Photos courtesy of Lyndonville Lions Club: Carla and Terry Woodworth were recognized for Overall Best Holiday Display Award. They received a commemorative plaque and a bottle of champagne.
Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – The Lions from Lyn“Who”ville were busy at their Hall.
They were readying awards for those who honored the call.
Those who hung lights, wreaths and Holiday balls.
Those who strung lights from trees and from walls.
The awards went to some but could have been given to all.
Some displays were massive and some were small.
The Lions traveled the roads to view them all.
Some displays had lights, some had bows and some had nothing, nothing at all.
The Lions recognize them come one and come all.
The winners of awards held them high and they held them tall.
So, the Lions would like to say thank you and Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas to all.
The Lyndonville Lions continued a much-anticipated recognition of the Holiday Spirit shown by the Village of Lyndonville and Town of Yates residents. Three categories were awarded in the village and town as the best holiday decorations were singled out.
Winners received a plaque that recognizes the hard work undertaken by those decorating their homes for the Christmas season. They were supplied with a bottle of bubbly to help them celebrate their achievement and the New Year. There were several displays in and around town noted to be worthy of honorable mention.
Best Single-Color Lighting Display
Best Holiday Inflatables Display
Currier & Ives Award – Most Traditional Display
Best Holiday Display in the Town of Yates
Best Holiday Display in the Village
The Lions would like to thank all for participating in the holiday illumination project in and around Lyndonville during the Christmas Season. We would encourage all to take a moment to view the holiday decorations and enjoy the season.
May God continue to shed his many blessings on our residents and we wish everyone a Happy New Year!
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 17 December 2025 at 12:51 pm
Photos by Ginny Kropf: A table full of veterans and their guests enjoy conversation during the Christmas dinner served Tuesday night at White Birch Golf Course. Clockwise, from left front are Dave Barhite of Lyndonville, an Army veteran who served in Vietnam; Norma Huth (not pictured), wife of veteran Peter Huth of Medina; Diana Anderson and her husband Dan, an Air Force veteran, retired, from Medina; Army veteran Kevin Sheean and his wife Carol from Albion; Peter Huth, Army veteran who served in Germany; and Debby Rodrigues of Medina, daughter of a POW in North Korea and granddaughter of a World War I soldier.
LYNDONVILLE – Seventy-five Orleans County veterans and their guests enjoyed an evening of camaraderie, conversation and good food Tuesday evening at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.
Organized by the Orleans County Veterans’ Services office, the evening was sponsored through a grant from the Pfc. Joseph P. Dwyer Veterans Peer-to-Peer Support Program. Named after an Army medic from New York state who enlisted after the Sept. 11, 2011 terrorist attack, Dwyer served in Iraq and later died after a long battle with post-traumatic stress disorder. The program was started in Orleans County in 2018, when the first event was a ride on a Christmas train at the Medina Railroad Museum. The program also this year provided free turkeys to 100 veterans at Thanksgiving.
Tuesday night’s event brought veterans from the Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy and Space Force, with their guests. After a buffet dinner, Nik Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans’ Services office drew tickets for dozens of free prizes and gift certificates donated by local businesses.
Mroz introduced guests who have given their time in helping with programs to support local veterans, including Wayne and Barb Hale (Wayne has been active in the Sons of the American Legion for 29 years); Phyllis Schrader, a volunteer who heads the Veterans’ Van Service; Jackie Lonnen, office assistant who was instrumental in planning Tuesday’s evening and securing prizes; Assemblyman Steve Hawley, a member of the Army Reserves and National Guard who is an avid supporter of veterans; and Sara Hults, an Army veteran who is coordinator of Suicide Prevention for the Department of Veterans Affairs in the VA WNY Healthcare System.
Nik Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans’ Services Agency, welcomes veterans and their guests to a holiday meal Tuesday night at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville, sponsored by the Pfc. Joseph P. Dwyer Peer-to-Peer Support Program.
Orleans County has a lot of veterans and they support them, Hawley said. A 1st lieutenant for 6 1/2 years, Hawley continues to support veterans, by participating in Wreaths Across America at Boxwood Cemetery and sponsoring veterans’ trips to Washington, D.C. every year.
“To our veterans, we say ‘thank you’,” Hawley said.
One of the guests Tuesday night was Jeanne Crane of Kenyonville, who brought her friend Dan Nogle of Medina, an Army veteran.
“This is a great thing they do here for veterans,” she said.
Also instrumental in planning the evening’s events was Jim Nudd of Medina, an Air Force career veteran and newly hired assistant in the Veterans’ Services office.
“He is a great asset to our office,” Mroz said. “He cares about helping vets.”
Mroz just completed his first year as director of the Veterans’ Services Office.
Chris Schicker, a four-year Marine veteran and his wife Sonya of Clarendon, share a table with Jeanne Crane and her friend, Dan Nogle of Medina, an Army veteran. Schicker served in the Persian Gulf and on an aircraft carrier.
Club will be judging outdoor holiday decorations in Lyndonville and Yates
Photos courtesy of Lyndonville Lions Club: Like years past, the Lyndonville Lions continued their efforts assisting the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign by ringing the bell at the Tops grocery Store in Medina on Dec. 12. Pictured from left include Julie Godfrey, Bruce Schmidt, Jeff Johnson, Lynne Johnson and Dave Godfrey.
Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions close out the 2025 calendar with a flurry of holiday events. The month of December saw the Lyndonville Lions support or carry out many holiday events in and around the Village of Lyndonville and Town of Yates.
On Dec. 6, the Lions supplied hot dogs and much needed hot chocolate to the attendees of the annual Community Tree Lighting Event. Over 80 trees came to full illumination as Santa himself pulled the switch to start a four-week run of Christmas trees welcoming all to the streets of Lyndonville.
The Lyndonville Lions started a new project to decorate all municipal buildings in the village for the holiday season by supplying lights and manpower to decorate the Yates Community Library and Village Hall, just to mention a few. The Club hopes that this project grows over the years and that private and public buildings on Main Street will be fully decorate for the future holiday seasons.
John Belson hangs Christmas lights on Yates Community Library.
December 10th saw the Lions hold their Annual Christmas Dinner at the White Birch Golf Course. During this celebration the Club continued its charitable efforts by having all attendees donate unwrapped presents to Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, and the Genesee-Orleans Ministry of Concern for their annual toy drive.
Mr. Kevin Clark did not disappoint as he delivered his Christmas Show which included piano Christmas songs, various holiday games of Christmas trivia, and ended with the entire group singing Christmas carols.
The Lions held their Christmas Dinner Party on Dec. 10 with entertainment by Kevin Clark.
On December 11th, Lions Club the continued its tradition of distributing poinsettia plants to shut-ins, local churches and health care agencies was carried out. The club delivered individual plants to local residents in the Lyndonville area as well as donating dozens of plants to needy organizations like the North Wing Nursing Facility at Orleans Community Health in Medina and Orchard Manor Nursing Facility on Bates Road. Several local churches received plants and will deliver them for the Lions to their needy parishioners.
Adrienne Belson, Activities Director at North Wing, is shown with Laura Belson and Dave Godfrey.
Upcoming events, like the much-anticipated Annual Lions Club Holiday Decorations Awards, will be carried out in the next few weeks. A well-trained team of Lyndonville Lions will traverse the streets and byways of the Village of Lyndonville and Town of Yates in search of the best decorated homes.
Awards will be distributed to the top three selections inside the Village and in the Town of Yates. All those wishing to participate just need to have their decorations up and on for the committee to judge. We thank those for helping to bring some extra joy to those who enjoy seeing the Holiday Lights.
The club would like to announce that their Second Annual Snow Flake Bowling Tournament will be held on February 28th at 3 p.m. at the Medina Lanes. The Club wishes to invite anybody wanting to participate. Contact the club for information by emailing gwendolynlarge002@gmail.com.
The Lyndonville Lions would like to wish all a joyous Hanukkah, a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
May God bless all of us during this most joyous time of the year and continue to bless this great nation we live in.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 7 December 2025 at 8:37 am
Families, businesses and organizations decorate trees at Veterans Park
Photos by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – The Village of Lyndonville turned on the lights Saturday for 82 Christmas trees decorated at Veterans Park. Many of the trees are decorated in memory of loves, while businesses and organizations also puts lights and ornaments on the trees.
Lyndonville started the tradition in 2013 with 26 trees. It has continues to have a strong response from the community.
This tree with angel at top was decorated by the family of Derwood and Dorothy James.
One of the trees is decorated by the Bradley family for family members including Wes Bradley, who was a founding member of Christmas in Lyndonville Committee. For the first 12 years of the celebration, Bradley served as the emcee when Santa arrived by carriage and led the countdown to Santa flipping the switch to light up the trees.
Bradley, a beloved teacher and coach in Lyndonville, passed away on Sept. 27. He also was chairman of Lyndonville’s fireworks effort for many years.
Carla Woodworth, left of Santa, served as emcee on Saturday and helped guide Santa to the “North Pole” electric switch so he could turn on the power for all the trees.
The Hardner-Smith family decorated the tree in lower right in memory of Dr. Elizabeth Lucyszyn. It includes a chicken ornament on top.
This tree is decorated in honor of Mark Hughes, a Lyndonville teacher and coach who passed away on June 4. Hughes was known to many as “Mr. Lyndonville.” He was a very active part of the school district for 52 years.
The patriotic tree with flags was decorated by Lyndonville Lions Club.
Veterans Park is the site for Lyndonville’s display of trees. The trees stay lighted up until just after New Year’s Day.
Jennifer Trupo, a music teacher at Lyndonville, and her chorus students sang “Silent Night” and other Christmas songs outside the Yates Community Library before Santa arrived and the trees were lighted up.
There were nearly 20 activities throughout the day on Saturday for Christmas in Lyndonville beginning with a community breakfast/basket raffle from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church. The day concluded with a Christmas LaLaPalooza at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church.
Amelia McDonald, 3, of Lyndonville was among about 100 kids who were able to meet Santa inside the Village Hall.
The lighting of the trees brought many people to Veterans Park on Saturday evening.
The trees are all decorated in a different way by families, businesses and organizations.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 December 2025 at 8:44 am
‘Christmas in Lyndonville’ includes many activities throughout the day
Photo by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – The Village of Lyndonville will host many activities on Saturday as part of its community Christmas celebration.
The community has decorated 82 Christmas trees at veterans Park. The lights on the trees will be turned on at 5 p.m. by Santa.
The village started the tradition of decorating the trees in 2013 with 26 the first year. The number steadily grew reaching a record high of 98 in 2022. There continues to be a big response to decorating the trees with 85 in 2023, and 82 in both 2024 and 2025.
The trees stay lighted up until just after New Year’s Day.
There are nearly 20 activities throughout the day beginning with a community breakfast/basket raffle from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church. The Webber Cafe will host holiday cookie decorating station with crafts from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
There will be caroling at Veterans Park from 4:30 to 5 p.m. just before Santa’s arrival and the lighting of the trees.
Afterward, Santa will be available to visit with kids from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m.
The events conclude with a Christmas LaLaPalooza at the Lyndonville Presbyterian Church. Click here to see the full schedule of activities.
Christmas in Lyndonville is sponsored by the Village of Lyndonville, Lyndonville Fire Department, Lyndonville Lions Club or the Lyndonville United Methodist Church.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 December 2025 at 7:54 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: This photo from Dec. 17, 2022 shows volunteers getting ready to place wreaths on veterans’ graves at Lynhaven Cemetery on Housel Avenue in Lyndonville. Volunteers placed 441 wreaths at veterans’ graves as part of the Wreaths Across America observance.
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville community will be placing wreaths on about 450 graves of veterans on Dec. 13. This will be the eighth year the American Legion will be holding a ceremony at noon and then joining volunteers to set the wreaths for veterans as part of Wreaths Across America.
The ceremony begins at noon at Lynhaven Cemetery. There will be other activities after the wreaths are set at Lynhaven, with others put at veterans’ grave sites at Yates Center Cemetery, Robin Hill Estate, the Greenman Road Cemetery, Lott Cemetery on Angling Road and a cemetery on Marshall Road.
“I want to remind visitors and volunteers alike in Lyndonville we are fortunate to have a memorial fund set up in memory of Fred (Fotius), Peter, George Menel and Ernest Stelianou by their sister Anna,” said Steve Goodrich, commander of the American Legion in Lyndonville and coordinator of Wreaths Across America for Lyndonville. “All veterans (current & future) graves will receive a wreath at no expense to the veteran’s families.”
Any donations made to the Lynhaven Cemetery will be redirected to the Boxwood Cemetery in Medina to help support the wreaths’ effort there, Goodrich said.
There will be a complimentary volunteer appreciation luncheon at the Webber Café afterwards. Webber Café also will offer free crafts for kids, including rock painting and cookie decorating.
The Grinch will be at Sweet Tilly’s Mercantile on Main Street, offering ornaments for kids.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2025 at 7:17 pm
Photos by Tom Rivers: Allen and Rose Phillips opened Rosenal Hardware today at 29 South Main St. They ran a hardware store in Albion the past two years next to Save-A-Lot before moving the store to Lyndonville.
LYNDONVILLE – Allen Phillips tried to stay retired from the hardware business but he finds he likes to share his knowledge with the public.
He started working with a hardware distributor 50 years ago when he was in high school. He worked as a sales rep for many years, visiting hardware stores all over the region.
He finally retired, but when a new hardware store opened four years ago in Albion, Phillips decided to take a part-time job at Pro Hardware. Not longer after he became the store’s manager and then two years ago, the owner.
He renamed the store, Rosenal Hardware, which is a combination of his wife’s first name and his, Al.
The couple lives in Lyndonville and they decided to move the hardware store closer to their home.
Allen and Rose Phillips chose the name, Rosenal Hardware, as a combination of their first names, Rose and Al. Rosenal Hardware is located a building that saw a major renovation. Lyndonville native Robert Smith owns that site as well as others on Main Street that have been significantly refurbished.
Today was an unofficial opening day at 29 South Main St. They are still settling into the space. Only half of their hardware inventory is currently available at the site.
Phillips said Rosenal has a full array of hardware products, from a paint department to plumbing, electrical, nuts, bolts, rakes, shovels, rock salt, fasteners and many other products. Rosenal sells DeWalt power tools.
Rose and Allen are happy to have the store in Lyndonville, where the couple raised their four daughters: Amanda, Alicia, Rachael and Dana.
Rosenal will be open Monday through Saturday. Call (585) 765-1144 for more information.
By Ginny Kropf, correspondent Posted 13 November 2025 at 8:57 am
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Volunteers on duty at Lyndonville United Methodist Church’s Hope Resales Holiday Shop are, from left, Cathy Bane-Dinse, Cathie Barry, Anne Hyndman and Roxinne Montague.
LYNDONVILLE – Anyone looking for an unusual or unique Christmas gift just might want to check out Hope Resales Holiday Shop at Lyndonville United Methodist Church.
Hope Resales Thrift Shop was an idea developed by former church member Ruth Hedges in 2019, before she moved east to be near her family.
Since then, the shop has generated thousands of dollars, which have benefited the church and its missions.
“Ruth was in charge of missions for our church and got the idea to start a thrift shop to earn money for missions,” said Cathie Barry, a church member and thrift shop volunteer.
Cathie Berry and Colleen Gooding look at a list of charitable causes to which the Lyndonville Methodist Church has donated with profits from their Hope Resales Thrift Shop. The shop’s Christmas Store recently opened, with an entire fellowship hall full of holiday items.
The shop was immediately popular and profitable. Then they decided to open a separate holiday shop at Christmas time.
“People who work in our sorting room say there’s not a day goes by that they don’t get donations of Christmas items,” Barry said.
“This is the place to get good deals on games and toys,” said volunteer Anne Hyndman. “People who regularly shop here are always asking when are we opening the Christmas store.”
The Christmas Store grew from an idea developed years ago by their women’s group, who started a mini mall at Christmas, where children could come and shop for their parents and friends at very reasonable prices.
“Whatever money a child had, we accepted it for the gift they wanted,” Barry said. “It was a custom for parents to sit in another room drinking coffee and eating cookies while volunteers helped their children shop. There was also a room for wrapping.”
A customer browses in Hope Resales Holiday Shop at Lyndonville United Methodist Church. The shop is full of all kinds of Christmas items, from games and toys to clothing and Christmas trees.
Hyndman said people would come in and give them donations to be used for children who didn’t have any money to buy gifts.
After the lady who came up with the idea died, people were constantly asking if the church was going to do it again. The result was the Christmas Store.
“People like to shop here because they get good deals on games and toys,” Hyndman said.
This year could end up being a record year for giving, Barry said. Last year they gave a total of $10,000 to their church missions and to local charities, including the food pantry housed at the Presbyterian Church, Orleans Koinonia Kitchen in Albion, a homeless shelter in Lockport, the United Methodist Committee on Relief, local libraries, PAWS Animal Shelter and more. They have already donated $9,000 to various causes and anticipate a very busy month ahead.
This table features an assortment of miniature Christmas buildings and accessories.
“It takes a lot of volunteers to run the thrift shop,” Barry said. “We need sales people, cleaners, sorters, organizers and people to create displays. We can always use more help. It’s really kind of fun. Some great friendships have been made with the people we work with here. And we really love the people who shop here. We often pray together before we open the doors.’
“And we have prayed with our customers who came through the door,” Hyndman said.
Hope Resales has become a favorite place to shop for many people.
“Often, we open the doors at 10 a.m. and by 10:02 there are eight people in the store,” Barry said.
Hope Resales, managed by Colleen Gooding, is located in the basement of the church at 102 North Main St., and offers clothing in all sizes for the entire family, gifts, housewares, jewelry and more. Entrance is through the door on the northeast corner of the building. The Christmas Store is in the fellowship hall, one floor above. Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday and 4 to 7 p.m. Thursdays. The Christmas Store opened Nov. 5 and will be open through Dec. 20.
Photos and information courtesy of Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions Club held its second annual Oktoberfest on Saturday at the White Birch Golf Resort in Lyndonville.
The Die Wiesen (festival goers) enjoyed lively, traditional German music performed by The Frankfurters German Band. Their performance featured authentic Bavarian bell music and several pieces played on the Alpine horns—both instruments deeply rooted in the Bavarian Alps region of southern Germany.
Guests were treated to a hearty German buffet featuring bratwurst, sweet and sour cabbage, and pork schnitzel, followed by apple streusel for dessert. Of course, Oktoberfest beer also made an appearance and was enjoyed by all the attendees.
This year, the Lions added a new highlight to the program – the crowning of Oktoberfest Royalty. This fun tradition pays homage to the origins of Oktoberfest, which dates back to the early 1800s. The very first Oktoberfest was held in southern Bavaria to celebrate the marriage of King Ludwig I and Princess Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen. Guests from Munich traveled to the royal festivities, which featured horse races, music, and plenty of Bavarian beer.
Since then, Oktoberfest has become an annual celebration held in late September and early October, drawing millions of visitors to Munich each year — and it’s estimated that over one million gallons of beer are enjoyed during the festival.
The Lions also introduced the Traditional “Shot Ski”, a lively addition that has become a staple at modern Oktoberfest celebrations. The tradition traces its roots to Alpine skiers in the Bavarian Alps, who began sharing shots together from a single ski to celebrate camaraderie and good cheer.
The Lyndonville Lions Club would like to thank everyone who supported this year’s Oktoberfest fundraiser and helped make it such a success. We hope all who attended had a wonderful time celebrating with us!
Looking ahead, the Lions are excited to host several upcoming community events, including the annual Village Christmas Tree Lighting in late November and the second annual Snowflake Bowling Tournament on Saturday, February 28th. Additional details on these events will be shared soon.
As we move through the beautiful fall season, the Lions extend warm wishes to all and ask that God continue to bless our community and this great nation we call home.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 October 2025 at 7:58 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
LYNDONVILLE – Dylan Cote of Pavilion casts a line out on Friday evening at Johnson Creek in Lyndonville. This is a spot near the top of waterfalls of the dam.
“This is the magical spot,” Cote said.
He usually catches blue gill, bass, cat fish and carp. Cote frequently is in Lyndonville to see his girlfriend.
He said several salmon fishermen were in the area on Friday. The salmon make it all the way up Johnson Creek from Lake Ontario, but can get no farther than the dam. Cote said sometimes the big fish are jumping, trying to get past the dam.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2025 at 9:29 am
Photos by Tom Rivers: Wes Bradley served as Lyndonville’s fireworks chairman for 19 years. He is shown on July 4, 2024, pulling a collection container in the Lyndonville parade. Bradley raised $50,000 to make that fireworks display the biggest ever in Lyndonville. That year was the 50th anniversary of the Lyndonville Lions Club organizing the July 4th celebration.
LYNDONVILLE – One of Orleans County’s greatest citizens passed away on Sept. 27. Wes Bradley was 77.
After a career as a science teacher for middle schoolers and a coach at Lyndonville, Bradley may have been best known in recent years as the chairman of Lyndonville’s phenomenal fireworks show on July 4.
He worked all year rounding up donations for the show. The July 4, 2024 show was his last as chairman. He met his goal of raising $50,000 for the 50th anniversary fireworks display for the Lyndonville Lions Club.
Wes Bradley, shown on Dec. 3, 2016, for many years also served as emcee of Lyndonville’s Christmas celebration in early December when Santa arrived and 60 to 100 Christmas trees are typically lit up at Veterans’ Park. Bradley has said many dedicated volunteers put on events to enliven Lyndonville.
Bradley proudly wore a one-of-kind T-shirt that Young Explosives made for him showing the fireworks in Lyndonville. Bradley had a strong bond with the crew from Young Explosives. He brought them chicken barbecue dinners while they set up in stifling heat for the July 4th show in Lyndonville. It was one of the biggest shows in all of Western New York despite Lyndonville being one of the smallest communities to host a fireworks show.
Those fireworks would bring in thousands of people, and Bradley was proud to show off the village with its flag-lined Main Street and friendly residents.
Bradley and one of his best friends, Mark Hughes, for years would put 75 flags on the utility poles that line the street. Bradley would climb the ladder and put the flags up, and would make an early morning check on July 4th to make sure they were all looking good and not rolled up.
Hughes passed away on June 4. He was another dedicated teacher and coach at Lyndonville. The two were both pillars of the community the past half century.
They both stayed deeply involved in the school – long after their retirement.
Bradley was a soccer official locally, and did a game about three weeks ago. He could run the field well into his 70s.
Lyndonville needed a boys soccer coach in 2024 for the varsity team. The previous year, Lyndonville didn’t have its own team due to low numbers.
Bradley agreed to be the coach and the team helped him reach a career milestone of 200 victories. Many of those players attended his calling hours on Friday.
Young Explosives also was there at the calling hours. So were many former students, teachers, Lyndonville firefighters and community members.
Photo by Cheryl Wertman: Wes Bradley is shown in late August 2024 when he returned to coaching the Lyndonville varsity soccer team. He is shown meeting with five veteran players from the last Tigers varsity team in 2022. They include Austin Fonda, Michael Alexander, Colton Smith, Jesus Rosario and Brody Hazel. The team would earn Bradley’s his 200th career soccer victory.
When Bradley moved to Lyndonville in August 1979 at age 31, he joined the Lyndonville Fire Department. He was inspired by his father’s example. Ray Bradley volunteered for more than 30 years as a firefighter in Canton, NY.
Bradley was an active firefighter responding to many calls, finding the time even during his very busy days as teacher and coach.
In his 70s, he still was going to about 50 calls a year and served as the department’s chaplain. In 2019, he was Lyndonville’s firefighter of the year at age 71.
“He does everything very professional,” Ben Bane, the Lyndonville fire chief at the time, told the Orleans Hub. “As chaplain, he is always there to comfort members when we have bad calls.”
Bradley, after years as an interior firefighter, continued as an exterior firefighter and with the fire police on traffic control. He also went on EMS calls. He wasn’t an EMT but he said it is comforting for many residents to see their neighbors in the fire service respond to the calls.
“I enjoy serving the community,” Bradley said on Feb. 1, 2020 when he was presented with the award. “The community has been good to me. I can give a little bit back.”
Laurie Bradley said her husband was “a go-getter who wanted to serve others.” She was the school librarian at Lyndonville. She and Wes raised three children in the community.
Ben Bane, Lyndonville’s fire chief in 2020, presents the Firefighter of the Year award to Wes Bradley on Feb. 1, 2020.
Bob Larkin worked as a custodian at the school district. He saw Bradley every day and without fail Bradley always was quick to greet Larkin by name. During the end-of-season pizza parties, Bradley made sure his team picked up after themselves.
If there was a fire alarm at the school, Bradley was typically the first on the scene in his firefighter turn-out gear, Larkin said.
Lee Dillenbeck, a Lyndonville teacher and coach, said the community is reeling from the loss of Bradley and Hughes. Both were tremendous mentors for teachers and students, Dillenbeck said.
Bradley never wavered in trying to be of service to the community.
“He was the best person you could come across,” Dillenbeck said. “Anything you needed he was there for you.”
Church will dedicate refurbished pipe organ, celebrate people featured on quilt from 1987
Photo courtesy of Lyndonville Presbyterian Church: This quilt was made in 1987 by a Sunday School class at Lyndonville Presbyterian Church.
Press Release, The Rev. Martha Mitchell, pastor of Lyndonville Presbyterian Church
LYNDONVILLE – Eight years ago, when I first came to Lyndonville Presbyterian Church, a parishioner rescued a quilt from storage in the church basement.
We hung it in our dining hall. Since then it has fascinated people who wander in. Some head right over saying, “My name is on this quilt!”
The Sunday School class made it in 1987 when the church was the United Presbyterian Church. Ever since we placed it for public display, we have dreamed of hosting a homecoming.
We are hoping that many of the people on the quilt will materialize in person. They are now parents or even grandparents. Some of the leaders are deceased. We thought it would be fun for people to reunite who once knew LPC and contributed to its history.
Saturday, October 11th, we invite anyone who ever had any connection with Lyndonville Presbyterian Church to come on over and mingle at 107 North Main St.
11a.m. to 3 p.m. family activities like ring toss, cornhole, a fishpond, chalk drawing (so you can fill up our parking lot with chalk art), pumpkin decorating and more.
Beef on Weck lunch at noon, free will offering.
Photo Booth so that we can get as many photos as possible to correspond to the names on the quilt for an updated picture quilt.
Sunday, October 12th, we are dedicating our refurbished pipe organ during our special musical worship service at 10:30 a.m. Once again, all are invited to join us.
A coffee hour follows worship, so come peek in and see where you once spent time. Or just come join us for two days of wonderful celebrations whether you’re an old friend or a brand-new curiosity seeker.
Bring your whole family and head over. We look forward to seeing you on October 11th or 12th or both!
LYNDONVILLE – Beginning on Sept. 23, the Village of Lyndonville will be conducting leakage testing on the sanitary sewer system located within the village.
It is anticipated that this testing will take three days and end on Sept. 25. This test is being conducted as part of a study to locate and identify areas of ground and surface water entering the sanitary sewer system.
It is important to find and identify these sources because they may seriously affect the efficiency of our Wastewater Treatment Facility and increase operating expenses.
During the test, a non-toxic smoke will be blown into the sanitary sewer system to reveal leaks where storm water and surface waters may be entering the sewer. The smoke that is utilized for this testing is manufactured specifically for this purpose, and it leaves no residual odor or stains, and has no adverse effect on plants or animals.
It does have a distinctive, but not unpleasant, temporary odor. The visible smoke and odor only last a few minutes, where ventilation is adequate.
To conduct the test, smoke will be introduced at specific sanitary sewer manholes located on the streets. During the test, personnel will conduct a visual observation along streets and around individual homes, for smoke exiting storm sewers, roof gutters, and other areas which may be connected to the sanitary sewer system.
Smoke should not enter your home unless the plumbing is defective or if your home contains drains which are infrequently used. Several days prior to Sept. 23, please pour or run water down all drains in your home or building to assure that drain traps are filled and in working order.
Please feel free to contact the Superintendent of Public Works Devan Freeman at 585-765-9312 if you have any questions regarding this notification.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 August 2025 at 10:53 am
Dr. Heather Lyon meets with school staff and stakeholders to identify strengths and challenges
Photos by Tom Rivers: Dr. Heather Lyon goes over Lyndonville students’ results on the recent state tests in grades 3-8 for ELA, math and science. Lyon said she will do a monthly focus on student performance for the Board of Education.
Dr. Heather Lyon attended her first Board of Education meeting as Lyndonville superintendent last week.
LYNDONVILLE – The school district’s new superintendent thanked the staff and community for a warm welcome.
Dr. Heather Lyon started on Aug. 1 as the new district leader, following the retirement of Sharon Smith.
“I couldn’t feel more welcomed to Lyndonville,” Lyon told the Board of Education last week. “Everyone has been so kind and I feel like the red carpet was rolled out. This makes me even more excited for students and teachers to return.”
Lyon has classroom teacher, staff developer, principal and school district leader. She most recently was coordinator of Assessment and Data at Gates Chili Central School District.
She said she looks forward to working with the board, administration and staff on building on student successes and also improving on challenges.
She said she will present data each month to the board on student performance and participation. This month she focused on the state assessment tests for grades 3 to 8. She said next month will likely be a close look at results of the Regents tests.
Lyon went over the state testing results which generally shows Lyndonville about on par with the state-wide scores.
To be considered proficient, students need to score at levels 3 or 4.
Charts from Lyndonville Central School: Lyndonville is very close to the state-wide proficiency rates for ELA, math and science.
State-wide assessments for students in grades 3-8 show:
ELA – 53 percent of students statewide are proficient, up by 7 percent
Math – 55 percent are proficient went, up by 3 percent
Science – 44 percent are proficient (up by 9 percent)
Lyndonville results:
ELA – 51 percent are proficient, down from 54 percent in 2024. The district had 13 percent of students at the lowest level of 1 (down from 17 percent in 2024). There were 36 percent at level 2, up from 30 percent, with 35 at level 3 (compared to 41 percent in 2024) and 16 percent at level 4 (compared to 13 percent in 2024).
Math – 56 proficient in 2025, up 7 percent from the 49 percent in 2024. Lyndonville had 17 percent ent at level 1 (down from 20 percent), 28 percent at level 2 (down from 31 percent), 45 percent at level 3 (up from 38 percent) and 11 percent at level 4 in both 2024 and 2025.
Science – 43 percent proficient in 2025 (up from 29 percent in 2024). Lyndonville reports that 8 percent were at the lowest level of 1 in 2025 (up from 18 percent in 2024), 51 percent at level 2 (40 percent in 2024), 38 percent at level 3 (20 percent a year earlier) and 5 percent at level 4 (down from 9 percent).
Lyon presented this summary of findings which show a drop in proficiency in ELA and math as students move into middle school years.
Lyon said she and district staff are analyzing cohort data, and other factors in the results, which became available on Aug. 11.
Lyndonville administrators and teachers will be looking at students “on the bubble” of being considered proficient and try to get them to move from level 2 to 3, she said.
The superintendent looked back at Lyndonville’s ELA results over several years and noted the district has better scores now than before the Covid pandemic in 2020. “Not many school districts can say that,” she said.
The science scores only reflected students in grades 5 and 8. Dr. Aaron Slack, the junior-senior high school principal, said many of the top students in eighth grade don’t take the science or math assessment tests because they are already taking advanced courses. The state doesn’t “double test” students in eighth grade.
The Die Wiesen (festival goers) enjoyed lively, traditional German music performed by The Frankfurters German Band. Their performance featured authentic Bavarian bell music and several pieces played on the Alpine horns—both instruments deeply rooted in the Bavarian Alps region of southern Germany.
