Photo by Tom Rivers: The chapel at Mount Albion Cemetery, shown last week, will be getting a new Vermont slate roof, as well as other repairs to the building that was constructed in 1875 from Medina Sandstone.

ALBION – The slate has arrived in Albion and work should soon begin on replacing the roof at the Mount Albion chapel.

The building is a focal point of the historic cemetery for people who enter through the main arch off Route 31. The new roof is among several improvements for the structure that was built in 1875.

Local mason Neal Muscarella has already completed some repointing of mortar on the building. A drop ceiling also has been removed that revealed a vaulted ceiling had been covered up.

The new roof will be a comparable Vermont slate. The Albion Village Board in September accepted a bid for $83,985 to remove the existing roof and replace all the Vermont slate. The roofer should be on site this spring to work on the project.

There will be other substantial work to follow including interior replastering of the north wall; electrical upgrades (wiring, outlets, internal and external lighting); heating unit for seasonal use; repair of plaster and vaulted ceiling; removal of old floor, repair subfloor and put in a new floor; and refurbish exterior doors and window trim.

A committee led by Village Historian Sue Starkweather Miller has raised $225,000 for the chapel restoration. That met the initial goal but there are some additional expenses with the vaulted ceiling.

Tax deductible donations for the project can be sent to the Orleans County Historical Association, 3286 Gaines Basin Rd., Albion NY 14411. For more information, click here.

Once the project is complete, Starkweather Miller said the site will again be able to be used by the public for events.

Photo by Marsha Rivers: Two fishermen head back through the Oak Orchard Harbor on Friday evening at Point Breeze.

Another frost advisory is in effect for Orleans County tonight for the third straight day. Temperatures in the low to mid 30s will result in frost formation, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.

The advisory from midnight to 9 a.m. Sunday also includes Niagara, Monroe, Wayne, northern Cayuga, Oswego, northern Erie, Livingston and Ontario counties.

The high temperatures in the coming days include 55 and sunny on Sunday, 66 and sunny on Monday, 66 and mostly cloudy on Tuesday and 54 and mostly cloudy on Wednesday.

Leg leader says state policies play big role on local spending

Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislature Chairwoman Lynne Johnson gives her “state of the county” address on Tuesday at the legislative chambers in the County Office Building.

ALBION – The leader of the Orleans County Legislature said state policies are straining the county budget and local pocketbooks.

Lyne Johnson, the chairwoman of the County Legislature, said the impact of state mandated programs continues to increase as a percentage of the county property tax.

County officials in the past spoke about the “9 for 90” mandated programs, how nine directives from the state would consume about 90 percent of the property tax. Johnson said those days feel nostalgic because the mandated programs now are 115 percent of the property tax. (The county can offset some of that and provide non-mandated programs with the local sales tax revenues).

“Our government must do what working families do every day – live within a tight budget and make tough choices,” Johnson said in a “state of the county” address. “We must continually finds ways to do more with less. We must forgo some things we really need until we are in a better fiscal position, and we have to be creative and aggressive in our search for solutions.”

State policies have driven up costs for housing and energy. Residents also face climbing  expenses for childcare, groceries and filling their gas tank, Johnson said.

“New York has long been recognized as one of the least affordable states in the nation, but it feels like it has gotten much worse,” Johnson said. “The cost of living continues to rise faster than wages, leaving families squeezed from every direction.”

She faulted the state’s climate initiatives, in particular, for being “poorly designed” and ignoring the reality of the harsh Western New York winters. Johnson said the state rushed to close coal power plants, and has turned to thousands of acres of “unreliable solar panels on once pristine farmland.” Solar hasn’t made up for the loss of the coal plants, forcing NY to turn to other states for some power “at a premium cost.”

“This is just one of a hundred policies that simply ignore common sense,” she said.

Johnson said she will remain optimistic about Orleans County, and the resilience of its residents and the local leaders. She noted the County Legislature will continue to stay under the state-imposed property tax cap of about 2 percent.

“It’s no secret that this body will not vote to exceed the property tax cap because that just worsens the cost of the affordability crisis on our taxpayers,” she said.

She highlighted partnerships with neighboring counties, including the shared Genesee and Orleans County Health Department (GO Health) and the Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance.

“Intermunicipal cooperation and the sharing of resources will always be an important focus for us,” she said.

The Legislature leader said county officials have pursued state and federal funding “at every turn possible, pounding the pavement in Washington and Albany to lobby for our needs.”

That paid off with $2 million from the federal government to help pay for a new Emergency Management Office operations center and $2 million for upgrades to the Public Safety Building.

The county is seeking $1.65 million through Congresswoman Claudia Tenney’s office to renovate the former GCC building in Albion, which is currently used by Probation. The county would like to bring the Office for the Aging to the site as well.

Johnson cited other new initiatives to assist residents:

• Department of Social Services launching an AI-powered virtual phone assistant to help residents
• An annual paint recycling program with the next one is from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on May 30 at the GCC campus in Medina.
• Emergency services citizen preparedness training
• Safe Harbor program to keep kids safe from online predators

May 16 event at pioneer cemetery in Hulberton will include unveiling of roadside historic markers

Photo from Albion Central School: Albion eighth-graders Sutton Sanders, left, and Luci Borello are shown late last year with two of the new roadside historic markers that will soon be unveiled, showing local ties to the Revolutionary War.

Photos and information from Albion Central School

HULBERTON – Albion Middle School students will share findings from their Revolutionary War research project and unveil two new roadside markers on Saturday, May 16 at 10:30 a.m. at Pierce-Smith Pioneer Cemetery.

That pioneer cemetery is located at 3960 Hulberton Rd, Holley, NY 14470.

The ceremony is student-organized and they invite the community to join them in celebration of the 250th anniversary of our country and honor those who have served. Both Revolutionary War and Civil War re-enactors will be present.

This service learning project was accomplished in partnership with Orleans County.

Two of the students, Luci Borello and Sutton Sanders, partnered with Orleans County historian Catherine Cooper to spearhead a Revolutionary War soldier research project. With guidance from their teacher, Tim Archer, they worked to obtain cemetery roadside markers, gravestone flag markers and replace a damaged headstone.

In completing these tasks, students were able to expand their knowledge of local history, meet local dignitaries, and familiarize themselves with interconnectivity of county and state-run organizations.

NYS roadside markers indicate areas of historical significance in the county. To be granted these markers, valued at $2,050 each, the students had to submit an application to the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, a nonprofit committed to preserving community history. The application process is lengthy, requiring detailed primary source documentation and proofs. This did not intimidate Luci and Sutton.

They began their research in the summer, which entailed collecting data of all Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Orleans County using state, federal, military and census data. Their research was not confined to the library, it also relied heavily on field work.

There were four roadside markers granted; one indicating that Revolutionary War veterans and other notable citizens are buried there, and three indicating a Revolutionary War soldier is buried there. Two of them have a special insignia on them indicating partnership with the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).

The project didn’t stop there. While conducting field research, the students discovered a damaged headstone that belonged to Lott Swift, a Revolutionary War soldier who is buried at the East Barre Cemetery. With support from the Town of Barre, students were able to apply for a new stone through the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C.

While researching, students discovered 14 graves in the county of soldiers who served in the Revolutionary War that were not currently marked. Students presented their findings to the Orleans Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), who then generously provided a donation of 14 new bronze flag markers, one for each soldier’s grave.

In total, they discovered about 65 Revolutionary War soldiers buried in Orleans County. Many headstones are gone or indecipherable, so the findings are approximate. The results will be shared with the county, DAR, SAR, local historians and Hoag Library for their records.

2 of the teams qualify for state competition

Provided photos: The teams in that competed in the Niagara-Orleans Envirothon are shown at the Bond Lake Park Nature Center in Lewiston.

Press Release, Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District

LEWISTON – Eighteen teams of high school students from across Niagara and Orleans counties competed on Thursday at the Niagara-Orleans Envirothon held at Bond Lake Park Nature Center in Lewiston.

Five schools participated along with teams from both Niagara and Orleans Career and Technical Education Centers.  Teams of four to six students in grades 9-12 were tested on wildlife, aquatics, forestry, soils/land use, and the current environmental issue topic.

This year’s current issue is “Non-Point Source Pollution: It Begins at Home!” Students learned about NPS pollution and how to identify its origins in both urban and rural settings.

They learned how to conduct their own NPS survey in their community and watershed. Additionally, they learned NPS mitigation strategies, which encompass actions at both the individual level – such as conservation, recycling, and responsible consumption – and the community level, including watershed planning, best management practices, nature-based solutions, water quality testing, and litter prevention initiatives. Students had to present their plan and also take an exam on the topic.

The overall winner and the top team from Niagara County included students from the Niagara/Orleans Career and Technical Center. The team is in Mr. Kapiewicz’s class and students include Nathan Couturier, David Gurski, Jordyn Kinne, Andre Williams and Adam Yanicki.

Congratulations to the team from Niagara Orleans Career and Technical Center for winning from Niagara County and being the Over-All Envirothon Winners! The team was from Mr. Kapiewicz’s class, students included Nathan Couturier, David Gurski, Jordyn Kinne, Andre Williams, and Adam Yanicki.  This team also was the highest scoring team on the Forestry, Soils and Current Issue exams.

Congratulations to the winners from the Orleans Niagara Career and Technical Center for winning Orleans County from Ms. Kiefer’s class, students included Kennedy Clapp, Mackenzie Diamond, Fawn Elko, Autumn McIntyre, Lauren Nagel and Jill Utley.

Both winners will move on to represent their county at the NYS Envirothon later this month.  Good Luck to both teams!

The top team from Orleans County was a group from Orleans/Niagara Career and Technical Center in Ms. Kiefer’s class. Students include Kennedy Clapp, Mackenzie Diamond, Fawn Elko, Autumn McIntyre, Lauren Nagel and Jill Utley.

The Maple Walnuts from Niagara CTEC included Alexandria Ledger, Carter Kennedy, Bella Muck, Trent Pope and Kayla Terry were awarded first place for their oral presentation on the current issue.

The NCTEC Sigmas won the Wildlife portion of the event. Students included Sophia Brice, Conner Lalewicz, Rowen Patterson, Aaron Willis and Lucas Wiseman.

The Aquatics portion was awarded to a team from Royalton-Hartland. Purple Power students were Jaycie Heck, Gabriella Mastromatte. Emma Micel and Delilah Morris.

A special thank you to this year’s event sponsors NewRoyal Orchards, Poverty Hill Farm, and the Environmental Education Foundation of Soil and Water Conservation for providing breakfast, lunch, goodie bags, awards, and Envirothon shirts for the students.

This year schools were each given a Biltmore stick, a forestry tool used to estimate tree diameters and heights. Exams and proctoring were provided by the Aquarium of Niagara, Mr. Paul Dewey, the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge, and both Soil and Water Conservation Districts.

Vic DiGiacomo of the NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee and Ronny Raindrop of the NYS Conservation District Employees Association came to hand out awards to the winners. Shout out to the Niagara County Parks crew out at Bond Lake who are always wonderful on the setup and tear-down of our Envirothon.

The Niagara-Orleans Envirothon is a yearly event for county high school students presented by Niagara County Soil and Water Conservation District and Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District.  Envirothon is an environmental competition on different aspects of natural resources.  It gives students hands-on experience and knowledge of the environment to understand how to protect and manage the natural resources around them.

For more information about Envirothon visit www.envirothon.org or www.nysenvirothon.org.  To participate next year please reach out to our offices by calling 716-434-4949 ext. 4 or emailing Katherine.pfeifer@ny.nacdnet.net or the Orleans SWCD at 585-589-5959 or email Guinevere.dillhoff@ny.nacdnet.net.

Provided photos: (Left) – Elliot Beyrle of Albion took first in the CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer competition while Abigail Kincaid of Albion (right) won the Basic Health Care Skills competition at SkillsUSA.

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Orleans/Niagara BOCES would like to congratulate all our SkillsUSA students from the Orleans (OCTEC) and Niagara (NCTEC) Career and Technical Education Centers.

They competed April 22-24 at the 2026 NYS SkillsUSA Leadership Conference and Competition. Dozens of competitions were held at the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse and the students brought home 28 medals in total and two ONBOCES students were elected to be New York State SkillsUSA officers.

Congratulations to Brooke Dunkelberger (Barker) who will be an officer and Mia Kujawa (Medina) who will be a Voting Delegate.

Lockport senior Amelia Mussachio, who is in the Cosmetology program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, was chosen to sing the National Anthem at the Competition and blew everyone away with her performance.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student to excel and empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.

Many of the students winning gold medals have the opportunity to move on to the National competition in Atlanta, Georgia June 1-6.  Orleans/Niagara BOCES Director of Career and Technical Education and Adult Education, Dr. Michael Weyrauch, said he is grateful to all staff who volunteer their time to support the SkillsUSA students.

“Thank you for recognizing our students’ potential and accepting the challenge to fight for their individual success, I am deeply appreciative and extremely proud of you,” Dr. Weyrauch said. “Each and every one of us play a significant role in molding our CTE students for what is next in their lives. We celebrate not only our students, but the role our teachers and support staff have in their accomplishments.”

Orleans Career and Tech Education students who placed in the top three include:

• 1st Place in Basic Health Care Skills – Abigail Kincaid of Albion, Allied Health II program
• 1st Place in CNC 3-Axis Milling Programmer – Elliot Beyrle of Albion, Advanced Manufacturing & Engineering program
• 1st Place in Health Occupations Professional Portfolio – Emiliana Batista of Medina, Allied Health II program
• 1st Place in Barbering – Lavani Myles of Lockport, Cosmetology II program
• 2nd Place in Advertising Design – Emily Case of Lockport, Graphic Communications II
• 2nd Place in Customer Service – Violette Streckewald of Roy-Hart, Cosmetology II
• 2nd Place in Esthetics – Alexandria Kempton of Newfane, Cosmetology I
• 3rd Place in Cosmetology, Sr. – Savannah Spoth of Lyndonville, Cosmetology II program
• 3rd Place in Computer Programming – Camden VandenBosch of Roy-Hart, Computer Technology II program

Students from East High and Albion High School pose for a group photo on Thursday at Panek Farms in Albion.

Photos and press release, Albion Central School

ALBION – Students from East High School in Rochester recently enjoyed a full day of activities in Albion as part of a student exchange program to help challenge cultural stereotypes and promote understanding and friendships among teens of different backgrounds. Albion Interact Club members visited East High on April 15.

The day began with guest speaker Ayesha Kreutz addressing the over seventy students.

Kreutz is a nationally recognized activist, chaplain, author and organizational leader. She serves as Operations Director and Board Member of the Frederick Douglass Foundation and Frederick Douglass Freedom Alliance.

Kreutz appears on numerous national media platforms and has been invited to the White House many times in recognition of her work and influence.

Following a brief tour of the school, the teens visited community sites to “get a feel” for Orleans County.

Kathy Jurs and Kasey Neal of Poverty Hill Farms give students a tour of the cows at the dairy farm in Albion on Thursday.

Jody Neal and Kathy Jurs from Poverty Hill Farms explained the different aspects of the dairy farm industry. Students enjoyed seeing the life and “smells” of dairy cows and “touching them for the first time.”

From there they traveled down the road to Panek Farms. Jim Panek and his son Phil showed them a variety of large farm equipment and allowed the excited students to sit in the cabs of tractors, combines, and tractor trailers.

Following lunch and games at Dubby’s, the day culminated with a trip to Mt. Albion Cemetery to climb up the 68-foot tower for an aerial view of the community.

“We had a great time with the Albion students,” East High teacher Laura Delehanty said. “Our students have gained a greater respect and appreciation for their Albion peers.”

(Left) Jim Panek shows students some of the farm equipment at Panek Farms. (Right) Students were welcomed to climb inside a combine.

Jody Neal showed East High students around the farm, including a barn for the calves.

Tim Archer, Interact Club advisor for Albion, introduces Ayesha Kreutz, the guest speaker who addressed the group of about 70 students.

(Left) The students were happy to greet a calf at the dairy farm. (Right) Students check out the milking parlor.

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A crew from Suit-Kote Corporation mills Ohio Street on Tuesday morning, the street where Medina Memorial Hospital is located.

Suit-Kote also milled parts of Park Avenue and West Avenue this week, and could do paving on the three streets next week if the weather cooperates.

“Whenever we get a stretch of good weather in the next week or so we will be paving those streets back,” said Jason Watts, superintendent of the Village of Medina Department of Public Works.

The village is doing these milling and paving projects now, and could add more since it knows its CHIPS funding in the new state budget. Watts said he expects Keeler Construction of Barre will do more milling and paving in the village after Medina’s road construction funding is known.

This photo shows Park Avenue being blocked to traffic near Pine Street Park on Tuesday after the top layer of asphalt was removed.

Photos courtesy of Hospice of Orleans: Veteran James Freas presents a Certificate of Commendation to Robert Stalker.

Press Release, Hospice of Orleans

From left include Katherine Douville, Hospice of Orleans RN; Randy LeBaron, Hospice of Orleans Spiritual Care & Bereavement Counselor; Robert Stalker; and Deanna Maxwell, Hospice Social Worker.

MEDINA – Hospice of Orleans remains deeply committed to making every moment matter. This week, that mission took center stage as the organization had the distinct privilege of honoring Mr. Bob Stalker, a hospice patient and veteran currently receiving care at the Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Medina.

In a beautiful display of community collaboration, the care team worked closely with Nikolas Mroz, Director of the Veteran Services Agency, to coordinate a formal recognition ceremony. It was an honor to have Jim Freas of the Medina VFW and Honor Guard lead the presentation, offering a sincere salute and gratitude for Mr. Stalker’s dedicated military service.

The leadership and staff at Orchard Rehabilitation went above and beyond to make the day memorable. By hosting a celebration complete with a custom cake and inviting fellow residents, they ensured Mr. Stalker felt the full warmth of the community’s appreciation.

“Bob was thrilled. He invited his cousins who were able to attend and join in on the festivities, and it was moving to see a whole table of his fellow veteran residents, and others there to support him. Everyone truly enjoyed the afternoon,” shared Randy LeBaron, Hospice of Orleans Spiritual Care & Bereavement Counselor.

A moment this special is only possible through partnership. Hospice of Orleans extends its sincerest thanks to the Veteran’s Services Agency for their coordination and support, Mr. Jim Freas for his presentation and Orchard Rehabilitation and Nursing Center for their hospitality and enthusiasm in celebrating one of our county’s heroes. It is a great honor to serve those who have served us all.

Hospice of Orleans is a leading provider of end-of-life care in Orleans County. Its team of experienced nurses and caregivers is dedicated to providing compassionate, patient-centered care to those facing life-limiting illnesses.

For more information, visit hospiceoforleans.org or call (585) 589-0809

Robert Stalker is joined by his cousins Eric Ambrose, Eileen Ambrose and Anita Jones.

Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney

WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) on Thursday applauded House passage of H.R. 7567, the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, legislation that strengthens support for American farmers, bolsters rural communities, and reinforces agriculture as a core component of national security.

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act (Farm Bill) reauthorizes key U.S. Department of Agriculture programs through 2031, modernizes farm policy, and strengthens the agriculture safety net to help producers navigate rising costs, market uncertainty, and supply chain disruptions.

The legislation includes major investments in conservation, crop insurance, rural development, and agricultural research, while promoting U.S. exports and reducing regulatory burdens. It also enhances oversight of foreign ownership of American farmland and reinforces agriculture as a national security priority.

As part of the bill, Congresswoman Tenney secured adoption of her Fairness in Vineyard Data Act, which requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to produce a comprehensive report on national grape production. The report will include detailed data on total acreage, production levels, utilization, acreage by grape type and variety, as well as county-level breakdowns and planting timelines. This data will provide greater transparency and market insight for our viticulturists, including those in the Finger Lakes region, and allow USDA to better support our vineyards.

“House Republicans are backing the farmers and ranchers who feed, fuel, and sustain this country,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “This Farm Bill delivers real support for producers facing rising costs and uncertainty, while strengthening the tools they need to manage risk and stay competitive.

“In districts like mine, where agriculture drives our economy, this legislation helps ensure our farmers and family farms can continue to grow, hire, and invest in their communities. It also takes important steps to protect American farmland from foreign adversaries, such as the CCP, and reinforces that agriculture is national security. This legislation puts our farmers first and makes sure the United States remains a global leader in food production.”

Press Release, Cub Scout Pack 3094 in Kendall

KENDALL – On Saturday, May 16 at 10 a.m., Cub Scout Pack 3094 will host a community-wide family event, opening participation to Kendall and Holley Elementary School students.

Families will design, build, and race small tamarin-style sail boats to race down rain gutters. The Pack is collecting registrants now to prepare boat kits for a group building night on Thursday May 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kendall Methodist Church.

On race day, in a double-elimination style competition, children will race at least twice to compete for the first, second and third place medal.

John Heeks, Kendall Cub Master, says the Pack is looking for new members and believes events like the Regatta bring the community together for fun, outdoor learning – a cornerstone of Scout programming.

“The (Rain Gutter) Regatta is one of my family’s favorite Cub Scout events,” said Heeks.

He adds that the Pack hopes to bring the neighboring townships’ children together.

Heeks and his son joined Cub Scouts in 2024. Heeks took over the role of Cub Master in 2025 where he and Den Leaders have led the Pack in other events like group Campouts and the beloved Pinewood Derby.

For more information on Cub Scout Pack 3094, click here.

Provided photos: From left, Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, Assemblyman Stephen Hawley and CAOG’s Weatherization manager Jeff Atwell met in Albany to advocate for HEAP funding for the Weatherization program.

Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, like many agencies, is navigating significant uncertainty and difficult funding realities, according to executive director Renee Hungerford.

“Coping with cuts to programming has required thoughtful prioritization, creativity and constant communication with the people we serve,” Hungerford said. “Our focus has been on protecting core services as much as possible while being transparent about what changes mean in real terms. It’s not just an operational challenge, it’s about supporting individuals and families through disruption while ensuring staff are not carrying that burden alone.

“Over the past several months, advocacy itself has become a significant part of this work. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time writing letters and testimony traveling to Washington and Albany and engaging directly with elected officials. While this advocacy is essential, it necessarily pulls time and capacity away from other critical agency responsibilities – and that is a reality many community organizations are grappling with right now.”

Hungerford continued to say, “At the same time, we are beginning to see that sustained advocacy does make a difference. This week’s release of GSBG funding by OMB is an encouraging step and a reminder that collective voices matter. This is the power of what our elected officials, from both sides of the house, can accomplish when working together for the things that matter most.

 “However, we are still facing urgent challenges. The removal of Weatherization Assistance Program funding from New York State’s HEAP budget has serious implications for households who rely on these services to remain safe and stable. Weatherization has live-changing impacts, particularly for low-income families, older adults and people with disabilities.

“All of this is happening at a time when funding has been cut, resources are stretched thin and reductions to SNAP and Medicaid have driven need to unprecedented levels. Added to this, increased prices have made basic needs unreachable for many. In the midst of that, I have been deeply moved by the response of our community. We have seen an outpouring of generosity – from donations to volunteer support – often offered quietly and anonymously.”

Hungerford also expressed her sincere gratitude to their staff.

“They continue to show up every day and fight for people who often do not have a voice,” she said. “The work is hard and the environment is stressful, yet their dedication never wavers. I am incredibly grateful for the amazing team we have at Community Action of Orleans and Genesee and for their commitment to our mission of helping individuals and families move toward self-sufficiency.”

Community Action’s executive director Renee Hungerford, fourth from the left, met recently with colleagues from the New York State Community Action Association in Washington, D.C.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Reinhard Rogowski, president of the Medina Historical Society, and Barbara Hancock look at a display by Erica Waneceski depicting how things were in hospitals years ago.

Erica Waneceski explains how an old blood pressure cuff worked.

MEDINA – The final meeting of the Medina Historical Society for spring took place Monday night at the Medina Senior Center. The meeting place was changed because of the library being closed for construction.

Guest speaker was Erica Waneceski of Medina, who once studied to be a physician assistant. She gave a presentation on “The Medina Hospital Experience, BC,” before corporations, consortiums and computers.

She displayed a large selection of gadgets, equipment and clothing used decades ago. These included charts written by hand, a surgeon’s coat, a student nurse’s uniform, an early blood pressure cuff, a kit to draw blood and a variety of bed pans, all made of metal, as opposed to today’s which are plastic.

Orleans County historian Catherine Cooper produced a photograph of a nursing class which included Marian Vail, a longtime nurse at Medina Memorial Hospital.

“Things have really changed,” Waneceski said. “We used to have to sterilize bed pans by hand, isolation techniques are different, EEG’s were recorded on paper (not computers) and blood pressure cuffs had rows of snaps, instead of Velcro.”

Waneceski remembers reading the first article about CAT scans in 1975.

She also shared how in older days, nurses always gave patients a back rub in the evening. They don’t do that anymore, she said.

That was the Medina Historical Society’s last meeting until September. Cooper reminded the audience the Historical Society on West Avenue is open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the first Saturday of every month through the summer.

Tim and Catherine Cooper, left, chat with Sue Jannick at Monday night’s meeting of Medina Historical Society, at which Erica Wanieski gave a presentation on working in a hospital before computers. Jannick spent 47 years as a medical transcriptionist, which now is considered “a dinosaur.”

Provided photos: (Left) Marc Shurtz presides over an internal town hall meeting at Orleans Community Health, one of his many duties as CEO/CIO. (Right) Marc Shurtz and Jody Stack, director of Nutritional Services, pose with the cake commemorating Orleans Community Health’s 100th anniversary last year.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health is proud to announce the selection of Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO, as a recipient of the 2026 Buffalo Business First Excellence in Health Care Award.

The award recognizes healthcare professionals and leaders across Western New York who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation and dedication to improving healthcare within their communities. Shurtz will be recognized alongside fellow honorees during the Excellence in Health Care Awards celebration on June 17.

Marc Shurtz, CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health

Shurtz has served as CEO/CIO of Orleans Community Health for the past six years and has worked in the healthcare field for more than 11 years. Since stepping into the role of CEO/CIO in 2020, after previously serving as chief information officer and corporate compliance officer, he has helped guide Orleans Community Health through executive transition, operational challenges and strategic growth, while maintaining a strong focus on preserving access to local healthcare services.

As CEO/CIO, Shurtz provides executive leadership for the organization while overseeing strategic technology and operational direction. His work includes guiding system-wide priorities, collaborating with organizational leadership and community stakeholders and supporting the expansion of healthcare services. His leadership combines strategic planning and operational oversight with a visible and deeply community-centered approach.

Over the past several years, Shurtz has helped lead several transformative initiatives at Orleans Community Health. Under his leadership, the organization advanced the Medina Healthcare Center project through successful community fundraising efforts and the securing of a $1.88 million New York State grant. He has also He has also supported the continued growth of outpatient and specialty services and worked to strengthen workforce recruitment and retention efforts and through a significant labor agreement focused on workforce stability. In addition, his leadership played an important role in honoring Medina Memorial Hospital’s 100-year legacy in 2025, while helping position the organization for the future.

Jeannie Wodo, director of IT Services at Orleans Community Health, submitted the nomination recognizing Shurtz for the award.

“Marc leads with both vision and heart,” Wodo said. “His dedication to preserving and strengthening rural healthcare is evident in every decision he makes. He has helped move important projects forward while remaining deeply committed to the people who rely on Orleans Community Health every day. His leadership inspires those around him and continues to make a meaningful difference throughout our community.”

Beyond his executive leadership responsibilities, Shurtz serves on the Orleans Community Health Foundation Board, Medina Area Partnership and the Audit committee of HANYS, and actively participates in community volunteer efforts.

“What makes rural healthcare so important is the direct impact it has on families, neighbors and entire communities,” Shurtz said. “It is truly an honor to receive this recognition from Buffalo Business First, but this award reflects the dedication of our entire team at Orleans Community Health. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve this community and help ensure quality healthcare remains close to home for future generations.”

The Buffalo Business First Excellence in Health Care Awards celebrate individuals whose leadership, service and commitment are helping shape the future of healthcare throughout the region. Shurtz is the second recipient from Orleans Community Health to be honored by Buffalo Business First. He joins Rhonda Woody, who was recognized in 2023.