This year’s theme for HF-L’s Fall Weekend was SuperHeroes and the Lima Primary float saluted the SuperFarmers who produce SuperFoods in the photo above. Photo by Donna MacKenzie
From the start of Fall Weekend activities with several sporting events at Honeoye Falls-Lima on Friday, September 26 to the end of the fun with the Trophy Cup Runs on Sunday, September 29, pleasant weather ruled the area, allowing all events to take place without need of raincoats or umbrellas.
The Fall Weekend parade was held under bright blue skies, sunshine and a light breeze on Saturday, September 28. The Livingston County Sheriff’s Department led off the parade, followed by New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the Honeoye Falls-Mendon and Lima Ambulances, the American Legion Post and the Masonic Lodge. HF-L Superintendent Gene Mancuso and other district administrators and members of the Board of Education were next. The inductees for the Honeoye Falls-Lima Alumni Hall of Fame, with the exception of someone to represent Fred Nowack who is deceased, followed: Richard Joint, Adelle Marie Johnson, Gene Coates and daughter Alyssa representing the late Nancy Dombroski Coates, Stephen Werner, Brian Neenan and Alicia Zysman Cromwell. A vehicle drawing the John Deere Tractor which will be a part of the Lima Pumpkin Festival, which is coming up this weekend, came next. The Mendon Child Care float had a Bills flair to kick off the floats which all had SuperHeroes as a theme. Following that was the Mendon Public Library Book Bike, the Pack 10 Cub Scouts Troop, Blaze Soccer youth team members, Cougar youth football players and Cougar youth cheerleaders. The members of the Honeoye Falls-Lima Educator’s Association were the next group to come through the four corners of the village of Honeoye Falls with the members of the CougarTech Robotics team close behind.
School floats depicting the theme of SuperHeroes were led by the Lima Primary float which portrayed America’s farmers as SuperHeroes who grow SuperFoods. Manor School’s float showcased Habit Heroes in a nod to the school’s Habits of the Mind. The Middle School Band preceded the Middle School’s float which featured Spiderman. The Freshmen Spirit Representatives were Dylan Nells and Max Payment. The freshmen float showcased Captain America. The Sophomore Spirit Representatives were Isla Pedrick and Hudson Reed. The sophomore float portrayed Spiderman. The Junior Spirit Representatives were Emily Hart and Troy Vitaro. The junior float had Batman as its SuperHero. The High School Band marched in front of the senior class. The Senior Class Spirit Representatives were Patrick Adair and Jackson Coon. The senior float featured Superman. The Overall Cougar Spirit Representatives were seniors Anna DeClerck and Ezra Gathercole. Closing out the parade were fire trucks from Honeoye Falls Fire Department, Lima Fire Department, Mendon Fire Department and Ionia Fire Department.
The final event of the Saturday Fall Weekend activities was the Alumni Hall of Fame Induction ceremony featuring the Voices of Honor-HF-L Alumni Hall of Fame Choral Tribute where each song is introduced by a member of the choir immediately following the inductee’s biography. The introductions connect each inductee’s story to the musical piece selected in their honor. The first inductee was the late Frederick Nowack from the Class of 1948 at Lima High School. He was inducted by John Recktenwald. The choir sang The Road Not Taken noting Nowack’s life of humble service. The second inductee was Richard “Dick” Joint from the Honeoye Falls Class of 1962 who was inducted by Muffy Meisenzahl. The choir sang Thankful reflecting the gratitude for lives like Joint’s who has given back to the community as a firefighter, a coach and a craftsman. The third inductee was Adelle Johnson
Gene Coates listens as his late wife Nancy Coates was inducted into the HF-L Alumni Hall of Fame during a ceremony last Saturday afternoon. Photo by Donna MacKenzie
from the HF-L Class of 1974 who was inducted by Joan Haviland. The choir sang Ukuthula, which is an African Prayer for Peace, in Zulu, as a nod to Johnson’s life spent as a missionary and educator across the globe. The fourth inductee was Nancy Dombroski Coates from the HF-L Class of 1975 who was inducted by Meghan McQuillan. The choir sang Rise Up, honoring Coates’ unstoppable spirit as a fierce advocate, tireless volunteer and champion for girls in sports and service lifting up others through action, compassion and strength before she passed away in 2022. The fifth inductee was Stephen Werner from the HF-L Class of 1978 who was inducted by Rob Sanford. The choir sang Homeward Bound honoring Werner’s connection to the community through the Lima Fire Department, Union Lodge #45 of the Free and Accepted Masons, his service on the board of the Hemlock “Little World’s” Fair, the Lima Zoning Board of Appeals and Lima Town Board, his founding of the Lima Pumpkin Festival and his portrayal of Father Christmas at several community events. The sixth inductee was Brian Neenan from the HF-L Class of 1992 who was inducted by Stephanie Templeton. The choir sang Give Us Hope in recognition of Neenan’s life spent as a teacher, coach, principal and now as Superintendent of the Webster Central School District, helping students believe in themselves. The final inductee was Alicia Zysman Cromwell from the HF-L Class of 1999 who was inducted by Kelly Paganelli. The choir sang The Open Hand in recognition of her life serving patients in Honeoye Falls as a doctor and also volunteering in clinics overseas, extending her hand and her heart to those in need.
