure was demolished.

   The Village of Caledonia defended itself in court on the Hardwood Manor project. A resident challenged the village’s approval of the project at the appellate level. The project returned to the table of the planning board where it was reviewed and unanimously approved for a second time.

   In the spring 2008, Village of Caledonia residents elected Scott DiLiberto and Jerry O’Donoghue to the board, replacing retiring trustees Diane Fowler and Steve Boscoe. Both are serving four-year terms.

    A new regulation handed down from the Environmental Protection Agency and the state and county health departments, forced the Village of Caledonia to abandon their local municipal water supply and enter into an agreement with the Monroe County Water Authority to purchase water from them for its 900 customers.

Town of Caledonia

   Cilion Corporation, Inc., a California company, announced it is withdrawing its plans to construct a corn ethanol production plant in the Town of Caledonia.

   The Towns of Avon, Caledonia, Leicester, Mt. Morris and York received a $296,410 Shared Services grant to purchase road equipment. 
 
   Senator Dale Volker, Assemblymen Dan Burling, 147th district and Joe Errigo, 130th district, invited guests, town and village government representatives and highway superintendents gathered at the York Town Hall on August 29 to unveil the equipment. The five town highway departments will share ownership and use of the heavy equipment.

Caledonia-Mumford Central School

   The Cal-Mum School District received the retirements of Elementary Prinicpal James Wolinsky and High School Principal Thomas Woodruff.  Former Middle School Principal Robert Molisani has been named to high school principal and Paul Estabrooks was selected as the new middle school principal. Both begin their new positions on January 1, 2009. The district is conducting a search for a new elementary principal.

   2008 was a good year for most public schools in the area, including Caledonia-Mumford, which saw significant increases in State Aid last year. Now, the governor’s proposed budget includes deep cuts in school aid for the upcoming year.

   Cal-Mum Elementary School enjoyed an exciting visit from Commander Pam Melroy, who traveled into space aboard the shuttle Discovery and landed on the U.S. space station. She inspired the students to follow their aspirations.

   YEA, Young Entrepreneurs Academy, a program that encourages teens to develop their own business ideas, graduated several students from Livingston County through the SUNY Geneseo satellite program. Businesses created through the program ranged from party preparation services to online stock investor’s networking. A team of Cal-Mum Seniors, James Kemnitz and Christopher Finley, participated in the program and launched their own online stock networking company.

Community

   Caledonia and all of Livingston County mourned the loss of George Traber. Traber worked tirelessly for the Livingston County Industrial Development Agency, the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce, Livingston County United Way and many other agencies and organizations.

   EMT Andy Klein of Mumford was seriously injured in an automobile accident in which the Caledonia ambulance he was riding in was struck by a driver who had failed to stop at a stop sign. Klein was hospitalized and has been recovering at his Mumford home.

   Cal-Mum 2008 graduate Matthew Polisseni received a life-saving liver transplant, after having suffered with the diseased liver for six years.   

   Big Springs Historical Society of Caledonia received an $11,000 competitive grant to archive its textile collection. The museum competed against several larger museums for the grant.

   First Presbyterian Church Pastor Nancy Reinert and Caledonia videographer Jeff Mead traveled to the Sudan to help bring clean water to the villagers. Water for Sudan, the agency who spearheaded the water project, hired Mead’s company to film the project for a documentary.

   A Caledonia Sunoco A Plus store clerk was stabbed shortly after 11 p.m. while on duty at the convenience store. Police have not apprehended the suspect. The victim recovered from his wound and is back at work.

   Assemblyman Dan Burling, NY 147th district, honored WWII veteran and Caledonia resident Stanley Rychlicki for his lifetime achievements.

   The developers of the proposed Lehigh Valley Trail through the Town of Caledonia abandoned their plans due to lack of support from private land owners and lack of financial support from the town and village.  

    Several local business owners formed the Caledonia Association of Businesses this year. The group hosted a slogan contest to use for promotional purposes.  Barry Ganzhorn’s, "Caledonia, Village by the Springs," was chosen.

    The Cal-Mum Lions Club honored Mumford resident Charles Banks as the 2008 Citizen of the Year. Banks was also honored by University of Rochester’s Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity who presented him with the Award of Achievement for his 50 year career in public administration.

   Livingston County Environmental Management Council presented Barry Ganzhorn of Caledonia with the 2008 Earth Day Award for his work at the MacKay Nature Park.

   Livingston County Chamber of Commerce named Padgett Business Services of Caledonia as the 2008 Small Business Of the Year.

   The 2008 presidential election sparked much attention, even at the local level. Two Cal-Mum area men, Tom Callan and Tom Fisher, challenged each other to a wheelbarrow ride around Soldier’s Monument for the one who chose the winning presidential candidate. Fisher chose Obama; Callan’s candidate was McCain. We all know who won the election and now you know who pushed who in a wheelbarrow around Solder’s Monument in Caledonia.

   A Caledonia pilot was critically injured in plane crash involving one of his flight school students. Davy Merritt spent several weeks in the hospital and underwent extensive reconstructive surgery. He is recovering at his Caledonia home.

   A Caledonia teen was left paralyzed from a fall from a second story window where he was attended an off-campus college party. Eighteen-year old Bryan Parslow is undergoing rehabilitative therapy in Baltimore, Maryland. Seven men were arrested in connection with the party where alcohol was being served to minors.

   A Wheatland teenager and Cal-Mum sophomore was killed when the truck he was a passenger in struck a tree head on. Sixteen-year old Nicholas Zajac died in that accident. The driver of the truck, Aaron Boop of Avon, faces numerous charges, including DWI. 

   Caledonia Fire Department added two new trucks to its line up in 2008. A pumper / tanker and a rescue truck, purchased for approximately $900,000 by the Caledonia Fire District, were paid for in full with cash with taxpayer funds.

   The Caledonia Fire Department was a decision to bring back its popular parade and field days, which is scheduled for June 26 and 27, 2009.

   Caledonia teen and CM Senior Matthew Heins was named the Western New York Explorer of the Year for his years of involvement with the organization.
 
   The Livingston County Business Education Alliance posthumously awarded the annual Schoolhouse Award to the late George Traber for his years of service to the youth of Livingston County. 

   Livingston County United Way 2008 campaign raised over $280,000 for the needy. Bonnie Swanson chaired the 2008 campaign and turned the reigns over to 2009 chair, Jim Whissler.  Traber was also a tireless worker for LCUW.