Spencer Tulis, Finger Lakes Times Journalist Profile

Articles

BIGGER PICTURE: He died, but lives to talk about it

1 month ago | fltimes.com | Spencer Tulis

Little did Eric Giguere know when he left home to go to work Oct. 4, 2002, that it would be — literally and figuratively — the darkest day of his life. He was 27 years old. The Romulus High School grad had been a union laborer before landing a job with a small outfit that installed water lines. They were working on a project digging and installing a 12-inch water main in Yates County.
BIGGER PICTURE: Peyton's place? On top of the podium

2 months ago | fltimes.com | Spencer Tulis

ALBANY — Girls wrestling is currently the fastest-growing high school sport in the country. According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, the scholastic girls wrestling community grew to a record-breaking 65,000 participants in 2023. In New York, 2,104 girls were certified to compete this year. Compare that to the 563 that wrestled in 2022.
Video: The Echomen still resonate

Feb 1, 2025 | fltimes.com | Spencer Tulis

Geneva resident and keyboardist for The Echomen, Don Damick, gives an inside look into playing in the band. They formed while in seventh grade and would go on to be a popular choice to play at area teen dances, high school proms, basement parties and clubs. Sixty years later The Echomen perform each year for a benefit concert or two locally. Check out the multi-media presentation on our website (www.fltimes.com) under video section.
Former player panel | In Bielema they trust

Jan 7, 2025 | ourcommunitynow.com | Spencer Tulis

Illinois coach Bret Bielema heads into Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fla., before the Citrus Bowl. To subscribe, click here. Newly crowned Big Ten champs Bobby Jackson, left, and Kurt Kittner on Nov. 22, 2001, after beating Northwestern at home. BOBBY JACKSON (1997-2001) Since ... “2001. Preseason 15th, finished fifth. The only teams above us were in the playoffs. “I love Coach B for the way he has changed the mentality of our team and how we’re viewed by other teams.
BIGGER PICTURE: Living on the edge (of a landfill)

Dec 31, 2024 | fltimes.com | Spencer Tulis

The Ontario County Landfill will cease accepting solid waste on the last day of December 2028. For something that had been hard to accomplish previously, this time the Ontario County Board of Supervisors, with a weighted vote of 4,481 to 69, agreed overwhelmingly in favor of closure. Why did it take so long to finally end the life of the 389-acre, county-owned facility? It comes back to that weighted vote.
BIGGER PICTURE: Part I - $$$ for nothing on Earls Hill Road

Dec 10, 2024 | fltimes.com | Spencer Tulis

Earls Hill Road is just south of the Ontario/Yates county line. It runs east to west, from Route 14 to County Road 6 (Pre-Emption Road). No one there has municipal water. The residents rely on wells, but given the hill and location, water quantity and quality suffer at times. One possible solution was for the town of Benton to create a special water district.
BIGGER PICTURE: Community givers

Dec 4, 2024 | fltimes.com | Spencer Tulis

If there was something that embodied the idea of “Community Giving,” it would have to be what goes on just prior to Thanksgiving at the Our Lady of Peace Parish Center adjacent to St. Francis deSales Church in Geneva. Literally dozens — perhaps more than 100 people in all — volunteer their time and contribute in some way during the year to make the Thanksgiving Dinners Project a success. Dare I say this year’s was its biggest yet.
Bigger Picture: Community Givers

Nov 25, 2024 | fltimes.com | Spencer Tulis

If there was something that embodied the idea of “Community Giving” it would have to be, for me, what goes on just prior to Thanksgiving at Our Lady of Peace Parish Hall adjacent to St. Francis Church in Geneva. Literally dozens, maybe in total of over 100 people volunteer their time and contribute in some way to make the Thanksgiving Dinners Project a success. Dare I say this year’s was its biggest yet. About 400 boxes were distributed that fed over 2000 food-insecure people.
BIGGER PICTURE: One pill can kill

Nov 19, 2024 | fltimes.com | Spencer Tulis

There is a billboard (top inset photo) that can be seen driving west on Routes 5&20 in the town of Waterloo, just before reaching Border City. It features Phillip Luffman of Seneca Falls. Given the message/subject matter, it is easy to deduce that Phillip was one of the many tragic overdose victims that happens every day nationwide. In this case, it was more than six years ago, on Aug 18. Phillip was 36 years old. The cocaine he consumed was laced with fentanyl.
BIGGER PICTURE: Beating the odds ... one day at a time

Nov 13, 2024 | fltimes.com | Spencer Tulis

Life has not been easy for 10-year-old Allesandra Beavers, but the Farmington resident continues to persevere while dealing with multiple disabilities — much to the amazement of her doctors and family. What is just as amazing is how her aunt, Ryan Rothfuss, 43, has really stepped to the plate. Alle’s mom was going through an extremely difficult period in life a few years ago. She is the twin sister of Ryan. Fast-forward to today, and Ryan is legal guardian for Alle (and her 14-year-old brother).