Four area high school students from the towns of Fairport, Penfield, Irondequoit and Webster were chosen as Fairport Savings Bank’s 2013 Legacy Scholarship winners.

The winners will be recognized at a private reception held at the Fairport Savings Bank's Penfield branch. The winners are Julianne Episcopo, Webster Thomas High School; Jake Fioravanti, Eastridge High School; Erika Sykes, Fairport High School and Doug Uhazie, Penfield High School. Each winner will receive $1125, an increased award in celebration of the bank's 125th Anniversary.

A Penfield man pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges in federal court Tuesday.

Fred Valentin, also known as Fred Vargas, 42, of Penfield, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute one kilogram or more of heroin.

Valentin purchased large quantities of heroin in New York City that he brought back to Rochester where processed, packaged and resold the heroin in various quantities. He was arrested on January 16 while driving a rental car. Police found him in possession of more than 130 grams of heroin and $2,000 in cash.

Officers also found a pistol with a defaced serial number, rounds of ammunition and heroin trafficking paraphernalia. On February 13, ATF agents seized more than $72,000 in Valentin's drug proceeds during the execution of a federal search warrant at a home on Central Park in Rochester.

Valentin will be sentenced on September 5. He faces 20 years to life in prison.

Residents in Penfield will hit the polls Tuesday to vote on the proposed 2013-14 school budget.

The adopted $87 million budget increases spending by 2.4 percent and has an estimated tax rate increase of 4.4 percent.

There are three candidates running for three open seats on the Penfield Board of Education.

Two propositions will also be on the ballot: To purchase six 66-passenger buses and to fund $1.9 million in capital projects at Scribner Road Elementary and Bay Trail Middle School.

Both propositions will be funded through reserves and fund balance and will not impact taxes.

Voting runs from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Penfield High School gym.

Courtesy www.MPNNow.com