HOLLEY – Braden Ferranti competes in a the heating and plumbing competition as part of the Skills USA state competition in April at the State Fairgrounds.
Ferranti, who just finished his junior year at Holley, attends WeMoCo in Spencerport. He won the state competition and advanced to Nationals in Louisville, Kentucky, from June 25-29, which is also a National Leadership and Skills Conference, a showcase of career and technical education students.
Ferranti placed 7th in the competition with 50-plus students from all over the country
He is enrolled in the HVAC course this coming year at Wemoco and will continue with the co-op job he has. He will be a senior in Holley this year.
MEDINA – Heaven Flood, a Lyndonville senior, won a $500 scholarship from Coca-Cola. Heaven was a Cosmetology student at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center and received the award at the end of the year ceremony at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES center.
She is pictured at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center with Principal Dr. Michael Weyrauch.
MEDINA – Scott M. Schmidt, the chief coroner for Orleans County, has successfully passed the American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI) Registry examination for professional death investigators receiving the designation of Diplomat.
A Registered Medicolegal Death Investigator (or D-ABMDI) is an individual who, according to ABMDI criteria, has demonstrated the professional knowledge, practical skills, and ethical conduct necessary to conduct a proper medicolegal death investigation as required by the publication Death Investigation: A Guide for the Scene Investigator, published by the National Institutes of Justice.
The ABMDI is a national, not-for-profit, independent, professional certification board that has been established to promote the highest standards of practice for medicolegal death investigators. Certification by the ABMDI requires that the applicant pass a 240-item objective National Board Examination to prove that he/she has attained the knowledge and has successfully demonstrated knowledge in performing over 300 skills necessary to conduct quality, comprehensive medicolegal death investigations.
The ABMDI was created in 1998 with support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It was created by veteran, practicing medicolegal death investigators from throughout the United States who have been involved in the development of the National Guidelines for Death Investigation published by the National Institutes of Justice.
Schmidt is a funeral director with the Christopher Mitchell Funeral Homes, Inc. of Albion and Holley, the Merrill-Grinnell Funeral Homes of Albion and Holley, the Bates, Wallace and Heath Funeral Home of Middleport.
Schmidt has served Orleans County as Coroner since 1990. He was appointed chief coroner by the Orleans County Legislature in 1997 and is also a member of the United States Department of Health and Human Services National Disaster Medical System serving on the Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team. He has responded to four major mass fatality events as a DMORT member including the World Trade Center following the attacks on 9/11/2001.
In addition, Schmidt served as a subject matter expert on a State Emergency Management Working Group which developed Mass Fatality Plan Writing Guidance for Counties in New York State. There are only 59 D-AMBDI’s in New York State, Schmidt being one of them and the only Nationally Certified Death Medicolegal Death Investigator in Orleans County.
Schmidt lives in Medina with his wife Aleka, and his two daughters; Hayley and Danielle. He is the son of Bruce Schmidt, Town of Gaines Justice and former Orleans County Assistant District Attorney.
MORRISVILLE – Morrisville State College recently announced the students who were named to the Dean’s List for the Spring 2018 semester. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must achieve an average of 3.0 to 3.99 for the semester and complete 12 credit hours.
Two from Orleans County made the list, including:
• Haley Anderson of Lyndonville, majoring in Animal Science -Equine Science & Management
• Claudia Drechsel of Holley, majoring in Agricultural Business Development – BBA
SUNY Morrisville’s curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
BATAVIA – Genesee Community College has named 280 students to the President’s List. Students honored on the President’s List have maintained full-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better.
• from Albion – Nicholas Johnson, Jessica Kincaid, Kastriot Bela, Kelsi Nice, Angela Westlund, Richard Vanderwedge, Alex De Smit, Lauren Becht, Trisha Brooks, Aleah Foos and Owen Foos.
• from Holley – Shannon Parsons, Madeline Rowley, Cassandra McCormack, Cameron Bennage, Nicholas Merlau, Kirsten Newbould, Heather Ramsey, Jessica Scott and Starlyt Knight.
• from Kent – Emily Boyle.
• from Kendall – Robert Cook and Richard Wolf.
• from Knowlesville – Chase McAdoo.
• from Lyndonville – Steven Boring, Abigeil Rodriguez and Gina Hagerty.
• from Medina – Arden Zavitz, Dawn Laskey, Dustin Wells, Tiffany Petry, Ace Strickland, Emma Ambrose, Corinne Johnson and Emma Wilson.
BATAVIA – Genesee Community College named 192 students to the Provost’s List. 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.
The following from Orleans are on the Provost’s List:
• from Albion – Jennifer Benz, Katlin Pieniaszek, Mikel Dysard, Hailey Bader and William Gregoire.
• from Holley – Rachel Stern, Bethany Bentivegna, Kassidy Wetherwax, Mary Buggie-Hunt, Michael Kimble and Amy Greenman.
• from Kent – Nicholas Brusso.
• from Lyndonville – Stacy Heideman, Danell Gibson and Lisa Boyce.
• from Medina – Rosemarie Albone, Chantel Montalvo, Brian Schultz, Deanna Cameron, Theresa Gray, Adam Dunn and Taylor Warner.
• from Waterport – Sherika Coke and Justin Chaplin.
BATAVIA – Genesee Community College named 282 students to the Dean’s List this past semester, including many from Orleans County. Students honored on the Dean’s List have maintained full or part-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.50 to 3.74.
The following made the Dean’s List:
• from Albion – Brittany LaMantia, Morgan Haak, Kaitlyn VanSkiver, Jacoby Miller, Lindsay Poole, Ta’keem Johnson, Samantha Hollenbeck, Summer Moore, Ivy Blair, Destini Hurlbert and Jacques Gregoire.
• from Holley – Johnathen Affronti and Tiara Meade.
• from Kendall – Jonathan Fox and Angela McFarlane.
• from Kent – Kayla Yannatone.
• from Lyndonville – Kenneth Kalson and Samantha Raduns.
• from Medina – Jamie Fulwell, Devin Swader, Brennen Harris, Carlin Sanders, Alyson Cameron, Heather Burd, Sara Flansburg, Taylor Warner, Emily Kams, Olivia Hill and Andrew McKee.
• from Waterport – Brianna Paniccia, Sierra Chudy and Samantha Burkhardt.
CAZENOVIA – Cazenovia College recognizes students for their academic achievement during the Spring 2018 semester. Those named to the Dean’s List have achieved a 3.5 or better grade point average and include Jenna Doran of Lyndonville and Gabriell Struble of Albion.
Cazenovia College is an independent, co-educational college near Syracuse, offering bachelor degree programs in the liberal arts and professional studies in an exceptional community environment, with academic and co-curricular programs devoted to developing leaders in their fields.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 June 2018 at 4:43 pm
Provided photo: Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower was presented with a MAGNUS Leadership Award in New Orleans on Sunday.
NEW ORLEANS – Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower received a leadership award from a national organization on Sunday for his work to implement several new initiatives in the county, including expanded substance abuse and mental health services for inmates in the Orleans County Jail.
The sheriff also has reached out to the faith community and several local pastors agreed to be mentors for people battling addictions who are transitioning from the jail. That initiative is called the Sheriff’s CARE program for Community Addiction Rehabilitation Education.
Bower says the county can’t solve the opioid crisis solely through arrests and using Narcan. The mentors act as recovery coaches, who help people fighting addiction make their appointments and also provide a listening ear.
Bower has been at the National Sheriffs’ Association Conference in New Orleans this week. On Sunday he was presented with a MAGNUS Leadership Award “in recognition of your tireless work implementing bold initiatives that have created synergy and trust between the citizens of your community and your agency,” according to a letter from Mitch Javidi, chancellor of National Command & Staff College and CEO and president of International Academy of Public Safety.
Bower’s award comes from the National Command & Staff College which stresses a strong moral compass for law enforcement officers and that they are all leaders within their communities.
Bower received the MAGNUS Leadership Award “in recognition of your tireless work implementing bold initiatives that have created synergy and trust between the citizens of your community and your agency.”
The Sheriff’s Office has led a number of outreach and public safety events in the county, including several at local schools. Bower said he is pleased deputies are taking the initiative in organizing the events, including a new one on Sunday at the Albion Walmart from noon to 2 p.m.
That event includes a child restraint check, DWI/Distracted Driving Simulator, Marine Safety, K9 demonstration with “Otto,” hot dog cookout and Operation Safe Child.
“We’re trying to do right by the people and give them everything we can,” Bower said by phone this afternoon.
He praised the deputies and other members of the Sheriff’s Office for embracing the outreach efforts and a more compassionate approach to criminal justice services, including the added programs to help inmates in the jail.
Other agencies and local pastors have all stepped forward to assist people, especially those with addictions.
“Everybody is helping,” Bower said. “If you reach out, they’ll help. They just need to be asked.”
Bower has been active with Orleans Hope, a multi-pronged effort by the community to fight the opioid crisis. Churches have stepped up their efforts, welcoming addicts instead of shunning them. Several churches have Celebrate Recovery programs.
Orleans Hope also welcomed Scott Caraboolad and a group of stunt bike riders for a few days in October. The Ride4Life visited local schools and had community events, including at the Fairgrounds. The lead rider, Caraboolad, is a recovering addict. He shared how he overcame his drug addiction.
The sheriff was one of the early supporters for the Ride4Life, which brought Scott Caraboolad and other stunt riders to Orleans County in October. Caraboolad does a stunt on Oct. 5 in front of the student body at Lyndonville Central School.
Bower embraced Caraboolad’s presentations, wanting to connect with people battling addictions and urge them to seek help. Bower also wanted students to hear a Caraboolad’s message, to not seek comfort from drugs and alcohol, and how drug use can escalate and take over – and end – lives.
Bower has welcomed addiction services for inmates in the county jail, connecting them to treatment programs, health insurance and Vivitrol, a shot that helps stave off drug urges. The county has pushed to have a transition from the jail to GCASA or another treatment program.
Bower in his 2 1/2 years as sheriff has expanded mental health and substance abuse services for inmates in the Orleans County jail in Albion.
ELMIRA – Caitlin Trembley of Albion was one of 71 student-athletes named to the Empire 8 Conference President’s List in recognition of their outstanding work in the classroom. Trembley is a member of the Women’s Cross Country team at Elmira College.
To be considered an E8 All-Academic Team, a squad must maintain a grade-point average of 3.20 or higher during the spring semester. Among the 11 EC teams that garnered the honor this spring, women’s cross country led the way with an impressive 3.69 GPA, followed by women’s basketball with a 3.50. Also qualified for the award were: men’s and women’s ice hockey, field hockey, women’s volleyball, softball, women’s tennis, women’s golf, women’s soccer, and women’s lacrosse.
Recipients of the President’s List distinction must be enrolled full-time at their respective institution and carry a minimum GPA of 3.75 while participating in a conference-sponsored sport and displaying positive conduct on-and-off campus. As the Empire 8 states, “Its commitment to serve the educational needs of its student-athletes is the hallmark of the Empire 8.” With 71 honorees, Elmira increased the number of President’s List award winners by a dozen when compared to the spring of 2017.
