Photos by Tom Rivers

HOLLEY – Brandon Dillenbeck, a top 10 graduate for Holley, accepts congratulations and citations on Monday from Lynne Johnson (left), chairwoman of the Orleans County Legislature, and Eileen Banker, representing Assemblyman Steve Hawley.

Hickory Ridge Golf & Country Club hosted the 32^nd annual Academic Excellence Awards Dinner on Monday, when the top 10 graduates from Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina were recognized. (Albion has its own honors convocation for students with cumulative GPAs of 90 or higher.)

Students were praised for their academic achievements, and urged to keep working hard in college and in their careers.

Jacob Bensley, a top 10 student at Medina, heads to the podium to be presented with a medallion and citations.

Tim Bow, a 2005 Lyndonville graduate, served as keynote speaker. He works as a lawyer in Chicago for Kirkland & Ellis LLP. He earned his Juris Doctor from the Miami School of Law in 2013, after attaining a bachelor’s in political science and bachelor’s of music in saxophone from Northwestern University in 2010.

Bow said the local students are fortunate to have been raised in a small town where the relationships are more authentic.

“Growing up in Orleans County is an asset,” he said.

Their career path likely won’t be a straight line. He advised the top 10 grads to keep moving forward in the face of setbacks and adversity.

Kierstyn Christensen of Kendall earned a top 10 rank for the Class of 2018.

Mercedes Benedict is recognized as one of Lyndonville’s top graduates.

Raine Oakley of Kendall gets a hug and congratulations from Julie Christensen, the school district superintendent.

Dr. Aaron Slack, principal of Lyndonville High School, recognized the top 10 students. These three include from left: Cassie Maynard, Taylor Paniccia and Kennedy Smelski.

Shelby Green of Medina is congratulated by Mark Kruzynski (center), the district superintendent, and David Sevenski, president of the Board of Education.

Mark Kruzynski, Medina Central School superintendent, has a hearty handshake for Toby Kiebala, one of Medina’s top 10 grads.

The top 10 students include:

Holley: Hannah Bailey, Matthew DeSimone, Nina DiLella, Brandon Dillenbeck, Alexander Lane, Melody Purtell, Jessica Sedore, Dakota Thompson, Dalton Thurley and Hanna Waterman.

Kendall: Kierstyn Christensen, Michela Hanlon, Megan Hardenbrook, Caleb Henion, Sadie Howes, Archer Knapp, Raine Oakley, Adriana Passarell, Allen Tonas and Lyndsay Wright.

Lyndonville: Mercedes Benedict, Brody Brown, Heaven Flood, Paige Gardner, Mariah Grabowski, Skyler Lear, Miranda Lembcke, Cassie Maynard, Taylor Paniccia and Kennedy Smelski.

Medina: Jacob Bensley, Alyssa Beyer, Andrew Fuller, Shelby Green, Jack Hill, Ian Joseph, Brigid Keller, Madison Kenward, Tobias Kiebala and Hannah Sones.

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Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The Albion Rotary Club awarded $3,000 in scholarships to graduating seniors today. Pictured, from left, include Hailey Bader, Rotary Club President Mike Bonnewell (who is also the school district superintendent), Justin Robinson, Bonnie Malakie (Scholarship Committee chairwoman) and Riley Seielstad.

Hailey Bader won the Dick Eddy “Service Above Self” Scholarship, a $1,250 award that is given to a student committed to community service and leadership, and who displays high potential for future accomplishment. Hailey has been active in chorus, band, drama, Rotary Interact, as a class officer and on the varsity tennis team. She has a passion for dance. She will study marketing and dance at The College at Brockport and would like to run her own dance studio after college.

Riley Seielstad won the $1,250 Edward Archbald Memorial Scholarship, given to a senior who shares Archbald’s love of sports, recreational activities, community service and work experience. Riley has been a class officer all four years of high school, and has been active in the theater program and band, including serving as a drum major for the marching band. She also has been active with the 4-H program and in horseback riding. She will major in allied health at Otterbein University in Ohio with a goal for a career in occupational therapy.

Justin Robinson was awarded the $500 Rotary Career Advancement Prize for a senior committed to community service, school activities and work experience. Justin has played soccer and football for Albion, while being active in the FFA and band. He works part-time at his family dairy farm in Albion during the school year, and full-time during the summer. He will attend Cobleskill University to major in agriculture business with an emphasis on dairy management. He plans to work at the family farm after college.

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Provided photos: Andrew Niederhofer, Carlton fire chief, accepts the award on behalf of Carlton for the most fire training hours. He receives the award from Dale Banker (left), the county’s emergency management coordinator; Kathy Way from the state Office of Fire Prevention and Control; and Jerry Bentley, a deputy emergency management coordinator for the county (central battalion).

ALBION – The fire companies and firefighters with the most training hours in 2017-18 were recognized during Monday night’s joint meeting of the Orleans County Fire Advisory Board and Orleans County Fire Chiefs Association.

The Orleans County Office of Emergency Management along with state Office of Fire Prevention and Control presented the training awards for 2017- 2018 for Fire and EMS. The Barre Volunteer Fire Company led all of the departments with 831 EMS training hours. Carlton was tops in fire training hours with 559.

“I would like to personally congratulate all the award winners for their hard work and dedication to the emergency services and their home fire and EMS agencies,” said Dale Banker, the county’s emergency management coordinator. “They truly make our county a much better and safer place to live and work.”

The breakdown for training hours for each fire department includes: Albion, 177 fire and 103 EMS; Barre, 195 fire and 831 EMS; Carlton, 538 fire and 303.5 EMS; East Shelby, 57 fire and 368 EMS; Fancher-Hulberton-Murray, 159 fire and 29.5 EMS; Holley, 368 fire and 349.5 EMS; Kendall, 420 fire and 59 EMS; Lyndonville, 387 fire and 40 EMS; Medina, 173 fire and 10 EMS; Ridgeway, 266 fire and 604.5 EMS; Shelby, 369 fire and 44 EMS; and COVA, 223.5 EMS.

The following had 200 or more combined training hours in fire/EMS: Chantelle Kidney and Zachary Blackburn, both 276 with the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company; Kara Bentley, 252 with Barre; and Andrew Cary, 211 with the Holley Fire Company.

Pictured from left include Dale Banker, Andrew Cary, Chantelle Kidney, Zachary Blackburn and Kara Bentley.

Wallace Snyder of the Lyndonville Fire Department accepts the award for leading the county with 147 fire training hours.

Kara Bentley of Barre led all firefighters with 223 EMS training hours.

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Provided photo: Jonathan Doherty accepts an award on Saturday from Angela Christoforos of Channel 4 in Buffalo. She was emcee of a 20th anniversary celebration for People Inc.’s DisABILITY Museum in Buffalo.

ALBION – An Albion man who has pushed for more opportunities for people with disabilities was recognized on Saturday for his years of advocacy.

Jonathan Doherty was presented with the Chris Burke Award for Excellence in disABILITY Advocacy on Saturday during a 20^th anniversary celebration for People Inc.’s DisABILITY Museum in Buffalo.

Doherty led the effort in 2010 to ban the R-word in Orleans County. The County Legislature formally passed a resolution in May 2010, telling local, state and federal governments to no longer use the word “retarded” in describing people with developmental disabilities.

The R-word is a “vicious slang” that is insulting and hurtful to people with developmental disabilities and their families, legislators said in their resolution in 2010.

Doherty was a founding member of Self Advocate All Stars in 2006. One of its early goals was to rail against official government use of the “R-word.”

Doherty and the Self Advocate All Stars march in parades, wash cars, present at County Legislature meetings and make other efforts to reach out to the community.

Doherty said the community and state have a long way to go to making the communities more accessible for people with disabilities. He is on a transportation committee and he said a goal is later public bus runs so people with disabilities could go shopping, go to the movies or attend other events after the bus runs typically end by dinner right now.

“The transportation issue we need to continue to work on,” he said today. “We want buses after 6 p.m. or else it’s $40 to $50 for a taxi.”

Doherty, 35, said he will continue to be an advocate.

“With self advocacy there are issues across New York State where they cut things and they don’t recognize that people with disabilities matter, too,” he said.

Doherty is an active community member, volunteering with the Strawberry Festival Committee, Boy Scout Troop 164, the Albion Alumni Foundation, the Eastman at Albion Concert Series, and numerous events for The Arc of Orleans County. He also recently started dancing with Gotta Dance by Miss Amy.

He earned his Eagle Scout rank when he was 21 and is an assistant Scoutmaster. He wants to see more local Scouts earn their Eagle rank.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Jonathan Doherty is active in the Albion community, volunteering with many causes. He also performed during the May 5 dance recital for Gotta Dance by Miss Amy in Albion.

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Press Release, Girl Scouts of Western New York

MEDINA – Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce sisters Jessica, 17, and Sarah Grancelli, 19, of Medina as 2018 Gold Award Girl Scouts. They will be recognized on June 2 during the Gold Award Ceremony at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester.

Jessica Grancelli

Jessica’s project, Playing with STEM, consisted of adding puppets, books, games, and storage materials to the new interactive play space at Oak Orchard Elementary School. These materials will enhance the Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM) experience of children who use the interactive playroom twice a week. Jessica also made the current science literature library more accessible for teachers and students by organizing hundreds of books and producing a list with all of the titles and subjects.

STEM was also a focus for Sarah’s project, Space for STEM. Sarah organized and created science activities and games for a science night at Oak Orchard Elementary School. There were more than 350 people in attendance. The students used these games and activities to learn about space science. Sarah also created and published a book relating space and geography that will help students understand their place in the world. The materials she created were saved and are available as part of the science materials available to classroom teachers from Kindergarten to third grade at the school.

Sarah Grancelli

Sarah stated, “I love science and believe in the importance of STEM education. Girl Scouts taught me to be a leader. I learned to help others before myself and to make the world a better place. I developed courage and confidence as I learned to pursue my goals.”

Jessica commented, “Girl Scouts has taught me independence and to give back to the community.”

The Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouts. The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.” A Girl Scout’s project should be something that a girl can be passionate about—in thought, deed, and action that encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills.

The project should also fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be on-going or sustainable. Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project. Completion of the Gold Award also qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities.

To learn more, visit gswny.org.

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LATHAM – Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General of New York, announces the recent award recognitions for members of the New York Army National Guard who participated in the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief support missions following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in 2017.

Two soldiers from Orleans County are receiving the Humanitarian Service Award:

Pfc. Jordan Wolcott from Albion and Sgt. 1st Class John Anstey from Holley both served in the U.S. Virgin Islands from Oct. 23 to Oct. 26, 2017. They served with the 105th Military Police Company of the New York Army National Guard.

“The support of our New York National Guard in the Caribbean following Hurricanes Irma and Maria was nothing short of exceptional, and our soldiers are the reason for that success,” German said. “Our citizen soldiers are used to responding here at home, so the effort to move troops and equipment to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands presented unique challenges. The presentation of the Humanitarian Service Medal is a great reflection of our soldiers’ commitment to serve others.”

The Department of Defense approved the Humanitarian Service Medal on March 29, 2018 for soldiers who provided meritorious participation in operations of a humanitarian nature. More than 400 Army National Guard Soldiers will be eligible to receive the award. Presentations will be made at the unit level at a future date.

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Photo courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA — Destiny Satkowski, a senior at Medina High School, recently won first place in the New York State Skills USA competition.

Satkowski competed in the health occupation pro portfolio in the Allied Health II program.

Another Orleans County student at the Orleans-Niagara BOCES also placed in the competition. Justin Corser of Lyndonville was third in the technical computer application in computer technology.

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

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Two local licensed practical nurse programs are among the top ranked in the state, according to the latest rankings by the Annual PracticalNursing.org.

Niagara County Community College was ranked third in the state and the Orleans-Niagara BOCES was sixth out of 67 programs.

The rankings are largely based on NCLEX-PN exam first-time pass rates over the past several years. The NCLEX-PN exam is used by state boards of nursing around the country for testing proficiency and granting licensure.

NCCC earned a 98.15 overall score for third in the rankings with the Orleans-Niagara BOCES at 95.39 for sixth.

To see the full rankings, click here.

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