MANCHESTER, NH – Southern New Hampshire University congratulates the following students from Orleans County on being named to the Spring 2025 President’s List. The spring terms run from January to May.
Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President’s List.
The students from Orleans County include:
Andrea Sanchez Vargas of Holley
Carrie Smith of Albion
Nordia Campbell of Albion
Trisha Allen of Lyndonville
Southern New Hampshire University offers approximately 200 undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH.
Press Release, NYS Health Facilities Association/NYS Center for Assisted Living
ALBANY – Susan Luxon, a personal care aide at The Willows in Medina, has received the 2025 NYSCAL Noble Caregiver of the Year Award from the New York State Health Facilities Association/New York State Center for Assisted Living.
The award was presented on May 7th at the 2025 NYSCAL Awards Banquet during the Association’s annual conference in Bolton Landing.
Luxon has been a dedicated caregiver at The Willows for the past 26 years. She demonstrates a deep commitment to preserving the dignity and well-being of each individual under her care.
Her empathy and genuine concern for the residents’ happiness and comfort are evident in every interaction. She listens intently to their needs and concerns, providing both emotional support and practical assistance whenever necessary. Luxon consistently goes above and beyond to support her colleagues, often picking up shifts and assisting in any way possible to ensure smooth operations in the facility.
“In a field that requires both skill and heart, Susan excels in every aspect of caregiving,” said Jacquie Morgante, administrator of The Willows. “We are proud that she has been honored with this prestigious award from NYSHFA | NYSCAL.”
The NYSCAL Nurse of the Year Award recognizes an adult care/assisted living nurse who demonstrates outstanding compassion, supervisory success, innovation, achievement, and capabilities in their provision of high quality resident-centered care in a service-oriented culture in an adult care/assisted living community.
Winners received an engraved obelisk and were invited to attend the NYSHFA | NYSCAL annual conference.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 11 May 2025 at 8:42 am
Lyndonville’s Newsies named ‘Production of the Year’ for small schools in Rochester region
Photos by Tom Rivers: Lyndonville is shown in a scene from Disney’s Newsies. The district won the top award for small schools in the Rochester region for its musical production.
Three school districts in Orleans County were big winners in the annual Stars of Tomorrow program that evaluates and recognizes school musicals in the Rochester region.
Albion, Lyndonville and medina were all recognized for “Excellence in Overall Production” by the Stars of Tomorrow with Lyndonville named the “Production of the Year” among small schools, which included many districts larger than Lyndonville.
The districts were recognized Friday night at the West Herr Auditorium in Rochester. There were 48 schools in Stars of Tomorrow this year, a record high for the Rochester Broadway Theatre League.
Trained evaluators, comprised of performing arts educators and professionals, travel to watch each district’s production. They then provided students and directors with feedback in a variety of categories.
Albion, Lyndonville and Medina all were named “Top 10” Productions of the Year for Small Schools with Lyndonville performing Disney’s Newsies, Albion with Cinderella, and Medina with Mamma Mia!
Mallory Kozody is Cinderella and Zachary Baron is Prince Christopher. They dance a waltz in Albion’s production of Cinderella.
Albion won the following awards:
Excellence in Overall Production
Excellence in Acting Ensemble
Excellence in Vocal Ensemble
Excellence in Dance Ensemble
Excellence in Production Crew
Excellence in Production Design
Excellence in Student Orchestra (50-74 percent students)
Achievement in a leading role: Mallory Kozody as Cinderella, Zachary Baron as Christopher, and Ella Trupo as Fairy Godmother.
Amir Huzair plays the lead role of Jack Kelly who leads the newsboys in a strike after the wealthy newspaper owners cut the slim profit margins to the boys.
Lyndonville was recognized with the following awards:
Production of the Year
Excellence in Overall Production
Excellence in Acting Ensemble
Excellence in Vocal Ensemble
Excellence in Dance Ensemble
Excellence in Production Crew
Excellence in Production Design
Excellence in Student Orchestra (50-74 percent students)
Achievement in a leading role: Amir Huzair as Jack Kelly, Noah Fox as Davey, Auston Bentley as Crutchie, and Sarah Corser as Katherine.
Medina performed Mamma Mia! with Madelyn Elliott as Donna, center, joined by Rosie (Lyla Page) and Tanya (Arianna Lake). The three are singing, “Dancing Queen.” The musical includes songs by ABBA.
Medina won the following honors:
Excellence in Overall Production
Excellence in Vocal Ensemble
Excellence in Dance Ensemble
Excellence in Production Crew
Excellence in Production Design
Achievement in a leading role: Lyla Page as Rosie, Madelyn Elliott as Donna, Ava Blount as Sophie, Arianna Lake as Tanya, and Jackson McGrath as Sky.
Kelli Elyse Dingle will travel to DC to see her artwork in US Capitol
Press Release, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney
Kelli Elyse Dingle’s “Fried Eggs” won the Congressional Art Contest for the 24th district. Dingle is a senior at Albion and also a student at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES.
WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today named Kelli Elyse Dingle’s “Fried Eggs” as the winner of the 2025 Congressional Art Competition.
As the winner of the Congressional Art Competition, Kelli Elyse Dingle, a 12th-grade student from Orleans/Niagara BOCES, will be flown to Washington, DC to see her artwork displayed in the halls of the United States Capitol.
This year, Tenney’s office received 30 submissions from 12 different schools for the Congressional Art Contest. Additional awardees include Graciana Allen of Red Creek Central School, second place; Ayden Kaufman of Orleans/Niagara BOCES, third place; Phung Cao of Mynderse Academy, honorable mention; and Kaitlyn Dougherty of Red Creek Central School, honorable mention.
“Congratulations to Kelli Elyse Dingle for being named NY-24’s Congressional Art Competition winner!” Tenney said. “With so many incredible submissions, this is a truly impressive accomplishment.
“I look forward to welcoming Kelli to the Capitol and seeing her artwork, ‘Fried Eggs,’ displayed in the halls of Congress. I want to thank all who participated in this year’s competition and encourage visitors to stop by our DC office to view ‘Fried Eggs’ hanging in the historic halls of Congress, if you are visiting our nation’s Capital.”
Photos courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES: From left include Sophia Goyette of Medina, Brady Christiaansen of Medina, and Madison Davis of Lyndonville.
Posted 5 May 2025 at 1:21 pm
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Orleans/Niagara BOCES would like to congratulate the over 160 SkillsUSA members who competed on April 24th at the New York State Fairgrounds in dozens of competitions at the 2025 NYS SkillsUSA Leadership Conference.
SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce. SkillsUSA helps each student to excel and empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens.
Many of the students winning medals have the opportunity to move on to the National competition in Atlanta, Georgia in June.
Some of the local gold medal winners include:
• Sophia Goyette (Medina), a student in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, took a gold medal in the Technical Drafting competition.
The competition will focused on the application of appropriate entry-level technical drafting skills to solve visualization and presentation problems of a mechanical nature as designed by the national technical committee.
• Brady Christiaansen (Medina), a student in the Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, took a gold medal in CNC 3-Axis Milling Programming competition.
This competition assessed the ability to program CNC milling machines, interpret prints (including GD&T), and measure/gauge parts. The competitor will also demonstrate theoretical knowledge of CNC machine configuration, setup, and operations.
• Madison Davis (Lyndonville), a student in the Allied Health program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, took a gold medal in Health Occupations Professional Portfolio. The knowledge performance portion of this competition was the creation of a professional portfolio with title page, table of contents and six required sections in specific order.
Competitors were required to take the NYS SkillsUSA professional development test at orientation. The competition includes a live presentation by the competitor designed to evaluate the ability of an individual to present themselves to an employer using effective communication skills.
Winners from Orleans Technical Education Center include:
First Place
ESTHETICS – Isabella Pearl of Lockport, Cosmetology II
ESTHETICS MODEL – Megan Adams of Lockport, Cosmetology II
CNC 3-AXIS MILLING PROGRAMMER – Brady Christiaansen of Medina, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering II
HEALTH OCCUPATIONS PROFESSIONAL PORTFOLIO – Madison Davis of Lyndonville, Allied Health II
INTERNET OF THINGS – Garrett Armenia of Roy-Hart in Computer Technology II
MEDICAL MATH – A’Niya Cornwell of Lockport in Health Occupations I
TECHNICAL DRAFTING – Sophia Goyette of Medina in Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering II
Second Place
INTERNET OF THINGS – Scott Clark of Roy-Hart, Computer Technology II
CNC 3-AXIS MILLING PROGRAMMER – Nathaniel Hulton of Roy-Hart, Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering II
COMPUTER PROGRAMMING – Camden VandenBosch of Roy-Hart, Computer Technology I
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION – Chyanne Easley of Lockport, Early Childhood I
Third Place
AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY – Ryan Quattrini of Newfane in Diesel Tech/Heavy Equip II
CRIMINAL JUSTICE QUIZ BOWL – Giovanni Wright of Newfane, Michelle Ramirez of Albion and Gloria Haller of Barker, Security and Law I
ROCHESTER – Olivia Braley of Lyndonville, a senior at the University of Rochester with a major in Anthropology, will be welcomed into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.
Braley will join 118 seniors and 11 juniors as 2025 inductees into the Phi Beta Kappa. An initiation ceremony is scheduled for May 15 in Strong Auditorium.
Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest academic honor society. Membership is by invitation only, and students are chosen by faculty members who also are members of the society.
Lillian Wilson of Medina receives 2 prestigious awards at Clarkson University
POTSDAM – Lillian Wilson of Medina, a standout student at Clarkson University and member of the Clarkson Honors Program, has been recognized with two of the university’s most prestigious undergraduate awards.
Wilson, a double major in Chemistry and Biochemistry with a perfect 4.0 GPA, was awarded the Sophomore Award for Biology, given annually to the biology major with the highest cumulative GPA after three semesters of study.
She was also selected for the Egon Matijevic Endowed Chemistry Scholarship, an honor bestowed upon an outstanding undergraduate student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
In addition to her academic achievements, Wilson has distinguished herself as a researcher, leader, and mentor. She has conducted microbial evolution research in Associate Biology Professor Susan Bailey’s Laboratory, worked on nanopore sequencing of lake sediment samples, and served as a Teaching Assistant in First-Year Chemistry.
She is also active in the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society and has held leadership roles in the Clarkson School and the Timber Bridge SPEED Team. Wilson is expected to graduate from Clarkson University in May 2027.
POTSDAM – Lillian Wilson of Medina was recently elected to membership into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society, at Clarkson University.
Wilson is among approximately 20,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter.
Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.
Three New York Army National Guard members from Orleans County recently earned promotions.
Alden Cayea of Medina – assigned to the Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment – received a promotion March 20 to the rank of 1st lieutenant.
Andrew Hill of Albion – assigned to the 222nd Military Police Company – received a promotion March 25 to the rank of specialist.
Niyah Thompson of Medina – assigned to the Company C, NY Army National Guard Recruiting & Retention Battalion – received a promotion March 19 to the rank of private.
Army National Guard promotions are based on a soldier’s overall performance, demonstrated leadership abilities, professionalism and future development potential.
These promotions recognize the best qualified soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard, said Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York.
ONEONTA – Daisy Perez-Reyes of Albion was one of 42 first-generation SUNY Oneonta students who were inducted into the Alpha Alpha Alpha national honor society during a ceremony on April 12 at Morris Hall.
Perez-Reyes is studying Sociology and is part of the class of 2027.
Alpha Alpha Alpha, known as Tri-Alpha for short, was founded in 2018 to recognize and celebrate the hard work and academic success of first-generation university students. This was the fourth class of SUNY Oneonta students to be inducted into the national honor society.
Students qualify for induction into Tri-Alpha if they meet the following criteria: The student has earned at least 30 credits/semester hours in the academic year toward an associate degree or baccalaureate degree; the undergraduate student has achieved an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; and neither of the student’s parents, stepparents, nor legal guardians, completed a bachelor’s or associate’s degree.
SUNY Oneonta is a public, four-year university in Central New York, enrolling about 5,300 students in a wide variety of bachelor’s degree programs and more than a dozen graduate certificate and degree programs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 April 2025 at 11:13 am
Arthur Barnes receives Lifetime Achievement Award and Lyndonville Lions named ‘Supporter of the Year’
Photos courtesy of GO Art! – (Left) Arthur Barnes accepts a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) on March 29 during the annual Genean Awards celebration at Go Art!’s Seymore Place in Batavia. Gregory Hallock, Go Art! executive director, is at right. (Right) Bruce Schmidt from the Lyndonville Lions Club accepts the award for the Lions Club, which was named “Supporter if the Year.”
BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council (GO Art!) on March 29 honored important contributors to the local arts and culture scene.
The annual Genean Awards were presented at the Seymore Place in Batavia. The honorees include:
Lifetime Achievement Award: Arthur Barnes of Millville
A self-taught artist, Barnes’ work has defined the visual identity of Orleans County for nearly four decades, GO Art! said in presenting the award.
“Arthur’s murals, drawings, and paintings are not only beautiful—they are historic documentation,” said Gregory Hallock, Go Art! executive director. “Through his eyes, we see the Erie Canal, our rural landscapes, and our communities as they were, and sometimes as they still are.”
Barnes painted mural about the canal that are featured in Medina, Knowlesville, Albion and Holley.
“His commitment to preserving a historic cobblestone Quaker meeting house as his studio only deepens the story of his life and work,” Hallock said. “Arthur, you are truly one of a kind.”
Lifetime Achievement Award: Lorie Longhany of Le Roy
From Go Art!: “Lorie’s legacy as an artist is expansive—pointillistic drawings of historic places, murals, public commissions, and works featured in everything from t-shirts to museum displays.
“Her impact extends beyond her own artwork into her role as a mentor and educator—teaching seniors, students, and developmentally disabled adults with grace and passion. Lorie is proof that an artist’s reach goes far beyond the canvas. Thank you for a lifetime of creativity and generosity.”
Individual Artist of the Year: Bryan Wright of Batavia
GO Art!: “Bryan Wright, is a native of Charleston, South Carolina, who now calls Batavia home. Bryan draws inspiration from water and oceanic life, infusing his artwork with a sense of depth, fluidity, and emotion that reflects both his roots and his new surroundings.
“He is a multi-medium artist whose work offers quiet yet powerful reflections of the world around him. Nominated by Jim Burns, Andrew Fisher, Tina Burns, and Brianne Wright, Bryan’s passion and dedication shine through in every piece he creates.”
Supporter of the Year: Lyndonville Lions Club
GO Art!: “The Supporter of the Year award goes to the Lyndonville Lions Club, a cornerstone of community spirit and celebration.
“From organizing one of the most spectacular July 4th fireworks shows in Western New York, to their Street Dances, park concerts, and their newly launched Oktoberfest—this organization knows how to bring people together.
“For over 50 years, they’ve shown that arts and culture thrive when communities care. Nominated by Lynne Johnson, we are proud to recognize the Lions for their outstanding and ongoing contributions.”
Visionary Artist Award: Frank Corbiserie of Batavia
GO Art!: “When we think of vision, we think of someone who sees not just what is, but what could be. Frank Corbiserie, this year’s Visionary Artist Award recipient, has brought something entirely new to Batavia: a thriving stand-up comedy scene.
“Before Frank, you had to go to Buffalo or Rochester to find local comedy. Now, thanks to his passion and talent, we can laugh, connect, and discover local comedic voices right here in our own community. He’s not only hilarious himself, but he’s also a builder of spaces—literal and creative—where joy happens. Frank, thank you for making us laugh and believe in the power of the arts to transform community.”
Volunteers of the Year: Thea Anderson & Kyle Moore
GO Art!: “The Volunteers of the Year, Thea Anderson and Kyle Moore, represent the spirit of selfless dedication. Whether it’s helping set up events, managing behind-the-scenes logistics, or simply showing up again and again with a can-do attitude and a love for the arts—they make things happen. Volunteers are the heartbeat of nonprofit arts organizations, and Thea and Kyle beat strong and steady. We’re incredibly grateful for their contributions.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 March 2025 at 3:49 pm
Lyndonville Lions named ‘Supporter of the Year’ by arts organization
Photos by Tom Rivers: Arthur Barnes is pictured on Sept. 7, 2024 during a celebration in Holley of his agricultural-themed mural on the back of the Community Free Library. Barnes’ artwork has been featured in murals and publications in the Orleans County for about 40 years.
BATAVIA – The Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council will be honoring Arthur Barnes with a Lifetime Achievement Award this Saturday.
Barnes, a resident of Millville, has shared his artistic talents with the community for about 40 years, with his work featured in tourism materials, murals on prominent buildings, and as treasured keepsakes for residents.
He will be recognized on Saturday when the 2025 Genean Awards are presented by GO Art! at 5:30 p.m. at GO Art!’s Seymour Place, 201 East Main St., Batavia. The evening includes live entertainment, light refreshments, a cash bar and magazine-style photo booth. Click here for more information.
“This special event isn’t just about honoring remarkable individuals—it’s about securing the future of arts and culture in Genesee and Orleans counties,” said Gregory Hallock, GO Art! executive executive director.
Barnes has been a prominent local artist for about four decades, despite having no formal artistic training.
Arthur Barnes created this pen and ink drawing of the former Waterport Trestle, an iconic landmark that was demolished about 30 years ago.
Barnes uses his artwork to celebrate Orleans County and its rich history. Barnes created a series of five large-scale murals depicting the Erie Canal which can be enjoyed in Medina, Knowlesville, Albion and Holley.
Both a photographer and artist, Barnes highlights local tourism landmarks, such as the County Courthouse, the Culvert in Ridgeway and Mount Albion Tower. However, most of his work pays homage to the houses, barns and beautiful rural landscape of the area.
These pieces serve to document Orleans County history as several of the houses and barns in his paintings are no longer standing.
In 2000, Barnes bought a cobblestone building in Millville originally built as a Quaker meeting house in 1841. Barnes has repaired the roof and spent countless hours on additional improvements to spare what would have been an inevitable collapse of the building.
Arthur Barnes is shown installing a mural on May 21, 2021 at the Orleans County YMCA facing West Avenue on a brick building near Lee Place. This is the fifth Erie Canal-themed mural Barnes has created. Barnes used a scene near the Allens Bridge Road canal bridge on the west end of Albion for inspiration.
Barnes is active on social media as “The Artist Monk” posting photos and artwork about local sites. Barnes praises the county’s rich history and vibrant landscapes, including the wildlife refuge, muck, apple orchards, canal, historic downtowns and even the barns that often appear to be on their last legs.
The Lyndonville Lions Club also will be recognized by GO Art! as the “Supporter of the Year.” The Lyndonville Lions have organized the annual July 4th community celebration for 50 years, bringing thousands of people into the village for entertainment capped by one of the biggest fireworks shows in Western New York.
Last summer on Aug. 23, the Lyndonville Lions Club teamed with the Village of Lyndonville and Town of Yates for the third annual Street Dance on a closed off section of Main Street. The Lions for several years also have organized a July concert at the Yates Town Park, usually featuring the band Crash Cadillac.
The Lions last year also started a new Oktoberfest at the White Birch Golf Resort.
Other 2025 Genean Award winners include Bryan Wright – Individual Artist of the Year; Frank Corbiserie – Visionary Artist Award; Thea Anderson & Kyle Moore – Volunteers of the Year; and Lorie Longhany – Lifetime Achievement Award.
Fireworks light up the sky and are reflected in Johnson Creek during the finale on July 4, 2024. The fireworks show was more than 40 minutes and capped off the 50th anniversary of the Lyndonville Lions Club’s Independence Day celebrations.
Provided photo: From left include Melissa Fleischut (President & CEO of The NYS Restaurant Association), teacher James Atzrott, Emily Chambers (Medina), Selena Wolf (Lockport), Tirsa Converso (Medina), Justine Fitzsimmons (Medina) and Kevin Goggins (Chairman of the Board of The NYS Restaurant Association).
Posted 17 March 2025 at 12:44 pm
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Congratulations to Culinary Arts teacher Chef James Atzrott and his ProStart team of Emily Chambers (Medina), Selena Wolf (Lockport), Tirsa Converso (Medina) and Justine Fitzsimmons (Medina).
The team, from the Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, took first place at the NYSRA (New York State Restaurant Association) ProStart Invitational held at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park. They will be representing the state at the National ProStart Invitational May 2-4 in Baltimore, Maryland.
ProStart is a two-year, industry-backed culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students that integrates practical skill sets and allows students to become familiar with restaurants and food service and prepare them for the workforce.
The team’s menu consisted of flat iron steak with tri-colored baby carrots, polenta fries with a chimichurri sauce and strawberry fraiser for dessert. The team competed against seven other teams and were thrilled they came out on top of the competition.
“We cried every day from the stress of everything,” says Selena Wolf. “We were very emotional and they were things that were going wrong like the burners being higher than what we practiced with and having to use plastic thermometers as opposed to metal. We finished with seven seconds left.”
The team said they started screaming when they were announced as the winners and then it was Chef Atzrott’s turn to cry.
“We were so excited and so glad to have won it for our teacher,” Selena Wolf said. “We are so ready to go to Baltimore and hopefully win there, too!”
A student from Orleans County has made the Dean’s List at Hartwick College and another made the Dean’s List at Grove City College.
Erin Kiefer of Lyndonville was named to Hartwick College’s Fall 2024 Dean’s List. Kiefer, who is pursuing a major in English at the college in Oneonta, was among the approximately 425 students who were named to the Fall 2024 Dean’s List.
To qualify, students must complete at least 12 academic credits during a term with a grade point average of at least 3.50 and no incompletes.
Emma Roush of Medina, a senior Psychology major at Grove City in Pennsylvania, has been named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2024 semester. Roush is a 2021 graduate of Medina High School. Students eligible for the Dean’s List have a GPA of 3.40 to 3.59.
BATAVIA – Genesee Community College has announced the Orleans County students on the Provost’s List for the fall semester.
Students honored on the Provost’s List have maintained part-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 13 March 2025 at 8:42 am
Brett Sobieraski
ROCHESTER – A retired Rochester police sergeant who has inspired many and raised $300,000 towards charitable causes with endurances feats has been chosen “Citizen of the Year” and will be honored in Rochester’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday.
Brett Sobieraski, a Carlton resident, was chosen as the “Citizen of the year” by the Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee. The parade starts at 12:30 p.m., beginning at East and Alexander, heading down East Avenue to the Liberty Pole. There, the parade heads west down Main Street and ends at the corner of Fitzhugh Street.
The parade has a theme celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal, and honors the Irish immigrants who were a major part of the workforce for the canal.
Sobieraski has pushed himself in endurance challenges to raise money for fallen police officers and also the Special Olympics organization.
In 2023, he completed “8 States for Maz” and ran 1,310 miles through eight states over 50 days to honor fallen RPD Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz, who was killed in the line of duty. Sobieraski ran a marathon every day in a journey tht started in Florida and ended in Rochester. One of his marathons was in Orleans County.
He wrote a book about the experience – “8 States for Maz- The Humanity Tour” – where he describes all the acts of kindness he witnessed from friends and strangers.
The writeup on Sobieraski from the Rochester St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee includes:
Brett Sobieraski grew up in Lockport and always wanted to be a police officer just like his father, John. Sobieraski was hired by the Lockport Police Department when he was 21 and worked there for four years, before transferring to the Rochester Police Department.
At RPD, he worked primarily in narcotics and on the SWAT Team during his career, as well as being an instructor at the Police Academy. He retired as a sergeant after 32 years of service.
He also served on the Board of Directors at Huther Doyle for over 20 years, helping individuals and families with addiction issues. In the early 2000s, Brett vowed to start living a healthier lifestyle. This eventually led him to ultra-distance events, and he used his grit and determination to finish extreme challenges, including swimming nonstop across Lake Ontario, running 175 miles along the Erie Canal, running 50 hours straight for various charities, and completing the 135-mile Badwater Ultramarathon in Death Valley, California, which is recognized as the most demanding and toughest road race on the planet.
In 2023, Brett completed “8 States for Maz” running 1310 miles through eight states over 50 days to honor fallen RPD Officer Anthony Mazurkiewicz, who was killed in the line of duty. Brett wrote a book about that journey called 8 States for Maz- The Humanity Tour, where he describes all the acts of kindness he witnessed from friends and strangers. People who gave him the last dollars out of their pocket for a family and a hero they’d never meet. It’s a beautiful story about America and about the kindness of Americans.
Brett has raised over $300,000 for charities such as Special Olympics New York, Veterans Outreach Center and the Mazurkiewicz family. Brett also wrote his memoir Gray Man – An Average Man’s Journey to Personal Greatness that provides a glimpse into what is possible when you set the conditions, put in the time and believe you can train yourself to achieve just about anything.
