 Date Set for Ferry's Maiden
Voyage
We now know the date for the long awaited
start of Rochester's fast ferry. The word came at
Tuesday's Rochester Rotary meeting with guest speaker
Dominick DeLucia, whose company CATS, will operate the
ferry. He told rotary members when their long awaited
fund raising voyage will happen..."June 17th is the date
regularly scheduled service will start the day after
June 18th." The start of the ferry service is coming
about six weeks later than originally anticipated,
partly due to an accident the ferry was involved in
while docking in New York City, and some engine work
that had to be done in Toronto. The rotary is sponsoring
the maiden voyage, and rotary executive director Bob
Enright, isn't worried about people losing interest just
because of the delay..."They were excited back when they
heard about it in February, they were excited in April
when they heard it was delayed, and they are even more
excited now because they are prepared to go." Enright
says the rotary has had only a handful of cancellations
for the June 17th maiden voyage, he expects to be able
to sell out the $500 dollar a person fund raiser.
 Tense Moments For Rafting
Teens
One teenager had to be rescued from swift
moving waters after he and a group of friends tried to
raft down Honeoye Creek in Rush on Tuesday night. The
victim was not the only one in danger as firefighters
going after him had to rescue themselves. Fortunately
nobody was hurt, but there were times when rescuers
didn't think they'd get out. Authorities tell our news
partner, News Source 13 the teens bought pool rafts and
inflated them at a local convenience store. No word on
any charges at this point.
 Setback For Group That Wants To
Save Swing Bridge
A local group that's trying to
save the Hojack swing bridge vows to fight on, even
though it doesn't appear the government will be on their
side. The Rochester Trolley and Rail Corporation is
pushing the idea of providing a rail-based trolley that
would serve Charlotte by using the swing bridge. It says
the Coast Guard has indicated that it will reinstate an
order to have CSX, which owns the bridge, remove it. one
reason the Coast Guard wants to get rid of the bridge is
to reduce congestion on the Genesee River, particularly
in light of the additional activity caused by the fast
ferry. But the trolley group feels removing the bridge
would only cause more problems. The trolley group would
like to link Charlotte and the Port of Rochester with
downtown and the Seabreeze area, using the Hojack bridge
along with some railroad rights of way that aren't being
used anymore. The organization is hoping political
pressure can save the swing bridge.
Helping Kids Breathing
Easier
(AP) Kids will be able to breathe a little
easier around school buses if proposed legislation gets
approved in Albany. Governor Pataki proposed legislation
requiring districts to use lower-polluting fuels in
buses and get state aid for buying ``clean fuel'' buses
starting as early as next year. Aid reimbursements for
districts buying buses powered by natural gas,
electricity, fuel cells or other low-polluting fuels
would start in September 2005 in New York City and a
year later upstate. A similar timetable would be imposed
for when districts would have to start using ultra
low-sulfur diesel fuel in traditional diesel buses.
School bus fumes are thought to be one factor in growing
rates of childhood asthma.
|
