Photos by Tom Rivers

LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville school, district recently honored retiring staff and teachers and an administrator awarded tenure. Pictured from left include Superintendent Dr. Heather Lyon; Aimee Chaffee, tenure for role as district’s director of special education, data and grants; Emily Aydelotte, tenure as second grade teacher; Caroline “Carrie” Samson, tenure as elementary teacher; Tammy Mallon, retiree as special education teacher; Kelly Follman, retiree as music teacher; Brenna LaSpada, tenure as third grade teacher; Patrick Whipple, Board of Education president. Missing from photo: Denise Keavney, retiree as cleaner. Jerod Thurber also was recognized for six years of service on the Board of Education. His term ends June 30.

The retirees said they were thankful for the family atmosphere at Lyndonville.

Denise Keavney was praised for bringing “kindness and warmth” to her job at the school. She started as a lunch lady, and became a cleaner.

Tammy Mallon worked 31 years at Lyndonville as a special education teacher.

“She has had a profound impact on the school district,” said Aimee Chafee, the district’s director of special education, data and grants. “For three decades she has been championing students with disabilities.”

Chaffee praised Mallon for being a mentor to other teachers in the special education department.

Kelly Follman was commended for bringing passion to her job as a music teacher, and inspiring many of her students to pursue careers in the arts. Follman said 82 students will be in the marching band for the Fourth of July parade.

“I’m so proud of our music department,” Follman said. “I’m ready to pass the torch to a young person who can take it to the next level.”

Aimee Chafee was awarded tenure for role as district’s director of special education, data and grants. Dr. Heather Lyon, the district’s superintendent, said Chaffee has demonstrated “an unwavering commitment to doing what’s right for students.”

She fosters a culture of shared responsibility and commitment, Lyon said.

“What stands out is Aimee’s integrity,” Lyon said.

Chaffee will be taking a leave of absence next school year before returning in 2027-28.

Emily Aydelotte was awarded tenure in the elementary school. She thanked elementary school principal, Dr. Elissa Smith, “for always believing in me.”

Caroline “Carrie” Samson was praised for being awarded tenure in the elementary school teacher and for setting a remarkable example for students and staff. Samson started working in the school cafeteria in 2013 and then became a teacher aide and a classroom teacher. She did that while taking college classes and earning her master’s degree in education.

“She is such a role model,” said Smith, the elementary principal. “She has chased her dreams as an adult.”

Brenna LaSpada also was awarded tenure as an elementary school teacher. Her students have excelled in third grade. Smith said Lyndonville’s third graders have some of the highest academic achievers in the region and LaSpada is a big part of the third grade team.

LaSpada joined Lyndonville after started her career in the tourism and hospitality industry.

“Every day I get to wake up and come to work with the best colleagues and the best students,” LaSpada said. “I’m happy to be a Tiger.”

1 resident rescued from apartment and carried out by firefighters

Photo courtesy of Brockport Fire District: Fire tore through an apartment complex at 3640 Lake Rd. in Brockport this morning.

Press Release, Brockport Fire District

BROCKPORT – Before the sun rose this morning, fire ravaged through the center building in the apartment complex on Lake Road just North of Ridge Road West.

Four different callers reported the fire to the Monroe County 911 center at 04:48 hours this morning reporting the fire burning out of control at 3640 Lake Rd. in the Town of Clarkson.

A heavy fire load was obvious as first arriving apparatus pulled in the driveway. Additional companies were immediately summoned to assist Brockport firefighters.

15 fire companies from Monroe, Orleans and Genesee counties responded to assist. They included Hamlin-Morton-Walker, Hilton, Spencerport, Bergen, Churchville, Murray, Gates, Ridge Road FD, North Greece, Albion, Kendall, Chili, Henrietta, Mumford and Scottsville.

Many of them were utilized at the scene while some of them stood by in our headquarters station covering our district for us. Monroe Ambulance provided EMS with several ambulances. The Brockport Police Department and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office provided drone support to examine the heavily damaged areas while searching for hot spots from above the structure.

No firefighters were injured while fighting the fire. There were four residents treated at the scene and released by EMS crews. One resident had to be rescued from their apartment and carried out by firefighters. Two cats and an Iguana were rescued by firefighters as part of the search and rescue operation.

The structure involved had 21 housing units affected by the fire with approximately 30 residents displaced. The American Red Cross is assisting with temporary housing, and the Brockport Fire District opened the doors of their Station #2 across the street to provide immediate shelter for residents while the Red Cross worked out the details.

The cause and origin of the fire is under investigation by the Monroe County Fire Bureau’s Fire Investigation Unit.  The cause is undetermined at this time.

Bruce Burch (sporting dahlias on his lapel), Harry Hillman (center) and Norma Wheeler photographed in 1928 with the West Lyndonville Dahlia Gardens sign.

By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian

“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 6, No. 18

LYNDONVILLE – It never ceases to amaze us how random photographs can survive and surface after many years to give us a tantalizing glimpse into a moment in time.  Naturally this happy photograph caught our attention. And, wonder of wonders, it was dated and the and the subjects were identified.

But Dahlia Gardens? West Lyndonville??

West Lyndonville was at one time recognized as a distinct area.

For some years, a local correspondent contributed news of area milestones and social activities to the Lyndonville Advertiser.

The 1920s has been referred to as the “golden age” of dahlia breeding as the variety and intensity of colors and forms appealed to the Art Deco Jazz Age aesthetic.

We traced the history of the West Lyndonville Dahlia Gardens through advertisements and news articles. Appropriately, the enterprise dates from that time. The first reference appeared in the Times-Union, Sept. 13, 1924:

“Perhaps the most beautiful colors of dahlias in this vicinity can be seen in Mrs. H. P. Wheeler’s garden in West Lyndonville. Every conceivable color is there, from the lighter shades to blossoms that are almost black. The flowers are large and the double-quilled ones, one variety of which is called the “Country Girl” is especially beautiful.”

Sue Starkweather Miller, Village of Albion Historian, is a dahlia enthusiast. Shown here are some of the dahlias she has grown. The varied forms include semi-cactus, ball, and water-lily.

An ad in The Buffalo News, September 26, 1931, mentioned 400 varieties of dahlia in full bloom at the gardens. What a sight that must have been! Dahlia blossoms are intensely vibrant in the fall.

Pinpointing the actual location of this idyllic garden was a puzzle. To those of us now accustomed to precise directions, the instructions given in the ads were delightfully vague: “One and one fourth miles south-east of Lyndonville” or “Take the first three left-hand turns after passing north through Lyndonville and crossing the railroad.”

Finally, we located the Wheeler property in the 1913 New Century Atlas of Orleans County at the intersection of Angling Road and Marshall Road.

The lady responsible for the dahlia gardens was Mrs. H.P. Wheeler (Lena Boughton). She was listed as a florist in the 1930 Census. Tubers, bulbs and fresh-cut flowers could be purchased at the gardens. Gladioli were added in later years. The business continued until 1943.

Lena died in 1963. She and her husband, Harry Wheeler, are buried in Hartland Central Cemetery, Gasport.

Scott Pachla, a former airline pilot, enjoys working with gun owners

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Scott Pachla is shown on Saturday at Building Your Dreams Gun Shop, which opened about three weeks ago at the former West Ridge Realty building at 16584 Ridge Rd.

Pachla for more than a decade ran the business out of his home on Kendall Road. It outgrew his garage and then expanded into his house, taking up even more room.

The new location is more visible for the public and in a better location for the public, Pachla said.

He started selling guns 16 years ago as a hobby. Pachla, 55, is connected with many distributors. He used those contacts to maintain access to hand guns, long guns, ammunition and other supplies during the Covid pandemic in 2020, when many gun sellers struggled to get supplies.

That’s when the business really started to take off for Pachla, who worked 20 years as an airline pilot. He stepped away from that career due to the constant time away from home.

“I slept in 80,000 hotel beds,” he said. “I was never home.”

After his career as a pilot, Pachla tried a business where he built custom log cabins. He called his contracting business, Building Your Dreams. He kept that name for the gun shop.

The gun business is more family-friendly for Pachla. His wife Joanna Fraser helps with the books, and is at the store on Saturdays. She also works full-time at Lowe’s.

Pachla’s twin sons, Hunter and Kohle, also help at Building Your Dreams. They both will graduate from Holley on Saturday. Hunter does scope mounts and can make gun repairs. Kohle helped design the store’s look and layout.

Scott Pachla and his wife Joanna Fraser are shown at Building Your Dreams Gun Shop at the former Westridge Realty on Ridge Road.

Pachla said he has been a gun enthusiast since he was hunting as a kid. Some of the animals he’s hunted are mounted high on the store walls, including a wild boar he shot with an arrow.

Pachla enjoys sharing his knowledge with the public. If he doesn’t have what they want in the store, he said he can order and quickly have it on site. He has products from about 30 gun manufacturers, including Traditions, Versacarry, Barnes, Hornady, Kimber, Ruger, Glock, Savage,  Springfield, Henry, Smith & Wesson and others.

“I enjoy the customers and I enjoy the industry,” he said.

Building Your Dreams also sells ammunition, accessories, cleaning supplies, scopes and does minor gun smithing.

The business is open Monday through Saturday – 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Monday; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 10 a.m. to 6:30 on Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. Click here for more information.

Pachla works with fire departments and other organizations on gun raffles, trying to help them retain as much of the proceeds as possible.

Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Local officials today celebrated a new playground in the Village of Holley along the canal park trail. The project was a joint venture through the village, Town of Murray and the county health department.

Unveiling the new sign at the park, from left, include: Village Trustee Rochelle Moroz, Murray Town Supervisor Gerry Rightmyer, County Legislator John Fitzak and Village Trustee Jessica MacClaren. The new sign was designed by Lake Country Media in Albion.

The playground was popular with kids this morning around 11 a.m.

The playground replaces one that was about 25 years old and was removed in 2022 due to disrepair.

The new playground was funded with a $150,000 state grant secured by health department, $52,000 from the Village of Holley and $25,000 from the Town of Murray.

It’s the only public playground in the Town of Murray and Village of Holley besides the one at the elementary school.

Rightmyer said Murray used ARPA federal funds for its share of the project.

Holley Mayor Mark Bower, left, thanked the town and county for supporting the project. The local governments worked with Parkitects and Landscape Structures on the design of the playground, which was installed by Align Outdoors.

Bower said they wanted a new playground that was different from the one at the school. He has been pleased to see many kids and families using the playground.

Legislator John Fitzak said the project was a “creative collaboration” among the three government – village, town and county.

“It’s another way everyone works together for a common benefit,” he said.

Brenden Bedard, assistant director of the Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, spotted the grant possibility. He reached out to Bower to see if Holley was interested in pursuing it. The local entities worked with the county grantwriter, Diane Cihak of Upper Edge Consulting, to submit the successful grant application.

Bedard, a Holley resident who was elected a village trustee on Tuesday, said a playground brings many health benefits, encouraging kids and families to exercise and be outside.

Mayor Bower said the project is the latest in efforts to add recreational amenities in the village. A new kayak launch was recently added through a grant.

Holley also received a grant to add more lighting along the canal path at the park. A screen also will be put in the canal park pavilion to protect people from bugs and insects while they are enjoying the pavilion. A bench with a solar cover also will be added that will be a spot where people can recharge their phones, Bower said.

The village owns the fireman’s field across from the elementary school and two Gaga Ball pits and a bocce court were recently installed at that field, which is leased by the fire department.

Arthur Barnes, Marco Rodriguez and David Burke all have paintings on display

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – David F. Burke of Bergen is one of the featured artists in a new show at the Marti’s on Main art gallery in Albion.

He is shown by his painting, “White Trees in September,” an acrylic on canvas.

Burke has 12 paints in the show at Marti’s. Kim Martillotta Muscarella has the gallery open for its 16^th season. There are receptions the third Friday each month from April to November for the new art shows at 20 South Main St.

Arthur Barnes is shown with some of his new ink and water color paintings that he did over the winter. Barnes has about a dozen new paintings in the art show. He likes to paint trees in the winter when there aren’t leaves on the branches. That way there is more to see of the landscapes.

Marco Rodriguez of Brockport is also featured at Marti’s. Rodriguez retired from General Motors after 40 years. He moved to Brockport from Detroit about five years ago to be near his grandchildren.

Rodriguez always liked art but didn’t make the time to paint until his retirement. He has 32 oil paintings at Marti’s including “Colorado Fly Fishing” which is left at top and “Rain Drops” at the bottom. “The King” is another painting he is standing near.

Kim Martillotta Muscarella welcomes people to the art gallery for Friday’s show. There are works from many artists on display throughout the building, which used to the Cornell Cooperative Extension until it moved to a new building in 2007 at the 4-H Fairgrounds.

Mark Parker sang and played the guitar during the art show, which also included a spread of snacks.

This season there are sculptures on display that were created by Richard Bannister and George Graham. Bannister’s work is at left and Graham’s is at right. In back at right, Marco Rodriguez talks with Albion resident Samuel Robinson.

For more information on Marti’s, click here.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Tiny “PowerHouse” visited Albion on Thursday. It was stationed in the parking lot of Hoag Library. The PowerHouse is on an 11-day tour of the Rochester region.

The 250-square-foot house was built in 2020 by the Cornell Cooperative extension in Tompkins County.

The house has many exhibits and demonstrations that show the best ways to conserve energy within a house.

Emily Hung, a residential energy advisor for Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region, answered questions from the public about the PowerHouse and led demonstrations.

Hung said a properly insulated house is one of the best ways to conserve energy. Changing to LED bulbs is another easy way to reduce electric usage.

She said there are many programs to help residents implement energy-savings projects through NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority).

“You can save money and be more comfortable in your home,” she said.

In this demonstration, people used a hand pedal to see how much energy it takes to turn on a light bulb and keep it lighted up. The LED took far less energy while the incandescent took the most electricity.

Another display showed the wattage to power a hair dryer at abut 240 watts. That compared to a string of lights that used 41 watts of electricity.

Grace Kent of Albion checks out the Tiny PowerHouse. Emily Hung is at left and in back is Brady Fergusson, director of public engagement for Climate Solutions Accelerator.

Green Orleans, a local group focused on preserving the environment and sustainable living, invited Climate Solutions Accelerator to bring the Tiny PowerHouse to Albion.

Climate Solutions Accelerator is bringing the home to communities in the region, offering a free, hands-on opportunity to learn how energy works inside the home and explore practical ways to save energy, improve comfort, reduce waste, and prepare for cleaner energy choices.

Exhibit topics include air leaks, insulation, renewable heating and cooling, solar energy, lighting, windows, appliances, Do-It-Yourself projects, and indoor air quality.

This display asks what takes the most electricity at a house.

Home heating makes up 51 percent of home energy use, with water heating at 19 percent, air conditioning at 5 percent, refrigeration at 3 percent, and other demands at 22 percent.

To see the schedule of the Tiny PowerHouse tour in Rochester, click here.

Agency will step up advocacy while providing many critical local services

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Renee Hungerford introduces Jenn Redding, RN, who spoke on Sharps Safety at Community Action’s In-Service Day last week.

ALBION – Since its founding more than 60 years ago, Community Action of Orleans and Genesee has provided food, clothing and necessary services to a countless number of families.

Community Action last week observed its annual In-Service Day at the Albion Elks Lodge. Theme for the day was “Doing the Work When the Work is Hard.”

“Seeing people struggle can be very discouraging,” said executive director Renee Hungerford. “We have dealt with the pandemic and the constant threat of funding cuts.”

She also shared the successes their agency had last year, in addition to the hurdles they are facing with state and federal cuts to its programs. A highlight of her speech was the need for advocacy.

“If Community Action went away, the Department of Social Services could not pick up all those in need,” she said.

Renee Hungerford, executive director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, recognizes Peter Bartula at the annual In-Service Day for being an advocate for the agency.

The program last Friday began with breakfast and a presentation to Peter Bartula, an advocate for Community Action and keynote speaker, whose presentation was “We’re All Salespeople.”  Bartula recently ran a cornhole tournament fundraiser for Community Action, something Hungerford would like to see recurring.

In Friday’s speech, highlighting the State of the Agency, Hungerford explained the seriousness of their situation and some positive wins.

“Our organization actively advocates for federal and state funding, facing proposed cuts to program like Low Income HEAP and Community Services Block Grant, but securing some wins, such as a $40 million line item for the Weatherization Assistance Program in the New York state budget.

“Federal budget proposals include a $4 billion cut to LIHEAP and $775 million to CSBG.”

LIHEAP is targeted for elimination, citing state policies that prevent utility disconnections. CSBG is proposed for elimination due to perceived duplication and accountability concerns.

Hungerford stresses the government is proposing these cuts because they don’t realize all the good Community Action does, and says it is imperative to advocate. Advocacy activities by Hungerford and local politicians include trips to DC and Albany, testimony, meetings and letters to officials.

“The president doesn’t know what we do here,” she said.

The president’s 2027 budget does maintain Head Start funding, but Hungerford warns of inflation and rising costs.

The Community Block Grant Improvement Act reauthorizes CSBG through 2032, increasing eligibility to 200% of the poverty line and expanding permitted uses.

Hungerford said advocacy emphasizes the importance of community support and building a strong agency reputation.

Although faced with cuts, the agency reported significant achievements across health, education, housing and youth programs, demonstrating positive community outcomes, she said.

In 2025, the agency addressed social determinants of health with services to 752 households, 4,404 families and 228 individuals receiving meals, rental and utility assistance.

Head Start and Early Head Start enrolled 194 children with high access to healthcare and developmental improvements. Early Head Start served 94 children having 100% accessible healthcare and a 12% increase in dental care.

Youth development programs supported 417 students with evidence-based curricula. Transportation services provided 3,509 trips for seniors and disabled, and the Child Care Resource Center facilitated 55 referrals, 438 technical assistance sessions and expanded staff with new mental health and business specialists.

Housing initiatives installed air conditioning in 70 homes and completed 76 weatherization jobs.

Topping off the year’s successes was the launching of the Fresh Start Care Center, a room at the Main Street Corner Thrift, Gifts and More store which houses a laundry, shower and personal care items for homeless or other students who have no access to them at home.

The prom giveaway program was expanded to eight counties and 92 prom dresses were distributed.

Historically, 10% of HEAP funding was allocated to WAP, but this year the Hochel administration plans to redirect these funds, resulting in a 69% reduction for WAP. Advocacy efforts led to a $40 million line-item for WAP in the state budget, partially offsetting the loss.

Hungerford said sustained advocacy has become a significant part of agency work, diverting resources from direct service delivery, although yielding some positive outcomes.

In addition to the above accomplishments, Community Action’s Emergency Services and Case Management distributed 752 holiday meal kits, provided 379 individuals with clothing, distributed food to 4,404 families, 5,991 prepared meals to 338 people at the Eastern Orleans Community Center. In addition, 34 individuals received help to avoid eviction and 27 individuals received support to prevent utility shutoff.

Youth and adolescent support was offered through Project Salus, in which students received evidence-based curriculum on healthy decision making and advocacy skills.

The Child Care Resource Center received 55 referrals for child care and added a business specialist and infant early childhood mental health consultant to enhance provider support.

In addition to providing thousands of individuals with needed services, Community Action contracted for Medicaid 1115 Waiver Services and celebrated the agency’s 60th anniversary.

All this is in addition to major improvements and growth at the Eastern Orleans Community Center in Holley.

“It has been completely redone,” Hungerford said. “It is fabulous.”

The center is open from 9:30 to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and serves lunch daily. A clothing closet, emergency food pantry, emergency clothing pantry, public access computers with internet, food distribution site and senior activities are some of features offered there.

Other highlights of the in-service were a ROMA refresher by Cassie Healy, head of the Main Street store; a talk on Sharps Safety by registered nurse Jenn Radigan; introduction of directors and board members; lunch and an afternoon of fun activities.

In regard to Hungerford’s urgency for advocacy, she said, “Before I worked here, I had no idea what Community Action did. We think food distribution and emergency services. But we do so much more. We have so many amazing programs that help our community. We cannot lobby. But we can advocate. Our message needs to go to the top.”

Students saved nearly $180 throughout school year for pantry

Photos by Ginny Kropf: First graders in Allison Woodburn’s class at Oak Orchard Primary School pose on the steps of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, where they visited the food pantry. At rear is Robin Dubai, left, food pantry coordinator, and class teacher Allison Woodburn.

MEDINA – Teaching her class about kindness and giving has become an annual message for Allison Woodburn and her first-grade students at Oak Orchard Primary School.

She calls the class “Camp Woodburn,” because they are a camp-themed classroom, and teaches all about kindness through several projects and activities, she said. One of those projects is saving their small change every day to support the Food Pantry at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church.

Then, just before school ends for the year, they walk to St. Peter’s with their backpacks full of groceries they have bought to donate to the food pantry.

Every day, they say the class quote together – “In a world where you can be anything, choose to be kind.” At Christmas, the class read the book “The Giving Tree” by Shel Silverstein and learned about how the tree always had a full heart when it gave to others. So the students decided to have their very own giving tree and donate their favorite cereals to put under their Christmas tree instead of exchanging gifts with each other.

Allison Woodburn and her first-grade students pose around the cart filled with groceries they purchased and brought to St. Peter’s Food Pantry.

In the spring during math the students learn all about coins and money, which they and their families have donated during the year. They sort the coins, roll them up and this spring counted $179.55. The students wrote a shopping list of needs and wants for the food pantry. Woodburn shopped for all the food on their list, and was still able to donate a $40 gift card to give the pantry, in addition to all the food purchased with the monetary donations.

Woodburn has been doing this with her class for six years and always feels like she is teaching them the most important lesson in life, which is to always show kindness to others without expecting anything in return.

The Food Pantry has been managed by Robin Dubai for 32 years, who first started in 1994 when her son went to nursery school.

“People have been very generous to the food pantry,” Dubai said. “I think it’s wonderful how Mrs. Woodburn is teaching kindness. I love working with her and her class.”

The food pantry has seen a slight increase in demand this year, now providing food monthly to 72 families, Dubai said.

Although the students are taught to be kind, while not expecting anything in return, Dubai wanted to show her appreciation and bought doughnuts for the class.

Robin Dubai, left, explains to Allison Woodburn’s first-grade class how a food pantry operates.

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club celebrated another successful year on Thursday evening during its meeting at the Tavern on the Ridge.

Richard Remley, left, served as president the past 12 months. He hands off the gavel to incoming president, Mike Bonnewell.

Bonnewell is retired as Albion Central School superintendent. He previously served as Rotary Club president in 2017-18. He is active on the Albion Strawberry Festival Committee, and also is chairman of the Strawberry Festival parade.

Rotary Club member Don Bishop, left, presents a Paul Harris Fellow award to Remley in appreciation for his leadership the past year.

The Club has been a part of the Albion community for more than a century and spearheads several events and fundraisers.

Its next big event will be a golf tournament July 16 at Shelridge Country Club in Medina with proceeds going to the Office for the Aging’s volunteer transportation program and other Rotary community projects.

The Rotary Club meets at the Tavern on the Ridge the first Thursday each month at noon and the third Thursday at 5:30 p.m.

Press Release, Arc GLOW

Provided photo: Martin Miskell, Chief Executive Officer for Arc GLOW, congratulates Lynn Fleming, Arc’s CFO/COO, for completing The Arc New York Leadership Institute.

Arc GLOW Chief Financial and Chief Operating Officer Lynn Fleming recently graduated from The Arc New York Leadership Institute.

She is one of the 26 participants who completed the 10-month executive development program. Throughout the program, participants engaged in group learning, one-on-one mentorship, and meaningful discussions designed to strengthen their leadership skills and prepare them to guide the Arc into continued success.

The Arc New York created the Leadership Institute to cultivate leadership potential across our statewide network and invest in the next generation of leaders.

Fleming, who joined the agency in 2019, has been a driving force for financial stability and programmatic growth across Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties. Through The Arc New York Leadership Institute, she collaborated with peers statewide, analyzing innovative social enterprises and honing best practices to directly benefit the mission-driven impact at Arc GLOW.

Arc GLOW is a public non-profit supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

To learn more, visit ArcGLOW.org.

Photos and information courtesy of Albion Elks Lodge #1006

ALBION – The Albion Elks Lodge #1006 last Sunday held a Flag Day ceremony in the lodge on West State Street. Sharon Pollock, The Exalted Ruler of the lodge, is shown speaking during the ceremony.

Officers for the Elks in attendance were included Exalted Ruler Sharon Pollock, Leading Knight Chris Webb, Lecturing Knight Deloris Mosher, Secretary Lynda Standish, Esquire Allyn Phillips and Chaplain Edee Hoffmeister.

The Elks held the service with the assistance of the VFW Post.

Every flag the United States has had was presented and described.

Charlie Nesbitt, a Vietnam War veteran and former state assemblyman, served as guest speaker. Nesbitt and Pollock are shown with Ron Ayrault, a Navy veteran from Holley who served in the Korean War.

First Responders from the Albion Fire Department, the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department and Mercy Flight attended the ceremony.

Photo courtesy of Jenna Amering

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley recognizes John Sansone for his 25 years of service as the village attorney. He was honored at last week’s Village Board meeting.

Pictured from left include former mayors Bill Quaranto and Dan Schiavone, attorney John Sansone, former Mayor Brian Sorochty, current Mayor Mark Bower, and former Mayor John Kenney.

Sansone started as Holley attorney in 2001 and has served with eight mayors during his tenure. The other mayors not in photo include Skip Carpenter, Kevin Lynch and Lewis Passarell.

Current Mayor Bower thanked Sansone for his “exceptional service and dedication” to the village. The board took a break at last week’s meeting to recognize Sansone, who was joined at the meeting by his wife, Maria.

Sansone was presented a plaque “with sincere appreciation for your guidance, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to the Village of Holley and its residents.”