Democrat and Chronicle from Rochester, New York • Page 15

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK DemocratandChronicle.com FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 2004 Local Owner found dead inside Club Rain sidered Thompson a friend. Mayor William A. Johnson Jr. said Thompson was a pioneering businessman with a grand vision. But he struggled against the forces of a massive debt load and a poor economy to keep Club Rain open, Johnson said.

"His most recent venture was a massive draw on him," Johnson said. "I could see on his face that it was taking an emotional toll on him personally." PFLANIGADemocratandChronicle.coni Brockport in 1986. The business was ranked several times among the top 100 black-owned U.S. auto dealerships by Black Enterprise magazine. He also once owned Heritage Toyota in Brockport.

In 1999 he launched an unsuccessful campaign as a Republican for the Rochester school board. McFadden said Thompson had been considering a return to the car-sales business. "He wanted to open a showroom in downtown," said McFadden, who con causes, said Sgt. Carlos Garcia. The Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office will determine the cause of death.

Thompson, 52, of Rochester, was the principal owner of Club Rain, which opened in 2002 inside office space at the former Genesee Hospital parking garage. The club was hailed as a potential catalyst for Monroe Avenue in the wake of the hospital's closing. But the club was the source of some controversy in recent months after two patrons were stabbed inside and neighborhood residents complained of unruly crowds outside. Thompson had also complained to City Councilman Adam McFadden and made public statements that Rochester police treated patrons of black-owned nightclubs differently from patrons of white-owned clubs during crowd-control operations. Recently, Thompson and his partners had been pur- PATRICK FLANIGAN STAFF WRITER Jesse Thompson, one of Rochester's most prominent African-American businessmen, was found dead inside his Monroe Avenue nightclub Thursday.

Police said Thompson's body was discovered shortly before noon inside Club Rain, 360 Monroe by a vendor who arrived at the club to discuss business. There is no sign of foul play, and Thompson might have died from natural Jesse Thompson had been a return to car-sales business. A suing a proposal to open a seasonal bar atop the garage, which would be called Sky Bar. Thompson became the first African American in Monroe County to own a car dealership when he bought Duryea Ford in 1 jUMBTfflOL? 94-year-old cleric tireless in building a Legacy of joy mum on bid! ffir 'ft hi Mm He doesn't rule out 2006 run; possible foes are Spitzer, Giuliani. Y' i'1lwiil KARIN VON VOIGTLANDER staff photographer Neighborhood notebook ROCHESTER Colorama reunion today About 40 former Colorama models and photographers will hold their first reunion tonight at George Eastman House's Dryden Theatre, 900 East Ave.

From 1950 to 1990, Eastman Kodak giant Colorama images dominated Manhattan's Grand Central Terminal. Many Rochester photographers helped create those 18-by-60-foot color transparencies. They're the subject of a new book, Colorama: The World's Largest Photographs from Kodak and the George Eastman Collection (Aperture Foundation, $19). CBS News' Sunday Morning program will cover the 6 p.m. ceremony, which is open to the public.

A book-signing will follow. Admission is $5. Empire State grads honored Two hundred twenty-one students graduated Sunday from Empire State College at a commencement ceremony at Hoch-stein Performance Hall on North Plymouth Avenue. Giving the keynote graduation address was Monroe Community College President Thomas Flynn. PENFIELD Kiwanis offers ziti dinner For the 34th year, members of the Penfield-Perin-ton Kiwanis Club will serve a ziti dinner from 1 to 5 p.m.

Sunday at Holy Spirit Church at Plank and Hatch roads. Tickets cost children 6 and younger eat free. Takeout is available. Proceeds will benefit the club's community activities. P1TTSFORD Comedy on stage today Because of construction work at Pittsford Sutherland High School, 55 Sutherland the Drama Club is performing the comedy The Curious Savage by John Patrick this week in a production style known as "black box theater." The audience surrounds the actors on three sides.

Only furniture pieces are used in the setting. Seating is limited to 60 per performance. Remaining performances are at 7:30 p.m. today and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Saturday. Tickets, $7 for adults and $5 for students, are available from cast members or at the door. For details, call (585) 248-8306. HENRIETTA Sale set at Holy Childhood Handcrafted items ranging from furniture and scarves to rugs and holiday ornaments will be available at the School of the Holy Childhood's Craft Sale on Saturday. The hours are 9 a.m.

to 4 p.m. The school is at 100 Groton Parkway. A limited number of pies also will be on sale. For more information, call (585) 359-3710. Holy Childhood provides individualized education and vocational training for 113 develop-mentally disabled children and 86 adults.

News tips Contact the metro desk at (585) 258-2252 or (800) 767-7539 (outside Monroe County) or by e-mail at: metronewsaDemocratand Chronicle.com. Find us online For more stories in the Local State section, click on "Local News" at DemocratandChronicle.com. The Rev. Elmer Heindl visits with Judy Maldonado after celebrating Mass at the Legacy at Park Crescent in Greece. 'Why should I priest says of ministry JOSEPH SPECTOR STAFF WRITER Fresh off his record-setting re-election Tuesday, Sen.

Charles Schumer is being besieged with questions about whether he'll run for governor in 2006. Schumer remains mum but at the same time doesn't rule it out. "The only thing on my radar screen is trying to be the best senator I can be in delivering for all of New York state," he said Thursday afternoon in Henrietta during the second day of a three-day state tour to thank voters. While Schumer shrugs off the speculation, he seems to be positioning himself for a run at the governor's mansion, political experts said. The Brooklyn Democrat's popularity is at an all-time high, he's a prodigious fundraiser and travels the state like no other politician, they said.

And with John Kerry's loss and the Senate remaining in Republican hands, political observers said Schumer may have bigger plans than being a member of the Senate minority who is overshadowed by his junior colleague, former first lady and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. "There's no question Chuck Schumer is running for governor," said Monroe County GOP Chairman Stephen J. Minarik. If he does, it could set up a Democratic heavyweight MARKETTA GREGORY STAFF WRITER GREECE Officially, the Rev.

Elmer Heindl has been retired for 24 years. But he hasn't seemed to notice. "I'm not tired, so why should I quit?" Heindl said Wednesday after celebrating Mass at the Legacy at Park Crescent, a seniors facility where he has lived for almost two months. Until the 94-year-old Heindl moved in, Mass was celebrated about twice a month. Now, it's an everyday occurrence.

About 20 people some residents of the Legacy and some from the surrounding community came Wednesday for Holy Communion and words of spiritual comfort. "It's meant an awful lot to me," said Lillian Mor- Schumer Spitzer matchup against Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, who already is quietly raising money and building support for a bid. Schumer, who won a second, six-year term, beat Republican state Assemblyman Howard Mills by winning 71 percent of the vote, breaking the 67 percent mark for a New York Senate race set by the late Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a fellow Democrat, in 1988. "Seventy-one percent is a really remarkable figure," said Philip Friedman, a New York City-based Democratic political pollster. "It says something about his strength as a candidate for governor.

It says he may very well be the most popular figure in New York." While Spitzer also boasts strong approval ratings in statewide polls, Schumer would be the front-runner in a Democratic primary, said Maurice Carroll, pollster at Quinnipiac University. A Marist College poll last week had Schumer with a 61 percent approval rating; Spitzer and Clinton SCHUMER, PAGE 4B What's next Additional public discussion about whether to close or renovate Rochester schools will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at East High School, 1801 E. Main St. The list of schools recommended for closing will be made in December.

GUVADASDemocratandChronicle.com For more information, visit www.rcsdkl2.org. Phillip Langton presided over addition of one school, expansion of others. -V 1 "ft' have time to hire a superintendent before July 1. The board has begun to discuss options for conducting the search for a new superintendent. CMC.

FNDNiSDemocratandChronicle.com City district sifts for schools that may close "We have a lot of religious people here," Goodyear said. "And they are just looking to get closer to God at this point. Father Heindl is food for the soul and the spirit." Even some parishioners from Heindl's previous stops St. Charles Borro-meo, Holy Trinity, St. Mary and several other churches come by for 11:30 a.m.

Mass at Legacy, which is near the intersection of Stone Road and Mt. Read Boulevard. Pictures from sailing trips and the military, things he gathered along the way, decorate his new apartment. "It's a good life," Heindl said after Mass. "And it's still going on." MGREGORYOemocratandChronicle.com mained open this year) and the relocation of School 54 in 2005.

Other than the condition of the schools and expected enrollment figures, Carlisle said the district should examine the students' academic performance and whether a vacant school could be used to the community's economic advantage for housing, recreation or employment. By studying each school and the neighborhood it disappointed in Phil's decision to retire, we respect and appreciate the fact that he has worked with us on a plan that allows the district to transition to a new superintendent at the end of the school year. "Phil's tenure in the district has introduced many new and exciting opportunities for our students Rob Goodyear says the Rev. Heindl is "constantly comforting people." Heindl said. And he should know.

He's one of the most-decorated chaplains of World War II recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star and Bronze Star. He insisted that he didn't go above and beyond the call of duty. He was just doing his job. Doing his job has been a big bonus for Legacy, Goodyear said, adding that Heindl gets a break on his rent because of all the services he offers. declining, and some students are now attending charter schools, further lessening the enrollment in city schools.

By the end of this decade, the district will have lost 30 percent of overall student enrollment, from a high of 37,000 K-12 students in 1998 to about 26,000 in 2010. No schools have been targeted for closing by this study; the superintendent had earlier called for the closing of School 36 (it re believe this district is in great shape." The capital improvements included a new elementary school, expansion of the athletic facilities and major additions to the middle and high schools. Laura McFarlane, presi dent of the school board, said, "While the board is reall, a Legacy resident. "I've never been able to go every day before." Heindl thanked those who had come. "Without you, this Mass wouldn't be possible," he said.

"It's a dialogue." Even outside the chapel, Heindl is interested in dialogue, said Rob Goodyear, executive director of Legacy. "He's constantly comforting people." Recently a woman, upset with life in general, came up to Goodyear. He called Heindl, and 20 minutes before daily Mass was set to start he came to comfort her. "There are no clocks in his world," Goodyear said. "If someone is ailing, he wants to know." That's his life work, that's what a chaplain does, and city officials met Thursday with about a dozen parents who attended an informational meeting about the city's criteria for closing schools.

Eight of the city's 59 schools were built between 1898 and 1921. The average age of all city schools is 61 years. "Sometimes age matters, sometimes it doesn't," Carlisle said. "Always, condition matters." The city's population is 2001 as superintendent and has spent 36 years working for schools throughout New York. "This was a difficult decision because I love my job and I love this district, but after 36 years in education I've decided that it's time to leave," he said.

"The time to leave any job is when you're on top, and I is r-" GREG LIVADAS STAFF WRITER Facing declining enrollment and aging school buildings, the Rochester School District is studying long-range options to either improve or close some schools in the coming years. "We can be more efficient in how we use resources," said Jana Carlisle, the district's chief planning officer. Carlisle and a few school serves, Carlisle said, the best decisions can be made whether the buildings should be modernized or closed. Those decisions won't be simply based on a budget crisis. A series of committees has been working on this project.

Their meeting minutes, as well as more detailed information, may be found on the district's Web site or by calling the school district at (585) 262-8100. and he will be missed. We expect to make this a smooth transition, maintain the momentum already in place with the strategic plan, and work with the community to identify Phil's successor." Langton, whose retirement takes effect June 30, said he gave eight months' notice so the district will Spencerport schools chief to retire in June GARY McLENDON STAFF WRITER SPENCERPORT School Superintendent Phillip W. Langton, who presided over a successful $46 million capital project that expanded Spencerport schools, will retire at the end of the 2004-05 academic year. He joined the district in lUlIlCU 111C Uiall ll I in.