Provided photos: The ballot in today’s election at Kendall Elementary School shows a choice between mashed potato bowl with chicken, corn, cheese and gravy OR a sweet and sour chicken and rice bowl.

KENDALL – Elementary students and staff made their voices clear in a landslide vote today. They want sweet and sour chicken rice bowl on the school menu.

Students and staff were asked to choose between sweet and sour chicken rice bowl, or mashed potato bowl with chicken, corn, cheese and gravy.

The chicken rice bowl won with 297 votes to 112 for the mashed potato bowl.

Kevin Watson, the school principal, said the school’s head chef, Megan Bouchey, will work to add the new option to the school menu in January.

(Left) Audra Keirn, district clerk and administrative assistant to the superintendent, cast a ballot in today’s election. (Right) Two kindergartners – Logan Butterfield and Nora Rasmusson – vote in the election. They are in Kristy Markham’s class.

The school created ballots, hung posters, and posted mini promotions on the school sign board.

Superintendent Nick Picardo and Watson also filmed a 5-minute informercial in school’s television student alerting students about the upcoming vote. Picardo and Watson both test-tasted each menu item live and offered their recommendation.

 Watson picked the mashed potato bowl while Picardo favored the sweet and sour chicken.

After classes voted today, they posed by a “VOTE” sign outside the main office. This photo shows Taylor Kingsbury’s 4th grade class.

This is the third election at the school on an issue of interest to students. Last year students voted on which slide would better for the school’s new playground: the double slide or a swirl slide.

There were 376 ballots cast, and the swirl was dominant with 303 votes to 73 for the double slide. The district breaks ground on a new playground in the spring that will include the swirl slide.

“Students will see their voice in action soon!” Watson said.

In the first election in 2022, students picked the name for the school’s eagle mascot. “Talon” was the winner.

Kevin Watson, the school principal, and Joseph Reger, a sixth grader, announce the results of the election.

Photos courtesy of Andy King, art teacher at Kendall Central School

KENDALL – Kendall fourth-grader Carter Cook (in front) and fifth-grader Evan May (just behind him) wore cool helmets at today’s ride to school event which featured about 80 Kendall elementary students and a dozen staff members.

Kendall started the ride to school event last year and about 50 kids participated then.

The students start the ride at the Kendall Highway Garage on Crandall Avenue and then head to the elementary school on Kendall Road.

Students gather for a group photo after the ride. They are offered a Gatorade, fruit snack, and/or applesauce pouch after the ride. Parents pick up their students’ bikes during the day.

Students in grades 3-6 all receive a training with the district’s School Resource Officer, Deputy George Barton, prior to the bike ride. Students learn important safety tips for riding bikes including which side of the road to stay on. Deputy Barton presents to each grade level using a slide show he created.

Parents register their children via a Google Survey. The survey ensures all of the pertinent information is understood leading up to the event (time, date, requirement for helmet, etc).

“Deputy Barton closes off southbound traffic from Kenmore road to our elementary building to ensure our students are safe,” said Kevin Watson, the elementary school principal.

Brennan Wahl rides with his daughter, Avery, a fifth grader. Mr. Wahl is a 4th grade teacher at Kendall.

A Kendall staff member uses a Gator to pace the students, who are reminded “this is a stroll to school — not a race!” Watson said.

The pace car ensures they are safe and not zooming down the road. The Sheriff’s Department ensures students are safe on the right side of the road. The district Buildings and Grounds members also cut off traffic into the school so students can pull in safely after the ride, Watson said.

“I love our community lining up along the streets and waving to the kids,” Watson said. “We have such a supportive community here in Kendall!”

Kendall Elementary School Special Education teacher Sarah Scorse joins the ride with students and staff.

Principal Kevin Watson gets the riders attention at the Highway Department before the ride to the school.

Kendall fifth-grader Emma Pagano enjoys the bike ride.

Provided photo

KENT – The Old Crow Motorcycle Club on Wednesday evening presented a check for $3,000 to the Justice for Children Advocacy Center.

The money was presented at the Old Crow clubhouse on Petersmith Road in Kent. The funding is the proceeds of the Old Crow’s annual pig roast which was held on Sept. 14.

“We were blown away tonight by the Old Crow Motorcycle Club in Kent, NY,” Justice for Children posted on its Facebook page. “This incredible group of individuals presented us with an extremely generous donation, and they couldn’t have been more kind, warm, and supportive. They have supported the JFCAC for several years now in multiple ways and we are so very grateful!!! Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!”

Justice for Children Advocacy Center provides services for children who have been sexually or physically abused, or who have been a witness to violence.

The goal of Justice for Children is to improve the response to child abuse by eliminating multiple interviews and examinations of children, providing quick access to mental health, victim advocacy, and support services for children and families and enhancing multidisciplinary communication and coordination.

Provided photos

KENDALL – Betty Wilson, center, turned 105 on Wednesday, Sept. 18. On Sunday after church at the Kendall Global Methodist Church, her family and friends celebrated her milestone birthday.

Pictured from left include Sandra Wilson Peragine, Dona Wilson Maynard, Robert Hart, Bob Harradine, Jane Wilson Hart, Betty Thornell Wilson, Marianne Wilson Kepler, Robert L. Wilson, Sage Anstey, Sherry Nottingham Wilson, Breanna King, Matt Wilson, Robert J. Wilson and Sandra Maxon Wilson.

Mrs. Wilson worked at Kodak, where she met her husband, Robert Wilson. They moved to Kendall and raised four children on a farm.

Family and friends enjoy the celebration in honor of Betty Wilson.

St. Rocco’s Festival grounds will remain with ONE Catholic

Photos by Tom Rivers: St. Stephen’s Catholic Church will be closed and sold as part of plan by the Diocese of Buffalo to restructure parishes.

Diocese of Buffalo leaders this morning will announce the final decisions on which parishes and other properties will be closed and sold.

Bishop Michael Fisher is expected to announce the recommendations from June will be final for Orleans and eastern Niagara, which includes closing and selling St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Kendall and St. Stephen’s in Middleport.

The church in Lyndonville was badly damaged in a fire last year, with the church building then razed. The Diocese will sell the former rectory and property in Lyndonville, according to an announcement posted last evening from Father Mark Noonan, pastor of ONE Catholic which includes Orleans and eastern Niagara churches.

“These decisions have been difficult to countenance and consider over the last few months since we received the Recommendations from the Road to Renewal Team,” Father Noonan posted in a message to the community. “It is painful to lose things that we have known, loved and treasured. Our Churches are sacred places that have been blessed by God through the Church in order to enable us to be with the Lord in the celebration of the Sacraments. It is sorrowful to let go of them. And in the same moment, we know and trust that God, who is ever faithful, will guide us in his pathways and always be with us in the Holy Eucharist.”

Bocce is played on Sept. 1 during the St. Rocco’s Italian Festival in Hulberton. The event draws a crowd of several hundred people for food, bocce, and other activities, in an popular fundraiser for the Catholic parish. The Diocese backed off an early recommendation to sell the grounds.

The Diocese switched one of its recommendations for ONE Catholic. The Diocese was planning to sell the St. Rocco’s festival grounds in Hulberton. But the final plan calls for ONE Catholic to keep it. That will be a relief to the Holley community, which celebrated the 49^th St. Rocco’s Italian Festival on Sept. 1.

The other church in ONE Catholic, St. Patrick’s in Barker, will move out of ONE Catholic and into a family of parishes in central Niagara.

Father Noonan said the transitions will take place at various times between Oct. 1 and June 8, 2025. The specific dates have not been set, he said.

“Now having received these decisions, we will move forward with God’s help and grace,” Father Noonan said. “I will continue to provide information on this process in the weeks ahead. As the ONE Catholic Community, we will deepen our mission of faith, charity, evangelization, and stewardship in this portion of the Vineyard of the Lord.”

Screenshot

Photos courtesy of Ron Lasal

KENDALL – Ron Lasal had his driveway sealed yesterday on Kendall Road. This morning he went out to remove the barriers so his wife could head out on an errand.

Lasal was surprised to see muddy bear tracks on the driveway. A friend told him she saw a bear on Route 18. Lasal suspects the same bear wandered across his property last night.

He has never seen a bear before in Kendall, but saw them years ago in the Southern Tier.

“It’s in the area,” he said. “It doesn’t bother me any. I hunted in Southern Tier for 15 years.”

Photo and information courtesy of Orleans County Sheriff’s Office

KENDALL – Two fishermen were able to swim ashore after their boat capsized on Sunday.

Peter Keppler, 71, of Medina and William Wittman, 44, of Albion were fishing on a 1994 fishing boat that is 26 feet long. They were about 5 miles offshore, said Sheriff Chris Bourke.

“At some point, the vessel began taking on water and the bilge pump was not functioning,” Bourke stated in a news release. “The two individuals equipped with life vests eventually ended up in the water. After being in the water for over five hours, the two individuals were able to successfully swim to shore at Knapp Shores in Kendall.”

The vessel was found partially submerged in Lake Ontario the next morning by Orleans County Sheriff Marine Division Deputies Ryan Flaherty and Jason Barnum. The vessel was found approximately 4 miles northeast of Bald Eagle Marina in the Town of Kendall near the Monroe-Orleans County line.

Orleans County Sheriff’s Marine Division was assisted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine.

“Thankfully nobody was injured during the incident, and the occupants made it to shore safely,” Bourke said. “The U.S. Coast Guard was notified of the incident and are planning to remove the vessel as it was determined to be a hazard to other boaters.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Paul Draper of Shotgun Pauly sings “Be My Baby Tonight” by John Michael Montgomery on Saturday night at the Kendall Fire Department’s Field Days. Joe Chimera, the bass player, is at right.

Shotgun Pauly closed out the two-day celebration with many country, blues and rock songs. The band includes Paul Draper as lead singer and on guitar, Michael Dyrda, rhythm and lead guitar, Gary Brown and rhythm and lead guitar as well as vocals, Joe Chimera on bass and vocals, and Nino Speranza on drums.

The Kendall Community Band and the Begging Angels band also performed on Saturday, and Highway 31 was the featured band on Friday night.

Andrew Kludt calls out the numbers at the Chuck-A-Luck Wheel, where participants could triple their money.

The Kendall Fire Department usually has a three-day carnival with amusement rides, but the fire department was unable to secure a ride company this year. Kendall FD officials said they will try to get an amusement ride provider next year.

Rather than cancel the entire carnival, the fire department and ladies auxiliary instead did a two-day field days that include a parade, tractor pull, car show, cornhole tournament, an auction and lots of food.

Evan Levett, 18, puts fries in the deep fryer on Saturday night. Levett said he has been volunteering at the field days or carnival since he was a little boy.

“It’s fun,” he said. “I like doing this. It’s helping out the community.”

Phil D’Agostino, left, hands off a hot dog to his son Charlie D’Agostino. Phil grilled sausage, hot dogs and hamburgers. He was assisted in serving the food by nine of his grandchildren.

D’Agostino said the crowds were still good for the two-day event, even though there weren’t amusement rides.

D’Agostino said the fire department sold 600 ppunds of chicken fingers, 400 dozen clams, and 150 pounds of roast beef.

Desiree Plucknette, left, and Leanne Richards serve waffles in powered sugar. The waffles were hot items at $2 each.

Provided photos

KENDALL – An annual Flag Day tradition at Kendall Elementary School includes a group photo of students and teachers assembled in front of the school, with photo taken from the rooftop.

Today’s photo showed the students in the formation of a giant heart. Teachers wore blue shirts and lined up inside the heart to show the initials “AL” and “CF.”

That is in honor of two teachers who died unexpectedly within the past year.

Amy Laureano was a much-loved first grade teacher at Kendall. She passed away on July 30.

Courtney Fannon, a special education teacher at Kendall, passed away after collapsing at the school on March 8. She was in the late stages of pregnancy.

The “AL” includes Amy’s husband Justin Laureano at the top of “A.” Mr. is an elementary school physical education teacher.

Kendall’s Flag Day celebration also included an assembly that taught students about the holiday, how to properly display and dispose of a flag, and about proper use of a flag. The students sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America,” “America the Beautiful,” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” There also was a ukulele version of “Born in the U.S.A.”

Kendall, Middleport churches would close in recommendation not yet finalized

Photo by Tom Rivers: St. Stephen’s Catholic Church would be closed as part of a restructuring plan announced tonight by the Diocese of Buffalo with the church merging with Holy Trinity in Medina. St. Mark’s in Kendall would merge with St. Mary’s in Holley.

The Diocese of Buffalo tonight announced its restructuring plan for churches in Orleans and Niagara counties with St. Mark’s in Kendall to close and merge with St. Mary’s in Holley, and St. Stephen’s in Middleport to close and merge with Holy Trinity in Medina.

These are recommended changes and not final, said Joe Martone, Diocese spokesman.

The plan for parishes within the Niagara/Orleans Vicariate was presented this evening to pastors and parish family officers at the Diocese of Buffalo’s Renewal meeting at Immaculate Conception in Ransomville.

Parish families have the opportunity to present alternative proposals by July 15, Martone said.

The 8-county Diocese of Buffalo announced on May 28 it will work to reduce the number of parishes by 34 percent in the eight-county region, which includes Orleans.

“The Diocese of Buffalo is facing multiple challenges including a significant priest shortage, declining Mass attendance, aging congregations and ongoing financial pressures brought about by our Chapter 11 filing,” Bishop Michael Fisher said on May 28.

Some of the grim data from the Diocese includes a 49 percent decline in registered households across the 8-county region, 59 percent of parishes with a negative net operating balance, 59 percent of parishes experiencing a steady decline in baptisms, 24 percent decrease in marriages from 2020 to 2023 in the Diocese, and the average age for priests is 76, with 63 percent of the priests between the ages of 65 and 70.

Orleans County already lost a Catholic church last year when St. Joseph’s in Lyndonville was badly damaged in a Feb. 28 fire. The Diocese opted not to rebuild the church and had it torn down in November.

Diocese recommendations for Niagara/Orleans Vicariate

(Changes in italics)

Family #10

All Saints, Lockport – merge with St. John – close St. Joseph campus

Our Lady of the Rosary worship site in Wilson to close

St. John the Baptist, Lockport

Immaculate Conception, Ransomville – move to Family #34

St. Patrick, Barker – move to Family #10

St. Brendan on the Lake, Newfane

Family #11

St. Stephen, Middleport to merge with Holy Trinity in Medina

St. Mark in Kendall to merge with St. Mary’s in Holley

St. Mary, Holley

Holy Family, Albion

Holy Trinity, Medina

Family #34

St. Raphael, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Peter, Lewiston

St. Peter, Lewiston

Accept Immaculate Conception, Ransomville, into Family #34

Family #35

Divine Mercy, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Mary of the Cataract

St. John de LaSalle, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul, Niagara Falls

St. Mary of the Cataract, Niagara Falls

Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph, Niagara Falls – Our Lady of Mount Carmel site to close

Amber Harrier, who lost both parents to a car accident when she was 10, will graduate with high honors

Photo by Tom Rivers: Amber Harrier, a senior who will graduate on June 28, said the school district and many local families have helped her reach this point. Her parents were killed in a car accident when she was 10 in September 2017.

KENDALL – These days when Amber Harrier, 17, looks in the mirror, she sees her mother. Amber has her mom’s long curly hair and their facial features are a close match.

Seeing that resemblance makes Amber happy – and sad.

Amber was 10 when both her mother and father were killed in a car accident on Route 31 near the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville. Rebecca Harrier had slowed to make a left hand turn onto Taylor Hill Road when her Chevrolet Corsica was rear-ended. Mrs. Harrier was pronounced deceased at the scene on Sept. 17, 2017. Her husband Randy, 38, was a passenger and died from his injuries the following day.

“I miss them,” Amber said during an interview last week. “I have dreams where they are magically there.”

Amber is the youngest of their three children. She said she continues to feels grief, and anger from the loss of her parents. She has managed high honor roll grades in school, but she admitted she struggled her junior year and considered dropping out.

But teachers, staff and friends kept her going. She has refocused this year and will be attending St. Bonaventure University in Olean to major in psychology with a goal to become a mental health counselor.

Amber says she kept a consuming anger bottled up for several years. As a freshman, she started to let it out. That has helped.

She has come out of her shell, and this year tried things outside her comfort zone, including singing and dancing in the school’s musical of Beauty and the Beast.

“I never thought I’d see myself doing that,” Amber said about performing on stage.

In the musical program, she thanked two teachers, Jeff Decker and Maggie Allocco, for their extra care during her high school years. They helped fill some of the void from losing her parents. Amber said in the program she hoped she made her mom and dad proud.

Photos courtesy of Amber Harrier: Amber Harrier is shown with her mother Rebecca and her father Randy. Amber said she thinks about them every day.

Decker teaches technology and has had Amber in class for four of the past five years. He said she is a role model who has become a leader.

“Everyone should follow in her footsteps and persevere,” Decker said.

He sees Amber taking apart contraptions, trying to figure out how they work. In his principles of engineering class, Amber and her classmates had a challenge in Power Tool Drag Racing where they had to take apart a power toll and repurpose it into a drag racing vehicle.

When others were stumped, Amber kept searching on how to build a chassis, and use old gears and pulleys.

In his classes since 8^th grade, Amber has explored electronics, woodworking, 3-D modelling, photography, computer graphics and other technology.

“She has a strength that most kids don’t have,” Decker said. “She doesn’t see it, but I do. It’s the way she overcomes obstacles.”

Decker can relate to losing a parent. He was 17 and living in West Irondequoit when his father died unexpectedly.

Amber said Decker is very patient – “He is chill.”

He helps students work through their problems in the classroom, offering praise for their successes and some gentle correction when they are stuck.

“He is just there for me,” Amber said.

Decker said many students have challenges outside of school, and some have suffered tremendous losses and pain.

“You have no idea what a kid is going through,” he said.

Decker said his teachers were a critical support for him when he lost his father.

Amber Harrier has kept high grades in Kendall and looks forward to attending St. Bonaventure University.

Amber also cited Allocco, an earth science teacher, for giving her extra kindness.

“She reminds me of my mom,” Amber said. “She has taught me life. I would be a totally different person without her.”

Marjim Bauer also has been a big support for Amber during her junior high and high school years. Bauer has worked as a counselor at Kendall for 25 years.

She gives Amber some “tough love,” and helps her complete some of the daunting paperwork to enroll into college, including the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the form for TAP (Tuition Assistance Program).

Bauer was a teen when her mother died. Bauer said she is committed to helping students work through barriers to their success.

Amber also said some of her friends and their families have been very welcoming, in particular the Stonewell, Reis and Allen families.

“They have let me be part of their families,” Amber said. “I’m very thankful.”

This year Amber has stayed with her friend Callie Allen and her family. Amber and Callie are both headed to St. Bonaventure.

Amber said her goal is to become a mental health counselor to work with teens struggling with anger, grief and other issues.

She said Bauer, the school’s director of counseling, is her role model for what she wants to do with her career.

Bauer said Amber is self-driven to excel. She deserves lots of credit for showing such resilience amidst so much adversity, Bauer said.

“She has pride,” Bauer said. “She wants to do well.”

Photos and information courtesy of Christa Bowling, Troop Leader

ALBION – Kendall’s Girl Scout Troop 82257 surprised PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion today with over $800 in animal care donations.

The Kendall Girl Scout troop is made up of 34 girls from kindergarten to grade 4. This year when the troop members discussed all of the fun things they could do with their money earned from selling Girl Scout cookies, the first thing they said was “Help an animal shelter.” Today they did just that.

This Kendall troop sold over 10,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies this past cookie season. Their leader, Christa Bowling of Kendall, couldn’t be more proud of her girls and their big hearts ready to help. PAWS was a great shelter to work with, and enjoyed sharing the animals with the girls today.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Bailey Schultz is covered in fake blood in a simulated car crash this morning at Kendall Junior-Senior High School. Five Kendall students role played in a message for their classmates about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Kendall did the event a day before Friday’s prom which will be at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.

Firefighters and school officials told students to avoid driving if they’ve been drinking alcohol, or if they are overly tired or texting. And that message applies at all the times, especially during the prom and upcoming season of graduation parties.

“Drinking and driving is not an option,” said Melissa Strelick, the school’s principal. “You need to look out for each other. This is totally avoidable.”

Kendall firefighters work to take apart the roof of the car, peeling back the metal. There were students inside to be rescued.

Kendall has done the simulation each year before the prom since at least 2013.
“It’s for the kids to show the effects of drinking and driving, texting and driving, and any impairments,’ said Mike Schultz, a lieutenant with the Kendall FD.

His daughter was one of the “injured” students. Schultz said it was painful to see his daughter in the simulation and he had to walk away because he was feeling so emotional.

Sgt. Adam Hazel of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office does a DWI field sobriety test on Hunter Richards, who portrayed a drunk driver. He was handcuffed and led away in a patrol car.

Hazel spoke to the students and told them a fatal car accident can devastate the entire community.

“You have to make good decisions,” Hazel said.

Monroe Ambulance medics have Jimmie Swift on a stretcher. He was one of three students taken away by ambulance as part of today’s simulation. Gracie Robb and Lucas Jones also portrayed injured students who needed ambulance transport.

About 100 students in the junior and senior classes watched the simulation this morning.

Orleans County Chief Coroner Scott Schmidt comforts Karen Jones, who was the “acting mom” for Bailey Schultz. Schmidt pronounced her deceased at the scene and covered her with a blanket. Jones is also Kendall’s director of transportation.

Kendall firefighters take off the windshield in one of the cars. The event is also a recruitment effort for the department. After the simulation, Fire Chief Randy Davis encouraged the students to get a close look at the fire apparatus and tools. Davis said about eight students in recent years have joined the department after seeing the DWI crash simulation.

A1 Towing & Auto in Holley donated the two vehicles for today’s simulation.