Provided photo: Oak Orchard Health dedicated the Alexander Health Center to board member Cynda Watroba. Pictured, from left, include: Jerry Archibald, Marco Altieri, Gloria Crittenden, Cynda Watroba, Matthew Fernaays and John Slenker.

Press Release, Oak Orchard Health

ALEXANDER – Oak Orchard Health, a leading healthcare provider serving rural communities in upstate New York, its health center in Alexander to Board Vice Chair and Secretary Cynda Watroba in recognition of her leadership and commitment to the organization’s mission.

Watroba first supported Oak Orchard Health during the Covid-19 pandemic by creating high-quality cloth masks for staff, their families, and the neighborhood. Her hands-on service reflected a deep commitment to community health and made joining Oak Orchard’s Board of Directors a natural next step in her ongoing advocacy.

She has served on the Board of Directors since 2022 and is committed to assuring equitable access to care for all members of our community. Dedicated to her board role, Watroba serves on the Board Human Resources, Finance, Special Populations, Governance, Strategic Planning, Corporate Compliance and Executive Committees.

The dedication ceremony took place on Thursday, August 6th, during the agency’s National Health Center Week celebrations. The ceremony included a speech from President and CEO Marco Altieri, where he emphasized Watroba’s tireless commitment to the organization and thanked her for her service.

“Cynda, you have given us your brain, and most importantly, your heart,” Altieri said. “You have given us what we needed at the right time… some stories are meant to go untold, but this one isn’t.”

John Slenker, board chairman and friend of Watroba, presented the plaque and attested to the long hours that she dedicates to Oak Orchard Health.

Cynda shared the story of her journey with the organization, which started with a visit to the Alexander office, when her wife, Gloria, pointed out the board of directors’ sign in the lobby and encouraged her to join. Both Cynda and Gloria are long-time patients of the Alexander Office.

“Cynda sets the standard for the board of directors, and we are incredibly grateful for her leadership and dedication,” Slenker said. “Her tireless commitment to Oak Orchard Health is unmatched.”

Oak Orchard Health is proud to introduce the Alexander Office as “The Cynda Watroba Health Center.”

Provided photo: Retired Channel 7 personality Mike Randall will open a celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday with his puppetry. The Medina Tourism Committee is sponsoring the event Sept. 6 in State Street Park, which will include entertainment for the entire family. Randall also will do a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence.

MEDINA – The Medina Tourism Committee has announced plans for an afternoon of entertainment to celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary.

According to Tourism Committee chairman Jim Hancock, on Sept. 6, beginning at 3 p.m. in State Street Park, the Salute to America’s 250th Anniversary will take place, featuring entertainment for the entire family.

Hancock said they chose to wait until Labor Day to celebrate the birth of our country because there is always so much going on in summer, especially around the Fourth of July

First on the Sept. 6 program will be retired local television personality Mike Randall, who will entertain with his puppetry.

“He is remarkable,” Hancock said of Randall’s talent. “He will start our program, which will be enjoyed by kids, parents and grandparents.”

This will be followed by Medina High School band director Jim Steele and the High School Jazz Band, who will play jazz and patriotic music.

Next, Randall will do a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence.

“This is a wonderful document which outlines why the colonies broke away from England,” Hancock said. “Many don’t know what it says. This is something everybody needs to know.”

Following a break, another 45 minutes of music will take place by the Jazz Band.

During the afternoon, there will be food trucks on site, offering food and drinks. One will be Hazel and Honey with their baked goods and lemonade.

Hancock said the Sons of the American Revolution contributed money toward the event, which provided cupcakes for the crowd.

Hans’s Bakery will make 250 red, white and blue cupcakes, which will be handed out to the crowd, along with miniature flags.

Also participating in the celebration will be members of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, whose Honor Guard will present Colors, fire a salute and play echo taps.

Hancock expects the program to last until about 7 p.m. In case of rain, the event will take place at the Medina Theater.

In addition to Hancock, members of the Medina Tourism Committee include Jan Smith, Barb Gorham, Kelly Kiebala, Kathy Blackburn, Ann Fisher-Bale, Debbie Padoleski and Dawn Borchet.

Photos courtesy of Mary Fellios: (Left) Part of the towpath is shown between Medina and Middleport, similar to the walk planned on Saturday, as part of the Medina Triennial. (Right) Mary Miss is the founding director of City as Living laboratory. She will lead a conversation at the Triennial Hub’s headquarters after Saturday’s walk.

MEDINA – The Medina Triennial, which has focused on local exhibits by world-renown artists, will take a new path this weekend with a walk along the Erie Canal Towpath.

Presented by City as Living Laboratory, or CALL, and artist Mary Miss, the program invites participants to experience the historic towpath as a “living laboratory,” shaped by ecology, infrastructure, labor and community.

Participants must register in advance by logging on to the Triennial’s website at www.medinatriennial.org. They will meet at 10 a.m. at the Medina Triennial Hub at 346 Main St. for orientation, coffee and light refreshments. At 10:15 a.m., complimentary shuttles will transport the group to Middleport, where the walk will begin.

From approximately 10:30 a.m. until 12:45 p.m., the group will travel slowly along 4.7 miles of the Erie Canalway Trail, pausing for guided observations and discussions with the walk leaders. Participants should bring water, a hat and wear comfortable shoes.

Rather than follow a conventional guided tour format, participants will encounter a series of stops, questions and conversations led by artists and environmental specialists. These include pioneering environmental artist Mary Miss, curator and arts leader Olivia Georgia, University at Buffalo environmental scholars Nick Henshue and Sanford Geffner and Western New York landscape designer Zuzanna Drozdz.

Henshue will contribute expertise in soil, restoration, earthworms and urban ecology, while Geffner will offer perspectives on natural history, environmental education and the regional landscape. Drozdz will discuss approaches to landscape design that bring together biodiversity, nourishment, beauty and community, according to Kari Conte, co-creative director of the Triennial.

The event connects the Erie Canal’s 200-year history with current questions about environmental responsibility, Conte explained.

 “The canal and its towpath are not simple historic landmarks – they are forms of public infrastructure that require continuing care,” Conte said.

The walk will conclude in Medina near the Floating Garden in the Canal Basin. Participants will then return to the Triennial Hub for a complimentary lunch. The day will close with a presentation by Mary Miss and Olivia Georgia, followed by a group conversation in which participants and walk leaders can share observations and reflect on the canal corridor together.

Parkitects will install phase 1 of new playground in October

Photos by Tom Rivers: Ben Frasier, owner and president of Parkitects, goes over the layout of a playground to be built in phases at Lyndonville Central School, with phase 1 to be constructed in early October. Frasier is a 1988 Lyndonville graduate.

LYNDONVILLE – A Lyndonville graduate who owns a company that designs and installs playgrounds wants to build the “greatest playground in the land” in his hometown.

Ben Frasier, owner and president of Parkitects, shared his vision of the playground with the Lyndonville Board of Education on Tuesday. Frasier said the funds are already in place for phase 1 of the playground. Parkitects will install the first phase in early October.

The company based in Buffalo has built million-dollar playgrounds at several school districts, including one in Kendall last year. He wants the best one for his hometown, and he said Parkitects will be doing it at a discount with some donated apparatus and in-kind services.

Phase 1 includes a We-Go-Round, Sway Fun Glider, We-Saw and other equipment that will be accessible to kids of all abilities and mobilities. Lyndonville two years ago approved using $160,000 in its federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) stimulus funds toward the project, with Parkitects donating other features, including a sensory dome.

The new playgrounds are inclusive for people of abilities and mobilities. He highlighted several new playgrounds including the one at Kendall Elementary School. As he showed photos of those elaborate playgrounds, Frasier asked, “Why can’t the kids in Lyndonville have this?”

Frasier said he has profound memories of growing up in Lyndonville and playing on the former wooden playground at the school. The community came together nearly 50 years ago to build that playground.

“This playground taught me about the power of community,” he said showing a photo of the former site.

Ben Frasier shared a photo of the former wooden playground at the school. He said he was 10 when it was constructed at Lyndonville and the community helped install it. “I played on that playground everyday for two years,” he said. “I was really shaped by play.”

Lyndonville already has $160,000 set aside for phase 1. The Board of Education about two years ago approved that amount in federal stimulus money towards the first phase of the new playground. Parkitects also is donating some extra pieces to the first phase and company will install it in early October.

Frasier will be at a back-to-school open house to share his plans for an even bigger playground. He also will be attending two school assemblies in September to build excitement with students for phase 1.

On September 10, there will be a meeting for the community from 6 to 8 p.m. to discuss the playground plans and how it will be designed for inclusive play for children of all abilities.

Frasier wants the larger project and he believes through fund-raising, grants and donations Lyndonville can make it a reality.

Phase 2 would include some larger equipment including Super Netplex Towers, ZipKrooz, Oodles Swing, Sensory Tunnel, Rollerslide with Exit Bench, and a 7-Post Hex Net.

He would like to see phase 2 be constructed next year. He also would like to see a phase 3 for a full buildout that would include a shelter for parents and grandparents to stay in the shade while children are on the playground.

Dr. Heather Lyon, the district superintendent, thanked Frasier for bringing a strong passion and commitment to the project, which she said will not include any local school funding. She looks forward to seeing kids of all abilities on the playground.

“Students who have never been able to use our playgrounds will be able to and that is something to celebrate,” Lyon said.

Daniel Ray II

MEDINA – A Medina man whose left hand was badly injured on Aug. 6 from a firework has been charged with making homemade explosives.

Daniel Ray II, 30, was charged today with Criminal Possession of Weapon in the Second Degree (gun) and Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree (explosives).

He was arrested by the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force and the Medina Police Department. He is being held in Orleans County Jail awaiting CAP Court arraignment.

On Aug. 6, the Orleans County 911 received a call for a “30-year-old male blew hand off with firework, bleeding not controlled” at 5066 Hellert Rd., Medina, which is Ray’s residence.

Orleans County Sheriff’s Office deputies and investigators, along with the Medina Fire Department Ambulance and the Shelby Volunteer Fire Company, responded to the scene. Ray was found at the location with extensive wounds to his left hand. He was treated at the scene with a tourniquet to stem the flow of heavy blood loss, and then was transported to ECMC in Buffalo and later released, the Major Felony Crime task Force reported today. Ray suffered severe trauma to his left hand with the loss of several fingers, the Task Force reported.

In plain view at the residence on Aug. 6 were bomb-making materials as well as debris from an exploded bomb. Major Felony Crime Task Force investigators were able to obtain a search warrant for the residence and seized the following evidence: three large homemade explosives, numerous bomb-making supplies to include casings, highly explosive powders, fuses and an illegally possessed and loaded 9 mm pistol, the Task Force said in a news release.

The scene was rendered safe by bomb technicians from the following agencies: Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, Rochester Police Department, ATF in Buffalo and Rochester, and the FBI in Buffalo. Also assisting at the scene was Orleans County Emergency Management Office.

“There was a tremendous amount of coordination and cooperation between all the agencies present at the scene,” the Task Force stated.

Also assisting in the investigation was District Attorney Susan Howard and the NYSDOCCS Office of Special Investigation.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Dr. Aaron Slack, Lyndonville’s junior-senior high school principal, shares data from the recent Regents with the Lyndonville Board of Education on Tuesday evening. Slack informed the district he will be retiring on June 30.

LYNDONVILLE – The junior-senior high school at Lyndonville will have a new principal after this school year.

Dr. Aaron Slack, the school’s principal the past 15 years, informed the district and Board of Education he will be retiring on June 30.

Slack told the board he has been grateful to serve at the district and is proud so many students have taken college-level and AP classes. There were 58 students in 2025-26 who earned 393 college credit hours.

Board President Joanne Suhr told Slack he has made a positive difference for the district.

“Everybody knows you,” she said at Tuesday’s Board meeting. “The teachers appreciate you. You will be missed.”

District superintendent, Dr. Heather Lyon, has worked with Slack the past year.

“It makes me sad,” she said on Tuesday when she shared about Slack’s intention to retire on June 30.

She said Slack remains deeply engaged in the school and working on students’ opportunities and achievement.

“Aaron is running through the finish line,” she said.

Slack, a Medina resident, said he looks forward to having more time for his family. He has been heavily involved at Lyndonville, and even was a part of the 2025 school musical of Newsies, when he played the role of Theodore Roosevelt.

Slack said his first job was at age 15 when he worked as a counselor at Camp Rainbow in Lyndonville. After working in the Greece school district as an eighth grade English teacher and then a middle school administrator, he welcomed the chance to work in Lyndonville 15 years ago.

Agency celebrates upgraded pavilion in memory of Marcy Mruczek

Photos courtesy of Arc GLOW: Arc GLOW staff, donors and community members gather under the Marcy Mruczek Pavilion for the dedication ceremony.

Press Release, Arc GLOW

LYNDONVILLE — Making their way across the paved paths and between laughing children as they ran and played, Camp Rainbow donors and community partners had a chance to see the difference their support has made in the lives of local children and young adults.

Founded in 1970, Camp Rainbow provides an inclusive summer day camp available to all children ages 5 to 21 of all abilities. Located in Lyndonville, the camp was established through the generosity of the Shenberger family, who donated the property to create a place where children with disabilities could experience recreation, friendship and belonging in a supportive environment.

Joan Grein, daughter of the Shenbergers, attended the event with a photograph of her brother, the late Jim Shenberger, who was the reason the camp exists in the first place. His legacy continues through Camp Rainbow, where generations of children have had the opportunity to experience recreation, friendship and belonging. The Shenberger family was also among the founding members of the Arc of Orleans County. Peter Bartula and Arc GLOW Board President Eric Parker was also in attendance.

Jen Batt, director of Community Services for Arc GLOW, provided a tour of Camp Rainbow alongside Jill Pegelow, vice president of Community Services and Self-Direction for Arc GLOW. The tour gave donors and community partners an opportunity to see firsthand the programs, facilities and experiences made possible through community support.

Prior to the tour, attendees gathered for a dedication ceremony at the Marcy Mruczek Pavilion, whose construction was organized by Dr. Arthur and Donna Mruczek, and built by the late Terry Garigen, represented by his wife, Nancy, at the dedication. The pouring of the concrete for the pavilion improvements was made possible through a generous donation from Orleans Ready Mix, owned by Reggie Cichocki.

(Left) A camper shows donors and community members a fairy home they made. (Right) Joan Grein with a picture of her late brother, Jim Shenberger, who passed away in March.

Originally dedicated in 2012 in memory of Marcy Mruczek, who served as a Camp Rainbow counselor for three summers, the pavilion recently underwent improvements thanks to the completion of a new ADA-compliant sidewalk and concrete patio. A commemorative plaque was unveiled recognizing the many individuals and organizations that contributed to the project.

“The support of our community is what makes Camp Rainbow possible,” said Lisa Bors, vice president of Public Relations and Development for Arc GLOW. “Camp Rainbow depends on the generosity of our community to give campers this opportunity to make friends, build confidence, enjoy new experiences and, most importantly, feel that they belong. Every donation, partnership and volunteer effort help make this special place possible.”

The Children’s Guild Foundation, represented by its Board Chair Darci Cramer, provided a grant to repair and replace the pool’s return line and sand filter. This upgrade allowed Camp Rainbow to double the number of swimmers during the day, providing more campers with the opportunity to enjoy the pool.

Aug. 7 was the last day of Camp Rainbow for the 2026 season.

For more information on Camp Rainbow, visit ArcGLOW.org. Arc GLOW is a nonprofit organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Dr. Evan Silsby has run a dental office for 10 years in Albion at 313 South Main St.

ALBION – Dr. Evan Silsby has been working as a dentist in Albion for a decade after acquiring the practice of retiring Dr. Karl Heuer at 313 South Main St.

Dr. Silsby, 39, has remodeled the interior, and invested in new technologies, including a CEREC milling machine that makes crowns on site during the same appointment. Silsby also uses digital technology for impressions.

The Gasport resident said working in a small town in Albion has been a great fit for his professional career.

He recently sat down for an interview to talk about the 10 years in Albion and the dental profession.

Question: You’ve been here 10 years. Were you somewhere else before?

Answer: I worked for a dental office in the Finger Lakes for just about two years.

Q: You are from these parts?

A: I’m from Gasport.

Q: Has this been a good fit for you?

A: I hope it has, certainly. Coming from a rural area it fits very well.

Q: Was the timing 10 years ago such that Dr. Heuer was retiring and it worked out?

A: There was a transition company that paired us together. This company matched us more by personality. Dr. Heuer listed it for sale, and I thought it would be a good fit.

Q: You have made some changes with technology and the looks of the place. What would you want to highlight?

A: There is certainly a blend between spending your money on tech and creature comfort. The latest, doing a lift instead of a ramp was because the ramp really needed to be changed. It wasn’t going to work much longer. We wanted to come up with something that looked better than the ramp that was there. We wanted to tie in something that looked a little bit nicer and gave people the functionality that they needed.

We spend a lot of time here as staff so we wanted to make it comfortable for us. Half of it’s that and half of it’s function for patients.

Q: It felt more like a house before.

A: Yes, there is a little bit more drywall. The outside certainly hasn’t changed much but the inside has.

Dr. Evan Silsby likes the physical work in being a dentist, and using medicine to improve people’s health.

Q: I know with the new equipment you have that crown fabricator. (Silsby can make custom dental crowns using in-office CEREC CAD/CAM technology. This system takes optical 3D scans, designs the restoration, and mills a ceramic crown on-site in a single visit.)

A:Yes, some of the tech we’ve added to try to keep it in house and make it more efficient for people. The latest is a software update. AI has made it to dentistry now. We have software that reads X-rays. It gives us a feel of the progression of cavities. So we can then track them. It might not be something we fill now, but let’s check it in a year. Then the software can help us to track if it got bigger or smaller, or stayed the same.

Q: How many people work for you?

A: It kind of depends. We have a three temp hygienists right now. We have three permanent hygienists, three front desk, and two assistants.

Q: Has it become harder to have a dental practice, with insurance and you-name-it?

A: Yeah. It always has struggles. Things change. Insurance is a little bit more difficult now than it used to be.

The Knicks just won the NBA finals. Did you see the dental thing that is paired with the Knicks. A friend of mine posted this. The Knicks last won the NBA championship in 1973. So they said insurance reimbursement allotment has not changed per person since the Knicks won their last championship.

They gave people a thousand bucks a year through insurance, and they still give them a thousand bucks. It makes it harder on people.

Q: That’s what I wondered with the economics that people might not be getting care where they should given the out-of-pocket costs?

A: Probably. They may be delaying, postponing, and little things can turn into big things. But here I would say we have been very busy. But I know some people are feeling that pinch.

Q: What do you like about doing this job?

A: It’s medicine. So you’re helping people. That’s the human condition: we want to help people. But dentistry is different than a lot of fields of medicine because we actually do things physically with our hands. That compares to a neurologist where they don’t.

Dentistry has that ability. You get a little bit of the fun of building, but also helping people in medicine.

Q: Are there lasers that can help do some of the procedures?

A: Yes, I just went to a class on a hard-tissue laser. I’ve had a soft-tissue laser for forever, and that’s nice for a couple of little things but what they want to do is make hard-tissue lasers and cut a tooth with a laser instead of a burr spinning. You can do it. The one tagline is you can do it without numbing a person. I don’t know if that’s really accurate. You can drill on a tooth without numbing it, too. Some people don’t mind and some people do.

It’s slower to cut with a laser. The technology is around. They made a version about 15 years ago but it didn’t catch on so the technology has lagged a little bit. Now they are using a different beam strength. People are using them, but not many so far.

Q: Do you have a general advice for people, especially if they haven’t been to the dentist in a while?

A: Make sure you get your info from somebody who knows what they are doing. There are a lot of TikTok reel doctors out there that probably steer people the wrong way.

We’ve had to fight a little bit in our area about fluoride in the water. From a health perspective it’s one of the biggest health benefits we’ve ever done as a country is fluoridated water.

Using fluoridated pastes, drinking fluoridated water (you can buy fluoridated water) there are ways people can take care of themselves.

That being said, the American diet supersedes all that. It’s unbelievable how bad our diet can be for us.

The sugar and carbs we have, all the stuff sticking to our teeth. That’s the thing that kills people more than whether we have fluoride in our water or not. It’s all the stuff that we’re consuming. And that probably goes full circle with the economy. People are eating more of the bottom of the food pyramid stuff because it’s cheaper. It ends up being a lot of the sugar and sticky carbs.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: The Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern’s executive director Jami Allport is all smiles in her new bright office in what used to be the maternity ward on the second floor of the former Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital.

 ALBION –  After spending 15 years in the downtown on Main Street, the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern has moved into what they hope will be their “forever” office.

According to executive director Jami Allport, the move on Aug. 5 was a smooth one. Their new office gives them 2,200 square feet  (compared to 900 at their previous location in the Presbyterian Church), and allows for three bathrooms, a client interview room, four office spaces, kitchen and a designated break room.

The Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern had its beginning 70 years ago as the Migrant Ministry Program, started by Medina teacher, the late Arden McAllister. He was joined by Sister Marian Adrian who was visiting Orleans County from Buffalo and saw many children without shoes and socks. Sister Marian would become a key player and in 1968, the Migrant Ministry program became Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern, with an office in Batavia. That site was closed 10 years ago as a cost-saving measure.

When Sister Marian died in 2020, she left a considerable sum of money to assure the agency would continue to help those in need. It became known as “The Agency of Last Resort,” helping the neediest of the needy.

When the Village of Albion raised the rent for GOMOC’s office downtown, the agency relocated for three years to the basement of the Presbyterian Church at Main and State Street. GOMOC was running out of space when agency leaders learned of the availability of the former maternity wing at the former Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital, now an office complex.

“Our new space is not only bright and big, but welcoming, too,” Allport said. “It is appropriate in that this was a place which welcomed new life, and now it provides a new beginning for us.”

Not only does the new space have a corner office with two windows, but there are individual offices for an office manager, furniture coordinator, youth coordinator, a newly added homeless coordinator and a summer intern.

“This location makes us feel more professional,” Allport said.

(Left) Jami Allport, director of the Ministry of Concern, looks down the spacious hallway in their new quarters in the Arnold Gregory Complex. (Right) The new home of GOMOC allows space for a client interview room, as pointed out by executive director Jami Allport.

The Ministry of Concern is currently helping 1,000 families a year, and seeing an increase annually. During a recent week, they saw 17 youth in 15 minutes who signed up for the Back to School Program (clothing).

Allport said there was a time when the agency was in a slump, but survived because of the generosity of Sister Marian.

“I’ve been told I have a lot of the qualities Sister Marian did,” Allport said. “She was extremely aware and knowledgeable about finances. She was cautious, but still fulfilled the mission. She was definitely a rock.  She created a very solid foundation for us to build on.”

The world in which GOMOC started doesn’t exist anymore, Allport said.

The agency has seen an influx people getting out of prison with no place to live and many working homeless, she said.

“Going forward we have to look for funding to meet the needs of our community now,” she said. “Many of our old problems still remain, but many are definitely different now.”

GOMOC relies on individual and corporate donations, but Allport also seeks grants to meet their needs. She has written 38 grants this year, and only a few have been funded.

“While I apply for a lot of grants, every single donation we get makes a difference,” she said.

She added that everyone is welcome and no one who comes in for help is judged.

“We are here to help,” she said.

GOMOC welcomes financial donations and donations of small furniture, such as beds, dressers, tables and chairs.

The Ministry of Concern is open Monday through Friday at 9 a.m. and see the last client at 3:30 p.m.

Press Release, Holley Central School

HOLLEY – The Holley Central School District is proud to announce that all dual enrollment courses offered at Holley Jr./Sr. High School will now be available to students tuition-free, eliminating any cost burden for families.

Through the district’s continued partnership with area colleges and universities, and as part of the Early College Access (ECA) program through Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES, students who have completed prerequisites and are currently registered for college courses will no longer pay tuition beginning in the 2026-27 school year.

Holley students currently take dual enrollment classes at SUNY Brockport and Genesee Community College. The new policy from the school district doesn’t include students in the 3-1-3 program at Brockport.

Dual enrollment courses allow high school students to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously, enhancing their academic readiness for higher education while helping to reduce the overall cost of a college degree.

“Investing in dual enrollment is an investment in our students’ futures,” said Brendan Keiser, Director of Teaching and Learning. “By removing the financial barrier to college-level coursework, we are empowering our students to earn college credit and take confident steps toward their postsecondary goals.”

“This initiative reflects our commitment to the goals outlined in our Strategic Action Plan and our Portrait of a Graduate,” said Karri Schiavone, Superintendent of Schools. “By making dual enrollment tuition-free, we are ensuring that more students have access to challenging academic experiences that build confidence, expand opportunities, and prepare them for success in college, careers, and life.”

The Holley Central School District remains committed to ensuring that all students receive a high-quality education characterized by rigorous, engaging, and meaningful learning experiences that challenge students, foster their growth, and inspire them to reach their full potential.

For more information, families are encouraged to contact Principal Matthew Feldman at (585) 815-5459.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Firefighters work to put out a fire in a storage building at 15959 Bridge Rd. in Kendall.

Flames were shooting out from the building and melted some of the siding at a barn next door, but the fire was largely contained to the storage shed. The sandstone smoke house next door also acted as a fire wall and kept the fire from spreading.

Tom Munzert said he was burning weeds with a torch around the shed this morning. He kept a close eye on them and everything seemed fine. He was working outside on a lawnmower when a passerby alerted him to the fire.

The storage building had ATVs, lawnmowers and a mattress inside that were owned by a former tenant, Munzert said.

Kendall firefighters were dispatched to the scene around 11:30 a.m. They were assisted by firefighters from Carlton, Murray, Clarendon and the Hamlin-Morton-Walker Fire District.

Provided photos: These inflatable bounce houses are away the items in the carnival zone on Saturday at Bullard Park.

ALBION – A fundraiser will be Saturday at Bullard Park to benefit Hospice of Orleans. The event was originally planned for July 18 but severe weather that day forced organizers to reschedule the event for this Saturday.

Christina Nenni and Michelle Wiseman of Best of Tymes Party Rentals are leading the event from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

A $5 wrist band gives access to all of the bounce houses and games, including the foam pit. There will be face paintings, basket raffles, a 50/50 raffle and other activities.

More than 30 vendors will be there, along with a food truck and Best of Tymes Party Rentals, who will have all their new inflatable games set up with Rowdy Rentalz bounce houses for all ages. As a special bonus, Spiderman will arrive around 1 p.m. to hang out with the kids.

Key Bank is going to match what they raised up to $2,000.

“Hospice is such an amazing organization and is near and dear to my heart and Michelle’s,” Nenni said.

Nenni said her grandmother was served by Hospice in the residence on Route 31. The family is very grateful for the care of her grandmother by Hospice.

“I wouldn’t have survived without them,” Nenni said.

Wiseman said Hospice cared for her mother, with nurses coming to her home and providing exceptional care.

Provided photos

CARLTON – Firefighters were dispatched to a boat fire this morning just before 6 a.m.

A boat was in flames near a dock at 994 Point Breeze Rd. No one was hurt in the fire.

Carlton and Kendall fire departments responded. The boat was pulled ashore by the Orleans County Sheriff’s marine patrol.

Fire Investigators also responded to the scene.

No other information is currently available.

Basket raffle on Sunday at Lockstone goes towards museum

Photo by Tom Rivers: The bronze statue of Santa at Waterman Park is shown recently while traffic moves along Main Street. The Albion Betterment Committee is working to develop a Santa School Museum in the brick building in the middle across the street.

ALBION – The Albion Betterment Committee has been awarded a $10,000 grant towards a new roof for the Santa School Museum. A new roof for the building at 128 North Main St. could be at least $70,000.

The Betterment Committee continues to pursue grants and raise money for the roof and the museum. There will be a basket raffle on Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. at the Lockstone, 160 North Main Street. Proceeds go to the Santa School Museum.

The event also will include drinks from Cold Brew Coffee, treats from Sav’s Creekside Café, a photo backdrop from The Wed Shed. Jesse Colmenero photography will be there to take photos of families and children. Gary Simboli will be performing music from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. To donate a basket contact Lori Laine at mailgirl2159@yahoo.com.

The $10,000 grant was awarded by the Rochester Area Community Foundation. That organization also approved a $5,000 grant in the spring for new windows at the building.

The Betterment Committee purchased the building in November from the estate of Henri Pulley. The site is 6,600 square feet.

The Betterment Committee is working to turn the vacant two-story site into the Santa School Museum. It will pay homage to the late Charles W. Howard, who created the first Santa School in the world. He ran it on Phipps Road in Albion from 1937 until his death in 1966.

Howard continues to be revered among the people who portray Santa. The Santa School continues in his name in Midland, Mich. Howard also was well known as the Santa in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1948 to 1965. Howard also was inducted as an inaugural member in 2010 of the International Santa Claus Hall of Fame.

The Betterment Committee wants to make the Main Street site into a tourism center that celebrates Santa. The group wants to develop an interactive tourism center with displays about the Charles W. Howard Santa School and Christmas Park, which Howard ran for many years near his farmhouse on Phipps Road.

The Betterment Committee envisions the first floor as interactive exhibits and displays, as well as room for a bakery and food operator. The site could also offer services, including showers, for canal boaters, cyclists and other visitors.

The second floor is envisioned to offer space for artists – painters, potters, and others in need of studio space. The second floor has large windows that let in natural light that would be ideal for artists.