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Tobacco-Free GOW awarded $1.8 million grant over 5 years to reduce tobacco use in 3 counties
Press Release, Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Program
BATAVIA – For the last 10 years, the Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Program (Tobacco-Free GOW) has worked with community leaders and youth champions to help reduce tobacco use in all three counties.
A new five-year New York State Advancing Tobacco-Free Communities grant for $1.8 million will build on the previous tobacco control and prevention work conducted by Tobacco-Free GOW. The contract from the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control is one of three contracts awarded to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and will be administered under the direction of Maansi Bansal-Travers, PhD.
The Roswell Park tobacco-free programs support efforts to locally educate community stakeholders and youth in changing norms that lead to ending tobacco use among adults and children. Tobacco-Free GOW will continue to be operated by Community Engagement Coordinator Julie Calvert and Reality Check Youth Engagement Coordinator Brittany Bozzer.
“With their extensive contacts and experience in tobacco control, Julie and Brittany will be local leaders as we strive to create healthier communities in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties,” said Program Director Dr. Maansi Bansal-Travers.
“I’m excited to continue my work in tobacco control for another five years and look forward to engaging local community leaders and the public to strengthen tobacco-related policies that prevent and reduce tobacco use,” said Calvert.
Bozzer added, “I have been so privileged to be involved with the many successes that the tobacco control program has had over the last eight years. My role in youth engagement helps me focus on creating a tobacco-free generation, a goal that will help save lives.”
Andrew Hyland, PhD, Chair of the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center added, “Roswell Park has a long history of leading national and regional tobacco control efforts. These contracts provide an opportunity to continue those efforts in an efficient way that employs local leaders as they strive to prevent youth smoking and create tobacco-free communities throughout Western New York.”
The primary goals of the tobacco control program are to:
- Reduce the impact of retail tobacco marketing on youth by educating communities about the manipulative marketing tactics of the tobacco industry.
- Establish tobacco-free community norms through clean outdoor air policies by working with communities to create more smoke-free parks, playgrounds and beaches.
- Lessen secondhand smoke exposure by working with landlords and tenants to implement smoke-free housing policies in multi-unit dwellings.
- Diminish the environmental impact of tobacco product waste by working with community stakeholders to reduce the plastic pollution generated from cigarette filters and e-cigarette cartridges, as well as holding the tobacco industry accountable for its environmental footprint.
- Monitor and address the challenges with industry-related influences and the changing tobacco product landscape with the continued rise of e-cigarette and nicotine pouch use.
All counties in New York State now have the resources of a community engagement program and a Reality Check youth action program through the Bureau of Tobacco Control. These contracts build on previous tobacco control funded work which supports the region’s public health efforts and provides more comprehensive programing across the state.
The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control funds Tobacco-Free GOW to increase support for New York State’s tobacco-free norm through youth action and community engagement. Efforts are evidence-based, policy-driven, and cost-effective approaches that decrease youth tobacco use, motivate adult smokers to quit, and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. The program is administered by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Lyndonville announces hiring of new school superintendent
Press Release, Lyndonville Central School
Dr. Heather Lyon
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Board of Education has selected Dr. Heather Lyon as the next district superintendent. She will succeed Sharon Smith, who is retiring July 31.
Dr. Lyon began her career in education as a long-term substitute teacher for English Language Arts and has since served as a classroom teacher, staff developer, principal and school district leader. Most recently, she served as the Coordinator of Assessment and Data at Gates Chili Central School District.
She has worked with a wide range of students: those who speak English at home and those who are learning it for the first time; those who need additional support and those who are ready for advanced work; and those with special education plans, such as IEPs or 504s.
No matter their background, Lyon believes every child deserves the opportunity to grow, learn and succeed. The Lyndonville school district is already a strong district with a proud history, and she is excited to be a part of it.
“I am looking forward to Dr. Lyon utilizing her strengths to construct and implement processes, policies, strategic planning, positive culture, and collaboration among stakeholders,” said Jerod Thurber, the board president.
He also expressed his gratitude to Smith for her time as superintendent for the district.
The Board of Education formally appointed Lyon at the board meeting on June 10. She will begin work on August 1.
The board would like to thank the Orleans/Niagara BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Taweepon Farrar for her time as the consultant and facilitator of the superintendent search.
Dredging nears completion at Oak Orchard Harbor
Photos by Tom Rivers
POINT BREEZE – Dean Marine & Excavating Inc. from Michigan has big pieces of equipment in the Oak Orchard Harbor today. Dean has been scooping sediment from the harbor to make the channel more passable for boaters.
The Army Corps of Engineers awarded a $2 million contract to Dean Marine & Excavating to perform the dredging work at the oak Orchard and soon to follow, Great Sodus Bay.
A total of approximately 15,000 cubic yards of material from Oak Orchard is contracted to be dredged and placed in designated open lake sites. The harbor was last dredged in 2021. That followed a seven-year stretch when it was dredged in 2014.
Dredging of these harbors ensures accessible depths for vessels traveling the Great Lakes and enables recreational boating which supports more than $24 million in business revenue and labor income to the transportation sector combined, the Army Corps stated in a news release.
Oak Orchard Harbor is a shallow-draft harbor. Recreational boating facilitated by the harbor supports $6.8 million in business revenue, 94 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, and $6 million in labor income to the nation, the Army Corps said.
Great Sodus Bay also is a shallow-draft harbor on the southern shore of Lake Ontario. Recreational boating facilitated by the harbor supports $9.3 million in business revenue, 142 direct, indirect, and induced jobs, and $8.7 million in labor income to the nation
Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak said the dredging at Oak Orchard took a lot work and collaboration. Fitzak said the cooperation with our federal delegation, in particular Congressman Morelle, was key. Morelle’s district briefly included approximately the northern half of Orleans, but another redistricting has since put Orleans totally in Cluadia Tenney’s district.
“When redistricting brought Congressman Morelle to Orleans County, we were eager to take him on a tour of community assets and he was very interested in learning about our federal priorities,” Fitzak said. “Among several issues, we focused on the importance of Oak Orchard Harbor to our local tourism and recreational economy and the need to ensure safe passage of boats through it. He was well aware of the dredging issue and wanted to help.”
Fitzak was also part of the local delegation that travels to Washington, DC each year to further lobby for community priorities.
“These trips allowed us to keep our top issues front and center, with federal leaders and paid off when funds were provided for dredging,” Fitzak said. “Our federal delegation delivered for us and we are very appreciative.”
This photo is from a boat launch looking north to the lake.
White Birch and Banes roll to ‘A’ League wins
White Birch downed Parkitects 18-7 and Banes topped Dubby’s 16-1 in Medina Women’s Softball League ‘A’ Division action Monday evening.
White Birch 18, Parkitects 7
Pounding out 21 hits, White Birch improved to 7-1 with an 18-7 win over Parkitects.
Aubrey Lewis had a home run and a single, Ella Lewis a double and two singles, Bekah Hoffee a double and single and Maddy Boyle and Anna Lewis both had a double to lead the White Birch attack. Dana Cotriss also had 3 singles, Gracie Johnson, Stacy Buckland and Brynn Howell 2 singles and Kenzie Muck, Mallory Albone and Lily Kompe 1 single.
Tabby McBride and Brianna Smith both had a double and Kelsey Mest 2 singles for Parkitects.
Banes 16, Dubby’s 1
Connie Heschke, Lindsay Chatt and Kathy Allen each had 3 hits including a double, Morgan Allis 3 including a double and a home run, Robin Blaun a double and triple and Teri Scharlau 2 doubles to lead the way for Banes.
Banes took the lead for good by scoring 5 quick runs in the first inning as Allen and Krissy Scharlau had doubles and Lindsay Chatt and Allen singles.
Banes quickly upped the the lead to 11-1 with 6 more run in the second inning highlighted by a home run by Allis, a triple by Blaun and a double by Teri Scharlau.
Banes capped off the scoring with 5 more in the third as Teri Scharlau, Blaun and Heschke all had doubles.
The win improves Banes record to 4-3.
Holley U15 improves to 5-0-1 with win
Contributed Photo – Ellie Ebbs (13) leads a Holley rush up field during Monday evening’s win over visiting Victor. Following the play are Carsyn Mogle (3) and Veronica Flow (6)..
Reaching the halfway point of the season with a near perfect 5-0-1 record, Holley downed visiting Victor 3-2 in a Rochester District Youth Soccer League girls U15 Division game Monday evening.
Audrianna Lana, Ellie Ebbs and Philomena Arnold each scored a goal for Holley.
Lana, Brianna Tomasino and Veronica Flow each had an assist.
Family grateful for assistance after dump truck rollover
Editor:
We would like to thank everyone involved in a 10-wheeler rollover accident in Carlton on July 3.
Everyone involved can’t be thanked enough for their help and professionalism at the scene and afterwards. Town of Carlton Fire and Rescue, Town of Carlton employees, Mercy Flight , law enforcement, responding neighboring fire departments, especially our family and friends.
Words aren’t enough to show our appreciation for all of your love and support.
Thank you again,
Paul and Sue Snook
Waterport
Editor’s note: Mr. Snook is doing OK after the accident. He has cracked ribs, a possible fracture in foot along with many, many bumps and bruises, his wife said. “He definitely had an angel on his shoulder,” she said.
Top seeds win Midget 12U playoff openers
The top four seeds all scored wins in the quarterfinal round of the Albion Midget League 12U Division baseball playoffs Monday evening.
Top seeded Sandstone downed No. 8 Holley ‘B’ 14-1, No. 2 Elba ‘A’ shutout No. 7 Holley ‘A’ 20-0, No. 3 Barre blanked No. 6 Elks/Rotary 10-0 and No. 4 Elba ‘B’ bested No. 5 Carlton 18-2.
The semifinals on Wednesday at 6 p.m. will have Elba ‘B’ at Sandstone and Barre at Elba ‘A’.
The championship game will be Saturday.
Nikko Russo had 4 hits, Giovanni LaMartina a two-run triple and Aiden Kelly 2 hits for Sandsteone.
Ethan Olles and Luke Snyder shared in pitching the shutout for Barre. Snyder also had a home run.
Brody Yark hurled a 2 hitter with 11 strikeouts for Elba ‘B’. At the plate, John Anderson and Luke Gaylord both had 2 hits and Logan Bezon a triple.
Orleans will study options for providing EMS/fire service in county
Legislature hires consultant to help present alternatives to public
Photos by Tom Rivers: The Murray Joint Fire District – led by in front from left, Pete Hendrickson, Rick Cary and Kevin Dann – march in the Kendall Firemen’s Carnival parade on June 26. In 2021, the Murray Joint Fire District combined the Holley and Fancher-Hulberton-Murray districts.
ALBION – Orleans County has hired a consultant to assist local officials in looking at several options for providing EMS and fire service in the county.
Municipal Resource Inc. (MRI) of Plymouth, NH will work with the Orleans County Emergency Management Agency on a study looking at options to improve EMS and the fire service in the short and long term in the county.
MRI will be paid $71,807 for its work, with half of that coming from a state Local Government Efficiency grant. The other half will come out of Emergency Management’s budget.
Justin Niederhofer, the county’s emergency management director, said MRI will work with local officials from villages, towns, the fire departments and EMS providers. The study will look at options ranging from the current nearly all-volunteer fire service to having paid firefighters in all three battalions.
The Village of Medina is currently the only department with paid staff and they respond to fires and handle the EMS calls on the western end of the county.
Many of the fire companies and departments are short-staffed especially with responses during the work hours.
Niederhofer said there will be opportunities for public inut as the study moves forward in the coming months.
A long line of fire trucks participated in the Kendall parade on June 26, including a group from the Carlton Volunteer Fire Company.
UConnectCare to celebrate opening of women’s residence in Albion on Aug. 13
ALBION – UConnectCare has announced a ribbon cutting and an open house for the new 25-bed women and children community residence at 3597 Butts Rd., Albion.
The open house and ribbon cutting will be from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 13.
This will be the first residential program for women and their children for UConnectCare, formerly known as Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.
The site will allow women, 18 and older, to receive services to aid in their recovery while in a residential setting.
Five of the 25 units will accommodate women with children younger than kindergarten. Up to two children can stay in those units.
UConnectCare awarded a $4.6 million grant from the state Department of Health for construction of the residence, which will total $5.2 million.
UConnectCare has seen more women in recovery and addiction programs during the opioid epidemic, with the prevalence of addictive painkillers, UConnectCare officials said.
The residence was built on part of a 9-acre wooded lot just outside of the Albion village limits.
UConnectCare will operate the facility, with staffing at all hours, seven days a week.
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Richard Moy retires after 24 years as Clarendon town supervisor
Photo by Tom Rivers: Richard Moy is shown with State Sen. Robert Ortt after the Kendall carnival on June 26.
CLARENDON – Richard Moy, the dean of the town supervisors in Orleans County, has retired after 24 years of leading the Clarendon town government.
Moy stepped back from the position on May 31. Marc Major, a Clarendon town councilman, is serving as acting town supervisor for the rest of Moy’s term through Dec. 31. Frederick Seeman III was appointed to fill Major’s spot as councilman with the term to expire Dec. 31.
Moy led the town is adding several new water districts, with public water extended into the town through districts 6 through 13.
“Only a small part of town that isn’t covered with public water,” Moy said. “It’s in the works, we just haven’t got the grant money. That’s a lot of work, let me tell you.”
Moy said he tried hard to keep town taxes in check. When he started the town tax rate was $.519 per $1,000 of assessed property. In 2025, the rate is $4.29.
Before becoming town supervisor, Moy was one of three assessors for Clarendon. He did that for six years. He also worked for Kodak for 34 years as a manager.
Moy said his experience at Kodak helped him as the town chief financial officer and with managing the town employees.
Moy said Clarendon has very dedicated employees, and he will miss the camaraderie at the town hall.
Richard Moy
“The staff at our town is just outstanding, every one of them,” he said. “That’s what I’ll miss the most – working with those people. They are the best of the best.”
Moy, 82, said he has been working steady for more than seven decades. It started with a paper route when was 10 and had 125 customers.
“It’s been 72 years of work,” Moy said. “It’s time to quit.”
Moy is proud of his Clarendon roots, which go all the way back to the town’s founder, Eldridge Farwell. Moy’s uncle, Jake May, was the town supervisor when Moy was a child.
“I’ve been going to town board meetings since I was a young kid,” he said.
Many people don’t relish board meetings, but Moy enjoyed the process, and helping to move Clarendon forward.
“I like to know what’s going on,” he said. “In that job you get to know what’s going on and see how government works. Very few people know it and all the rules and what people can do.”
Moy sees an engaged community that turns out for events, including the lighted Christmas parade. Moy and his wife Sady decorated a golf cart in lights and rode in that parade from the Clarendon fire hall to the town museum next to the town hall.
That route goes by the old stone store from the 1840s, a building in disrepair that the town purchased in 2018, and is now better maintained for the town historian’s records and collection.
Moy said the town is in good hands with Major as town supervisor.
“He is very detail oriented,” Moy said. “He does his research. I think he’ll do very well.”
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Medina bookstore will host author of new book about Erie Canal
Press Release, Author’s Note
Provided photo: Mark Ferrara will be at Author’s Note at 4 p.m. on Saturday to discuss his new book, The Raging Erie: Life and Labor Along the Erie Canal.
MEDINA – On Saturday, July 12th at 4 p.m., Mark Ferrara, professor of English at the State University of New York, will visit Author’s Note in Medina to discuss and sign his book, The Raging Erie: Life and Labor Along the Erie Canal.
In this groundbreaking book, Ferrara tells the stories of the ordinary people who lived, worked, and died along the banks of the canal, emphasizing the forgotten role of the poor and working class in its construction. He chronicles the fates of the Native Americans whose land was appropriated for the canal, the European immigrants who bored its route through the wilderness, and the orphan children who drove draft animals that pulled boats around the clock.
Ferrara shows how the canal served as a conduit for the movement of new ideas and religions, a corridor for enslaved people seeking freedom via the Underground Railroad, and a spur for social reform movements that emerged in response to the poverty and suffering along its path.
Brimming with vivid characters drawn from the underbelly of antebellum life, The Raging Erie explores the social dislocation and untold hardships at the heart of a major engineering feat, shedding light on the lives of the canallers who toiled on behalf of American expansion.
Currently a professor at SUNY Oneonta, Mark Ferrara is the author of two previous books, American Community: Radical Experiments in Intentional Living (2020) and Living the Food Allergic Life (2023).
Ferrara will sign copies of his book and answer questions during his visit to the bookstore on July 12. Copies of The Raging Erie are available at Author’s Note, 519 Main Street, Medina or online at authorsnote.com/Events.
For those unable to attend, signed books can be ordered for pickup or free shipping at the store’s website. Contact Author’s Note for more information at (585) 798-3642.
Lyndonville Lions thankful for big turnout on July Fourth celebration
Photo by Tom Rivers: A crowd watches the fireworks to cap the July 4th Independence Day celebration in Lyndonville.
Press Release, Lyndonville Lions Club
LYNDONVILLE – The Lyndonville Lions would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended this year’s 51st Annual Independence Day Celebration.
Red, white, and blue proudly filled the streets of Lyndonville as we came together to honor the 249th birthday of our great nation. From the very start of the parade, patriotism was in the air.
Provided photo: Panek Farms brought a ladder truck with a large American flag to the start of the Lyndonville parade on Friday for the Fourth of July.
A special thank you goes to Mr. James Panek and Panek Farms for their incredible contribution – an impressive ladder truck and towering American flag that welcomed all parade participants as they arrived at the staging area.
It is through the generous support of the public and the fundraising efforts of the Lions that celebrations like this are possible. We would be remiss not to recognize Batavia Downs and Gaming as our platinum sponsor for this event.
Bogan and Tuttle Funeral Home served as a gold sponsor, and our silver sponsors include Burger King, Harold Suhr and the White Birch Restaurant, Mr. Steven Vann, the Johnson/Fiegl Family, and Orleans Community Health. We are especially grateful to the Lyndonville Area Foundation, who led the way in corporate support for this event.
We want to thank the Parsons family for the honor and privilege in allowing us to remember and salute one of Lyndonville’s finest, Colonel Rick N. Parsons. The Lions wish to thank all serving and retired men and women of the United States Military for their service to this great nation.
As we turn the page on July 4, 2025, the Lions are already hard at work planning what we’re proudly calling the “Grand Daddy of Them All”— the Lyndonville Lions’ 52nd Annual July 4th Celebration. As you know, 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of our great nation, and we’re committed to making this celebration one for the history books.
To help bring this vision to life, the Lions will be collaborating with a dedicated group of community volunteers. A chairperson for this planning committee will be announced in the near future. Anyone interested in getting involved or sharing ideas will be encouraged to reach out to that individual directly.
In the spirit of unity and celebration, the Lions will also invite surrounding Lions Clubs to participate next year—whether through float entries or other creative contributions.
We want to let people know about our Community Appreciation Concert at Yates Town Park on Thursday, July 10th starting at 5 p.m. A free concert by Crash Cadillac with complimentary hot dogs for all attendees are just a few of the events planned to say thank you for the support.
The Lions would like everyone to save the date Saturday, October 18, as the second annual Lyndonville Lions Club Octoberfest will be returning to Lyndonville. Signage, ticket sales and information on this event will be forthcoming.
Thank you again and may God continue to bless you and this great nation.
