Rochester citizens recognized for community services

Here are some more Sneaker Awards.

Platinum Sneaker - To William Sostre for being named Employee of the Year for 2001 by the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) Goodwill Industries of Greater Rochester. Sostre, a material handler in the Note Pad Department is also the agency's nominee for the Peter J. Salmon Blind Employee of the Year Award sponsored by the National Industries for the Blind (NIB). Sostre lost his vision due to a brain tumor.

Sostre's selection was based on his work ethic, versatility in adapting to other jobs in the department, and ability to keep our inventory straight, said supervisor Phil Ercolamento.

Gold Sneakers - To Tony, Michael and Isaiah, residents of Blake House which is part of the mental health, chemical dependency and career services programs of East House. These three spent several days helping to transform two vacant lots into a playground. The project was organized by the Ibero-American Development Corp. as part of its commitment to improve the Clifford Avenue area.

In a thank-you letter to Herb Wagner, program supervisor of Blake House, Wendy Baird of Ibero-American Development said, The men have made a real difference in the lives of the many children who will use this facility and they should be proud.

Silver Sneakers - To Park Road Elementary School fifth-grade students Meaghan Lane, Meghan Green, Brigid McMahon, Tiffany Zois, Lauren Wittig and Caitlin Merrifield for making crafts and selling them to raise money for the American Red Cross in recognition of the September 11th terrorist attacks. According to principal Deborah Rose, the girls raised $162 for the Red Cross.

Platinum Sneaker - To Thomas Toby Clark Jr. for carrying the Olympic Torch two-tenths of a mile down West Ridge Road earlier this week. What made 48-year-old Clark's efforts special is he has multiple sclerosis.

Clark had to practice up and down his street for hours in a wheelchair in order to participate. It took about 10 minutes for Clark to run the route in his torch-mounted chair.

Silver Sneaker - To Brighton for allowing an interfaith garden to be built in Brighton Town Park along a bike path near a pond off Westfall Road.

It was proposed by the Interfaith Forum of Greater Rochester to the Town of Brighton as an idealistic place to convene not in anybody's holy space, said Isobel Goldman, community relations director for the Jewish Community Federation of Greater Rochester. The garden will be available for anybody and everybody to sit, reflect and be surrounded by nature.

If you have a candidate for Going The Extra Mile, please contact Scott Perkins at 394-3343. His e-mail is sperkins@frontiernet.net. Perkins is CEO of Agility Advertising Agency, 80 North Union St., Rochester, NY 14607.

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