Volunteers place more than 1,200 wreaths on veterans’ graves in Medina
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Volunteers representing all branches of the military, the space program and unknown soldiers wait to place wreaths on veterans’ graves at Boxwood Cemetery Saturday noon.
MEDINA – This year, 1,260 wreaths were purchased through Wreaths Across America for veterans’ graves in the Medina area. On Saturday, 1,225 were placed in Boxwood, St. Mary’s and Sacred Heart Cemeteries on North Gravel Road.
The ceremony at Boxwood began at noon with emcee Nik Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans’ Services office. Dave Kusmierczak, chaplain, began the program with prayer, followed by Kate Draper singing the National Anthem.
Mroz welcomed veterans, their families and volunteers, saying this was a day to “celebrate the mission to remember the fallen, honor those who serve and their families and teach the next generation the value of freedom.”
A moment to silence was observed to remember the fallen, prisoners of war and those missing in action, and to honor those who have served and those still serving. Mroz said Wreaths Across America ceremonies took place on Saturday in more than 5,200 locations in all 50 states, U.S. territories and at 26 American cemeteries overseas, ensuring we remember our heroes wherever they rest.
Mroz quoted Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, saying, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn’t pass it on to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and added on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children’s children what it was once like in the United States, where men were free.”
(Left) Tom Snyder, a U.S. Navy veterans’ electricians mate 2nd class, stands at attention after placing a wreath on a sailor’s grave. Snyder was the organizer of this year’s Wreath’s Across American program, which started in Medina in 2013. (Right) U.S. Marine Corps veteran Lance Cpl. Nicolas Fitzak prepares to place a wreath on a Marine’s grave during the Wreaths Across America ceremony Saturday in Boxwood Cemetery.
Mroz introduced a member of each branch of the military, the Space Force and the Merchant Marines, who laid a wreath at a veteran’s grave who served in that branch.
They were Louis A. Chraston, U.S. Army Active Duty Staff Sgt.; U. S. Marine Corps veteran Lance Cpl. Nicholas J. Fitzak; U.S. Navy Veteran electrician’s mate 2nd Class Tom Snyder; U.S. Air Force Active Duty M Sgt. Michael J. Owczarczak; U.S. Air National Guardsman Airman 1st Class Noah Heinkler of the U.S. Space Force; U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps Cadet Brendon Hodkin in the United States Coast Guard; Diana Anderson, representing the United States Merchant Marines; and the final wreath placed by Assemblyman Stephen M. Hawley, a U.S. Army veteran 1st lieutenant, in honor of the more than 80,000 United States servicemen from all branches of the service whose last known status was either prisoner of war or missing in action.
Wreaths left over from the three cemeteries were free for the public to take to place on a veteran’s grave in other cemeteries. Snyder said he had already taken one for his father’s grave in Mount Albion Cemetery. Brad Nudd, a member of the Orleans County Honor Guard, said he takes one to place on his brother-in-law Gary Gross’ grave at Marshall Road Cemetery.
Mroz reminded those gathered at Boxwood Cemetery to consider purchasing a wreath, which are buy one for $17 and get one free until the end of December. They may be purchased by seeing Hailey at the village of Medina offices on Park Avenue.
Emcee Nik Mroz, director of the Orleans County Veterans’ Services office, introduces Chaplain Dave Kusmierczak, right, who offered a moment of prayer. At left, Kate Draper waits to sing the National Anthem, while members of Orleans County’s Honor Guard wait at right to fire a three-gun salute, followed by playing of Taps.
West Barre woman served as missionary in Japan for over 40 years
The West Barre Church as it appeared in 1940.
By Catherine Cooper, Orleans County Historian
“Illuminating Orleans” – Volume 5, No. 42
WEST BARRE – Mildred Anne Paine, who grew up in the cobblestone house on Pine Hill Road in the Town of Barre, spent over forty years of her adult life as a missionary in Japan. Hers is a remarkable story.
Born on July 25, 1893, Mildred was the third of five children of Emory and Martha Waterman Paine. Emory was a farmer in Barre. Mildred’s great-grandfather, Elisha Wright, an early pioneer, was one of the organizers of the West Barre Methodist Episcopal Church, as it was then referred to, in the 1830s. (An historic marker on Eagle Harbor Road highlights the location of Wright’s home.)
Mildred received her early education at Schoolhouse #6, a one-room cobblestone structure close to her home. She later attended Genesee Wesleyan Seminary in Lima, NY and Oberlin College, Ohio. She then taught at West Barre and Shelby schoolhouses for several years.
Mildred Anne Paine, 1893-1988
In 1919, at the age of 26, she was commissioned by the Woman’s Foreign Missionary Society as a missionary to Japan. The Society, which had been established in 1869, sponsored and sent women to establish schools and spread the word of Christ.
Mildred studied Japanese for one year and worked at the Japanese city of Kagoshima in southern Kyushu for five years. She wrote:
“The strange Japanese culture and baffling language were my environment at the Tokyo Language School and in Kagoshima until 1926.”
She returned to the U.S. in 1927 and studied for a Master’s degree at Boston College.
In 1928, she was assigned to rebuild an important Methodist sponsored Welfare Center in Tokyo. It had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1923. The center, named “Ai Kei Gakuen” (Garden Radiating Love and Grace) was located in a slum. Many residents were ragpickers, while scores were homeless or destitute. Mildred was associated with the Center for 33 years, during which time thousands were enrolled in the orphanage, schools, and clinics which she established.
In an interview with the Democrat and Chronicle while on a rare visit home in 1934, Mildred explained that their missionary work could not be overt:
“If we made any attempt to coerce the people towards the religion, the Buddhists and Shintoists would at once take their children away. If we live our faith, and the people find there is something in Christianity that these other religions do not have, then is the time to explain. Once they become our friends, then we can discuss any subject freely with them.”
She commented that life there was far from monotonous, but full of thrilling adventures and “underground currents.”
With the outbreak of WWII, Mildred was interned in September 1942. Her sister, Helen Parsons Frey, recounted that “The soldiers who came to arrest her shot their guns inside of her house. All of her dishes were broken – except one plate. She found the plate when she returned after her internment.”
Fortunately, Mildred experienced “very fair” treatment at the camp. She was also fortunate to be among the 1,300 repatriates who boarded the M.S. Gripsholm, a Swedish cruise ship which had been chartered by the U.S. government to transport civilians and POWs caught behind enemy lines.
Mildred enjoyed time with her brother Cuyler following her return to the U.S. in 1963. He died in 1965.
The six-week return voyage began in Mormuago, a small harbor in Portuguese India, on October 19, 1943 and included stops in Port Elizabeth, South Africa and Rio de Janeiro. On her arrival in New York on December 1, 1943, Mildred was greeted by her sister, Helen (Howard Parsons) and by Rev. Jesse Young, and his wife Ruth, who later served at the West Barre Church from 1955-57.
Mildred spent several months with Helen, Howard and their family at the family home on Pine Hill Road. She returned to Japan after the war and remained there until 1962. She was awarded two honors by the Japanese government: a citation from the Welfare Ministry of Japan in 1958, for her “devotion to children, boys and youth welfare” and in 1960, the 4th Class of the Imperial Order of the Sacred Treasure from the Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare in recognition of her social work at Ai Kei Gakuen.
Upon her return to the U.S. in 1963, she was involved in counseling and promotional work for the Wesleyan Service Guild. Following a stroke in 1967, she went to live at the United Methodist Retirement Home in Asheville, N.C., where she died on September 7, 1988, at the age of 95. She is buried in the family plot in the West Barre Cemetery.
A collection of Mildred’s personal papers, including 23 diaries, correspondence and photographs is held by the General Commission on Archives and History, an online mission of the United Methodist Church. This collection covers the years 1957-1974. Sadly, the material from 1926-1943, which would have chronicled her first impressions and early experiences, is missing. Most likely, it was destroyed at the time of her arrest.
Mildred’s brother, Cuyler and sister, Ruth continued the family involvement with the West Barre Church. In later years, her younger sister, Clara Otis, joined Mildred in Japan to assist her missionary work. Continuing the family tradition, her niece, Esther, and husband George Heustis spent forty-three years as missionaries in Brazil.
Mildred’s sister Helen served in the Youth Ministry in New York City along with her husband, Marvin Frey. Marvin wrote over 300 hymns and is the subject of an historic marker at the West Barre Cemetery.
Many thanks to Adrienne Daniels, Town of Barre Historian, and Karen Markle of the West Barre Church for their generous assistance.
Firefighters deliver presents to 110 families through MAAC annual Red Barrel drive
Photos by Ginny Kropf: A sea of boxed food and gifts is ready for firefighters to begin delivering as soon as they finish their breakfast at The Grove United Methodist Church on Saturday morning.
MEDINA – One-hundred and ten families in the Medina area will have gifts and a Christmas dinner, thanks to the Medina Area Association of Churches’ annual Red Barrel/Present program.
Chaired for the sixth year by Sherry Tuohey-Sipple, this year’s giveaway will provide Christmas for 350 individuals, ranging from infants to senior citizens.
(Left) Deb Taylor, chief of East Shelby Fire Company, carries a box of gifts out to a waiting truck for delivery on Saturday morning. (Right) Deanna Quackenbush from Shelby Volunteer Fire Company carries a Christmas gift box out of The Grove United Methodist Church on Saturday morning.
No one can count how many years this program has been ongoing, but it was taken over by MAAC decades ago, and grew from a toy giveaway started by Medina firefighters. Ever since, the Medina firefighters and volunteers from East Shelby, Ridgeway and Shelby have volunteered to deliver upwards of 40 red barrels to strategic locations throughout the Medina area, then pick up the filled barrels early in December and, finally, deliver the packed Christmas boxes to a hundred or more homes.
Sherry Tuohey-Sipple chairs the program, and said none of it would happen if it weren’t for the dedicated volunteers, who sort gifts, pack the boxes and otherwise help with the project.
“We had a lot of volunteers this year,” Tuohey-Sipple said. “The firemen returned the filled barrels to us on Dec. 3, and we started sorting and packing immediately. We had at least 25 volunteers each day, some of which were new.”
Cher Beach, a new volunteer, and Norma Jean Foster, head of the food committee for MAAC’s Christmas gift program, bring out hams to add to the boxes just before local firefighters arrived to deliver them on Saturday morning. At left, Sherry Tuohey-Sipple, head of the MAAC Christmas Present program, makes a final check of one gift box.
Two of the new volunteers were Katie Oakes and Meghan Fuller, who recently joined the MAAC committee.
“I’ve loved this program forever, and as soon as I heard there was an opening, I jumped right in,” Oakes said.
Katie and Meghan have done a lot to promote us this year,” said Norma Jean Foster, who heads the food committee and is responsible for buying the hams and other essentials for a Christmas dinner for each family.
Each year, the biggest challenge is to find gifts suitable for teens, and this year, Oakes and Fuller took on that task. The “teen” category includes ages 9 through 18, and this year there were 98 in that age group. Each child got a gift, Tuohey-Sipple said.
Firefighters from Medina, Shelby, Ridgeway and East Shelby, along with other volunteers, enjoyed a free breakfast Saturday morning at The Grove United Methodist Church. Firefighters delivered boxes of gifts and food for a Christmas dinner to 110 families.
Each year for many years, Bob Harrold of Lyndonville has searched, acquired and restored red wagons and donated them to MAAC. This year Jim Sipple also restored one. The MAAC committee tries to give the red wagons to families who don’t have a car. Many have said how the wagon came in so handy either to give their young children a ride to the grocery store or to carry home their groceries.
This year, two new toy ATVs were donated. Also commended was Jane Wharron, who crocheted lap throws for each of the senior citizens who got a Christmas box, and Kathie McMoil, who works with Foster on the food committee.
“People are so dedicated, even our kitchen crew who put on the breakfast,” Tuohey-Sipple said.
Medina fire chief Steve Cooley finds room for one more Christmas box in his truck on Saturday, when firefighters from Medina, Shelby, East Shelby and Ridgeway delivered Christmas gift boxes to 110 families in the Medina area.
Addressing the firefighters, Tuohey-Sipple said, “We couldn’t do this program without you. You distribute the barrels, you pick them up and bring them back in, and then you deliver the boxes.”
Steve Cooley, Medina’s fire chief, said this was the 16th year he has been volunteering his time to the MAAC project.
“This is a time when people need us the most,” he said.
Also volunteering their time was East Shelby’s fire chief Deb Taylor, Austin Seefeldt and Alexis Rutherford from Ridgeway, along with Ridgeway’s assistant chief, Jerry Lewis.
Winter weather advisory for Orleans with another 3 to 6 inches of snow
Advisory goes from 10 a.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday
Photo by Tom Rivers: These Christmas Gingerbread inflatables were part of the Albion FFA float during the Charles Howard Hometown Parade on Saturday in Albion.
The National Weather Services has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Orleans County from 10 a.m. Monday until 7 a.m. Tuesday. Another 3 to 6 inches of snow is expected. The advisory also includes Genesee, Niagara and northern Erie counties.
“Plan on slippery road conditions,” the Weather Service said. “The hazardous conditions will impact the Monday evening and Tuesday morning commutes with snow covered roads.”
The weather will warm up later in the week. The highs in the forecast show 33 on Tuesday, 39 on Wednesday, 48 on Thursday, 32 on Friday and 40 on Saturday.
Bloom’s Flower Shop takes 1st place among the lighted floats in Albion
More than 30 parade participants brave 20-degree weather
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Bloom’s Flower Shop took first place in the Charles W. Howard Hometown Parade on Saturday in Albion.
Bloom’s won the $600 first place prize with a float that featured Cousin Eddie from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Bloom’s passes down Main Street in front of the judge’s stand. There were about 30 floats and other parade entries in the fifth annual lighted parade in Albion.
Eye of Oden, a dog training site in Kent, won second place and $400 for its entry in the parade.
Eye of Oden had several dogs and their handlers in the parade.
The Albion FFA won third place and $200 for a float with a theme from the Toy Story. Toy Story has a message, “You got a friend in me.” The FFA shared its message: “You got a friend in the Albion FFA.”
Orly the Ox, the county’s bicentennial mascot, joined Santa and Mrs. Claus in a float. That float was a decorated boat to celebrate the Erie Canal, which also observed its 200th anniversary in 2025.
Orly, Mrs. Claus and Santa greet people as they head north on Main Street. The parade started and ended at Dubby’s Tailgate.
Albion’s youth football was in the parade and celebrated its recent undefeated season and championship in the Niagara Orleans Football Association.
ARG Disposal & Transfer, a dumpster rental service in Albion, decorated float for the hometown parade.
Vendi Excavating & Septic of Rochester decorated some of their trucks in lights.
Hearth & Home Real Estate in Albion was the first float in the parade.
Painted Sky Ranch in Brockport brought several horses for the parade.
Luddy’s Equipment Rental of Albion decorated a float for the parade.
Four Seasons Stables in Lanesborough, Mass. brought horses and a float for the parade.
Head Start from Community Action had a large group participating in the parade.
Quill’s Towing in Barre joined in the parade.
Town and Country Quilt Shop created a float.
Some Albion students led by music teacher Karen Conn sang Christmas carols in the parade.
Weekly high school sports schedule
Monday
Boys Basketball – Oakfield-Alabama at Barker, 6:30 p.m.; Albion at LeRoy, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Lyndonville at Global Concepts, 6:30 p.m.; Albion at Byron-Bergen, Barker at Elba, Red Jacket at Holley, Kendall at Avon, 7 p.m.
Tuesday
Boys Basketball – Maryvale at Medina, Cleve Hill at Roy-Hart, Wilson at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.; Lyndonville at Wheatland-Chili, Holley at Attica, Kendall at Alexander, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Newfane at Wilson, 6:30 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Starpoint, 7 p.m.
Swimming – Albion at Newfane, 5 p.m.
Wednesday
Girls Basketball – Lyndonville at Wheatland-Chili, Holley at Attica, Kendall at Alexander, 7 p.m.
Wrestling – Newfane at Medina, Roy-Hart/Barker at Wilson, Alexander/Pembroke at Lyndonville, Byron-Bergen at Holley-Kendall, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Boys Basketball – Byron-Bergen at Holley, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Wilson at Barker, 6 p.m.; Albion at Newfane, 6:30 p.m.
Swimming – Akron at Albion, 5 p.m.
Wrestling – Albion at Akron, 6 p.m.
Friday
Boys Basketball – Barker at Wilson, 6 p.m.; Roy-Hart at Medina, Newfane at Albion, 6:30 p.m.; Holley at Gananda, 7 p.m.
Girls Basketball – Medina at Roy-Hart, 5:30 p.m.; Byron-Bergen at Holley, Attica at Kendall, 7 p.m.
Swimming – Medina at Roy-Hart/Barker, 5 p.m.
Saturday
Girls Basketball – Letchworth at Albion, 12 p.m.
Wrestling – Holley-Kendall at East Rochester Tournament
Parade of tractors celebrate agriculture, Christmas in Barre
Photos by Tom Rivers
BARRE – The Barre Betterment Committee held its annual tractor parade on Saturday in Barre. The top photo shows some of the participants getting ready for the parade at the Van Lieshout farm on East Barre Road.
The parade started at the farm and headed north on Route 98 to the Barre Town Park.
More than dozen tractors and other farm and construction equipment were part of the procession on a 22-degree evening.
Tractors and farm equipment used the Van Lie Shout farm as a staging area before the Barre Tractor Parade on Dec. 13, 2025. The Barre water tower is in the background.
Kurt Dudley rides his tractor in the parade.
Mike Van Lieshout has his tractor decorated with lots of lights.
Lee Markle drives this tractor pulling a float for the West Barre Church. Orly the Ox, the Orleans County bicentennial mascot, hitched a ride on the float.
Keeler Construction wished the community a Merry Christmas.
Local girls score wins at Large Tourney
Lyndonville’s annual Fred Large Memorial Wrestling Tournament held today included two girls weight classes with Albion and Lyndonville girls claiming top honors.
In the 113-123 lb. class, Albion’s Mia Standish took top honors going 3-0. Lyndonville’s Emily Garcia went 2-1 to take second place.
In the 132-146 lb. class, Lyndonville’s Ainsley Vann went 3-0 to take first place honors. Lew-Port’s Mariana Bucelato finished second going 2-1.
Roy-Hart scores non league win over Attica
Improving to 2-1, Roy-Hart downed host Attica 55-41 in a non league boys basketball game this evening.
Matt Aquilina poured in 24 and Tysen McCaa had 9 to set the pace for the Rams which led by 8 (14-6) after the first quarter, by 10 (29-19) at the half and by 12 (42-30) at the end of the third quarter. Aquilina scored 8 in the second quarter and 7 in the third.
Roy-Hart next hosts Cleveland Hill in another non league game at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Rams then begin Niagara-Orleans League competition at Medina on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
Wilson 70, Tully 52
Wilson defeated Tully (Section III near Syracuse) 70-52 this evening in the championship game of the Wilson Tip-Off Tournament.
Aidan Neumann scored 29 and Ryan Hough 16 to lead the Lakemen. Neumann surpassed the 1,000 career points milestone.
Holley-Kendall and Lyndonville have winners at the Fred Large Memorial Tournament
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Lyndonville’s Jake Gidley works against CSAT’s Dieu Mera Babuliza in a 144 lb. bout at the Fred Large Memorial Tournament today at Lyndonville.
Holley-Kendall had two individual weight class champions and host Lyndonville one at the annual Fred Large Memorial Wrestling Tournament today.
Jeremy Lutes won at 103 and Brenden Eichas at 138 for Holley-Kendall. Lutes pinned Nathan Dollinger (McQuaid) in 3:34 in his title bout while Eichas went 3-0 in round robin competition at 138.
Lyndonville’s Shannon Withey won at 165 with a narrow 1-0 victory over Medina’s Tyler Raduns in the finals.
Wilson also had two champions in Roman Zarbo (110) and Victor Cusatis (157) as did Byron-Bergen with James Lamb (150) and Soloman Smith (170).
Holley-Kendall also had Parker Denning (144) place third, Kohle Pachla (126) fifth and Jacob Abrams (150), Carter McGrain (175), Tyler Davenport (190) and Aiden McGrain (215) sixth.
Lyndonville also had Brody Hazel (150) and Ben Doolan (190) place second, Justin Holmes (126) third, Abby Alexander (110), Greyson Romano (175) and Bryson Hazel (103) fourth, and Iziah Rodriguez (118), Jake Gidley (144) and Michael Alexander (157) sixth.
Medina had Luke Duffina (132) place second and Jake Duffina (118) fifth.
Albion’s Jackson Snook placed third at 285.
Niagara Falls won the team title with 220 points as Wayne (133), Byron-Bergen (120), Lyndonville (119.5) and Holley-Kendall (89) rounded out the top five.
Medina’s Jake Duffina works against Lyndonville’s Iziah Rodriguez in a 118 lb. match.
Holley-Kendall’s Kohle Pachla in action against Ace Komme from Williamson/Sodus/Marion.
Lady Rams roll to victory over Maryvale
Building up a commanding 28-2 half-time advantage, Roy-Hart went on to defeat Maryvale 47-6 in a non league girls basketball game this afternoon.
Courtney Aquilina and Adella Dukes each scored 16 to lead the way for Roy-Hart. Millie Owens added 6, Brooke Corser 5 and Kylie McOmber and Zoe Healey 2 each for the Lady Rams.
Wilson 33, East Aurora 16
Abbie Faery scored 8, Bella Thrush 7 and Andrea Faery and Lucy Madan 6 each for Wilson in a 33-16 non league win over East Aurora Friday evening.
Barker romps to victory over Cleveland Hill
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – Barker’s Anthony Taliaferro puts up a shot against a pair of Cleveland Hill defenders during the Bulldogs home court win this afternoon.
Regaining the .500 mark at 3-3, Barker rolled to a 67-44 victory over visiting Cleveland Hill in a non league boys basketball game this afternoon.
Anthony Taliaferro took game high scoring honors for Barker with 27. JJ Prynn added 11, Peyton Wagner and Carter DerSarkissian 8 each, Carson Schwab 6, Donovan Hefferon and Caden Garcia 3 each and Ashton Ark 1.
Cleve Hill was led by Malachi Brazelton with 17.
Trailing 6-2, Barker rallied into the lead for good by putting together a big 16-1 scoring burst including 7 by Taliaferro and 5 by Prynn.
Up 18-10 at the end of the first quarter, the Bulldogs went on to lead by margins of 14 (38-24) at the half and 21 (57-36) at the end of the third quarter. Taliaferro, who also grabbed off 17 rebounds, scored 10 in the second period and 8 in the third.
Barker next hosts Oakfield-Alabama at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Akron 69, Olmsted 48
Blake Gerstung scored 27 and Derren Brooks 20 to lead Akron to 69-48 non league win over Olmsted this afternoon as the Tigers improve to 4-0.
Barker’s Donovan Hefferon drives to the basket.
The Barker duo of Carter DerSarkissian (5) and Ashton Ark (22) go up for a rebound.
1,000 chicken dinners will be served for free today in Albion
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Pastor Al Wilson of the Royal Body Shop Ministries in Albion gets butter ready for 450 pounds of salt potatoes that will be served as part of 1,000 chicken dinners.
The Royal Body Shop will serve the meals beginning at noon from the Masonic Lodge on Platt Street.
The dinners are being offered as part of Albion’s Hometown Holiday which includes many events throughout the day including a parade with 35 floats beginning at 6 p.m.
Pastor Jose “Cas” Casanova of the Family of God Christian Center in Middleport is cooking green beans with smoked turkey. Vickie Elsenheimer, an active volunteer of the Royal Body Shop Ministries, also is helping with the meals.
The Family of God Christian Center is part of the Royal Body Shop Ministries which also includes a church in Buffalo, the Greater Royal Worship Center. The Rev. Dr. Ashley Casanova, Jose’s wife, leads the church in Middleport.
This is the fourth year the Royal Body Shop Outreach Ministries is serving at least 1,000 dinners for free to the community.
More than 2,300 wreaths will placed today at veterans’ graves in Orleans County
Photo by Tom Rivers: Mike Donahue is the bugler while Taps was played as part of the Honor Guard on Dec. 14, 2024 during the first Wreaths Across America at Mount Albion Cemetery.
By Ginny Kropf and Tom Rivers
More than 2,300 wreaths will be set at veterans’ graves today at cemeteries in Albion, Holley/Clarendon, Medina and Lyndonville.
All four are hosting ceremonies at noon today as art of Wreaths Across America.
Volunteers will be placing 300 wreaths at Hillside Cemetery, about 450 in Lyndonville at Lynhaven and other sites, 360 at Mount Albion Cemetery, and over 1,260 in Medina at Boxwood, St. Mary’s and other cemeteries.
Medina was the first community in Orleans County to embrace Wreaths Across America in 2013. The wreaths are purchased for $17 each. The first year Medina had nine wreaths and now has over 1,200.
More than 5,600 communities around the country will honor service members laid to rest as part of Wreaths Across America.
Wreaths Across America began when Morrill Worcester, owner of a wreath company in Maine, visited Arlington National Cemetery and realized many veterans’ graves did not have wreaths.
That Christmas Worcester had extra wreaths and arranged to have them shipped to Arlington and placed on graves in the older part of the cemetery which had fewer visitors. His action picked up support, and since then Wreaths Across American has become a national tradition.
Kathy Blackburn pushed to start the effort in Medina and coordinated the program for about a decade. Tom Snyder is now heading Wreaths Across America in Medina.
He said 1,260 wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves in Medina. A brief ceremony will begin at noon at Boxwood Cemetery, with Nik Mroz, director of Orleans County Veterans’ Services, as emcee.
Following the ceremony, which includes placing a wreath on the grave of a veteran from each branch of the military, volunteers will start placing the wreaths on the rest of the veterans’ graves in the cemetery. Snyder commended the Medina DPW, who placed the boxes of wreaths in strategic locations throughout the cemeteries.
Last year, Blackburn felt it was time to give up her role in the wreath project and turned it over to local businesswoman Gloria Snyder. This year Tom Snyder, who is Gloria’s brother-in-law and a Navy veteran, agreed to take on the project.
“I also take a wreath every year to my father’s grave at Mount Albion,” Snyder said.
Snyder encourages the public to consider buying a wreath for a veteran’s grave. During the month of December, they can be purchased for $17, buy one, get one free. Any resident may purchase one or make a donation to the project at the village office on Park Avenue.
Albion, Medina holding info sessions Dec. 18 about vacant rental program
2 villages working on joint application for state funding
Photo by Tom Rivers: The Village of Albion is pursuing a state grant to bring funding to rehab vacant residential units. This photo shows downtown Albion on Nov. 3.
Press Release, G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing
Albion and Medina are working together on a joint application to the state for funding to rehabilitate vacant rental units for housing.
Both villages will be hosting information meetings on Thursday, Dec. 18. The Albion meeting will be 5 p.m. at Village Hall, 35 East Bank St. with the Medina meeting at 7 p.m. at the Senior Center, 615 West Ave.
Landlords with vacant rental units in the villages of Albion and Medina are invited to attend an informational session for the New York State Vacant Rental Rehabilitation Program. This state-funded grant program is designed to assist property owners in bringing vacant rental units into active use through eligible rehabilitation work, supporting the broader goal of increasing access to quality rental housing in the community.
During the session, attendees will learn about program eligibility requirements, available funding, the application process, and how disbursements are handled. Albion and Medina will complete a joint grant application. The program will move forward if the grant is awarded by New York State.
The program will provide up to $75,000 per vacant rental unit for renovation (up to 5 units per building). There is no financial match for the property owner.
“This initiative presents an excellent opportunity for landlords to invest in their properties while contributing to housing stability in Albion and Medina,” said Jay Grasso of G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing, which is working with the villages on the application. “We’re excited to help local property owners understand how to take full advantage of the program.”
All property owners with vacant rental units in Albion and Medina are encouraged to attend. No registration is required.
For questions or additional information, please contact Nichola Ostrander at G&G Municipal Consulting and Grant Writing at Nichola@ggprocess.com or (585) 368-8866.
