Provided photo: Jon and Alena Winters were guest speakers during a volunteer appreciation lunch on April 18 for CASA.

Press Release, Court Appointed Special Advocates

BATAVIA – In April, Court Appointed Special Advocates celebrated the volunteers that serve the agency by organizing a special event on April 18 in honor of Volunteer Appreciation Month.

The event was graced by special guest speakers, Jon and Alena Winters, who are experts in mindfulness practices and life coaching. They took the audience through a series of interactive and engaging exercises, including breath awareness, body awareness, and sensory awareness exercises.

The exercises were aimed at helping the attendees find balance and inner peace in their lives when feeling overwhelmed or stuck. The highlight of the event was the Circle of Life exercise, which allowed the group to reflect on their unique needs and values, and how they could align their lives with them. For more information about the Winters, check their website empoweryoucoachsulting.com.

Jennifer Metz, the executive director of CASA for Children, expressed her gratitude towards Jon and Alena for their time and expertise, which greatly benefitted the attendees. The event was a huge success, and attendees left feeling rejuvenated and empowered.

CASA is a local nonprofit based in Batavia with a purpose to train and supervise a diverse group of advocates for children who have been abused and/or neglected. These children are at risk of being removed from their homes or have already been placed into the foster care system.

CASA aims to ensure that these children have safe and permanent homes as quickly as possible. A child who has a CASA is half as likely to re-enter the foster care system, more likely to succeed in school, and more likely to find a safe, permanent home.

“Even though not all children are safe and cared for in this world, we are determined to change this reality,” said Jennifer Metz, CASA executive director. “We are constantly recruiting new advocates who are passionate and committed to making a difference in the lives of these children. With our collective efforts, we are confident in our ability to create a safer and more nurturing environment for all children.”

Provided photos from Jessica Carpenter

MEDINA – Girl Scouts from Troops 82094 & 82096 in Medina were part of an Earth Day cleanup on Saturday morning and they filled 32 bags with trash.

They picked up litter and debris from the ditches of Route 31 and Bates Road near Brunner’s. They also picked up trash at Boxwood Cemetery and along the canal from Bates Road to Horan Road.

The Troops thanked the Girl Scouts for getting rid of so much litter and Jennifer Hughes for organizing the cleanup.

Photos courtesy of Jessica Greean, Troop Leader for Girl Scout Troop 60916

HOLLEY – There were about 20 young scouts out Saturday morning picking up litter along the Erie Canal in Holley. The Girl Scouts from Troop 60916 and Lion and Tiger Cub Scouts in Pack 62 braved the windy and chilly temperatures to help clean up the area.

The top photo shows them by murals created by artist Stacey Kirby Steward near the canal gazebo.

Gabriella Greean, a Brownie Scout, was among the scouts on cleanup duty.

These “Scout Dads” include, from left: Zach Reed, Jason Greean, Sam Hackenberg, John Schneider, Adam Wallenhorst and Michael Restivo.

From left include Kelsie Reed, Katie Applegate, Katie Wallenhorst and Parker Wallenhorst.

The group gathers at the canal gazebo in Holley. The effort was part of the annual “Canal Clean Sweep” along the canal system in New York State. There were more than 150 cleanup events along the canal system, including several in Orleans County.

By Randy LeBaron

In just a couple days I will be turning 50 years old and I have the receding hairline, white whiskers, and protruding waistline to prove it.

I am a husband and a father of four. I am a pastor, a counselor, and a chaplain. I have several degrees and have started my own ministry. I have accomplished many things which you might think would help one’s self-esteem and yet, for most of my life, I have found myself feeling inadequate—unable to see myself through any other eyes than those who had bullied and abused me as a child.

I know that I typically share more lighthearted fare on here but I felt led to write about this today because I am fairly certain that I am not the only one who is living with unseen scars or who has heard the old adage, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me” and realized how untrue it is.

The reality is that the emotional scars that a person carries from a tormented childhood may not be visible in the same sense as other physical wounds, yet they are often the hardest to overcome because the wound hasn’t closed; the words have cut too deep; down to the core—down to a person’s very character.

There is a man in the Bible named Gideon that I can relate to. You may remember him as the guy who who tested God by putting a fleece outside and asking God to make the ground wet with dew while leaving the fleece dry and then asking Him to do the opposite the next night. Anyway, the thing that often sticks out to me is how God addresses Gideon during their first encounter when he appears and says, “The Lord is with you, mighty warrior.”(Judges 6:12b)

The reason why I find this so interesting is because just a few verses later we find out that Gideon’s view of himself is almost the complete opposite. When God tells Gideon that He wants to use him to save Israel from their enemies Gideon responds that he is the weakest man from the weakest clan.

I get it. I get why Gideon had a hard time seeing what God saw in him. Just as God called him a mighty warrior long before he actually grew into that title others had probably called him by other names that had already shaped his identity and caused him to focus on what he could not do or what he would not become. I get it.

As I stated earlier, I am about to hit the half century mark and have actively lived out God’s call on my life for over three decades now but still, no matter how many times I am addressed as Pastor or Leader, I will often find myself feeling like I am back in the body of my 8-year-old self; listening to my father explain why he never wanted me and that I was not worth the effort for him to be a dad again, or when I was 10 years old just waiting to get off the bus so that I could burst into tears over the hurtful words heaped onto me without further humiliation, or beginning middle school and realizing that even though it was supposed to be a fresh start that I was still the odd man out (no thanks to my speech problems or alternative sense of style), or in high school when I would try to find any excuse to avoid the rest room (or school all together) because of the constant array of verbal, emotional, and physical attacks that I had to endure on a daily basis.

People often wonder about my fascination with Batman (I am a big fan and avid collector for those who didn’t know) but why wouldn’t I relate to a boy who had his childhood torn away from him because of the ruthless actions of others and, rather than dwelling on that feeling of helplessness, took control of the situation and chose to become a symbol and to stand up for those who could not stand up for themselves? The irony is that even in becoming “The Batman” Bruce Wayne was still just a scared little boy trying to overcome his fears by becoming fear itself to those who would prey on the weak. I get it.

The fact is that I AM a pastor. I AM a leader. I AM a husband. I AM a father. I AM a friend. But I am also that wounded young boy that longs to be accepted, affirmed, acknowledged, and appreciated, not because of anything I have done but simply because of who I am and who I was created to be. The scars are still there but the healing has begun.

Thanks to The Lord names like “Mighty Warrior” and “Pastor” seem more suitable than weakest or worthless. And, for anyone out there reading this while mentally replaying the names others have given to you, I want to remind you that you are so much more. I would say to you what I would have loved to have been able to go back and say to my my younger, scrawnier, insecure, blue-haired, pierced, speech impaired, skateboard loving self. I would say things like, “Do not allow others to define who you are, how you feel, or who you will become, by their derogatory remarks”, “Do not treat others the way that they treat you but rather how you would want to be treated”, and “Do not give up because your potential and your purpose will outshine anything that you are dealing with in the present or that you have carried with you from your past.”

Thankfully, though it took me much longer to learn these lessons on my own, I can say that I have not only found healing from my past but that I now experience hope and peace in the present. I have had the opportunity to reconnect and reconcile with some of my high school bullies on Facebook and I also became the primary caregiver for my father, who was probably the bully who left me with the most scars, which led to me having the unique privilege of being his pastor and praying with him to be set free from his own past hurts. It was then I finally started to see myself through God’s eyes. I hope that you will begin to see the real you today, too.

See you in two weeks!
Pastor Randy

Press Release, Village of Medina Municipal Tree Board

Provided photos: Students from Oak Orchard School in Medina celebrate Arbor Day Medina in 2023. The students will again help plant Arbor Day trees on Friday.

MEDINA – April in the Village of Medina means it will soon be Arbor Day and once again, Medina will be celebrating in a big way.

Arbor Day, observed nationally on the last Friday of April, falls on April 26 this year.

“Sixty-nine trees in all will be planted this year,” said Chris Busch, Medina’s Forestry Coordinator. “Forty-four trees will be planted on North Avenue, South Avenue, West Avenue, Park Avenue and State St. Park, with 25 hardwood seedlings going in Boxwood Cemetery.”

Medina’s observance will be held on the east end, south side of North Avenue at West Avenue in the village (kitty-corner from Lee-Whedon Memorial Library). The east end of North Avenue will be briefly closed for the occasion.

Barring a rainy day, this year’s celebration will include the reading of the Arbor Day Proclamation by Mayor Marguerite Sherman, and enthusiastic participation by the 2nd and 3rd graders from Medina Central School. The Oak Orchard Glee Club will also be performing on stage.

“We’d like to give a huge ‘thank you’ to Superintendent Mark Kruzynski for Medina CSD’s continued participation in our annual Arbor Day Celebration and for providing Mrs. Andrea Busch as a school-based resource,” said Mary Lewis, Tree Board chairwoman. “We’re so grateful! The schools have been a colossal part of Medina’s Arbor Day tradition for over fifteen years!”

The Tree Board’s focus has been a three-pronged approach for several years: Main arteries and Central Business District area, parks, and high-need residential areas.

“The need for plantings in all of these areas continues,” said Mary Lewis, Medina’s Tree Board Chair. “Plantings from previous years are maturing and are making a real visual impact in the streetscape. The new trees we’ve been planting in our parks are truly improving those areas, and we’re beginning to make headway on our neighborhoods. There’s still so much to be done and I wish we could do more.”

Volumes of research on the impact of street trees show numerous benefits, including increase property values, slower/ safer traffic patterns, lower urban air temperatures, and absorption of harmful pollution. Recent research also indicates tree-lined streets in neighborhoods result in – among other things – lower blood pressure and improvement to overall emotional and psychological health.

“Tree-lined streets really do have an incredibly huge impact on many levels,” Lewis said. “There are many legitimate studies that bear this out. The benefits from investing in street trees are many and tangible. We hear this constantly from citizens throughout the year about how much they appreciate the beauty of our tree-lined streets. It’s very gratifying.”

Arbor Day 2024 will mark the 17th year Medina’s urban forestry program has been a participant in the Tree City USA program of the National Arbor Day Foundation. The annual Tree City award honors Medina’s commitment to community forestry.

The Tree City USA Program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, and the USDA Forest Service. Tree City USA is awarded annually to those communities who qualify and is a national designation.

Medina’s Municipal Tree Ordinance and Arbor Day Celebration have been a model for several other communities looking to establish a board and planting program. Medina receives many inquiries for assistance and advice every year from municipalities across the state.

“In recent years, approximately 40 to 50 trees are inspected and recommended for removal. Each year we replace approximately the same number of trees in the community,” Busch said. “We’re keeping pace, but there is much more work to be done throughout the village.”

Busch continued, “We owe an enormous debt of gratitude to Jason Watts, DPW Superintendent and his expert tree crew. They do it all with a high degree of professionalism and care– plant, prune, maintain and remove. They genuinely care about our village trees and we’re incredibly lucky to have them.”

The village maintains a policy of diversity in its urban forest plantings. Species to be planted this year include Honey Locust, Zelkova, Katsura, Crab apple, American Hornbeam, Serviceberry, and varieties of Maple.

(Left) Tilia mongolica “Harvest Gold” linden is of the many varieties being planted in Medina this Arbor Day. 40’ x 30’ at maturity, this tree’s name is inspired by a mantle of bright golden yellow leaves in autumn. (Right) The familiar Arbor Day signs in Medina mark the sites where the celebration will be observed.

Boxwood Cemetery trees will employ an entirely different focus and method of planting.

“Boxwood Cemetery is 175 years old and presents several difficult challenges for maintaining, removing and planting trees,” said Busch. “The old section on the hill in particular is a challenge on many levels. Most of the trees are very old. They were planted when the cemetery was new and space was still available. Now, those trees are at the end of their lives, are quite large, and are situated among numerous old graves and monuments. Their removal requires a great deal of care and specialized skill.”

“Many trees have been removed with more on the list to go, so we had to devise a workable, minimally intrusive plan to install trees for erosion control and soil stability,” said Busch. “After much research and deliberation, we’ve decided to utilize hardwood seedlings and grow tubes. This will allow us to reforest these difficult sections in a way that will result in an appropriate tree placed exactly where we want it in a minimally invasive manner. And, it’s relatively inexpensive by comparison.”

Busch explains the seedlings to be used were sourced from a hardwood nursery in Wisconsin and reflect many of the original species used in the historic cemetery. Further, the grow tubes will not only protect the trees from harsh conditions and deer browse, but will also greatly accelerate the growth, up to 4-5x.

Species include Shagbark hickory, Sugar maple, Red oak, and White oak, all species currently in the historic landmark cemetery.

“For this application, we believe it’s a good solution.”

Mary Lewis emphasized that while the village makes great progress each year, there is still much more work to be done throughout the village and Boxwood. With increasing costs and limited funding, the task is daunting, but they’ll rise to meet the challenge.

“Municipal budgets are tight and getting tighter. The cost of trees from growers has seen double-digit percentage increases in the last nine years and that’s a huge challenge,” said Lewis. “Each year we remove 40+ trees that are dead, dying and hazardous. The good news is we replace those trees with new, more beneficial and desirable cultivars. It’s an investment worth making.”

Busch states that the science of street trees and urban forestry has progressed and developed tremendously in the last 40 years with a greater understanding of new cultivars developed specifically for urban use.

“At the turn of the nineteenth century when most of our village forest was planted, there was little choice for a street tree– elms and oaks were the more expensive option, and Silver maple was the cheaper option,” Busch explained. Municipalities were interested in large, fast-growing trees that created beautiful tree-lined streets. They had little knowledge of any unintended consequences and infrastructure was different.”

Busch further explained that despite looking very nice, those trees caused big problems.

“One hundred years later, these Silver maples are massive at nearly 70-plus feet and create numerous issues with infrastructure, safety and utilities. Today, thanks to extensive research and purpose-driven breeding, there are literally hundreds of cultivars in every shape and size for use in a variety of urban conditions. We take into consideration the limitations and conditions on every site, and select the right tree for the right spot. This insures a much healthier and desirable village forest.”

Lewis states, “Thankfully, the village has been consistently supportive of our efforts to reforest the village utilizing new urban forestry knowledge, and we’re grateful for it. Additional critical funds have come from an extremely generous community in donating money for trees, both as memorials and general plantings. People in Medina have really embraced our efforts and see the importance of trees in the village. They truly enjoy the aesthetic impact they have on our streets and neighborhoods.”

Lewis went on, “We’re incredibly grateful for the on-going financial support we receive through ReLeaf Medina. Without the generosity of the community, citizens and businesses, we wouldn’t be able to do it. It really does take an entire community to accomplish what we do.”

According to Lewis, tax-deductible donations can be made anytime for general tree planting, memorial trees or for “trees on your street”. Additional information can be obtained at the Village Clerk’s Office or by downloading the ReLeaf brochure online at villagemedina.org, or by contacting Lewis at mlewis.villagemedina@gmail.com.

“Financial support in the form of gifts and donations from the public and businesses are critical,” said Lewis. “We’re so appreciative of the support which is vital for the future. We encourage citizens to continue their support and urge corporations to consider becoming an annual corporate sponsor. Our tree-lined streets are definitely a contributing factor in people’s decision to locate their family or business in Medina and their donations play a huge role in making our efforts possible.”

Provided photo: Thom Jennings, left, and Jack Burris share their thoughts in a weekly podcast, “What to Do with Your Old Explicit Content.”

Two people who say they are unlikely friends, Thom Jennings and Jack Burris, have joined in a podcast where they share their wisdom and wit in touching on a range of topics, from saying goodbye to a beloved family dog to dissecting the intricacies of love and betrayal in romantic relationships.

Jennings and Burris team in a podcast they call “What to Do with Your Old Explicit Content.” It is available on Caronia Media Podcast Network.

Jennings, a former Albion resident who now lives in Oakfield, is a special education teacher in Buffalo and music writer. He was inducted into the Niagara Falls Music Hall of Fame Class in 2023.

Burris owns Burris Cleaning and is the founder of the Hands 4 Hope Street Ministry.

Jennings said his perspective is molded by the school of hard knocks while Burris brings a deeply introspective and religious soul.

“We may not have all the answers, but we know how to spin a yarn and share a chuckle,” Jennings said. “Join us on this journey as we tackle life’s conundrums with a twinkle in our eyes and a touch of irreverence.”

Each week, the two share their unique perspectives on life’s challenges, accompanied by stories from their own lives. Listeners can expect an engaging blend of wisdom, humor, and storytelling that promises to entertain and enlighten.

“What to Do with Your Old Explicit Content” is now available for streaming on the Caronia Media Podcast Network and is available on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and Spotify.

Dawn Gardner took this photo of lenticular cloud over Lake Ontario in Kendall on Friday. Lenticular clouds are stationary lens-shaped clouds that form in the troposphere, normally in perpendicular alignment to the wind direction.

It’s going to be spring-like weather this week with high temperatures generally around 50 degrees.

Today there will be some scattered showers before 11 a.m. and the partly sunny with a high near 48, the National Weather Service in Buffalo said.

Then the highs will be 51 and mostly sunny on Sunday, 51 and sunny on Monday, 63 with a chance of showers on Tuesday, 49 and mostly cloudy on Wednesday, and 48 and mostly sunny on Thursday.

Michael G. Poole

TOWN OF ALABAMA – A Lockport woman has been charged with second-degree murder of an Olcott man whose body was discovered on March 19 in the Town of Alabama in Genesee County.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office announced tonight that Kathryn A. Henry, aka “Kat”, 33 has been charged with second-degree for her alleged involvement in the death of Michael G. Poole of Olcott. Poole was 59.

The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office said Henry conspired with another person, intentionally causing the death of Poole and then took subsequent steps to conceal his body.

Henry is also charged with assault in the 1^st degree, concealment of a human corpse, hindering a prosecution in the 1^st degree, tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy in 2^nd degree, and conspiracy in 4^th degree.

Henry was arraigned and remanded to the custody of the Genesee County Jail where she is being held without bail.

Charges are expected to be forthcoming for another involved person, who is in custody on another matter, the Sheriff’s Office said.

The investigation is continuing.

Orleans County Sheriff Chris Bourke said there will be an increased focus this weekend on impaired driving in Orleans County.

“The ‘4/20’ marijuana culture celebration is a deadly period for impaired driving,” Bourke said. “In a combined effort to bring awareness to the dangers of impaired driving, prevent injuries and save lives, law enforcement officers across New York State and STOP-DWI programs will be participating in special engagement efforts.”

The 4/20 STOP-DWI Impaired Driving High Visibility Engagement Campaign runs from today through Sunday.

Press Release, Orleans County Emergency Management

ALBION – The next meeting of the Orleans County Local Emergency Planning Committee will be held on Thursday May 16 at 1 p.m. at the Hoag Library, 134 S Main St. The meeting is open to the public.

The LEPC is charged with developing a Hazardous Materials Response Plan and providing information about potentially hazardous chemicals that may be stored in our community. As part of their role, the LEPC reviews this plan, and the Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan, annually and makes updates as needed

 The LEPC is comprised of:

• Elected state, local, and tribal officials
• Police, fire, civil defense, and public health professionals
• Environment, transportation, and hospital officials
• Facility representatives
• Representatives from community groups and the media

For more information on the meeting, please contact Orleans County Emergency Management at (585) 589-4414.

Press Release, Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office

Governor Kathy Hochul today directed flags to half-staff for fallen Syracuse law enforcement officers. Flags will be lowered from sunrise on Saturday to sunset on Monday for Onondaga Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Michael Hoosock and Syracuse Police Officer Michael Jensen, who were killed in the line of duty last Sunday evening.

“Our law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe and it is a tragedy when they are taken from us too soon while in the line of duty,” Governor Hochul said. “Lieutenant Hoosock and Officer Jensen were two of our best and my thoughts are with their loved ones as we grieve with them.”

Lieutenant Michael Hoosock was a public servant for Onondaga County for more than 20 years, and he served as a volunteer firefighter with the Moyers Corner Fire Department. He leaves behind his wife, three children and countless other loved ones.

Officer Michael Jensen joined the Syracuse Police Department in February 2022 and earned its Officer of the Month award in December 2023. He leaves behind his parents and siblings among other loved ones.

Funeral services for Officer Jensen will take place on Saturday. Services for Lieutenant Hoosock will take place on Monday.

Press Release, Orleans County Conservative Party

File photo: Mario Fratto speaks in Orleans County in August 2022 during a “Back the Blue” rally in Murray.

ALBION – The Orleans County Conservative Party on Thursday met to interview Congressional candidate for NY-24, Mario Fratto and unanimously endorsed him over Claudia Tenney.

“Mario Fratto is a grassroots conservative Republican with the values that made this country the greatest country on earth: Hard work, a man’s word is his bond, a belief and understanding of the US Constitution, 100% Pro-Life,” said Paul Lauricella, the Orleans County Conservative Party chairman. “He supports constitutional carry, and term limits.”

Lauricella urges Conservatives to back Fratto in the June 25 Primary.

Fratto runs his family’s granite construction business. He notes his family has lived in the 24^th Congressional District for five generations.

“I am truly honored to earn this endorsement,” Fratto said. “We will continue to work hard to spread our message throughout the district, and we hope Claudia Tenney will show the voters enough respect to participate in a debate before election day!”

Provided photo: Brooke Wells of Lyndonville, a student at Niagara County Community College, is recognized with SUNY’s highest honor for Academic Excellence by John B. King Jr. (left), chancellor; and William Murabito, president of NCCC.

LYNDONVILLE – A local resident has received the State University of New York’s highest honor for academic excellence.

Brooke Wells, daughter-in-law of Jim and Valerie Wells of Lyndonville and a nursing student at Niagara County Community College, was recognized April 11 for her outstanding traits of leadership, campus involvement and community service.

Brooke will complete her registered nurse degree at NCCC in May. While a student in the rigorous registered nurse program, she has served as vice president of the Student Nurses’ Association. She also organized collection drives for Niagara Falls Gospel Mission, Caroline House, Oishei Children’s Hospital and Niagara County Sheriff’s office’s domestic violence unit. In addition, she has facilitated guest speakers and fundraisers with bake sales at the college.

“This was such a wonderful surprise,” Valerie said.

Dr. Julie Woodworth, professor of nursing at NCCC, said, “Brooke has dedicated many hours to her studies in pursuit of her RN degree. She has exemplified the traits of compassion, clinical judgement and empathy in her clinical practice. In addition, she has immersed herself in the NCCC community and has organized those activities and dedicated her time the community. Brooke’s recognition with the SUNY Academic Excellence honor is well deserved.”

Outside of school, Brooke completed an internship program, getting real life experience in healthcare. As a result, she received an EXCEL Certificate of Excellence award from Rochester Regional Health.

After graduating from NCCC, Brooke will be entering the Nursing Residency Program at Strong Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department.