achievements

Pennysaver wins 7 awards in state-wide graphics contest

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 April 2019 at 9:37 am

Honors include first place awards for Visitor’s Guide and Community Directory

ALBION – The Lake Country Pennysaver won seven awards on Friday in Albany during the Free Community Papers of New York’s annual state-wide graphics awards competition.

The Pennysaver won two first-place honors for the Orleans County Visitor’s Guide and the annual Orleans County Community Directory. Those publications won the top awards for “Separate Publication – Division A magazine” and “Separate Publication – Division B magazine/heavy or glossy.”

The Lake Country Pennysaver also won second place for general excellence tabloid in Division B.

Other awards include second place, sales presentation; second place, best institutional ad Division A black and white; third place, best grocery ad for Division B in color; and third place, best institutional ad for Division A in black and white.

The Pennysaver and the Orleans Hub are both part of Lake Country Media. Karen Sawicz is the owner/publisher of the both the Pennysaver and the Orleans Hub, which are based out of 170 North Main St., Albion.

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Waterport native completes combat skills training in Navy

Staff Reports Posted 7 April 2019 at 7:50 pm

Provided photo

Bryan Vanwycke (right) of Waterport is congratulated by Capt. Michael E. Ray, commander of Coastal Riverine Group ONE. He presents Vanwycke with a certificate of completion to Embarked Security Combat Skills Class 19030 during a graduation ceremony held Friday onboard Naval Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach.

Vanwycke is a Master at Arms Seaman Apprentice for the USA Navy. He is a 2018 Albion graduate. His parents are Gary and Jennifer Vanwycke of Waterport. Vanwycke now heads to Guam for three years.

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National Guard soldier from Albion retires from military service

Staff Reports Posted 27 March 2019 at 8:10 am

Sergeant Michael Mannara of Albion and assigned to the Company A (Distribution), 427th Brigade Support Battalion, retired from the New York Army National Guard last month after nearly 22 years of military service.

Mannara first entered the military in October 1997.

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announced Mannara’s retirement.

“A full military career is a major achievement in the lives of our citizen soldiers and their families,” Shields said. “I congratulate our soldiers, their loved ones and their employers on this milestone of more than 20 years of service. We may recruit individual soldiers into our Army National Guard, but I know full well that it takes the support of a family to make this a career.”

“On behalf of our force, I extend my best wishes for their success of our retirees as they begin new chapters in their lives.”

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Louis Chraston of Medina re-enlists in National Guard

Staff Reports Posted 22 March 2019 at 7:51 am

Staff Sergeant Louis Chraston of Medina has re-enlisted for continue service with the Company A, 2-108th Infantry of the Army National Guard.

“It’s great to see soldiers staying in the Army and continuing to serve their State and Nation in the New York Army National Guard,” said Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General of the NY Army National Guard. “The most important Army asset we have is the individual soldier. The dedication, skills, and leadership traits they bring to our community and their employers are invaluable.”

The New York National Guard (New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs) is the state’s executive agency responsible to the Governor for managing New York’s Military Forces, which consists of nearly 20,000 members of the New York Army National Guard, the New York Air National Guard, the New York Naval Militia and the New York Guard.

“By choosing to stay in the Army National Guard they directly contribute to our nation’s security and to the governor’s ability to respond to disasters, all while building a bright future for their family through the Guard’s retirement, education, and health insurance programs,” Shields said.

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Albion student headed to Girls State

Posted 21 March 2019 at 9:16 pm

Photo courtesy of Albion Central School

ALBION – Albion student Mariah Plain is pictured with Cathy Fox, president of the American Legion Auxiliary in Orleans County President and Empire Girls State Chairperson.

Mariah, a high school junior, has been accepted to Empire Girls State. The American Legion Auxiliary sponsors Girls State, which will take place at Brockport State College from June 30 to July 6.

Girls State is open to juniors in the top third of their class. It is an experiential “government-in-learning” program that helps young women develop leadership skills as they learn about ideals and principles of government. Students participate in a variety of Americanism activities including flag raising/lowering ceremonies and learning proper flag etiquette.

Mariah is hoping to get into the Air Force Academy next year.

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Culinary students from Orleans CTE Center shine at Taste of Education

Provided photos from Orleans-Niagara BOCES – Pictured from left include Marie Reynolds (Albion), Chef Atzrott, Brandon Heschke (Medina), Zach Richbart (Barker), Jacob McKernan (Royalton-Hartland) and Courtney Lang (Medina). Not pictured: Carolina Overton, Lillee Gollhardt (Lockport) and David Baier (Royalton-Hartland).

Posted 20 March 2019 at 5:43 pm

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Jacob McKernan of Roy-Hart won the Iron Chef competition with his partner Darian Bryan, Executive Chef for the Plating Society and head chef at Fisher Price.

DEPEW – The Culinary Arts students from the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center took home three big awards at the 15th Annual Taste of Education.

The Taste of Education introduces Western New York young chefs to the public with a friendly cooking competition where the students present a three course meal with appetizer, main course and dessert.

This year’s theme was “Get Stuffed.” There is also an Iron Chef Competition with three professional chefs paired with student sous chefs. The event was held at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens and the Western New York’s Chapter of the New York State Restaurant Association benefits from the fundraiser which they use for scholarships.

Under the direction of their teacher, Chef James Atzrott, these students won first place: David Baier (Royalton-Hartland), Lillee Gollhardt (Lockport), Brandon Heschke (Medina), Courtney Lang (Medina), Jacob McKernan (Royalton-Hartland), Carolina Overton (Lockport), Marie Reynolds (Albion) and Zach Richbart (Barker).

They won for the People’s Choice and first place for the Judges Choice for their menu of Banh Mi Sausage/Asian Pickled Spring Roll/Gochujang Aioli, Loukaniko Sausage/Stuffed Grape Leaves/Ladolemono Sauce, Stuffed Dates/Chocolate/Peanut Butter/ Sea Salt and Sweet Tofu Rangoon/Mexican Cinnamon/Chipotle Sugar.

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Medina volunteer with New York Guard recognized for service

Staff Reports Posted 19 March 2019 at 10:07 am

Pfc. Samuel Maryjanowski of Medina, serving with the 10th Area Command, received the New York Guard Recruiting Medal.

The New York Guard is a force of 500 uniformed volunteers, organized as a military unit, who augment the New York National Guard during state emergencies. They provide administrative and logistics support to the National Guard. Members of the New York Guard have been involved in flood control efforts along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

Unlike members of the New York National Guard, New York Guard members do not have a federal military role and do not deploy outside the state. New York Guard members usually train in a volunteer status and are only paid when they are placed on state duty during emergencies.

The New York Guard, which is one of 23 state defense forces around the country, is authorized to recruit just over 1,000 volunteers organized into units located across New York. Currently there are 600 New Nork Guard members.

About half of the New York Guard volunteers are former members of the active duty military or National Guard who bring a wealth of experience to the force while the other half have never served in the military. Previous military membership is not a requirement for New York Guard service.

People who have served in the military can serve in the New York Guard up until age 68. Those who have never served in the military must be between age 18 and age 55 to join.

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Albion man graduates from Marine Corps boot camp

Staff Reports Posted 18 March 2019 at 4:59 pm

Pvt. Chester B. Boring

ALBION – Pvt. Chester B. Boring, 18, of Albion graduated from United States Marine Corps boot camp at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in Parris Island, South Carolina on Feb. 8, 2019.

Pvt. Boring successfully completed 13 weeks of intensive basic training at Parris Island as one of 514 recruits with 2nd Battalion Hotel Company Platoon 2012. While in recruit training, Pvt. Boring achieved Expert in the Marine Corps Rifle Qualification Course.

Following 10 days home on leave he reported to Camp Geiger for one month for Military Combat Training (MCT).

Pvt. Boring will be headed to Military Occupation Specialty School in Fort Lee, Virginia following his MCT training.

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National Guard soldier from Albion receives new rank and responsibilities

Staff Reports Posted 18 March 2019 at 1:31 pm

Sheldyn Dysard of Albion has been promoted to the rank of specialist in the New York Army National Guard.

Dysard is assigned to the Company D (Forward Support Company Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition), 427th Brigade Support Battalion.

Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential, said Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York.

These promotions additionally recognize the best qualified soldiers and attract and retain the highest caliber citizen-soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.

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O-N BOCES teacher named SkillsUSA advisor of the year

Posted 12 March 2019 at 12:10 pm

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Provided photo: Scott Brauer has been a SkillsUSA advisor for 28 years.

A huge and much deserved congratulations to Orleans/Niagara BOCES’ Project Based Engineering teacher, Scott Brauer, who has been named the SkillsUSA New York Area 1 Advisor of the Year.

SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers and industry working together to ensure America has a skilled workforce.

Brauer teaches at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center. His SkillsUSA journey began when he was a junior in high school and attended BOCES. He says being a member of SkillsUSA gave him direction, purpose and focus. It is one of the reasons he decided to become a career and technical education teacher at the same center he attended and become a SkillsUSA advisor himself.

“I just want others to experience what I was able to experience as a student,” he said. “SkillsUSA is life changing!”

Brauer has been a SkillsUSA advisor for 28 years. He has been the lead advisor at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center for the past 12 years and believes in order to be a great advisor you have to become involved through ardent practice, gathering of information and networking.

He trains others not to do things for the young people, but to assist them on their journey. He coordinates all the competitions that the center participates in at the regional, state and national levels. He is also the contest chair for Advanced Manufacturing Technology, CNC and Machining contests at the regional level. His class has been recognized by the NYS Education Department as a Top Career and Technical Education Program in New York State.

He was nominated by his peers across the Area 1 division. One nominator says, “Young people are always the center of Scott’s decisions and plans. He is forever mindful of any action’s impact on the individual or the group. He is always moving forward, taking others with him into the future and the world beyond his classroom.”

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