September/October 2013 ONTARIO COUNTY Volume 15 #5 Prior to 1960, Ontario County owned only one park – The Public Square in downtown Canandaigua. That year, Richmond Town Supervisor Phillip J. Rowley included plans for a park in his “Plan for Progress” presented to the Board of Supervisors. A group of supervisors was formed to study this proposal. There was added incentive since the state had offered to pay 75% of any acquisition costs.1 Although questions persisted in regards to the number of parks and their respective locations, the county began to build its park system from this point forward.2 Ontario County is home to roughly 108,000 permanent residents as well as countless visitors each year. The variety of beautiful landscapes within Ontario County make for a spectacular park system - each park with its own history that makes it as unique as the natural features it encompasses. Public Square: Oliver Phelps was a former soldier, then Deputy Commissary of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Once the war ended, Phelps became an entrepreneur and real estate developer. Phelps and his partner, Nathaniel Gorham, purchased a large tract of land in 1788, roughly 2,600,000 acres, from local Indians with the intent of selling and developing.3 Originally, the City of Geneva was chosen to be the official county seat. Due to ownership questions that resulted from inaccurate surveying, Phelps looked west to establish the seat for the new Ontario County.4 Canandaigua, which is derived from the Iroquois word “Kanandarque”, meaning chosen spot, was chosen as this location. Due to a default in payment, Phelps’s unsold land was sold to Robert Morris and a new survey was undertaken. Phelps remained in a position of power however and was appointed the first county judge. To enhance his newly minted principal town in Canandaigua, Phelps deeded a large public square in 1800 to the county for the eventual erection of a court house and jail. Now divided by Main Street, West Avenue, and Ontario Street, the square has changed in its geography but remains an important part of Canandaigua’s history. Look for Atwater Park in the next edition and other parks in subsequent editions! 1 Art. 16c of the Conservation Law (Park and Recreation Land Acquisition Act); “Ontario Board Names Group for Park Study.” Democrat and Chronicle. Feb. 1, 1961. 2 “Ontario Supervisors Consider Sites for County Park.” Democrat and Chronicle. Apr. 23, 1963. 3 Aldrich, Lewis Case, and George S. Conover. History of Ontario County, New York. Syracuse: D. Mason &, 1893. Google Books. Web. 22 July 2013. <http://books.google.com/books?id=qygVAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA110&lpg=PA110&dq=ontario+county+'public+square'&source=bl&ots=Aae3o1HNjr&sig=l6KLB4VB xhwAq3q1WIkiJbpOauY&hl=en&sa=X&ei=KG_tUcDcMse44APBl4GICA&ved=0CEEQ6AEwAjgK>. 4 Pierce, Preston E. "Canandaigua Becomes the Ontario County Seat." Ontario County. Ontario County Historian, n.d. Web. 22 July 2013. <http://ny- ontariocounty.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/2208>. A Collaborative Effort by Chris Bowering & Preston Pierce, with Assistance from Mark Shannon EMPLOYEE UPDATES RETIREMENTS Nancy Boggs, Finance Clerk I, Social Services, 8/6/13 Terry DeBaere, Correction Sergeant, Jail, 7/31/13 Robert Friefeld, Workforce Development Counselor, Social Services, 8/24/13 Cathy Post, Sr. Human Resource Analyst, Human Resources, 9/28/13 RESIGNATIONS James Marshall, Client Transportation Driver, On-Call Sub, 7/16/13 MaryKelly Sullivan, Typist, PT, Substance Abuse Services, 7/23/13 Heather Campbell, Nursing Assistant, PT, Health Facility, 8/7/13 Valary Muscarella, Real Property Tax Aide, Real Property Tax, 8/9/13 Adrienne Gallipeau, Finance Clerk I, Social Services, 8/22/13 David Dys, Assistant District Attorney, District Attorney, 9/28/13 Julie Gotham, Senior Planner, Planning, 8/16/13 Carol Rowley, Health Facility Worker, Health Facility 8/31/13 Kenneth Tripp, Substance Abuse Counselor, Substance Abuse Services, 9/13/13 Paul Wright, Correction Officer, Office of the Sheriff, 9/17/13 Jericho Smith, Correction Officer, Office of Sheriff, 9/22/13 Juliana McDonald, Healthy Facility Worker, Health Facility, 9/27/13 REASSIGNMENTS Mary Wasicsko, Client Transportation Driver, PT to FT, 8/26/13 Jodie Bridgeman, Nursing Assistant to Scheduling Aide, Health Facility, 7/12/13 NEW EMPLOYEES/APPOINTMENTS Karl Smock, Client Transportation Driver, PT, On-Call, Transportation, 7/16/13 Andrea Perkins, Nursing Assistant, FT, Health Facility, 7/16/13 Danielle Russ, Nursing Assistant, PT, Health Facility, 7/16/13 Breanna Darby, Nursing Assistant, PT, Health Facility, 8/5/13 Rayla Brown, Nursing Assistant, PT, Health Facility, 8/5/13 Kenneth French, Caseworker Trainee, FT, DSS, 8/5/13 Tim Jensen, Associate Planner, Planning Department, 8/12/13 Robert Damann, Client Transportation Driver, PT, On-Call, Transportation, 7/16/13 Victoria Titus, Office Specialist I, Human Resources, 8/26/13 Jessica Pickard, Associate Psychologist, Mental Health, 9/3/13 Michael Miller, Finance Clerk I, Social Services, 9/16/13 Stephanie VanderMolen, Client Transportation Driver, On-Call, Sub, Transportation, 9/16/13 Michael Magill, Client Transportation Driver, PT, On-Call, Transportation, 9/17/13 Scott Teresi, Dispatcher I, 9-1-1 Center, 9/16/13 Pamela Muxworthy, Substance Abuse Counselor, Substance Abuse, 9/16/13 Robert Eklund, Community Mental Health Nurse, Mental Health, 9/25/13 Christopher V. Eaggleston, Assistant District Attorney, District Attorney, 9/30/13 Emily Marshall, Sr. Clerk, Human Resources, 9/30/13 Deborah Rossolo, Secretary I, Social Services, 9/30/13 NAME CHANGE Leigh Alderman – Social Welfare Examiner, Social Services, became Leigh Langworthy, 7/13/13 Chelsea Ernhout – Social Welfare Examiner, Social Services, became Chelsea Booth, 9/21/13 Jessica Pickard – Associate Psychologist, Mental Health, became Jessica Mitchell, 9/14/13 Emily Phillips, Human Resources PIN CEREMONY During the third quarter of 2013, 44 Ontario County employees equaling 720 years of employment reached a milestone year. On Wednesday, October 2nd, in ceremonies throughout the County, service pins will be presented to the following employees: Congratulations to . 35 Years Gary M. Ventura, Highway Engineering 30 Years 25 Years Daniel S. Bennett, Road Patrol Diane L. Johnston, Mental Health Gayle L. Frost, Social Services Barbara C. Polinak, Health Facility Elizabeth C. Johnson, Health Facility Darlys A. McDonough, County Administrator Alison L. Ordiway, Social Services Richard D. Savage, Sanitary Sewers 20 Years 15 Years Angela I. Davis, Social Services Elizabeth Alcivar, Office for the Aging Sandra L. Campione, Social Services Jeffrey L. Coffey, Road Maintenance Mary M. Gates, Dept. of Finance Doulas A. Coston, County Buildings Joseph Gorall, Social Services Janice M. Derby, Health Facility Jene A. Trimm, Human Resources Preston T. Dinkle, Road Maintenance Mark H. Wentworth, Road Maintenance Kelly A. Fogarty, Road Patrol Kathleen A. Gates, Social Services Deborah J. Henderson, Information Services Chris W. Holloway, Sanitary Sewers Barbara J. Lyons, Jail Laura Marlowe-Desmond, Jail Ranae Nicols-Fiorentino, Jail Mary K. Tebbutt, Health Facility Christopher M. Tiffany, 911 Center 10 Years 5 Years Michelle L. DeBolt, 911 Center Mary L. Beer, Public Health Joan M. DiDuro, Probation Tanya M. Buzalko, Social Services Patrick P. Fitzgerald, Road Patrol Karen A. Coonce, Human Resources Paula M. Foster, Social Services Charles R. Gordon, Board of Elections Saul M. Hernandez, Jail Bruce E. Harter, Board of Elections Aaron J. Morrell, Jail Christopher S. Jones, Jail Katherine Q. Salotti, Board of Elections D. Steven Kepner, Board of Elections Nathalie M. Sigler, Probation KUDOS These hibiscus flowers (right) reside outside our own Human Services building at 3010 County Complex Drive and were planted about 2 years ago by a Community Service worker who happened to spend several week days here over the summer. Steve Sherry in the Probation Department is a Senior Community Service Counselor who works with the Services Unit at DSS to help with the gardens around the building. Also enjoying the flower gardens is this dragonfly. These pictures were taken by Chris D'Amico who used Mariah Ernhout's phone. Janice Mangini, Social Services “Your green tag, please?” Those new to the county find this expression strange. What is a green tag? It is a numerical asset tag placed on computer equipment, usually with a value of $200 or more. The number is placed into an Inventory System called “Trackit” and then cross referenced to the computer equipment you are using. This makes it easier for us to remote into your computer and assist you in various ways. “How may we assist you?” Sometimes, you just have to be there. This is often true when you are trying to explain a problem with the computer but need to demonstrate it. There are several ways this is accomplished: 1. Runner or “feet on the street.” This is when someone literally comes in person to troubleshoot the problem. Most often used when you are experiencing HARDWARE issues or equipment failures 2. Remote Assistance. This is when you are logged in and you get an invitation on your screen for someone to share your desktop/computer 3. Remote Desktop. Used most commonly for remote installs. You will be asked to log off the computer (not shut down!) The person assisting should call you or contact you to let you know that they have finished the work/install. Please note that remote assistance/remote desktop require that your computer not be shut off. To shut down or not to shut down: You may have heard various recommendations in the past about your computer; one being to never shut down your computer. Well now the recommendation is that you DO shut down or restart your computer once a week. If you don’t you’ll get a message pop up saying that you haven’t restarted your computer in so many days and to “considering restarting as soon as possible.” Restarting your computer once a week helps refresh system files and a smoother user experience.