MRB Group
Engineering, Architecture, Surveying PC

MRB Group - one engineering firm for all your engineering and architectural needs. With more than 20 licensed professionals on staff, MRB Group has a broad base of technical expertise with specialists in all disciplines. This gives you the benefit of a single resource for all of your architectural and engineering needs. As a result, you can turn to MRB to bring today’s vision to tomorrow’s plans—thus helping to build your vision and our long term relationship.

MRB Group is one of the longest established professional Engineering and Architectural firms in the Monroe County Area. MRB Group was formed in 1985 from the merger of Hershey, Malone, & Associates (originated in 1969 in Rochester, NY) and Harnish & Lookup Associates (based in Newark, NY since 1936).

Our desire to grow and provide a more diverse set of technical services is the driving force behind our decision to open new offices and establish new service groups. MRB Group now has several offices serving the Northeast U.S. and an office serving the South Central U.S.

MRB Group’s full spectrum of services now includes major areas of Engineering, Architecture, GIS Services, and Construction Management. Together with our highly committed teams and advanced technology, these expanding services have allowed us to extend beyond New York State into Pennsylvania, Georgia, North Carolina, Florida and Texas.

For more information, contact us at 585-381-9250 or visit us on the web at www.mrbgroup.com.

Penfield Symphony Orchestra Holiday Concert
Monday, December 1, 2008 - 7:30 pm
Browncroft Communit Church

Music Director David Harman will conduct our annual holiday concert at 7:30 pm in Browncroft Community Church. Rossini's familiar William Tell Overture begins the program. Anyone who ever watched or listened to The Lone Ranger on radio or TV will recognize the theme of this work. Even without that association it's an exciting piece of music. Capriccio espagnol by Rimsky-Korsakov contributes Spanish themes and dance rhythms to the program. The composer himself called this music "vividly brilliant," and we think you'll agree. Rod Blumenau's Tintinnabulation: Variations on Two Traditional Bell Carols, commissioned for the PSO Brass Ensemble, will put you in a holiday mood. To continue the festivity, the orchestra will perform Chanukah Suite, It's Christmastime, music from The Polar Express, and Canadian Brass Christmas. You're invited to join in singing Jeff Tyzik's Holiday Sing-a-long to conclude the evening. 

It Is Easy To Order Your Tickets Online. You can order tickets online at www.penfieldsymphony.org or reserve them by phone at 872-0774.  Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for senior citizens.  High school students and younger may enter free. Tickets are also available at Wegmans, Hegedorn's Supermarket, Chateau Wine and Spirits, Canandaigua National Bank, Family First Federal Credit Union, Kittelberger Florist and Gifts, the Penfield Recreation Department, and also at the door on the night of the concert. Proudly Presented By Dick Ide Pontiac / Honda.

The Gymnastics Training Center Presents Ivana Hong, World Class Athlete and
2008 U.S. Olympic Alternate
Saturday, December 6th

Performing TWO Special Exhibitions
At The Gymnastics Training Center
Along with the Ithaca College Gymnastics Team

First Exhibition: 4:30 pm & Second Exhibition: 7:00 pm

The Gymnastics Training Center is proud to partner with Special Olympics to bring this world class athlete to our community!

Hong was a member of the 2007 World Championship Team that won the Team Gold Medal and also won herself an individual Bronze medal in that same competition. Hong was also named to the US Olympic Committee's Team of the Year for 2007.

Hong will perform in two exhibitions at the Training Center in Penfield, NY and will also have a picture and autograph session along with a question and answer portion of the event throughout the course of the fundraiser.

The Training Center is home to 22 regional Special Olympics Gymnasts who compete yearly on a national level. Some members of this team will be participating in this exhibition with Hong performing some of their own routines. These Special Olympic Athletes will also be competing in a regional tournament the next day at the Gymnastics Training Center.

Tickets are on sale now for $30 at the Gymnastics Training Center. Please call (585) 388-8686 NOW to reserve your seats at this incredible gymnastics event of the season! Fun for the whole family! For more information please visit their website at www.gtc-rochester.com.

Annual Four Corners Holiday Celebration
Saturday, December 6th
2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

The Town of Penfield is teaming with the Penfield Business Association to bring you the 2nd annual Four Corners Holiday Celebration on Saturday, December 6th from 2:00 - 6:00 pm, with Tree Lighting at 6 pm. Bring the family to the Four Corners (at the intersection of Rt. 441 and Five Mile Line Roads) and enjoy crafts, activities, samples and free stuff from Four Corners retailers, music and a tree lighting in Schaufelberger Park. Santa Claus will even make an appearance!

Be entered to win a flat screen TV by visiting each business on a special map! Maps available at the event or at Penfield Recreation office on Wednesday, December 3rd.

Sponsoring businesses include First Baptist Church of Penfield, Starbucks, Enchanted Rose Garden, Colangelos Bakery, Expressions Photography, Penfield Masons, Advanced Heating & Cooling, Hunting Horn, Penfield Liquor, Prudential, Textures by Design, Chiropractic Solutions, NQ Nails, Flower Barn, Bangz Salon, Pontillos, Frame of Mind, Edward Jones, Hong Wah, Mud About You, Spitala's Barber Shop, JP's Authentic Sandwiches, Doggie Salon, Mark's Pizza, Canandaigua National Bank, Tuxedo Park, Hygea, Deliciously Different, Dunkin Donuts, BA Snips, Donna B's, Salon Enza, Los Amigos, Nothnagle, State Farm Insurance, Humphrey House, Pea Pods Day Care, 7Eleven, Guida's Pizza, JC Ribs, and Connors Cafe.

Eastside YMCA Supporting The Penfield Ecumenical Food Shelf

The Penfield Ecumenical Food Shelf began 25 years ago with a generous act of a Penfield farmer who brought food to Penfield residents in need during the holidays. That single act of caring gained momentum over the years and has grown into today's Penfield Ecumenical Food Shelf serving dozens of families in our community every week and holiday.

The Penfield Ecumenical Food Shelf also conducts the Penfield Cares and Shares annual holiday program to bring individual gifts and food to children and their families. This program seems to grow each year, and they expect even more participation this season due to economic conditions, chronic illness, disability, family losses and more.

The year-round generosity of Penfield residents, organizations and businesses sustains the Penfield Ecumenical Food Shelf and the families it serves. If you would like to make a donation, please send your tax deductible check payable to: Penfield Ecumenical Food Shelf, c/o First Baptist Church of Penfield, 1862 Penfield Road, Penfield, NY 14526.

Starbucks Assisting Needy Families and Children of Penfield

The Penfield Starbucks is currently conducting two different campaigns to assist with the needy families and children in Penfield through support of St. Josephs Villa and The Shepherd Home. Stop in to learn more and to help contribute to these worthy causes.

2008 PBA Holiday Party
Thursday, December 4, 2008 - 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
The Clark House at Shadow Pines
600 Whalen Road

Celebrate the holidays with us and enjoy some delicious appetizers prepared by the chefs of the Clark House along with some festive treats from Colangelo’s Bakery of Penfield.

To add to the cheer, attendees will have a chance to win one of five $50 American Express Gift Cards generously donated by Fairport Savings Bank. You’ll also have a chance to win our 50/50 raffle. Bring a non-perishable food item donation for the Penfield Ecumenical Food Shelf to receive one free raffle ticket. Additional tickets will be available for purchase, with 50% of proceeds to benefit the Food Shelf.

Members are free of charge. $15 for guests. Please make your reservation by calling Lynne Crawford at 737-9757, or e-mail LCBiz@rochester.rr.com by 12/1.

View Brochure

Members: Free; Guests and Residents: $15
Please RSVP by emailing Lynne Crawford

Don't Forget to Renew Your PBA Membership for 2009!

If you have already renewed your membership, thank you again for supporting the PBA. If you have not had an opportunity to respond yet, we hope that you will take a few minutes now to send in your renewal. We are anticipating a very exciting new year and we want you with us to participate.

PBA Elects New Board of Directors for 2009

Congratulations to all those elected to the new Board of Directors.

Newly elected Directors include Cathy Donnelly (AFLAC), Jeffrey Insero (M&T Bank), Chuck Jones (Mud About You), Curt Regruit (Edward Jones), Leslie Zornow (Fairport Savings Bank), and Dr. Jonathan Zwerka (Chiropractic Solutions).

Remaining Directors inlcude Lynne Crawford, Chris Herlong, Dennis Shew, Diane Thresh, and Ann Young.

Congratulations to Diane Thresh who is our new PBA President. The other elected officers are Chris Herlong as Vice President, Ann Young as Treasurer, and Lynne Crawford as Secretary.

We would like to thank our outgoing board members and a special thanks to outgoing President Sam Delucia for his many years of dedicated service to the PBA.

Introducing the New Family Fun Series for 2009!

This new, member-networking series will occur each month during 2009 and will showcase 12 member businesses. Featured member businesses will showcase their services/products to fellow PBA members and their families by offering discounted rates to an event/gathering scheduled at a specified date and time. The goal is to increase awareness of member businesses and hopefully expand their customer base, offer discounted fun/learning to members and their families, and enable members to attend networking events that they otherwise may not have attended because of their commitment to spending time with their family.

There are currently five (5) spots left on the calendar for 2009. If you are interested in participating as one of our 12 featured businesses for 2009, please send an email to Chris Herlong.

The schedule for this series will be posted in the January 1st e-Newsletter along with a calendar of events for the year.

Member-to-Member Discounts for 2009

The Member-to-Member Discount program is being revitalized for 2009. All members are encouraged to develop some type of discount, coupon, or incentive for fellow members so that there is no excuse to go outside of our network of Penfield businesses. Dr. Jonathan Zwerka is heading this intiative and will be contacting each of you shortly. So please begin thinking about what you could offer in this program.

Have a Wonderful Holiday and a Happy New Year!

Letters to Santa

Penfield Recreation has again made direct contact with Santa's Workshop, North Pole, USA! Penfield children - write your letters to Santa Claus in care of Penfield Recreation. We will make sure Santa reads your letter and returns a personal reply before Christmas! All letters must be postmarked no later than December 5th. This will give Santa proper time to check your Christmas list. (Be sure to include your return address.) If there are any questions, feel free to contact Penfield Recreation at 340-8655. Send letters to: Santa Claus, c/o Penfield Recreation, 1985 Baird Rd., Penfield, NY 14526.

'Nuncrackers' Encore Performance!
December 12 - 13, 2008 - 7:00 pm
Penfield Community Center

Special - two nights only - benefit performance for YOHP Musicals of Nuncrackers by Dan Goggin will be performed on December 12 & 13 at 7:00 PM at the Penfield Community Center, 1985 Baird Rd.  Tickets are $15 for general seating.

Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical is the first “TV Special” taped by the sisters in their convent basement studio for Cable Access. It stars the nuns you love plus Father Virgil and some of Mt. Saint Helen’s most talented students. It features all new songs including: Twelve Days Prior to Christmas, Santa Ain’t Comin’ To Our House, We Three Kings of Orient Are Us, and It’s Better to Give Than To Receive. This show is filled with Nunsense humor, some of your favorite carols, a “Secret Santa,” and an uproarious take on Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Ballet. Nuncrackers will make you laugh and maybe tug at your heartstrings. It’s the perfect way to insure your holiday season is merry and bright.

This special presentation will be performed by parents and students of the Young Open & Honest Players. For more information or to purchase tickets please call 340-8655.

For more information, contact:
Penfield Community Center at 340-8655

Check out our Community Calendar!
Please visit the PBA website to view a complete list of Penfield events.

Create a Year-end Financial Checklist
by PBA Director Curt Regruit, Edward Jones

Now that we’re in the holiday season, you probably have much to do. Still, you may find it worthwhile to take on one more task: drawing up a year end financial checklist.

What should go on your list? Consider the following:

• Sell your losers. From late 2007 through much of 2008, the stock market has gone through some rough times. Consequently, you may now own some stocks that are worth less than what you originally paid for them. While this fact may not thrill you, there is a bright side: By selling some of your losers, you can offset capital gains you may have realized elsewhere in your portfolio. If you didn’t sell any winning stocks this year — and thus had no capital gains — you can use your losses to reduce up to $3,000 of ordinary income for 2008. And if your losses exceeded $3,000, you can carry them forward indefinitely and use them to offset gains or ordinary income in the future.

• Observe “wash sale” rules. One drawback to selling your losers is that you may have wanted to keep these stocks in your portfolio, despite their decline in value. Can you buy them back? You can — but you need to follow the “wash sale” rules. If you want to claim your loss as a deduction, you can’t buy the same stock during the “wash sale” period — the day of the sale, the 30 days before the sale and the 30 days after the sale. (See your tax advisor for more information on wash sale rules.)

• Put more money into your 401(k). Your 401(k) is a great retirementsavings vehicle — for several reasons. First, you typically contribute pre-tax dollars, so the more you put in, the lower your taxable income. Second, your earnings can grow on a taxdeferred basis. And third, you may have a dozen or more investment choices, so you can build a portfolio that reflects your risk tolerance, time horizon and retirement goals. So, if you haven’t exceeded the contribution limit (which, in 2008, is $15,500, or $20,500 if you’re 50 or older), ask your employer to adjust your remaining paychecks to boost your contribution. Also, if you receive a year-end bonus, see if you can put some or all of it into your 401(k).

• Add to your IRA. You actually have until April 15, 2009 to fully fund your traditional or Roth IRA for 2008, but if you can avoid waiting until the last minute, you might not have to come up with a big lump-sum payment. For the 2008 tax year, you can put up to $5,000 into your IRA, or $6,000 if you’re 50 or older.

• Make charitable contributions. When you contribute to a charitable organization — one that has received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status — your donations are generally tax- deductible, provided you itemize your tax return. Plus, if you decide to donate a stock or other appreciated asset, you can avoid capital gains taxes when the asset is sold.

If you can check most of these items off your year-end “to do” list, you’ll close out 2008 on a high note — and position yourself for success in 2009 and beyond..

*Edward Jones does not offer tax or legal advice. Consult with a competent tax or legal advisor about your specific situation.

Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Suggests Ways to Maintain Your Financial Fitness in Turbulent Times
by James Terwilliger, CFP®, Vice President, Financial Planning, Wealth Strategies Group, Canandaigua National Bank & Trust Company

These have been, and undoubtedly will continue to be in the near future, unsettling times.

The comforting fact is that boom-and-bust market cycles have been with us since records have been kept. On a regular basis, the capital-market system drives itself into periods of excess, followed by periods of correction to re-achieve equilibrium.

What should we do to protect our financial well-being during these correction periods?

First, we need to understand what history has taught us -- that up-and-down capital-market cycles are normal, that the long-term historical return on equities (stocks) is positive, and that the historical return exceeds inflation.

Second, we need to acknowledge what we can and cannot control. We cannot control the markets. We can control how we design and manage our personal financial strategies in a way that protects us from unnecessary risk and from ourselves in the form of emotions.

Easier said than done! Here are some suggestions:

Stick With Your Plan
If you have a sound investment plan – one that has an appropriate stock/fixed-income-cash allocation, is broadly diversified, and reflects your investment time horizon, risk tolerance, and goals – the standard advice is to hold steady. Do not let concern lead to fear, which then can lead to panic. Selling equities to avoid further “paper” loss may be tempting, but it is allowing emotion to drive the investment strategy.

It is easy to establish a vicious cycle. For example, when is the best time to reinvest in equities following a bailout? History shows that market recoveries occur in short bursts. Folks who engage in such timing tend to feel comfortable reentering the equities market only once a substantial recovery has been realized and sustained, thereby missing the major portion of the recovery.

Continue Regular Contributions
If you are in the pre-retirement accumulation phase of your financial life, continue to contribute regularly to your 401(k), IRA/Roth IRA, and other investment plans. Sure, markets may be down. But don’t let that scare you. Low stock and stock fund prices mean that you are buying more shares for each contribution dollar.

This method of saving a fixed amount of money on a regular basis is called “dollar cost averaging.” With it, your actual long-term cost per share becomes lower than your average cost per share. Yes, that sounds like double talk. But if you go through the math carefully, that is how the numbers work out.

Rebalance Your Total Portfolio
Over time, various asset classes in your portfolio stray from their intended target percentages. Regular rebalancing, say, annually, will shift money from asset classes that have over-performed (on a relative basis) to those that have underperformed. This is a good example of “buying low” and “selling high” and ensures that your portfolio allocation stays true to its intended design.

Consider IRA-to-Roth IRA Conversion
Roth IRAs are tax-free savings vehicles. Subject to income limitations, it makes sense under some circumstances to convert an existing IRA, or portion of an IRA, to a Roth IRA.

The downside is that income taxes generally must be paid on the conversion of IRA pre-tax dollars. However, if the IRA has lost significant value, now is an ideal time to consider a total or partial conversion at a relatively-low tax cost. Roth assets can then grow tax-free as the market recovers.

Review Other Key Aspects of Your Financial Picture
Achieving and maintaining a healthy financial picture involves much more than the savings and investment pieces. Other key elements include cash flow management, insurance, taxes, and estate planning.

If you have a formal plan covering the above, now is a good time to update. If you do not have one, get one …now. It is more important than ever, given these turbulent times, to develop your financial roadmap and use it to make future
ongoing financial decisions.

Work with a Trusted Financial Advisor
Going it alone is always dangerous, particularly these days when it is easy to let emotions overcome reason, potentially subjecting you to irreversible, life-long financial damage. Seek out a knowledgeable professional who has your best interests at heart, not someone whose incentive is to sell you a product.

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