Orleans facing three straight days with highs topping 90 degrees

Photo by Marsha Rivers: A tugboat is tied up along the Erie Canal in Albion on Friday evening.

A heat advisory starts today at noon and continues through 6 p.m. on Tuesday for Orleans County and all of Western New York.

In Orleans County, the high temperature today is forecast for 87, followed by three days in the 90s – with 91 on Sunday, 93 on Monday and 91 on Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service in Buffalo.

Heat index values in the upper 90s are expected, with the highest heat index values expected Monday, the Weather Service said.

“Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat-related illnesses to occur,” the Weather Service said. “Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors.”

On Wednesday the high is forecast for 81, followed by 81 on Thursday and 84 on Friday.

Photos by Natalie Baron: The Dave Viterna Group jams out at the State Street Park Pavilion on Thursday. Concert series performances run from 6 to 8 p.m.

By Natalie Baron, Orleans Hub intern

Dave Viterna is the lead singer and guitarist for the group. He sings and plays classic rock songs.

MEDINA – The summer concert series, Blue Thursdays, kicked off its first performance of 2025 on Thursday with The Dave Viterna Group providing a strong opening for the event.

The Dave Viterna Group is a local favorite, a blues and classic rock band that plays all over Western New York. The band members are Medina natives. The group includes lead singer and guitarist Dave Viterna, Marty Hobbs on bass guitar and “Scooter” Felice as drums.

Audience members travel from all over the Buffalo/Niagara area to listen to these bands perform. Hundreds of people attend each week. Darlene from Pembroke described what she likes most about the concert series. She said it’s “Just a nice evening out with good music!”

Pat from Medina reminisced on attending high school with the band’s lead singer. “I knew Dave Viterna when he was 17. It’s good to see him.” He added that Jony James is performing next week, on June 26. “He played at my birthday party when I turned 60!”

There is no admission charge for the concerts, which typically draw 600 to 800 people at State Street Park.

The Print Shop is underwriting the event, pairing with the ORG/Orleans Renaissance Group, Inc./medinaalive.com for booking and coordination.

Marty Hobbs plays bass guitar. The Dave Viterna Group is the first in the concert series lineup. The evening was filled with sound and energy.

A sizable crowd gathers at State Street Park. The Medina summer concert series attracts hundreds of audience members from all around Western New York.

The rest of the 2025 lineup features the following bands:

• June 26 – Jony James, a Buffalo-born, Chicago raised guitarist, songwriter & recording artist, who is often compared to Stevie Ray Vaughn and a true Buffalo icon!

• July 3 – Growlers Blues Band, one of the top bands in Buffalo, awarded “best traditional blues band.”

• July 10 – Grosh, featuring the phenomenal award-winning guitarist, songwriter & recording artist, Grace Lougen.

• July 17 – Pat Harrington Trio, featuring Pat Harrington, lead guitarist with Grammy Nominated and Multi-Blues Music Award winning band Victor Wainwright & The Train.

• July 24 – High Horse, recording artists and legendary classic rock/blues from Buffalo.

• July 31 – Rusty Fisher Band – high energy blues with a dose of Jimi from legendary guitarist Rusty Fisher.

• August 7 – The Thurman Brothers Band from Niagara Falls, presenting “an evening with” featuring the timeless music of the Allman Brothers.

All performances this year will be enhanced by professional sound by Sal Licata of Sound Factor.

Vendors and beverage providers at the concert series include Dubby’s Wood Fired Pizza, Greenlief’s On The Go, Oakley’s Ice Cream, Stone Hollow Bakery, NOLA Concessions, Blue Groove Coffee, Northridge Distillery and Schulze Vineyard & Winery.

Luddy’s in Albion has array of tools and equipment for all kinds of jobs

Photos by Ginny Kropf: Employees of John Ludwick’s new equipment rental business stand in front of a skid steer and an excavator. From left are Bob Stilwell, Ludwick’s children Ava and Jack, Peter Sidari (in back) and Peter Pilon. The business is located at 419 West State St., Albion.

ALBION – Opening his own rental business is something John Ludwick has wanted to do for years. After much planning and assembling what could be called his “dream team,” Luddy’s Commercial/Residential Equipment Rental is a family affair, open for business at 419 West State St., Albion.

The Ludwick family, John and is wife Danielle, are not new to business, having owned Ludwick Paving and Concrete, which laid the groundwork for what has become Ludwick Constructors.

The couple started out 28 years ago with a used dump truck, several good friends and great family support. Over the years and many long days and nights, Ludwick Constructors has become a well-respected construction company that offers construction and maintenance services in the commercial, industrial and retail industries, according to Bob Stilwell, a cousin and director of marketing and sales for Luddy’s.

John Ludwick stands next to a selection of Stihl concrete saws, available to rent from his new business.

John’s skills and knowledge of the construction field made him realize the need to have an outlet for renting the very equipment he uses day to day. With his son Jack’s design for the company logo, John’s idea went from a concept to an actual brick and mortar store at 419 West State St.

Jack has worked for Ludwick Constructors since 2022 and has been working side by side with his father and other employees in the field. With the opening of Luddy’s Equipment Rental, Jack has been leading day-to-day logistics at the new business.

John and Danielle’s daughter Ava, who is completing her junior year in high school, will be running the front counter while attending school.

Jack Ludwick demonstrates a powered wheelbarrow at his father’s new equipment rental business.

Danielle works full time for the New York State Department of Corrections, but in her spare time will contribute her administration skills and work with Ava on bookkeeping.

It is truly a family operation, Stilwell said.

Peter Pilon has joined the business as retail manager. Many will recognize him from his years as co-owner of Dale’s Market and more recently as store manager at Ace Hardware. He brings 45 years of retail management experience to Luddy’s.

Also part of the new team is Peter Sidari, distribution and materials associate. A long-time friend of the family, he has worked for Ludwick Constructors part time since his retirement from the North Greece Fire District as a fire and life safety educator. Prior to that he had 22 years with the New York State Department of Transportation.

“Pete was always on my list to call when I needed help over the years, whether it was a laborer or a truck driver,” John said.

John and Danielle Ludwick, left, are shown with their staff at the new business they recently opened at 419 West State St., Albion. Next to them are Bob Stilwell, general manager; Peter Pilon, retail manager; Peter Sidari, distribution and materials associate; and Ludwick’s children Ava, front receptionist, and Jack, day-to-day logistics.

In Bob Stilwell’s new position as general manager, he will be dealing with purchasing, communication, marketing and sales, as well as commercial account management. He has several years of graphic design, marketing and sales experience from his years at Hickey Freeman, Ludwick Constructors and most recently, Lake Country Media.

“Anyone who knows the Ludwick family understands their work ethic and dedication to family, friends and community,” Stilwell said. “Stop in and see what they have to offer, make some suggestions of what you would like to see or maybe just have a cup of coffee and chat while sitting at the counter.”

John has tried to gather together the tools that contractors need, as well as tools for the do-it-yourself homeowner. His residential inventory includes rug doctors, pressure washers, floor sanders, sewer snakes, pumps and generators. He also has concrete products and mixes, grouts and mason mixes.

Pictured in the main showroom are, from left, Peter Pilon, Bob Stilwell and owner John Ludwick.

In the heavier equipment, he has skid steers, excavators, stone compactors, transits, jack hammers, concrete saws and concrete boring machines. He also thought it would be smart to offer a retail center with diamond blades, specialty taps, mag floats and a concrete epoxy coating selection.

Other equipment includes a walk-behind concrete grinder, gas-powered wheelbarrow for concrete, hepa vacuum (for cleaning up concrete dust), cleaning solutions for power washers, concrete Stihl saws and more.

Their selection of hardware and fasteners is growing, and they carry several sizes of saw blades, safety gear and cleaning supplies.

If they don’t have what you need, they will do their best to get it for you.

One bay at their new location is dedicated to cleaning, inspecting and servicing rented equipment when it is returned, before it is put back into service.

“We deliver and run through operating procedures with our customers if they need it,” John said. “We will supply our knowledge in running whatever piece of equipment they rent. It’s going to be fun working with people I grew up with. We spent many, many nights talking about doing this. It was now, or we will never do it.”

Luddy’s is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. until noon on Saturday. For information, they can be reached at (585) 774-1924.

Bob Stilwell points out a jumping jack, used to compress stone.

Nolberto Martinez Maya says Harvard proved challenging, opened up world of friendships

Provided photos: Nolberto Martinez Maya graduated from Harvard University on May 27-29. Martinez, a 2021 Albion graduate, plans to work at a community health center in Boston for two years before going to med school. He would like to be a surgeon for his career.

ALBION – Nolberto Martinez Maya is back in Albion for a couple weeks after four rigorous years as a student at Harvard University. He earned his degree in molecular and cellular biology at that prestigious Ivy League university.

Martinez, 22, said it was a transforming four years for him, and not just because of the challenging courses. He made friends from people all over the world. He is more outgoing and he is eager to get into the medical field to help others.

Martinez starts a new job this summer at a community health center in the Boston area, working in low-income communities in east Boston and South Boston.

“I want to get some more experience and then apply to medical schools next year,” Martinez said during an interview last week at the Village House in Albion.

Martinez was a research intern at Massachusetts Eye and Ear Graphic the past 18 months. He juggled two other jobs at Harvard, and was involved in several clubs.

He started one a club that was inspired by an experience in Albion when one of his middle school teachers, Kim Toombs, had students make pillows and ponchos to support breast cancer patients. Martinez led Harvard students in making under-arm pillows that were distributed to cancer centers in the Boston area. Toombs sent fabric and her patterns to help Martinez with the program.

He also was president of a knitting club, and an officer for other organizations that promoted health advocacy and sexual education.

Nolberto Martinez Maya is shown at Harvard. He graduated from Albion in 2021, and also earned his associate’s degree at GCC before he finished high school.

Martinez said he went from being obsessed with his classwork the first year at Harvard, to finding a balance with academics while becoming involved in clubs and with his friends.

“I’m very proud of what I’ve done and how I did,” Martinez said.

Question: Would you say you were prepared by Albion to go to Harvard?

Answer: I would say in some aspects I was. Academically I had all of the tools I needed. When I got there it wasn’t that I didn’t have the knowledge or that Albion didn’t prepare me, I think the rigor itself of the college was different.

Just to give you an example, they offer the standard chemistry courses. It’s called Chem-17 and Chemistry 27. At most colleges they are called Chem 1 and Chem 2, and then you do BioChem 1 and BioChem 2. But at Harvard, Chem 17 is Chem 1 and Chem 2 together in one semester. BioChem 1 and BioChem 2 are together in the second semester, which is Chem 27. It’s four courses smashed into two semesters and you learn all of that content.

I wouldn’t say that I wasn’t prepared, but I would say it was a different level of rigor that I hadn’t experienced.

Question: Of the 1,900 in your class, did they all get through it in four years?

Answer: I remember looking at my sophomore and freshman year, I remember that number being just over 2,000. But they announced just over 1,900 graduated, so I would say maybe 100 to 200 were maybe pushed back a year.

However, I have a friend of mine she isn’t graduating this year but that’s because she took a year off to work in a lab. A lot of it is just situational. She has a 3.9 GPA. There was no reason for her to stay back a year, but she wanted to step out and work in a research lab and get that expereince because her hope is to one day get her PhD. I can’t say that everybody’s was an academic thing. It could have also been a personal thing. There are people who take a semester off to travel abroad.

Nolberto is shown with his family members, from left: brother Everado, brother Honorato Jr., father Honorato, Nolberto, mother Inocencia, and sister Lorena. Nolberto’s parents have worked for fruit farms trimming fruit trees and grafting them. Nolberto helped on the farms and he said grafting the trees shows biology in action.

Question: What was the hardest part about being at Harvard?

Answer: Being away from family. It was the hardest my freshman year. Every single break or long weekend I kind of looked forward to it – Thanksgiving, Christmas, even summer break when I came back for two-three weeks because I had to go back to do research and a summer program.

During those times at home I looked forward to hanging out with my family. The hardest transition was getting dropped off by my parents and siblings. They dropped me off in Cambridge and they didn’t stay multiple nights to just say goodbye. It was very interesting to be left in the city after one day.

Question: Did you get a sense if you were unusual being from a small town?

Answer: I would say leaning more towards yes. A majority of my friends were from big cities, like New York City itself, different cities in California, China, Vietnam, the UK. I have friends from Florida.

Question: What was that like, meeting people from all over the world?

Answer: It was eye-opening. It was very interesting to meet so many new people from different places, and learn some of their customs and see how they got along with their families. I would say I was very fortunate to have such a strong support system with my family, with my mom, dad and siblings. They always checked in on me, always made sure if I needed anything they would help me, even if it was just money for coffee.

But even through that I had two jobs myself.

Question: What were your jobs?

Answer: One of them was a web fulfillment associate, which is packing orders that were made through the online store for HAS, the Harvard Student Agencies. They sold Harvard merch. I would answer phone calls, answer emails and fill in orders.

My second one was Harvard Recreation. I was a front desk attendant. I was getting people towels, selling stuff that we sold.

I worked at each of them about 10-15 hours a week, on top of my clubs and my classes. At the height of my junior year, I was doing one of the jobs (I got the second job my senior year), was also the head of five to six clubs and doing my classes. It was a very tiring year.

I would leave my dorm about 8 or 9 a.m. and then not come back until about 11 p.m. That gave me time to wind down and go to bed, and wake up for the next day.

Nolberto Martinez Maya, left in second row, said he made friends from all over the world at Harvard.

Question: Did you ever feel the Imposter Syndrome, like “What am I doing here?”

Answer: Yes. Initially I met a lot of people, and one of them had a star named after him because he discovered one in high school. One of my friends she won a national piano competition. Others won writing competitions, were National Merit Scholars. Another was a very famous celloist since he was 8 years old. Others came from schools that prepared them very well.

I found that some people I met weren’t as scared or struggling as much as I kind of felt like I was. It was very scary to think I don’t know if I can make it.

Question: How did you work through that? Any advice for people?

Answer: I found my study group, my group that I stuck with for the remaining three years after my first year. I found my study group and I didn’t stop working on something until I handed it in.

I think it was me and how I got through my school here in Albion and did my associate’s as well. It was don’t finish your assignment until it’s done and it’s handed in. If it’s something you’re not sure about, go to office hours, talk to your professors and teachers, even other students. That is the other thing that Harvard fosters, they give you pretty difficult assignments, but the main goal of that assignment is to learn. But it’s not just to learn, it’s also to network, and figure this out together. We will get through this together.

I think they try to foster students reaching out and having those connections with other students to realize we’re in this together and we can get out of it together.

Question: When did you start to feel like you did belong there?

Answer: Honestly, at the end of my sophomore year. That was when I found a larger group. I realized I could get my assignments done, do well on them, still have time to hang out with my friends. I finally found that balance. Life doesn’t just have to be academics. Life can also be me going out and having fun. It wasn’t until I relaized I had a balance in academics and extracurriculars. It was a perfect triangle of me realizing I didn’t have to spend my day locked in my room trying to finish an assignment.

Question: How are you a different person now than you were four years ago?

Answer: I feel like I’m more well-rounded. I think I’ve learned to join conversations and be an active person and engage with other people. I think I was a very introverted person, just somebody who kept to himself and was closed off to people. At Harvard I realized saying “Hi” to people and reaching out to them, and establishing and maintaining connections became easier. I could meet somebody new and then maintain that connection.

I now feel comfortable talking to people from all walks of life, and then maintaining those connections.

Question: I should ask you about Harvard being in the news. Did that have an impact on you? Was it talked about much among the students?

Answer: It is talked about but I would say there is a disconnect between adminsitration and the students. I think adminsitration tries their best to not involve the students because of things that had happened previously. I think they try not to put students at the forefront.

The school does have students who are a little bit more high profile. I think in the interests of all students they try to make sure nobody is left out. To us it feels like they don’t want to engage with us, but I think it is their way to keep us maybe a half-step away from them.

Question: What else do you want to say, Nolberto? Can someone from Albion hang with the very best students?

Answer: Oh yes, definitely. I think it’s very do-able. I think the only thing that is ever needed is the want. If you want to do it, you can do it.

I met a lot of friends with similar socioeconomic backgrounds, similar cultural backgrounds and I realized we did different things and those made us stand out. I don’t think being from a small town should be something that scares somebody. If anything being able to go to a bigger city and meet new people is always fun. It’s always fun to realize what other people have done and I’ve come to find a lot of friends who genuinely want to do great things – as lawyers, people in finance, people who will do public health work. There is a wide range of people I have met.

Photos by Ginny Kropf: First-grade teacher Allison Woodburn and some of her students check out the food pantry at St. Peter’s Church during their visit on Wednesday. From left are Alex Moore, Xander Say, Caleb Martin, Emily Caraballo, Jason Wetherbee and Damien Swartwood.

MEDINA – The Food Pantry at St. Peter’s Church got a big boost on Wednesday with the annual visit of Angela Woodburn and Miss Gross with their first-grade class from Oak Orchard Primary School.

Eighteen students and their teachers and aide Lily Strickland walked from the school to St. Peter’s Church on West Avenue, wearing backpacks full of food items to donate to the food pantry.

It has become an annual tradition for the class to visit the food pantry, bringing food items and monetary donations for local residents in need.

The visit is part of the class’s community service project, called Kindness Counts, teacher Allison Woodburn said. As part of the project, students are encouraged during the school year to bring spare change from home to support a classroom initiative focused on helping others.

This year’s donation was a record-breaker for the class.

“We are thrilled to share that the students raised an incredible $336.50 for the food pantry, the highest total ever,” Woodburn said.

Diane Mazur, a volunteer at St. Peter’s food pantry, helps Azalya Elliott and Emily Caraballo select canned goods for a food basket.

 After the donation period ends, the students take part in meaningful lessons about money. They learn the names and values of coins, count the total amount collected and discuss how the funds can be used to make a positive impact in their community, the teacher said. Throughout the project, the class reflects daily on the quote, “In a world where you can be anything, be kind.”

“Our goal is to inspire students to lead with love and compassion in all they do,” Woodburn said.

Together, the class created a list of needs and wants for the pantry. Families were invited to meet Woodburn at Aldi’s on Friday afternoon to shop for the items. With the remaining funds, they purchased gift cards to Aldi’s, which will allow the pantry to continue meeting needs as they come up.

When the class at arrived at St. Peter’s on Wednesday morning, they were greeted by Diane Mazur and Denny Dubai. Head of the pantry, Robin Dubai, had a conflicting appointment and couldn’t be there, but Mazur, her sister, and Denny, her husband, filled in for her.

Diane Mazur, a volunteer at the Emergency Food Pantry at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, accepts a donation from Rylee Davis and her teacher Allison Woodburn. The first-grade class makes an annual visit in support of the food pantry.

At the pantry, the children presented Mazur with the gift cards, unloaded their backpacks, learned how to stack canned goods in the pantry and choose food for a family.

In return, Mazur and Dubai presented the children with bottles of bubbles and donuts to take back to school with them.

The students were Cyrus Bloom, Emily Caraballo, Cameron Cologgi, Rylee Davis, Azayla Elliott, Logan Foss, Quinten Mack, Caleb Martin, Tahlia Mendoza, Ryder Molina, Alex Moore, Xander Say, Magnolia Schroeder, Wrenyn Sheehan, Royal Spencer, Damien Swartwood, Jason Wetherbee and Ivy Wroblewski.

Robin commented the next day on the children’s visit, saying what a boost it gives the food pantry. She is very appreciative of the class and other grades who have done things for the pantry, including the Student Council at Wise Junior High School, who is donating peanut butter and jelly.

“That couldn’t come at a better time, as we just learned our supplier is out of peanut butter and jelly,” Robin said.

Robin said she also worries about the children whose families are struggling and wonders if they will have enough food during the summer.

Robin has been heading the food pantry for 30 years and always welcomes volunteers to help out.

Mrs. Woodburn’s first-grade class from Oak Orchard School unload the food items from their backpacks, which they donated to the food pantry.

Major Felony Crime Task Force and Tourism Department both cited by National Association of Counties

Press Release, Orleans County government

ALBION – Orleans County Legislature Chairman Lynne Johnson today announced that two Orleans County programs, the Orleans County Tourism Advertising campaign and the District Attorney’s Major Felony Crime Task Force, have been recognized with a 2025 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards honor innovative, effective county government programs that strengthen services for residents.

“As I have always said, Orleans County has very talented people doing amazing work on behalf of our residents and national awards like this show others outside our area recognize that as well,” said Johnson.  “Our Tourism Department and District Attorney’s Office are clearly second to none.”

Each year, NACo’s Achievement Awards recognize outstanding programming in 18 categories aligned with the vast, comprehensive services counties provide. The categories include children and youth, criminal justice and public safety, libraries, management, information technology, health, civic engagement and more.

Launched in 1970, the program is designed to celebrate innovation in county government. Each nominated program is judged on its own merits and not against other applications.

“The Achievement Awards shine a spotlight on the hard work and innovation happening in county governments across the nation,” said NACo President James Gore. “This year’s winners highlight the dedication and creativity of county leaders and our teams to building thriving communities and providing the best possible services to our residents.”

The Tourism Department was recognized for its 2024 advertising campaign that used significant in-house resources to develop marketing campaign across multiple platforms.

“Our Tourism Department, led by Dawn Borchert, may be small with two-full and two part-time employees, but we still produced creative and effective marketing campaigns that competed with large tourism organizations that have budgets to hire outside ad agencies,” said Johnson.  “Tourism is a major driver for our local economy and these marketing efforts are showing a demonstrable impact.”

The District Attorney’s Office was recognized for its Major Felony Crime Task Force, whose purpose is to combat the increasingly complex and destructive issues of drug abuse, trafficking, related violence and major felony crimes. The coordination of various law enforcement agencies within the county and outside of it, form a united front against this growing problem.

“We applaud District Attorney Susan Howard and all those involved in the Major Felony Crime Task Force for maximizing law enforcement resources to fight serious crime and keep our communities safe,” said Johnson.  “Not only has this been an effective tool in fighting drug crimes and related behaviors, it also is a great example of how coordination across multiple entities at the local level can produce significant results.”

The Tourism Department and District Attorney’s Office will be recognized for their NACo awards at this coming Tuesday’s meeting of the Orleans County Legislature.

Provided photos: Medina’s Canal Basin will host the Albany Symphony and other programs on July 2. The symphony will begin its concert at 8 p.m. with fireworks to follow.

MEDINA – The Village of Medina on July 2 will be hosting the Albany Symphony as part of a day-long celebration of the Erie Canal’s bicentennial, a day that will be capped with fireworks.

The New York Power Authority and NYS Canal Corp. have set five concerts from the symphony from July 2-6, events that will feature the debut of commissioned compositions.

Clarice Assad

At Medina, the symphony will perform outdoors in the Canal Basin beginning at 8 p.m., and play a composition by world-renowned, Brazilian American composer Clarice Assad. Her composition is on a “Sound Capture Journey,” as she began crafting a new orchestral work on the theme of the sound of nature and the environment and along the Erie Canal.

Assad visited Medina in March and she and others recorded sound snippets from around Orleans County, collecting personal stories about local connections to nature, the environment, and individual sense of place.

Assad’s composition will be performed by the Albany Symphony as the centerpiece of the “Water Music New York: More Voices Festival” on July 2. The free day-long event commemorates the bicentennial of the Erie Canal and celebrates the waters that connect everyone through local food, arts, music and outdoor fun.

The festival promises a special appearance by Orly the Ox, the Orleans County Bicentennial mascot, and concludes with a fireworks show. There will be yoga, face painting, wildlife displays, artisans, a history talk about the Medina Sandstone and the Erie Canal, performances by the popular local bands, and other activities.

The concert series continues July 3 in Utica, July 4 in Seneca Falls, July 5 in Fort Plain and July 6 in Schuylerville. M & T Bank is a sponsor of the events.

“As we reflect on 200 years of the Erie Canal and contemplate its next century of use, we’re focusing on revitalization, recreation, arts and culture,” said Canal Corporation Director Brian Stratton. “This partnership with the Albany Symphony Orchestra embodies all those themes by bringing people together at Canalside communities for free and inclusive concerts that celebrate the unique aspects of the communities where they are taking place.”

 The themes for the original compositions include environmental justice on July 2, immigrant communities on July 3, women’s rights on July 4, Indigenous stories on July 5, and Black experience on July 6.

“As the Erie Canal nears its third century of operation, we are so excited to embark on a grand new adventure with our wonderful partners at the New York State Canal Corporation,” said Albany Symphony MusicDirector David Alan Miller. “In anticipation of the Erie Canal’s momentous bicentennial season, we have engaged five brilliant composers who have immersed themselves in five gorgeous canalside communities and have created visionary new works for our orchestra and community collaborators exploring the vibrant history and culture of our great state.

“We cannot wait to celebrate with thousands of residents and visitors at free daylong festivals that include delicious food, fun outdoor activities, historical explorations, and family-friendly arts, culminating in fabulous orchestra concerts featuring these dazzling new works. It is our hope that our music will spark dialogue, expand perspectives, and inspire everyone to experience and cherish the beautiful canal system that flows through our state and is so much a part of New York State’s past, present and future.”

Click here for more information on the Water Music NY: More Voices Festival.

Photos courtesy of Medina Lions Club: from left include new Medina Lions Club president Mark Irwin, Melvin Jones Award recipient Carol Bellack, and Jason Cogovan, the Lion of the Year.

Press Release, Medina Lions Club

MEDINA – The Medina Lions Club recently celebrated the end of the 2024-2025 program year with a fantastic turnout at the Junior Wilson Sportsman’s Club. The evening was filled with joy and excitement, as we gathered to honor many of our esteemed members.

Pete Kaiser installed the 2025-2026 board members, ensuring a smooth transition of leadership. The president for the upcoming year is Mark Irwin, who is taking the reins of the club for the second time, a testament to his proven leadership and commitment.

Carol Bellack, a true pillar of our club, was awarded the prestigious Melvin Jones Award, the highest honor a Lion can receive. Her dedication to managing our poinsettia sales and her seven-year tenure as the Club secretary are truly remarkable. She is an inspiration to us all.

Jason Cogovan was honored by outgoing president Thomas Robinson as the Lion of the Year. Jason is genuinely committed to the Medina Lions and assists in various areas, including the Medina Medical Loan Closet, Medina Lions Park cleanup, and the community yard sale, among others.

Our outgoing president, Thomas Robinson, concluded the evening by presenting the Lions Club scholarships to Josephine Pollock and Sofia Gagliard.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Thomas for his leadership and look forward to his continued support as a valuable resource to the Lions! GRRR!

Thomas Robinson, the club’s outgoing president, presents scholarships to Josephine Pollock and Sofia Gagliard.

‘This hurts a lot of people, and overall the economy. Because you have a bunch of people going home without a job, homeless and about to be not beneficial to society or themselves.’ – Unique Weeks

Photos by Tom Rivers: These Job Corps students include from left: Sienna Jack of Rochester, Unique Weeks of Bronx and Austin Show of New Hampshire and later Holley.

SHELBY – On May 29, the federal Department of Labor made an announcement that has threatened 99 Job Corps centers around the country, including the one in Orleans County in Shelby.

The DOL put those centers on “pause,” effectively shutting them down, claiming the centers were not successful – graduation rates were too low and incidents of violence too high.

DOL Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer announced the 99 Job Corps would be suspended by the end of June. She said the centers haven’t been fulfilling their mission.

The DOL said the graduation rate nationwide at the centers is at 38.6 percent, with the average cost per student a year at $80,284. The average cost per graduate is $155,600, according to the DOL.

The National Job Corps Association countered that the DOL skewed the data, using information from 2023 when centers were still impacted by Covid restrictions.

Job Corps is currently operating at about half of its capacity because the DOL hasn’t allowed centers to do their own background checks on students. Since the DOL took over that duty in March, students haven’t been admitted.

The Job Corps graduation is historically closer to 60 percent, not the 38.6 percent from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024, the association said. Job Corps said that prior to Covid restrictions in 2020, the average cost per Job Corps graduate was $57,312.

Three Iroquois Job Corps students and two of the center’s leaders spoke with the Orleans Hub recently.

Unique Weeks, 24, is from the Bronx. He recently completed the carpentry program and was planning to do the advanced training program at the Grafton Job Corps in Massachusetts. His younger brother also just started in Job Corps.

Weeks said he will try to find employment as a carpenter now that the advanced training program has been put in limbo.

He was working a “dead-end job” at a 7-11. He arrived at the Iroquois center on a cold day in Feb. 21, 2024. It was snowing.

Weeks learned to appreciate the setting of the Iroquois Job Corps in a wildlife refuge.

“It’s peaceful, it’s quiet,” he said. “It’s very therapeutic for city kids.”

Austin Shaw, 21, has been in the electrical program at Job Corps the past year. The New Hampshire native was living in Holley when he rode his bike to the center for a tour. He has embraced the program, on a path to a career after being homeless and making money stealing copper. He was slated for the advanced training program in Westover, Mass.

Shaw said he is grateful for all the training at Job Corps, which was at no charge to him. The students have access to power tools and other equipment, under the watchful eye of committed instructors.

“This place gave me discipline,” he said. “I was nervous and my life was chaotic. I was homeless and a copper thief.”

He said he will go back to New Hampshire and try to find a job or perhaps join the Navy. “I don’t really know,” he said.

He said the center is safe with very few fights. The incidents cited in the media and the DOL report “make it out to be way worse than it actually is.”

Sienna Jack, 19, of Rochester has been at the Job Corps for four months in the painting program. She said she will return to live with her family.

She said the Job Corps program has a 60-year track record of success.

“This is a free program that’s been around a long, long time,” she said.

Eric Seppala, left, is the center director of the Iroquois Job Corps in Shelby and JT Thomas is the director of operations.

Eric Seppala is director of the Iroquois center. He started as the security manager. He said the center has to “over report” incidents, including fender benders and damaged Chromebooks.

Job Corps has a “zero tolerance” policy for violence. Any incidents and the student misbehaving is out of the program.

The center was scrambling in early June to help students earn as many credentials as possible. Many won’t be able to fully complete their training program, based on the DOL order, but Seppala said they can still earn credentials such as being a flagger at a work or construction site, operating a fork lift, knowing customer relations, and other skills including OSHA credits.

Many students also are working towards earning their high school diplomas.

A lawsuit has paused the Job Corps directive from the DOL until June 25. The DOL ordered the 99 centers to close by June 30. The directive told the centers to send all students home by June 6. Although the lawsuit “paused” that order, Iroquois leaders said many students had already gone home by June 6.

The local Job Corps set up a “transition team” to help students get their paperwork in order, create resumes for job searches, and also to connect many with their Department of Social Services in their home counties. Many of the students were homeless before enrolling in Job Corps.

“We’re trying to give them every tool they need,” said JT Thomas, the director of operations and a 17-year employee at the Job Corps.

Thomas started at the Job Corps as a teacher, helping students with reading and to earn their high school diplomas. He was the academic manager before the operations director.

The following question and answer interview was conducted at the Iroquois Center on June 4:

Question: If you were the reporter what would you be asking about the Job Corps program?

Austin Shaw: I would be asking why are we really closing? What benefit does it provide to close all of this? Because we are giving people, who otherwise have little or no opportunities – people like me who were thriving off of copper theft or people that were in very bad home environments – a free opportunity.

We’re always being told to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, make something of yourself. Well, we came here to do that. Now look what just happened. People can’t do that anymore. And that is the real question. What benefit is there to closing this? Would you rather your tax dollars go somewhere else?

Unique Weeks: I think it will become like the college situation. It was free and now it’s not. People won’t be doing it because they won’t be able to afford it. There are plenty of trade schools that can do it already, but they are somewhat unattainable or they require a certain amount of years done. This one (Job Corps) you can come without your high school and still get a trade done and get your education.

Maybe they don’t want to give that to people for free. Maybe they want people to pay for it. But they are endangering society by that because they are taking away people’s livelihoods and the opportunities to get jobs. There may be more jobs but there is not a lot of people who can take them because they refuse to train them and there are few schools that do this inside of a school.

In 2024, there were more people going into trade schools than any other. This generation, they are calling us the blue-collar generation right now. This hurts a lot of people, and overall the economy. Because you have a bunch of people going home without a job, homeless and about to be not beneficial to society or themselves.

Austin Shaw: They’re back to where they were at the start. Even the wealthy states, and I’m from a wealthy state in New Hampshire, there is that underbelly of people who can’t get out of that. The average trade school there is like $3,000 to $4,000. That’s a substantial amount of money.

Sienna Jack: My biggest comment would be you’re taking away opportunities for people, especially the underprivileged people of color, the young students. You have to look at the homeless population and where do those kids go.

Question: JT, what have you enjoyed about your career here?

JT Thomas: The success of the students. The students come in with pretty much nothing. They tell you their stories. When I was their high school instructor, one of their projects was to write a story about themselves. The obstacles they had to overcome just to get to the center is impressive. My first speech to them is, ‘You guys inspire us to do our jobs.’ They inspire us. They are overcoming everything. They may say Job Corps does it for them, but Job Corps is just an avenue for them to do what they can do. We’re just there to support them. It’s the students that do it.

When they say only 38 or 40 percent graduate, these are kids who are coming from being homeless and from the streets. If you have 10 students come here, and 4 or 5 students get a job making more than I do, and people don’t see that as a success? All these other students would be on the streets still  or on social programs. People would be paying for them. They would either be in jail, homeless or living off of local or state programs.

It’s the students that we are here for.

‘The students come in with pretty much nothing. They are overcoming everything. They may say Job Corps does it for them, but Job Corps is just an avenue for them to do what they can do. We’re just there to support them. It’s the students that do it.’ – JT Thomas

Question: Eric you’ve been here for how long?

Eric Seppala: It’s about 6 ½ years. Before that I worked in a store and before that I had 22 years as a Genesee County deputy sheriff, and as a night supervisor and afternoon supervisor.

Question: Why Job Corps for you?

Eric Seppala: I was familiar with the program. Years ago they had us as law enforcement come out and we’d be here on pay days for students because they were paying them in cash. They would have one of us out here. We would escort the guy who was getting a considerable amount of cash and bring it back for all the students.

I knew what the program was and it’s close to home. When I had a chance to really look into it, I was really interested. It’s the way it changes peoples’ lives, the students. We’ve had them come from literally living under a bridge for four years and they come here and are as rough and as awful as you can be and by the time they leave a year later, they are walking out and they’re stepping into a job making $25 an hour as an apprentice.

Two years later you hear about them getting their journeymen’s papers and they’re making $40 an hour and they’re doing fantastic. Now it’s not every student but our students do do that. Our students leave here and they’re able to go to work and provide a better living for themselves and their family. That’s what this whole program is about.

Question: How did you tell them the news, that the government was viewing this as a failing program?

Eric Seppala: What they did is they played with the numbers. They pulled one year that was a bad year. They talked about there being 500 sexual assaults in one year. Well there’s 125 Job Corps sites, so that’s maybe 4 per center. We don’t have that many. We have very few.

You compare these numbers to where these kids come from and it’s so much safer.

That Transparency Report (from Department of Labor) was a bunch of garbage. The numbers in there were skewed. They did whatever they could to make it look worse.

A significant incident here, if someone knocks over a $5 plastic dispenser for napkins in the dining hall, that is a significant incident because it is government property and we have to report it.

JT Thomas: An adult student who is 18 or 19 they can leave the program, but if they leave without putting a pass in, that is an unauthorized exit and a significant incident report.

Question: Why do you think they (DOL) presented the report like they did? Are they against Job Corps?

Eric Seppala: If you look at the whole thing, with first of all them pausing the students from coming in. They stopped the background checks. They stopped them from coming in, and then the next thing that happened is this Transparency Report. Then the next week there are articles about how bad the Job Corps is.

They shut off our students. Then with every student we lose the cost-per-student goes up because we have the same staff in place.

Question: If Job Corps can continue through a court injunction or by Congress, how hard will it be to restart this program and bring students back?

JT Thomas: Every student going home is filling out a needs report. We’re getting all their contact information. If there is a restart, we have told them we will call them back. We will do that if we are given the opportunity.

Eric Seppala: Unless they get rid of the ban on the background checks, it wouldn’t matter. We would have students for up to a year but there wouldn’t be new students coming.

Question: Do you know how many graduates each year for all the Job Corps?

Eric Seppala: When we’re running almost full our numbers are close to 35,000 to 40,000.

JT Thomas:  Since the inception of Job Corps, there have been over 3 million graduates.

Question: This center would normally graduate how many?

JT Thomas: It depends on our on-board strength because they have been taking some things away. Last year we had about 150 to 160 on the list of students who graduated or who were graduating. It varies with that. We’ve had 200 to 300.

Question: Would you do two graduations a year?

JT Thomas: We used to but we haven’t since Covid.

Eric Seppala: It’s one and it’s in August. It’s open for students who graduated during that previous year and ones who are on center and who are going to. Last year we had 48 or 50 who walked in it. Once they leave here, I understand it’s hard for them to come back especially for our New York City students but they are welcome to come.

Question: Do you know how many Orleans County students you have?

JT Thomas: That varies. We have room for non-residential students. We have about 8 to 10.

Question: And those would be Orleans and Genesee?

JT Thomas: We have Niagara too.

Question: Where do most of the students come from?

Eric Seppala: Rochester is probably our biggest area. The way it’s broken down is Cassadaga (in Chautauqua County) they’ve been given Buffalo. Ours starts in Niagara County. So we have Niagara County, Orleans, Genesee and we go east to Wayne County. We also get students from New Jersey and New York City. We have partners that we work with that are recruiting down in New York City and New Jersey who are coming here for our trades. They try to connect them to a Job Corps with those trades.

Question: Do you feel like this is the end for Job Corps or it will work out?

Eric Seppala: We’re fighting for it.

JT Thomas: I’m optimistic. Schumer has been a supporter. Gillibrand has been a supporter. Tenney has been a supporter. All of our people have been supportive. Our community is supportive.

For our Congress, we just hope they continue the support.

Question: It must have been difficult to see that report, for how Job Corps was presented?

Eric Seppala: I was reading it and after the second paragraph I could tell it was lies and manipulation. The National Job Corps Association has put out a rebuttal to it.

They are trying not to be political because this is a program for everybody. It’s not a Democratic program or a Republican program. We want everybody to support it because it’s a great program.