'Loss of Sight, Never a Loss of Vision'
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GRAND OPENING! HOT TUB & SAUNA OUTLET CENTER OCT.18-20TH INCREDIBLE DEALS THREE DAYS ONLY! ON FLOOR MODELS AND DEMOS! INSTANT REBATES! WIN A WEEKEND NORTH ENTRANCE SOFTUB RENTAL! FRI. 10–8, SAT. 10–8, SUN. 11–6 DC-ROC0020377-02 Let’s talk about sacks — or, in Ed Oliver’s case, let’s not SPORTS, PAGE 1D SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2019 ❚ DEMOCRATANDCHRONICLE.COM PART OF THE USA TODAY NETWORK Court decision clears way for ‘Loss of sight, police board referendum never a loss of vision’ Brian Sharp Visually impaired runner inspires with attitude Rochester Democrat and Chronicle USA TODAY NETWORK Voters will decide whether Roches- ter should establish a Police Account- ability Board, a panel of judges decid- ed Thursday. The decision by the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division clears the way for the November referendum while leaving open the possibility for further court action should voters ap- prove. At issue is whether to establish a Police Accountability Board as an in- dependent office of city government. See DECISION, Page 6A Chris Smoker, a ninth-grader at Allendale Columbia School, heads for the finish line with his guide A woman reacts as the body of a man runner, James Hallahan. Chris is visually impaired but still competes in cross country meets for the killed during Turkish shelling arrives school. JAMIE GERMANO/ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE at a hospital Friday. DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES Leo Roth Rochester Democrat and Chronicle again. USA TODAY NETWORK On this day, Chris Smoker logs a personal best Syria pullout time of 23 minutes and 24 seconds over the 3.1-mile The young man wearing a Harley-Allendale Co- course meandering through the lush Allendale Co- continues lumbia cross country team singlet comes flying out lumbia campus in Pittsford. of the woods, slowing down just slightly to negoti- It is a little more than six minutes behind the President Donald Trump said Fri- ate a hard-right turn. winner, but considering Smoker is a freshman run- day that some European nations are “That’s it, now straight,” a voice from behind in- ning varsity for the first time, his clocking is im- now willing to take responsibility for structs. pressive. And considering that Smoker is totally detained Islamic State fighters who Later, the young runner motors down a straight- blind in his right eye and legally blind in his left, are from their countries. away, determined and focused, his arms and legs that the world to him “is like looking through a pumping in unison. Story, Page 12 “A little to the left, that’s it,” the voice comes See RUNNER, Page 11A SECRET WEAPON...MAGNETS Our managers provide a great atmosphere for team members to thrive. Labor turnover is tracked monthly, by location, and is a fraction of what the national chains experience. Less team member turnover means a better trained team and a better overall visit for you. Our managers are like magnets because they attract and hold on to great team members. DC-GCI0120599-35 Fashion week Xerox trial Weather Volume 187 | No. 292 Home delivery pricing inside The hottest looks Fight over reliability of DNA match High 56° ❚ Low 41° Subscribe 800-790-9565 with Richard Wilbern has begun. 3A Mostly sunny. ©2019 $2.50 QEAJAB-07006r from the runway. 8A Forecast, 8D ii iABC DEMOCRATANDCHRONICLE.COM ❚ SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2019 ❚ 11A Obituaries & In Memoriams Runner Continued from Page 1A Rochester Kitchen OBITUARIES & Bath Centers continued from page 10A straw,” impressive isn’t the correct word to de- OurSince 50th 1966 Year scribe his race. Inspirational is. Albert H. Pinsky “I don’t like to brag but if someone asks about PITTSFORD - Passed my eyes and they go, ‘Man, weren’t you just run- away on October 18, ning, what’s up with that?’ I’m like, ‘Well, I have some glaucoma going on,’ ” says Smoker, 15, who 2019, at the age of 83. was born in China with congenital glaucoma. Predeceased by “But I want to prove to people, not in a negative Chris Smoker trades high-fives with his guide his father, Ed- way, but for other people I know who are blind or runner, James Hallahan, after a race at Allendale ward Pinsky, visually impaired, that maybe it can empower Columbia School on Oct. 8. JAMIE ® mother, Ruth them to be confident enough to try this. I know GERMANO/ROCHESTER DEMOCRAT AND CHRONICLE and Pinsky, and sister, Rena people who wanted to do this but (their schools) TOTO Pinsky Davidson.Sur- aren’t trusting or willing to give it a try. I’m grate- ful that our athletic center is willing to let me run.” don’t know, ‘Is it there or is it there?’ It’s hard to 30% OFF vived by his niece Su- He was born to. tell sometimes. That’s what he’s there for. If there san Davidson and many And watching Chris Smoker run is watching are obstacles, he’ll tell me beforehand and if I’m loving cousins, friends, the power of inclusion. What happens when still heading towards it, he’ll yell ‘Take a sharp GIANT and caregivers. Born courage and compassion collide. When the words right.’ The poles that mark the course, honestly, I and raised in Batavia, “If there’s a will, there’s a way” aren’t a cliché, but can’t see them because when you run it’s so fast KITCHEN NY, Albert was a grad- a mantra. and those poles are very thin. He’ll tell me what to REMODELING uate of the University of Making it possible for Smoker to navigate chal- expect so I don’t go tumbling down a hill.” Pennsylvania, and Syr- lenging trails strewn with hills, rocks, tree roots, And if he tumbles? SALE grass, mud and confusing turns is his guide, “Chris gets right back up and keeps going,” acuse University Law James Hallahan. Not a Seeing-Eye dog, but a see- Hallahan says. School. Albert was an ing-eye runner. The voice talking in his ear. In that moment, cross country is a metaphor 50% OFF attorney in Rochester “I run behind him and narrate the environment for life. for over 50 years. as he’s going ahead of time,” Hallahan says. “I let If there’s a will, there’s a way. Graveside Services him know there’s a tree on the right, a hole in the At “Dash in the Dark,” the season’s first meet will be held on SUN- ground, watch your step. It might be ‘Keep going that takes place under the lights at Oakfield-Ala- RATED #1 DAYat11AMatBritton straight, a right turn is coming up in 3, 2, 1.’ We bama, Smoker’s night vision was near zero. But By consumer Report have a system.” instead of sitting that meet out, Hallahan strung Road Cemetery. Shiva Exiting the finish chute, Smoker high-fives battery lights onto a vest, and Chris was the one will be on Sunday, Oc- Hallahan and gives a fist-pump to his dad, Ken who followed him. CAMBRIA tober 20th from 2pm- Smoker. “A lot of times when everyone is telling you ‘No, 5pmatIrondequoit Ken, a project manager at Xerox, and his wife, there’s no possible way you can do this,’ it’s like, COUNTER Country Club. In lieu Kari, a professor at Ithaca College, adopted Chris ‘Well, I don’t know. Maybe we can try this,’ ” Hal- of flowers, donations when he was 3 knowing he had vision issues. lahan says. “So many things happen in a good Their oldest son, Ben, 18, a senior at Allendale Co- way.” TOP maybemadetoJewish lumbia, was also adopted from China with a mild When Hallahan isn’t available, H-AC head Senior Life Foundation form of spina bifida. coach Dan Deckman will step in as Smoker’s REPLACEMENT in Albert’s memory. To Caring for two children with special needs has guide. Deckman was Chris’ eyes for his very first BEST PRICE IN NEW YORK leave a message of con- presented more rewards than challenges for the race as a seventh grader and often fills in at prac- QUARTZ • GRANITE dolence, please visit: city of Rochester residents, Ken Smoker says. tices. CORIAN & MORE Opening their eyes to all kinds of possibilities. “It can be nerve-wracking, thinking ‘What if he Like Chris taking part in a variety of sports. falls? What if something goes wrong?’ We’re go- CAMBRIA “I’ve always been proud of Chris. He’s always ing out into the neighborhoods around here,” excelled at everything he’s done, and his attitude Deckman says. “But Chris has such a positive at- CUSTOM TILE has always been great,’’ Ken says. “He’s been a joy, titude and it’s incredible to see him run and work really. It’s the best way I can put it. The problem is so hard. It makes me want to be better; it makes BACK SPLASH that he wants to do everything. We’ve always ap- his teammates want to be better.” proached it as ‘What’s appropriate, what can he Sophomore Aidan Wun, 15, says having a visu- WE DESIGN do?’ But he can do just about everything with ally impaired teammate and friend helps him see some exceptions and we’ve steered him that what people can achieve when given a chance. AND INSTALL way.” “Everyone is really happy to have him on the At birth, Chris did not receive treatments that team,” Wun says. “When we run with him, we COMPLETE might have saved or improved his sight.