Michael C. Pretsch
ROCHESTER – Michael C. Pretsch, Esq. has been named a partner at Osborn, Reed & Burke, LLP.
Pretsch, a 2007 Holley graduate, joined the firm in 2018, focusing on Medical Malpractice Defense and Insurance Defense.
He was named a partner of the firm on Jan. 1. Osborn, Reed & Burke, LLP has roots going back to 1916.
ALBION – Bruce Landis of Photos by Bruce in Albion has won a First Place Merit Award by the Professional Photographers of America International for his photograph of Jacob, a Brockport High School student posing for senior portrait.
Landis entered the image, “Opening Day Ready,” in the PPofA competition. The portrait will be on display starting this weekend at the PPofA International Convention, National Harbor, MD.
Landis has worked as a professional photographer locally since 1974. In 2017 he was honored by the Orleans County Chamber of Commerce with a “Lifetime Achievement Award.”
Provided photo: Coby Albone, a graduate student at Brockport State College, receives the Jay B. Nash Outstanding Major Award with NYS AHPERD President Dr. Clancy Seymour.
BROCKPORT – A Medina graduate who is working on his master’s degree in athletic administration at Brockport State College, has won a state award given to an outstanding student majoring in physical education.
Albone earned his bachelor’s degree in P.E. at Brockport, double majoring in physical education and health education, with a concentration in adapted physical education. He is working on his master’s and plans to work as a P.E. teacher in a school district.
“It’s what I have a passion for and what I want to do with my life,” he said about being a teacher and coach.
He has been active locally at the Orleans County YMCA the past 4 ½ years, working as youth sports program director and the canal club coordinator. He also coached youth soccer in medina and assisted a lacrosse team at Brockport High School.
At Brockport State College, he was president of PE Club and president of the club for people majoring in Kinesiology, Sports Studies and Physical Education. He also was on the executive committee for the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
That organization, AHPERD, selected Albone as the recipient of Jay B. Nash Outstanding Major Award. It is given to two undergraduate students for their outstanding performance and extensive preparation for the profession in the areas of health education, physical education, exercise science, recreation or dance education.
This award is the most prestigous award that a student can receive at the state level from the NYS AHPERD.
Albone is a 2021 graduate of SUNY Brockport. During his time at Brockport, he found success in holding leadership positions at the state level, as well as at the collegiate level. He was a part of numerous community involvement, teaching, and coaching experiences, along with striving in the classroom.
With receiving the Jay B. Nash Outstanding Major Award, Albone was put into two pools for two different national awards through The Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America). Albone was selected this spring for the Ruth Abernathy Presidential Award as well as the Robert Pate Teaching Award.
Since 1995, SHAPE America has awarded scholarships to outstanding undergraduate and graduate student members. The Ruth Abernathy Presidential Award, developed by the past presidents of SHAPE America to honor deserving students, who exhibit a strong master of understanding/ performance element in their discipline, and demonstrated a significant service element related directly to their field. This award is given to three undergraduate students and two graduate students each year.
Robert M. Pate Student Award sponsored by the SHAPE America, the Robert M. Pate Student Scholarship is given annually to undergraduate student currently pursuing a degree in Health Education or Physical Education. Recipients must be an outstanding undergraduate student who exemplifies professionalism, academic achievement, service and character. Selections are based on academic achievement, community service, professionalism and character.
Photo and information from Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – Congratulations to the 33 students from the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center who were recently inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.
Out of all the high school students in the United States, the National Technical Honor Society students who receive this honor comprise 1.6 percent of that population. For staff at the Orleans/BOCES center, they represent the four pillars of the National Technical Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, service and character.
The students were honored in front of their teachers, families and school district representatives. The students had to maintain an 89.5 grade average in their career and technical education programs and an 84.5 average at their high schools, have superior attendance, exemplary behavior, be a member in good standing with SkillsUSA and have a recommendation from a faculty member.
Congratulations to: Hannah Aiken (Royalton-Hartland) – Allied Health Program, Serenity Baumgart (Medina) – Animal Science, Zoeya Berning (Newfane CSD) – Animal Science, Alyssa Clare (Newfane) – Health Occupations Technician, Emily Clark (Royalton-Hartland), Mackenzie Clogston (Newfane) – Health Occupations Technician, Paige Dennis (Barker) – Security & Law Enforcement, Allison Dent (Royalton-Hartland) – Cosmetology, Brandon DiNieri (Royalton-Hartland) – Electricity/Electronics, Brooklyn Garrow (Medina) – Security & Law Enforcement, Haylee Green (Lockport) – Graphic Communications, Nikolas Gutierrez (Royalton-Hartland) – Allied Health, Claire Halstead (Royalton-Hartland) – Allied Health, Seana Hamilton (Royalton-Hartland) – Health Occupations Technician, Kyle Haner (Newfane) – Building Trades, Catelynn Kidney (Lyndonville) – Cosmetology, Christian Lates (Royalton-Hartland) – Allied Health, Kailyn Livergood (Royalton-Hartland) – Allied Health, Jacob Lundy (Newfane) – Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Paris McCugh (Albion) – Security & Law Enforcement, Keegan Muessigbrodt (Orleans County Christian School) – Diesel Technology/Heavy Equipment, Michael Pasquale (Newfane) – Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Reanna Perkins (Royalton-Hartland) – Allied Health, Karina Rotoli (Medina) – Allied Health, Molly Russell (Royalton-Hartland) – Computer Technology, Nathaniel Sauls (Newfane) – Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering, Gabriella Smith (Royalton-Hartland) – Building Trades, Dakota Socha (Akron) – Diesel Technology/Heavy Equipment, Ashley Stanczyk (Royalton-Hartland) – Allied Health, Lilian Streich (Lockport) – Security & Law Enforcement, Alyssa Tomaino (Lockport) – Cosmetology, Sophia Trononlone (Newfane) – Health Occupations Technician, Jack Whipple (Lyndonville) – Allied Health.
Photos courtesy of Linda Redfield Shakoor
WATERPORT – Silvia Rosario of Albion is celebrated at the World Life Institute on Tuesday evening after passing her U.S. citizenship test earlier in the day.
She is one of many students at the World Life Institute Education Center in Waterport to achieve citizenship in the past 20 years, and the first one since the pandemic to achieve this honor.
The program at the WLI includes English as a Second Language and US civics. It has been offered at the site on Stillwater Road since 1997 and is sponsored by Orleans/Niagara BOCES.
Susan Diemert, literacy director, presented Rosario with a US citizenship certificate. A congratulatory meal was prepared by Orleans BOCES teachers at the WLI school for Silvia, her husband Sergio Rosario, and several agricultural students who finished their several months of harvesting apples.
Silvia Rosario is a mother of four, including two who are in college. She recently purchased an apple farm called Rosario Brothers Farm in Medina. Her husband Sergio is the owner of an apple farm in Sodus.
Silvia Rosario and her husband Sergio are happy after she attained her US citizenship.
Photos by Ginny Kropf: Orleans County Chamber of Commerce award winners gathered for a group photo after their recognition Thursday night at White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. Seated, from left, are Lora Partyka from Partyka Farms, Legislator Ken DeRoller, Natasha Wasuck from Lockstone, Attorney Lance Mark, Rachel Kaiser from Wildwood Lake KOA Campgrounds, and Ellen Eaton from Takeform. Standing, from left, are Jeff Partyka from Partyka Farms, Jim Minner from Virtual Polymer Compounds, Justin Bruce from Bent’s Opera House, Marco Rivas with Oak Orchard Community Health, Robert Batt as Business Person of the Year, Rob Kaiser from Wildwood Lake, and Jim Nowaczewski from HeBrews Coffee.
LYNDONVILLE – Representatives, employees and friends of this year’s Orleans County Chamber of Commerce’s business award winners gathered at the White Birch Golf Course Thursday night to celebrate the successes of these nominees.
Winners recognized were Takeform, Business of the Year; Partyka Farms, Agricultural Business of the Year; HeBrews Coffee, New Business of the Year; Bent’s Opera House, Phoenix Award; Oak Orchard Health, Community Service; Lockstone, Small Business of the Year; Robert Batt, Business Person of the Year: Virtual Polymer Compounds, Employer of the Year; Wildwood KOA Campgrounds, the Hidden Gem; Ken DeRoller and John DeFilipps, Service to the Community; and Lance Mark, Lifetime Achievement Award.
Chamber director Darlene Hartway welcomed guests, saying, “We are here to spotlight just a few of our successful businesses.”
Marc Shurtz, head of Orleans Community Health, presents the Business of the Year Award for Takeform to Ellen Eaton, director of Human Resources.
She said the year started off again as a trying one for businesses, still having to deal with restrictions and constraints with the Covid pandemic. She commended the businesses who took adversity and turned it into the positive.
Chamber president Bryan DeGraw added his praise for the local businesses and individuals who have done, and continue to do so much for this county. He acknowledged major sponsors – Bank of Castile and Apex Clean Energy/Heritage Wind, Platinum sponsors; Takeform, Mark &Graber and Baxter, Gold sponsors; Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Silver sponsor; and Ontario Shores, Hinspergers Poly Industry and Albion Agencies/Seaway Insurance, Bronze sponsors.
DeGraw recapped the year, saying it started slowly, still dealing with Covid, and the decision was made to cancel the annual legislative luncheon and the spring Home and Garden Show. In June, they resumed Chamber After Hours events, with a tour of Orleans County’s first robotic dairy at the VanLieshout Farm in Barre. In July, they finally held the legislative luncheon. He shared the joy of having the Orleans County 4-H Fair return, with record-breaking attendance. In August, the Chamber hosted their annual Wine and Garden Walk at Robin Hill Preserve in Lyndonville.
He added the Chamber is looking forward to serving, representing and enhancing business growth in Orleans County.
The first award of the evening was Business of the Year, which was presented to Takeform by Marc Shurtz, representing the 2019 winner, Orleans Community Health. Ellen Eaton, director of Human Resources, accepted the award.
Hartway explained Takeform makes industrial signs, with customers who not only include local and regional businesses, such as Medina Memorial Hospital, but others as far-reaching as the Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins and Georgetown University. She said Takeform saw their most successful year to date in 2020.
Mark Zambito, right, presents the Phoenix Award to Justin Bruce, general manager of Bent’s Opera House. Orleans County Chamber director, Darlene Hartway, looks on at left.
Chamber board member Dave Gagne presented the Agricultural Business of the Year Award to Partyka Farms in Kendall. Accepting the award with Lora were her husband Jeff and sons Scott and Steven. The Partyka farm which was started with 150 acres has now expanded to 800 acres.
New Business of the Year was awarded to Jim Nowaczewski, who opened HeBrews Coffee in Medina during the summer after opening a site in Albion in November 2020. The award was presented by Michelle Waters from the Tree House, the previous winner.
Hartway said some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.
“Jim is one of those people,” she said. “His hard work and determination brought him to where he is today.”
The Phoenix Award is presented to an individual or individuals who have successfully repurposed an existing facility for their business in Orleans County. This year’s winner is Bent’s Opera House in Medina.
Mark Zambito, the 2019 award winner and Chamber board member, presented the award to Justin Bruce, general manager of Bent’s. Bruce said Roger and Heather Hungerford were not able to attend, but said the restoration was undertaken with the ultimate goal that the project would grow Medina, grow Orleans County and grow Western New York.
Elisa Chambery from Supportive Care of Orleans presented the Community Service Award to Oak Orchard Health in Albion. Marco Rivas, chief compliance officer, accepted the award on Oak Orchard Health’s behalf.
Rob and Rachel from Wildwood Lake KOA Campgrounds receive the Hidden Gem Award from Orleans County Chamber president Bryan DeGraw.
The Small Business of the Year Award is presented to a business with 50 or fewer employees, which has sustained significant success throughout the year. This year’s award was presented by Gagne to Natasha Wasuck from Lockstone in Albion. Wasuck and her husband John Hernandez have turned a former auto repair site into a wedding and events venue by the Erie Canal.
Robert Batt, director of Cornell Cooperative Extension, was named Business Person of the Year. The award was presented by DeGraw. Batt was recognized as an individual who has had outstanding accomplishments within his own business and has made notable contributions to the local business sector.
The Hidden Gem Award goes to a business that has made a positive contribution to tourism in the county, Hartway said. Chamber board treasurer Rachel Hicks presented the award to Rob and Rachel Kaiser from Wildwood KOA Campgrounds.
Kelly Kiebala, director of Orleans County Job Development Agency, presented the Employer of the Year Award to Virtual Polymer Compounds in Medina. Representing the company was Jim Minner.
The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to an individual with a long-term record of outstanding business achievements. Hartway presented the award to Medina attorney Lance Mark. Mark has lived in the county for 43 years and watched it evolve, he said. He called it a great, great county and predicts “The best is yet to come.”
Dean Bellack, left, presents Ken DeRoller with a Service to the Community Award.
The final award of the evening was Service to Community, and was presented by United Way director Dean Bellack to two individuals – both county legislators – Ken DeRoller and John DeFilipps. DeFilipps was unable to attend, and his award was accepted by legislator Bill Eick.
Bellack called DeRoller a “doer.”
“He is an asset to anything he associates himself with,” Bellack said.
DeRoller said it has been a pleasure to serve Orleans County. He called it, “A great place to live, play and work.”
Hartway said “service to the community” is an understatement when it comes to these two men.
“They have both made significant and lasting contributions to our community,” she said.
The evening ended with a basket raffle fundraiser.
Photos courtesy of Arc GLOW: Staff and residents of Arc GLOW celebrate Sheila Taylor as one of four state-wide Thomas A. Maul Award winners on Thursday. The award recognizes a Direct Support Professional who consistently demonstrates excellence, creativity, and commitment to people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
Press Release, Arc GLOW
Sheila Taylor, Direct Support Professional, has been selected to receive the Thomas A. Maul Direct Support Professional Excellence Award for the NYSARC, Inc, as a representative of Arc GLOW.
Sheila Taylor
Selected from thousands of nominations, only four in the state can win this prestigious award. The Thomas A. Maul Direct Support Professional Excellence Award is an annual award which recognizes a Direct Support Professional who consistently demonstrates excellence, creativity and commitment to providing supports to people who have intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
Taylor has been at the Turtle Rock IRA in Lakeville, Livingston County since it was built 13 years ago. This particular home houses aging individuals, and she is known for is known for going above and beyond in her position supporting aging people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
Residential Director, Deb Tuckerman, commends Sheila for setting the bar for other staff.
“She sets that bar very high because of her commitment and dedication to the people she supports,” Tuckerman said. “Staff and the people in the home often comment on how they look up to Sheila, and many refer to her as a mother figure. Sheila consistently role model’s kindness, a strong work ethic, person centeredness, and empathy. She is the ideal DSP, who reliably puts her heart into her work every day.”
Working with aging individuals, she is a crucial part in home life supporting their personal care, and helping them get through end of life situations. Tuckerman reflects back on a moment in particular earlier in the year.
“When Shelia found out a housemate passed away, she came directly to the IRA to talk with an individual who she knew would be especially sad,” Tuckerman said. “Sheila demonstrates that The Arc is not just a job for her – it’s an important part of her life.”
Arc GLOW, formerly The Arc of Livingston-Wyoming and Arc of Genesee Orleans, are family-founded agencies dedicated to helping people with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities meet their full potential and find fulfillment in learning, personal relationships, employment, volunteerism, recreation, the arts, and more.
Photos courtesy of Justin Drees
Jackson Drees, 13, of Hartland holds a large-mouth bass he caught on Sunday at the Red House Lake at Allegany State Park.
The state record for a large-mouth bass is 11 pounds, 4 ounces. It was caught 35 years ago by John Higbie from Otsego County’s Buckhorn Lake.
Jackson didn’t weigh the fish because his scale was in his tackle box on the other side of a bridge. He didn’t want the fish to die so he let it go back into the water.
Jackson was camping with his family over the weekend. He down to the lake with his brother Lucas, 16, while their parents packed up the camper. Jackson called his father on the ohone, and was out of breath.
“I feared something had happened I asked what is wrong,” Justin Drees said. “He was able to gasp out, ‘I just caught my personal best fish. Dad this is a monster, a dinosaur. It’s mouth is as big as my head.”
Jackson is an eighth-grader at Royalton-Hartland. He plays JV baseball and modified football for Roy-Hart but his passion is fishing, his father said.
“He fishes every day,” Mr. Drees said. “He takes a fishing pole to school with him every day and in the time after school before football practice, he walks over to the canal to get some casts in!”
Photo by Tom Rivers: World champion wood cutter Mary Dooley of Waterport tried her hand at hatchet throwing at 810 Axes in Medina, when it opened in July 2019.
A Waterport resident and swim teacher at Medina High School has just received notification she has been inducted into the Paul Smith’s College Hall of Fame.
Mary Dooley was informed of her honor in a letter which read:
“The past and present success of PSC and its students were made, in part, by your personal and significant contributions. You and many others, some living and some dead, will be inducted and honored at a special ceremony in the near future.”
Dooley and a classmate were the first female members to compete with the college’s Forestry Club Men’s Woodmen’s Team in 1972. Dooley captured the coveted Tall Tale contest with her tale of coach Gould Hoyt’s fascinating introduction to women entering the woodsmith’s arena. Paul Smith’s fielded the first all-women’s team in North America, of which Dooley was a member. The team would go on to dominate the Eastern collegiate circuit early on and continue to post record accomplishments today.
Dooley said she probably inherited her competitive nature from growing up the second youngest in a family of seven.
She went on to compete for more than 30 years in sawing, cutting and axe throwing, and is a many-time world champion in crosscut log sawing and member of the winning women’s team at the 2009 Olympics at Sydney, Australia.
Dooley’s love of the woods probably began as a child when her parents visited the Adirondacks every summer, she said.
She grew up in Rochester, one of seven children, whose parents she said made sure they excelled. At Paul Smith’s College, she received an associate’s degree in forestry. She also attended Cornell, where she learned to be a farrier.
Then she took a job as a logger and horse teamster in the forests in Wyoming, Colorado, Washington and Oregon. She worked in environmentally endangered areas and lived in logging camps with all men.
Provided photo: Mary Dooley, left, and her partner compete in crosscut sawing at the New York State Lumberjack Association meet in Old Forge.
After several injuries, Dooley decided she had enough and moved back to Western New York, where she took a job with Terry and Sue Williams of Royalton, owners of the Olympic champion Abdullah.
It was there she met her first husband, Wayne Bruning, who had a farm on Chestnut Ridge Road.
They were married in 1980 and had four children. In 1991, when the oldest was 9, their twins were 6 and the baby was 3, Wayne was killed when a farm wagon overturned on him.
Dooley was left with a farm to run, 60 cows to milk and four small children to care for.
She would get up at 4 a.m., milk the cows and then get the kids dressed for school. At the time, she had a baby sitter so she could go to work at Zwicker’s Aquatic Club on Dysinger Road. She hired someone to milk for her at night, and on weekends, she played catch-up, she said.
Wayne had been friends with Carlton Plummer of Waterport, also a farmer, and he came to check on Dooley after Wayne died, she said. In 1993, they were married and she moved to his home.
When Plummer asked what she wanted for a wedding present, she replied, “A competition saw.”
“I still have it,” Dooley said. “I earned a couple of world championships with it, some of which still stand.”
Paul Pfenninger of Chili was her sawing partner for 15 years, and their world record still stands. She still has five world records standing in Jill and Jill and Jack and Jill sawing.
She has been a world champion in sawing, chopping and axe throwing.
Carlton died in November 2019, and at 67, Dooley has retired from the competition circuit but continues to teach swimming at Medina High School, a job she said she loves. While working at Zwicker’s, she coached the USA Swim Team in Lockport, and in 1996, she started coaching in Medina. She has been teaching swimming in Medina since 1998.
“Being able to swim every day is like a fountain of youth,” she said. “It’s the next thing to being outside.”
Kristina Gabalski
KNOWLESVILLE — Kristina Gabalski, the 4-H youth development director for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County, has been recognized with a state award for her work with local 4-H’ers.
Gabalski was presented with a “Special Service Award” on Monday during a virtual annual conference of the New York State Association of Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Educators. The awards ceremony was held this week as part of National 4-H week.
The Special Service Award recognizes members of the professional association who have developed a new technique in programming, worked successfully with new audiences and have been innovative in utilizing resources, people and situations.
“Kristina was nominated by a group of individuals including other educators, youth and volunteers,” said Robert Batt, Extension director in Orleans County. “In her time as the 4-H Educator for CCE Orleans, Kristina has increased the outreach of the program including focus on bringing horticulture, art and wellness activities to youth.”
He cited projects this past year that included the flagpole freedom garden at the fairgrounds, offering workshops such as ichiban pumpkin decorating, soil painting and bringing special attention to showcasing youth’s 4-H work.
“Kristina serves on several state and regional committees and advocates both to bring program into our county but also to find opportunity for youth to explore outside of the area,” Batt said.
To find out more about 4-H and youth programs in Orleans County, contact the Extension at 585-798-4265 or orleans4H@cornell.edu or visit the CCE website.
Photos courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES
Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
MEDINA – The Orleans/Niagara BOCES recently named its employees of the year for the 2020-2021 school year. Employees are nominated by their peers and a committee selects an awardee in each of these categories: Administrator, Clerical, Continuing Education, Custodial/Maintenance, Staff Specialist, Substitute, Teacher Aide and Teacher.
Rob Robinson is the Administrator of the Year. He is the Assistant Principal who has worked at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center for the past five years. Robinson said his favorite part of his job is helping people see that they have the ability to make a difference in the lives of others.
On learning he was named an employee of the year, he said, “I work with hardworking and amazing administrators, so I’m surprised and honored to receive the administrator of the year award.”
Sabrina Stabler is the Clerical Person of the Year. She started her position as secretary to the Principal at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center in July of 2020.
“I love being able to help out the students, teachers and other staff members and being a small part of making the school run,” she said. “I never realized how many moving pieces that need to run smoothly for a school to operate so it is really humbling and exciting to be part of that every day. Although I do not work in the classrooms, I enjoy getting to know students who visit the office and the opportunity to support them, their teachers and my fellow coworkers through my job role. Hearing the student success stories makes me remember that all the work we do, however big or small, is all worth it!”
Stabler said she is honored and excited to have been awarded Clerical Person of the Year.
“I have really enjoyed my time at BOCES so far and have been able to learn from my coworkers and develop new skills that I know will help me in my life, both at work and out of work,” she said.
Linda Redfield Shakoor is the Continuing Education Employee of the Year. She has worked as an English as a Second Language (ESL)/Civics teacher since 1994. She also coordinates the day/evening ESL/Citizenship program with four other teachers at the World Life Institute Education Center in Waterport under the supervision of Susan Diemert.
Redfield Shakoor said her favorite part of her job is getting to know the primarily agriculture adult students, their lives, their work and their challenges. She said winning an Employee of the Year award was a huge surprise.
“When our District Superintendent, Dr. Godshall, presented it to me directly in front of my colleagues it was an incredible surprise,” she said. “Especially, as a part-time teacher I never dreamed I would have such an award with so many deserving teachers in our program.”
Bobby Heschke is the Custodian/Maintenance Person of the Year. He has been a courier at Orleans/Niagara BOCES for 33 years.
“My favorite part of my job is being able to drive around and meet all the good people in the school districts we serve and of course our BOCES employees,” he said.
Heschke said he was very surprised to win the award. “I work with a lot of good people presently and a lot of great people who have since retired. I am very honored to receive this and I really enjoy working here.”
Paul Nawotka is the Staff Specialist of the Year. He has worked at BOCES for 19 years as a Safety Risk Analyst. When asked his favorite part of his job, he answered, “There are too many to list, but the interaction that I have with the people that I work with and the districts that I serve are my favorite.”
He said the award was unexpected. “I am so very thankful, but it is really a team effort and I’d like to thank the other members of the Safety Risk Department, both current and former members.”
Carol Hausrath was named the Substitute of the Year. She has been a teacher for over 50 years and has been subbing with Orleans/Niagara BOCES for almost 20 years.
“I started in the Home Hospital Teaching program and subbed at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center and the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center,” she said. “I have been at the Royalton-Hartland Learning Center for the last few years, which I absolutely love.”
Hausrath said her favorite part of what she does is working with children. “They just melt my heart.”
When she received news about her award she was stunned. “I opened my letter and thought it was just a letter from BOCES with information and then I said to my husband, I won Substitute of the Year. It is the best thing that has happened to me in my educational career!”
April Matson is the Teacher Aide of the Year. She is currently working at the Royalton-Hartland Learning Center and has been working with BOCES for 30 years.
“My favorite part of my job is working one-on-one with the students,” she said. “I really enjoy watching the students grow year-to-year.”
Matson said she was honored to win the award. “I work with a great group of people.”
Matt Anastasi was named the Teacher of the Year. He teaches Building Trades at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center. He has taught that program for 20 years. When asked his favorite part of his career, “There is no better feeling than seeing the light inside a student get turned on and seeing how much they get inspired to continue learning and working in the field.”
Anastasi said he was absolutely shocked to win Teacher of the Year. “I have been motivated by past recipients and have even been mentored by some of them early on in my career. This was a great way to remember my 20th year teaching, but also a motivator for the rest of my teaching career.”
Ashleigh Stornelli
State Sen. Rob Ortt has chosen a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office to be the “Woman of Distinction” representing the 62nd Senate District.
Ashleigh Stornelli is a road deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. She also has worked as the school resource officer at Kendall Central School.
“Her daily interactions and honest conversations help her make positive connections with students, faculty and staff,” Ortt said.
He noted Stornelli is certified in mental health and crisis intervention. Stornelli grew up in Lyndonville and graduated in Lyndonville’s Class of 2010. She played soccer, basketball, and track at Lyndonville, and then earned an Associate Degree in Criminal Justice at Genesee Community College.
Stornelli in 2014 joined the Army National Guard as a 32B — Military Police Officer. She graduated from the 42nd Military Police Company in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, in February 2015, and was stationed at the 222nd Military Police Company in Rochester for six years. “During her time in service, she learned the value of loyalty, duty, and personal courage,” Ortt said. “She chose to live by these standards and continue a career in law enforcement in her civilian life.”
In 2015, she was accepted into the Erie County Community College Police Academy and graduated with the 126th Basic Academy Class. The following year she started with the Holley Police Department, participating in community events and holiday festivities. She also began interacting with students in the school district, working to develop positive relationships with students and staff.
In May 2018, she joined the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office. She is active in the yearly Veterans and Memorial Day ceremonies and attends festivals and other celebratory events, according to her Woman of Distinction profile.
Ortt praised Stornelli for dedicating her life “to protect and defend those in need, always there to provide encouragement and support.”
She is the second woman from Orleans County picked by Ortt to receive the award. He previously chose Annette Finch, director of community services at Community Action of Orleans & Genesee, for the recognition in 2017.
MANCHESTER, NH – Five students from Orleans County have been named to the summer President’s List at Southern New Hampshire University.
Full-time students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above are named to the President’s List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits; undergraduate day students must earn 12 credits in fall or spring semester, and online students must earn 12 credits in either EW1 & EW2, EW3 & EW4, or EW5 & EW6.
The students from Orleans County who are on the President’s List include:
Southern New Hampshire University is a private, nonprofit institution with an 89-year history of educating traditional-aged students and working adults. Now serving more than 150,000 learners worldwide, SNHU offers approximately 200 accredited undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs, available online and on its 300-acre campus in Manchester, NH.
Press Release, Genesee Community College
Provided: Top row left – Timothy S. Whitcomb; Top row right – Robert W. Hirsch; Bottom row left – Jim H. Tuttle; Bottom row right – David M. DiMatteo
BATAVIA – The Genesee Community College Foundation will proudly induct both the 2020 and 2021 honorees into its Alumni Hall of Fame in Batavia on Thursday, September 16, at 4 p.m. after missing last year’s ceremony due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Eager to honor the work done by these four individuals, GCC will induct Timothy S. Whitcomb, Jim H. Tuttle, David M. DiMatteo and Robert W. Hirsch into its Alumni Hall of Fame, forever marking their contributions to their communities and the pride they have brought to Genesee Community College.
Timothy Whitcomb, GCC class of 1989, is the Sheriff for Cattaraugus County in Western New York and has served in this role for 30 years. Sheriff Whitcomb is also a Board Member and PTP Director for Law Enforcement Operations at TTMPT (Talk to Me Post Tour); an independent not-for-profit group of committed and concerned retired police officers and police professionals, and actively speaks nationwide as on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Sheriff Whitcomb earned a master’s degree in Counseling Education from St. Bonaventure University and is a certified police instructor in the areas of Interview and Interrogation, the Investigation of Sex Crimes, and the Law Enforcement Response to School Violence. Sheriff Whitcomb is a graduate of the 206th Session of the Federal Bureau Investigation’s National Academy. He has also recently been certified as a SWAT Team fitness specialist.
Sheriff Whitcomb has been an adjunct professor for both St. Bonaventure University and Jamestown Community College. He has served as President for the New York State Sheriffs’ Association and is a past President of the State of New York Police Juvenile Officer Association.
Jim Tuttle, GCC classes of 1971 and 1982 graduated from Genesee Community College with his AAS degree in Criminal Justice and enlisted in the United States Army. Mr. Tuttle re-enlisted in the Army Reserves several times continuing to serve the United States of America for a total of 21 years and eventually returned to earn an Associate degree in Business Administration in 1982 and later to serve on the Alumni Council.
Mr. Tuttle continued his education and earned a bachelor’s degree in Hazardous Studies from SUNY Empire State College. He served as a police officer for the City of Batavia for 30 years, retiring as a Lieutenant.
Mr. Tuttle met his wife while working as an EMT at St. Jerome Hospital in Batavia.
Mr. Tuttle has demonstrated his compassion for others and the community by serving four years as a Town of Pembroke Supervisor, GCC Alumni Council member, GCC Alumni Homecoming Committee, GCC’s Cougar Classic Golf Committee and on the Advisory Board for Genesee County Stop DWI.
David DiMatteo, GCC class of 1984, has been a practicing attorney in the region for over 32 years. A 1982 Notre Dame high school graduate, he began his college education pursuits at Genesee Community College, graduating GCC in 1984, he continued his education at Le Moyne College, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology then completing his legal studies at the University of Buffalo Law School in 1989. Upon graduating he took a position in Warsaw, where he found his own general law private practice in 1993.
He works with municipalities in Erie, Genesee, Livingston and Wyoming counties addressing siting or prohibiting siting of windmills and a variety of solar projects, writing and adapting local law, and creating and financing water districts. He has worked with the NY State Senate to facilitate legislation for local communities.
Mr. DiMatteo has a farm in Wyoming County where he raises Black Angus cows and horses. He also enjoys hunting locally as well as in Africa, Alaska and the Arctic Circle. Mr. DiMatteo and his wife enjoy their farm with their three children and their new granddaughter.
Robert Hirsch, GCC class of 1997, earned his leadership certification from the Warner School of Education at the University of Rochester, a master’s degree in Education from Buffalo State, a bachelor’s degree in History with a minor in Education from SUNY Brockport, his coaching certification and an associate degree in History and Education from Genesee Community College.
Mr. Hirsch began his career at Warsaw Central School (WCSD) where he taught history and coached the wrestling team for over a decade. The wrestling program he built there included eight LCAA titles, seven Section V championships, over 50 sectional champions, eight individual state champions, and a team NYS title in 2007. Beyond the wrestling mat, Mr. Hirsch encouraged his wrestlers to be involved in community service; he himself served a total of 18 years as the Director of Recreation for the towns of Freedom and Arcade where he organizes the annual Summer Olympics for children.
Mr. Hirsch also coached the NYS Women’s Wrestling National Team which earned Mr. Hirsch the title of 2014 Wrestling Coach of the Year by USA Wrestling. Mr. Hirsch went on to coach the Alfred State wrestling team to win the Northeast Championship and placed second two other times. Coaching four NCWA All-Americans, one National Champion and MVP of the tournament, including an eleventh-place team finish, Mr. Hirsch lead the Alfred State Wrestling team through their NCAA III transition in 2019. During this time Mr. Hirsch was the RTI Director at Alfred Almond Central School. Mr. Hirsch is currently the middle/high school principal at Franklinville Central School.
Mr. Hirsch resides in Arcade with his wife and their two beautiful daughters.
Each year, candidates are nominated by friends, family, colleagues or other associates for their impactful contributions to their profession and distinguished service to the community and/or Genesee Community College. The GCC Alumni Hall of Fame, which is located on the second floor of the Conable Technology Building, boasts honorees from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds.
The complete list of Hall of Fame members is available by clicking here.
Press Release, Brockport State College
BROCKPORT – SUNY Brockport has again been recognized for excellence by U.S. News & World Report. Brockport ranked No. 73 among regional universities in the north in the publication’s 2022 Best Colleges rankings, which were released Sept. 13.
Brockport jumped 10 spots from its ranking a year ago.
“I would like to thank our outstanding faculty and staff for all they do each day to make SUNY Brockport a great place for our students to learn,” said Brockport President Heidi Macpherson. “We will continue to provide our students with an exceptional experience both inside and outside of the classroom.”
SUNY Brockport was also recognized in the following categories:
