Some More Updates

Here is the brief story – The old (circa 2016) Alumni Directory has been partially restored. It is just a list of all who were registered on the site by mid-2016. No contact links, no photos, but if there was a short Bio, that link will work (though info might be outdated). There may be further updates regarding a new Alumni Directory in the future, but we will see.

Website Updates Feb. 1

No job and cold weather means website gets attention. In addition to new yearbook covers in the last post, some pages that were part of the old website (pre-2017) have been restored. The Yearbook Dedications, Ontario High School, Wayne Middle School, and Walworth School pages have been brought back to life. The Contact page has also been fixed (sorry, I did not know it was broken). I visited the Internet Archive (I can’t believe this exists), and was looking at the site from 2016 and earlier. I put so many hours into getting it working just the way I wanted back then. Despite the fact I will probably regret it, I made some tweaks were made to the styles, as there were some things I wasn’t happy with on the current site. There could be a few issues I haven’t found yet. Though using WordPress has made many things easier, they hook you in for free, and then everyone wants to charge you monthly to get the “premium” features, which conveniently include things everyone wants/needs.

By the way, don’t be alarmed by the “not secure” warning in your browser when visiting this site. We aren’t doing any financial transactions here, so it’s not an issue. To get that removed, it will cost another couple hundred a year. I don’t think it is justified.

New Book by 1969 Alum Susan Peterson Gately

A Natural History of Lake Ontario

May be an image of nature, body of water and text
Front Cover Image

As headlines of deadly heat waves and extreme weather around the nation abound, Lake Ontario’s moderating influences on our temperatures has never been more apparent. The lake’s many gifts to us include our diversified high value fruit growing region, a major recreational fishery and some of the best sailing and cruising waters in the northeast. And yet says the author, “It remains over looked and under appreciated so I felt a need to write this book.” Gateley, who now resides in Fair Haven, has spent decades exploring the lake afloat with her various boats and its shorelines on foot. She says, “Lake Ontario is an international body of water that has played a key role in the history of two nations. Its coastal landscape is one of the most dynamic areas anywhere in upstate NY. It is a place of constant change shaped by water and wind.” Her new book will help beachcombers seek out fossils, lucky rocks, and water rounded quartz crystals among the shore’s varied pebbles. Some of the colorful beach pebbles here were transported by the glacier from the Canadian Shield, home to outcrops of the oldest surface rock on the continent. Gateley also documents some of the many changes that have occurred in the last few decades to Lake Ontario and its fisheries. Over fifty black and white photos and descriptions detail the interactions of native and recent immigrant animals and plants that now call this Great Lake home. Despite pollution and on going deforestation and development, the lake retains much resilience, and native birds and animals like the osprey and lake sturgeon are making a comeback here.Susan Peterson Gateley has written on Lake Ontario topics for more than thirty years covering everything from midge hatches and classic wooden boats to radium factories in her books and magazine articles.. She also scripted a 2015 documentary, “Lake Ontario, Quest For Hope” that was broadcast on local TV. Part of that video, based on the book “Saving The Beautiful Lake” was adapted and distributed in Canada for classroom use as a short. A Natural History of Lake Ontario is available in bookstores throughout the region and can also be found on line or ordered directly from the author. Visit susanpgateley.com for more information and a link to Lake Ontario Log, on line since 1995, and to her videos.

Al Gentile Scholarship Fund

Hello Fellow Wayne Alumni, I hope you are all well and striving to move forward!

As Wayne Central is preparing to graduate another class of seniors, I would like to seek your assistance in this exciting event of their lives. It has been eight years since the passing of my father Al Gentile in 2013. At that time my sisters and I set up a memorial scholarship award to a graduating senior. We established this award to preserve Al’s legacy to the Wayne Central student community. This Wayne senior is chosen among student athletes who have
demonstrated good sportsmanship and have made significant contributions both in the classroom and to their sport.

A committee of teaching staff review the candidates and make their selection. The college bound senior receives a $500 scholarship towards their tuition. The Al Gentile Scholarship Fund is managed by the Wayne Central School District. The fund is running low and we are petitioning fellow Wayne Alumni to consider making a monetary contribution to keep the Eagle Pride alive. No amount is too small and will help our fellow Wayne student.

This scholarship has been very appreciative by our senior scholar athlete both male and female. The award is presented at the Graduation ceremony where I have the opportunity to meet and personally congratulate each recipient.

You may send your contributions by check payable to:
Wayne Central School District
Chris Nasella
PO Box 266
Ontario Center, NY 14520

Please make attention to: Al Gentile Scholarship Fund
Thanks for keeping the Wayne memories alive!! Go Blue and Gold !!!

Sincerely,
Tom , Debby, Pam, and Renee

Here are names of the past award winners!
2014 / Bryan Landry
2015 / Dominque Hamman
2016 / Jack Martino