MEDINA – Thirty-four students were inducted into the Arista Chapter of the National Honor Society on Wednesday at Medina High School.
Current members, under the direction of advisor Bronwyn Green, placed cords around the necks of the new members in a ceremony that honored a nearly century-old tradition.
This year’s inductees are: Coby Albone, Xion Baes, Brittany Bearss, Kathryn Bilicki, Nicholas Bogan, Teanna Cardone, Aeddon Cayea, Mallory Colton, Jadiel Flores-Medina, Taylor Frasier, Grace Fuller, Martha Gardner, Sarah Granchelli, Emily Green, Abigail Griffin, Molley Gross, Brandon Harris, Erin Hofmeister, Madison Holland, Taylor Hurrell, Kyla Leno, Chase McAdoo, Abbyleigh Osborne-Jones, Morgan Roach, Federico Rosario, Victoria Schicker, Carley Schultz, Kristian Snyder, Mikayla Soha, Emmanuel Sones, Paige Wagner, Nicole Waild, Madeline Winters and Kathryn Young.
Principal Michael Cavanagh welcomed honored guests and Medina Mayor Andrew Meier gave the keynote address.
In the 1920’s an exclusive scholarship club was held at Medina High School that invited students to join them based on their grade point average and formal recommendations. When Medina Central School District decided to charter its own chapter of the National Honor Society in 1964, the administration decided to honor the spirit of the existing club.
Grace Fuller is corded by Colm Cooper.
Emmanuel Sones receives the NHS cords from Allison Bensley.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 25 March 2016 at 12:00 am
File photos by Tom Rivers – The Albion Marching Band performs at last June’s Albion Strawberry Festival.
ALBION – The Albion music program has again made a national list of schools with music programs cited for excellence by the North American Music Merchants.
NAMM has named Albion and 475 other school districts in the country as a “Best Communities for Music Education.” Albion has made the list the past nine years.
The NAMM organization gives out the award to recognize districts that make music a priority, especially in an era of tight school budgets and packed student schedules.
Nathaniel Trembley played Ugly, a misfit rejected by his siblings for his unusual appearance in Albion High School’s production of “Honk!” during last year’s high school spring musical. Albion will perform Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat April 8-9.
Albion runs an active music program in the elementary, middle and high schools. The high school puts on a full-scale musical and students also perform in several different instrumental and choral groups. In all, high school musicians perform numerous times during the school year.
Just last week, 468 kids in grades 3 through 12 sang in a district chorus concert.
The middle school puts on a full-scale musical, and its students perform with the marching and jazz bands. Elementary music teachers lead students in performances throughout the year.
The NAMM Foundation wants to single out districts for outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of the core curriculum.
The schools recognized by name represent 3.5 percent of the nation’s 13,515 school districts.
To see the list of school districts recognized by NAMM, click here.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 22 March 2016 at 12:00 am
HOLLEY – The April 19th New York Presidential Primary is causing some concern for Holley Central School Superintendent Robert D’Angelo.
That’s because the Holley Middle School/High School is the designated polling place for voters in the Town of Murray and D’Angelo asked members of the Holley Central School Board of Education on Monday evening to consider discussing the possibility of the eventual re-location of the polling place with Orleans County Board of Elections officials.
D’Angelo told board members he is a former U.S. history teacher who appreciates the importance of elections and making school buildings available to the community. “But my concern is the safety of the students,” he said.
D’Angelo has added a security officer from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for the building on April 19, but he worries, particularly as this year’s presidential campaign heats up on the national level, that the district, “cannot control who comes in those buildings.”
Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Holley Fourth Grade teacher Lynn Vendetti, left, was presented with a Soaring to New Heights Award by Holley Elementary Principal Karri Schiavone during Monday evening’s School Board of Education meeting.
He said he has already scheduled a Superintendent’s Conference/Staff Development Day for the date of the November election, so that students will not be on campus that day.
“I think this election could bring out an enormous amount of people,” D’Angelo said of the upcoming presidential election in the fall. “We want to make sure people in our buildings are safe. We will do the best we can on April 19th, when they hold the primary.”
He noted Holley is the only public school building in Orleans County that is used as a polling place, and added after the board meeting, it may be one of very few, if any, in the region.
School Board President Brenda Swanger and other members of the board noted the meeting room/court room at the Murray Town Hall has benches that are locked in place and cannot be moved to accommodate voting. She said she has spoken with Sheriff Randy Bower and Holley Police Chief Roland Nenni and will meet with officials at the Board of Elections. Swanger said she will report back to the Board of Education in April.
D’Angelo and Swanger noted it is probably too late to change the polling place this year, but hope that the site can be moved in the future.
Also at Monday’s Board of Education meeting, Holley fourth grade teacher Lynn Vendetti was presented with a Soaring to New Heights Award.
Vendetti was nominated by one of her students recently for a “Golden Apple Award” presented by Channel 8 News in Rochester.
Vendetti has worked closely to help the student who has been struggling with attendance issues to improve this year.
Schiavone said the award was “so well-deserved.”
“It’s not just me,” Vendetti said in accepting the award, “I work with a great team and the parents have been so supportive.”
BARRE – The Barre Volunteer Fire Company held its annual banquet and awards program on Saturday at the East Shelby Fire Hall.
The Barre Fire Company presented many awards, including the EMS Person of the Year to Amanda Dixon, left. She is pictured with James Neal, second from left; Jerry Bentley and Patrick Lamka, the EMS captain.
Mark Farone was named Firefighter of the Year.
Chris Flansburg won the Chief’s Award. Both Farone and Flansburg are dedicated volunteers for the Barre Fire Company.
Terry Bentley, right, accepts the President’s Award from Karl Driesel.
Womens Auxiliary officers include from left: Mora Curtis, Betty Hazel, Stephanie Spencer and Stephanie Corke.
Officers for 2016 include from left: Susan Driesel, Fire Police Captain; Nic Elliot, 4th Lieutenant; Ben Flansburg, Captain; Bert Mathes, 1st Lieutenant; James Neal, Assistant Chief; Chris Flansburg, 2nd Lieutenant; Doug Bentley, Mechanic; Jerry Bentley, Chief; Brian Bentley, Assistant Mechanic; and Patrick Lamka, EMS Captain. (Not pictured: John Egloff is 3rd Lieutenant.)
The banquet on Saturday included a special presentation recognizing four generations of the Bentley family for their volunteer service to the fire company. Family members have given 158 years of service to the Barre Fire Company, including 93 years in a leadership position.
The Fire Company marks its 55th year this year. Gerald Bentley, who passed away in 1996, was a charter member. His son Douglas Bentley joined in April 1972 and was chief in 1987-88 and has been mechanic since 1995.
The third generation of Bentleys started when Tom Bentley and Jerry Bentley both joined in March 1989. Tom has been assistant mechanic, lieutenant, assistant chief and chief from 2005-2010. Jerry has been lieutenant, captain, assistant chief, and chief from 1997 to 2004 and since 2015.
Terry Bentley joinedin August 1995 and has served as vice president, president, EMS captain and is currently secretary.
The fourth generation of Bentleys also has joined the Barre Volunteer Fire Company. Brian Bentley became a member in March 2012. He is the assistant mechanic for 2016. Kara Bentley joined in November 2015.
Provided photo/National Corn Growers Association – Matt Kludt (center) of Kendall placed third nationally in the A No-Till/Strip-Till Non-Irrigated Category of the 2015 National Corn Yield Contest sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association. Trophies were presented at the annual Commodity Classic held in New Orleans in early March. From left, are Martin Barbre, Carmi, IL, chairman of the NCGA Corn Board; Kludt; and Wesley Spurlock, Stafford, TX, first vice president of the Corn Board.
Press Release, National Corn Growers Association
NEW ORLEANS – A local corn grower has been honored as one of 18 national winners in the 2015 National Corn Yield Contest sponsored annually by the National Corn Growers Association.
Matt Kludt of Kendall placed third in the nation in the A No-Till/Strip-Till Non-Irrigated
Class with a yield of 322.9722 bushels per acre. The hybrid used in the winning field was DEKALB DKC52-84RIB.
The 2015 competition included 7,729 entries from 45 states. The contest consists of six classes. In the national competition, three placings are awarded within each class. The 18 national winners represented nine states.
The average yield among national winners was 386.4 bushels per acre – greater than the 2015 U.S. average of 169.3 bushels per acre. Six of the national winners recorded yields of 400 bushels or more per acre.
“This harvest, the world witnessed the incredible bounty U.S. corn farmers can provide to meet the growing need for food, fuel and fiber both in our nation and around the world,” said NCGA President Chip Bowling, a corn grower from Newburg, MD.
Agronomic data gleaned from the contest reveal the following:
Average planting population for the national winners was 40,861 seeds per acre, compared to 34,123 for all entrants.
National winners applied an average of 364.06 pounds of nitrogen, 116.39 pounds of
phosphorus and 231.78 pounds of potassium per acre.
Average commercial nitrogen use per bushel of yield was 0.94 pounds for the national winners and 0.89 pounds for all entrants.
27.78 percent of the national winners applied trace minerals, compared to 38.74 percent of all entrants.
Use of manure as a fertilizer was consistent. 38.89 percent of national winners applied manure, compared to 16.06 percent of all entrants.
The National Corn Yield Contest began in 1965 with 20 entries from 3 states. The highest overall yield was 218.9 bushels per acre, while the national yield average was in the mid-60 bushel-per-acre range.
The winners were recognized March 4 at the 2016 Commodity Classic, the premier convention and trade show of the U.S. corn, soybean, sorghum, wheat and equipment industries, held this year in New Orleans, LA.
The National Corn Growers Association represents more than 41,000 members, 48 affiliated state corn grower and checkoff organizations, and hundreds of thousands of growers who contribute to state checkoff programs.
Provided photo – Dakota Purvee of Albion holds the banner with the logo he created in his graphic design class at BOCES.
Press Release, Orleans-Niagara BOCES
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was looking for some artwork to represent their 9th District Eastern Region.
The group asked Orleans Career and Technical Education Graphic Arts teacher Crystal Hall-Cirillo if she had anyone in class who would be willing to take on the project.
“I thought one of my seniors, Dakota Purvee, would be a great person to tackle it,” she said.
Dakota, who is from the Albion Central School, was excited to see what he could come up with.
“They wanted a logo to put on their banner that would represent Buffalo, Cleveland, Massena and Niagara Falls,” Dakota said.
He submitted designs to the 50-person board and waited for feedback.
“They chose one and asked me to add more color and make some other changes,” he said. “When it was done they said they loved it.”
When Dakota saw his finished product on the Coast Guard banner he said, “It’s awesome. It was a good experience for me because I saw what it was like to work with a real client and have to keep making changes to please them. I really enjoyed the process.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Orleans Hub held a reception at the Hoag Library on Tuesday evening for the people and organizations we named “Outstanding Citizens” for 2015. We also recognized Randy Bower, the new Orleans County sheriff, as “Person of the Year.”
The front row, includes, from left: Joette McHugh, Randy Bower, Gail Miller and Melissa Ierlan. Back row: James DeFilipps, Marietta Schuth from Kendall Community Choir, Tony Hipes from Medina Area Association of Churches, Sue Metzo from MAAC, Lisa Stratton, and Thom Jennings (accepting on behalf of his nephew Peter Zeliff Jr.) Missing from photo includes Al Capurso and Bob Songin.
Bower was recognized as Person of the Year after being elected sheriff in one of the most competitive county elections in recent memory.
The sheriff told group of award-winners that he was honored to be recognized “with so many amazing people.”
The Outstanding Citizens were named by the Orleans Hub on Dec. 31. Editor Tom Rivers and Publisher Karen Sawicz weighed the contributions from people and organizations in 2015.
The Kendall Community Chorus has performed in numerous concerts since 2008. The group has been led by director Mary Campbell. Sixty-eight people have sung in the choir since it started, and many have become close friends through the group.
Joette McHugh has been an active volunteer with the Friends of the Orleans County Animal Shelter the past seven years, helping to adopt out 1,500 animals from the shelter. She knows all of the dogs and cats by name, and has an energetic group of volunteers looking after the animals. The Friends also raised $7,000 for the animal shelter last year, and those funds helped to have all dogs neutered at the shelter, and also paid for a new washer and dryer.
Medina Area Association of Churches has been together for nearly 50 years, running a Clothing Depot throughout the year, an annual holiday toy and food drive for about 150 children in the community, and a working together on other religious and community events. The depot generates about $30,000 to $35,000 annually that the churches give back to the community for many causes.
Bob Songin, a charter boat captain, lead a pen-rearing project from 1998 to 2014 until passing off the reins to a new group of volunteers last year. The pen-rearing volunteers helped to raise fish in the Oak Orchard River. Songin has given countless hours to improve the fishery through the pen-rearing project, where about 100,000 baby fish are nurtured each year in the Oak Orchard. The project has increased the survival rate of fish, and charter boat captains say more bigger fish return to the Oak Orchard for fall fishing runs since the pen-rearing, boosting the county’s top tourism industry.
Lisa Stratton, owner of the Hazy Jade Gift Shop in Albion, also spearheads several efforts in Albion, including the planting and watering of downtown flowers, and organizing the annual wine-tasting, Beggar’s Night the Friday before Halloween, and other projects to promote downtown businesses and the community.
Peter Zeliff Jr. turned an old farmhouse in West Shelby turned into hunting retreat for wounded warriors. Zeliff and a team of volunteers fixed up the house and connected with veterans’ groups to bring injured soldiers to the site for a few days of hunting. The property has been renamed The Warrior House. The site hosted its first hunt in September with 13 wounded veterans. Other groups have followed and The Warrior House will be made available to spouses and children of veterans as well.
Gail Miller stepped forward last year as volunteer coordinator of the new Canal Village Farmers’ Market in Medina in the parking lot across from the Post Office. Miller worked with vendors and lined up entertainment and exhibitors. Some Saturdays, 450 to 500 attended the market.
Al Capurso led a volunteer effort to save a cobblestone schoolhouse from 1832, a former one-room schoolhouse on Gaines Basin Road, just north of the Erie Canal. The schoolhouse was built in 1832 and is one of the oldest cobblestone buildings in the area. The building has been largely abandoned since 1944, until last year when it got a new roof. Boards were removed from windows and sashes restored. Junk was cleared out, and a historical marker put up.
Melissa Ierlan has given many faded historical markers a fresh coat of paint. She started that effort in 2014 when Clarendon was celebrating the 150th anniversary of Carl Akeley’s birth. Akeley grew up in Clarendon on Hinds Road and became one of the most famous taxidermists in the world. The historical marker on Hinds Road about Akeley could barely be read due to flaking paint. Ierlan took the marker down, stripped off the remaining paint and repainted it blue and gold. She has now worked on about a dozen markers around the county.
James DeFilipps was shot twice in a shootout at 3 a.m. on March 21 following a high-speed chase with James Ellis of Wyoming County. DeFilipps was the first police officer on scene when Ellis wrecked his vehicle in Clarendon on Route 31A. Police were pursuing Ellis after a 911 call when he threatened an ex-girlfriend in Shelby with a gun. Ellis had fled to a nearby wooded area in Clarendon and opened fire on DeFilipps and other deputies and police to arrive on the scene. DeFilipps, despite getting hit twice by gunfire, shot Ellis, killing him and ending his threat. For his acts of valor, DeFilipps was named Deputy of the Year for 2015 by the New York State Sheriff’s Association.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Chris Carr, 7-time national grand champion, attends Crusaders Motorcycle Club annual banquet
Photos by Tom Rivers – Chris Carr, a famed motorcycle racer, addresses about 200 people on Saturday during the annual meeting for the Crusaders Motorcycle Club.
Chris Carr addresses the motorcycle group at the Elks’ Club in Albion. After his presentation, trophies were handed out to the top riders for the 2015 season.
Chris Carr shares life lessons and highlights from his career. He was given a standing ovation by the Crusaders Motorcycle Club.
Jeremy Higgins accepts the award for rider of the year for 2015.
Evan Van Ameron is congratulated by Chris Carr for being the top driver in the 125cc class.
Kyle Tambe won the 250 Amateur division and also was awarded the Chris Miller Award for the driver that shows the most potential to go pro.
ALBION – Before he was a seven-time grand national champion, Chris Carr developed his skills on amateur flat tracks in Northern California.
Carr, 48, was a dominant rider in the American Motorcycle Association, and was inducted in the AMA Hall of Fame. He attracted major corporate sponsorship and set the record for fastest speed on a motorcycle at 350.884 miles per hour.
But it started at tracks similar to the one on Culvert Road in Medina. The Crusaders Motorcycle Club runs that track, and has raced there every year since 1957.
“That is to be admired for you guys keeping it going for so long,” Carr told about 200 people at the annual meeting for the club on Saturday night.
Carr remains a star among dirt track riders. The Crusaders handed out trophies and awards on Saturday for kids and adult riders. They all had their picture taken with Carr.
The Hall of Fame rider was invited to the banquet on Saturday by Dave and Rhonda Waters, long-time members of the Crusaders. Carr, who now works as commentator, said there has been a “rebirth” in flat track racing at the amateur and pro level. (The Crusaders have about 150 riders during their Sunday races.)
Carr first started racing as a 6-year-old. He lost more than he won as an amateur and as a professional.
“It’s OK to fall and crash,” Carr told the group. “But get yourself back up and finish the race.”
The drive to complete the course may be the most important quality a rider can have, which will benefit the racers in other facets of their lives, Carr said.
Riders need to show respect for other competitors and not put others at unnecessary risk, he said. Carr has been in 28 races in his career where another rider died, including the first time when he was 8 and as 12-year-old was killed in the same race.
“Have respect for each other,” Carr said. “That is someone’s son or daughter.”
Carr said he enjoyed the thrill of competition in racing more than he did playing baseball and basketball as a kid. He is grateful he made a career out of racing, with sponsors and many victories.
He said it is a difficult career to race as a professional and win enough to make money, and have corporate support.
“You’re not a pro unless you are making money at it,” Carr said. “A pro is a guy with more money in his banking account at the end of the year than when he started.”
Some of the youth riders are pictured with their trophies.
The Crusaders recognize the top riders at the local track for 2015, including Jeremy Higgins of Bergen, who was the track champion.
The top three riders in each division include:
50cc shaft: Brody Hazel, first; Braydon Blair, second; and Madison Davis, third.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Nearly 35,000 miles and counting for Brian Kent
Provided photos – Brian Kent, right, lets a man sign the map on top of Kent’s electric-powered vehicle, a Nissan Leaf. Kent is travelling the country in the vehicle to promote the cars as a viable option for long-range trips.
For nearly six months Brian Kent has been traveling the country, spreading a message that electric cars are reliable long-range vehicles.
Since he left Albion on Aug. 24, Kent has driven a 2013 Nissan LEAF nearly 35,000 miles. He was at 34,260 miles on Thursday when he was in South Lake, Texas.
When he left Albion in late August, Kent intended a 100-day trip that would cover 26,000 miles. He wanted to drive through 48 states (all but Alaska and Hawaii).
Kent scrapped the plan, preferring not to stick to a strict schedule. He estimates he has talked with more than 2,000 people on the trip, often when he is charging his car.
Kent’s car is pictured in Cheyenne, WY, on Nov. 12 next to an 8-foot-high boot.
He has made numerous new friends and has emerged as a bit of a celebrity of the electric car movement. He received a hero’s welcome when he visited a Tesla sales site in Dallas-Fort Worth.
He has been featured in blogs and news sites that promote and explore electric cars and the green energy movement.
Kent plans to come home in April. He wants to be in New Jersey on March 31 when the new Tesla Model 3 is introduced.
Kent has planted a tree in almost all of the states he has visited on the trip. He is pictured in Arizona last month.
Kent set out to shatter myths about the electric vehicles. They are capable of long-range trips. He wanted to show the network of charge stations throughout the country and also meet other electric vehicle drivers.
“I wanted to show that a car like mine could do it,” he said by phone. “I wanted to demonstrate the viability of limited range, affordable electric vehicles.”
Kent parked next to a holiday light display in December.
He also wanted to break the world record for longest trip in an electric vehicle (non solar). Norman Hajjar set the mark in Tesla Model S with 12,183 miles from March 28 to April 21, 2014 in a trip that started in Portand, Oregon and ended in Venice, Calif.
Kent smashed that record. But another driver, Steve Sasman, also took a big trip in 2015. Sasman covered 27,615 miles last year in the US and Canada. News of his trip came out in December. Kent faced a dilemma in late December. He could set the 133-day record but he would have to really push his Leaf.
He wasn’t going to do it, but some of his key supporters urged him to break the record. On the last day he drove 650 miles in his Leaf, a trip from San Diego to Canada, breaking the record for the entire trip by 5 miles at 27,620 miles.
Kent has been visiting the state capitals. Here is his car in Indianapolis on Sept. 20.
He has been at a more leisurely pace the past two months since breaking the record. He has been spending time with one of his supporters, a family in the Dallas, Texas area. But he will soon be heading to Little Rock, Ark, as he works his way to New Jersey for the new Tesla unveiling.
Kampgrounds of America is one of Kent’s sponsors. They have charging stations and they have also let his stay in cabins. He spends about half of his nights sleeping in the car. He has it set up with a feather bed in back. He took out the back seats.
“The best part: no exhaust,” he said.
Besides Kampgrounds of America, Kent is partnering with Michelin, Plug in America, National Drive Electric Week, EV Charge Hub, Clean Technica, Inside EVs, and The Green Optimistic for the educational trip.
A woman in Texas signs the map on Kent’s car, one of the keepsakes from the trip.
Kent said the car has only ran out of power once. The first day of the trip when he was in the Catskills and took a wrong turn, resulting in an 18-mile detour. He needed to be towed. He said driver error, and not the car, is at fault for that incident.
Otherwise, the car has been able to go all over the country without missing a charge.
Kent also has planted a tree in nearly every state he has visited. That is 35 in 39 states. Four times he didn’t have someone lined up who would care for the tree, ensuring it was watered and cared for in the critical few weeks after a tree is planted.
He tries to see the capital in each state. He also stops at the popular tourist attractions, trying to get his car in photos with famous scenes, including mountains in the background or public art or war memorials.
Kent’s car has accumulated messages since the trip started about six months ago.
His car is covered in decals of sponsors and messages from supporters. He has wrap on top of the car that shows a map of the U.S. In each state he asks at least one person to sign their state.
“This is the best life experience I’ve ever had,” Kent said. “I’ve met an amazing array of people along the way,” he said.
Kent is pictured at a beach in California. He is calling the journey, “The Negative Carbon Road Trip.” The trees planted will more than offset the carbon dioxide for running his vehicle.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Dr. Howard Ward and Jeremy Babcock work to ensure top-notch facilities, services for students
Photos by Tom Rivers – Howard Ward and Jeremy Babcock, both Albion graduates, are pictured at Rochester Institute of Technology, where Ward is an associate vice president and Babcock the executive director of housing facilities.
ROCHESTER – His spacious office in the Global Village at the Rochester Institute of Technology is a long way from his living conditions as a kid, when Howard Ward grew up without running water at a migrant labor camp on Baker Road.
Ward, who earned a doctorate in higher education, is an associate vice president at RIT. He has worked 39 years for colleges and universities.
At RIT, he oversees an $82 million annual budget, 208 employees and leads a team committed to impeccable facilities and service for students and staff. The Global Village is a $55 million student housing and retail complex.
Jeremy Babcock has known Ward for two decades. He spoke at Babcock’s Albion High School graduation in 1995. The two stayed in touch when Babcock worked in student services at Brockport State College. Babcock had the tough job of handling student discipline. He also helped manage construction projects.
He would often call Ward or have lunch with him, seeing him as a friend and sounding board.
Babcock, after 10 years at Brockport, joined Ward’s team at RIT on Feb. 20, 2012 – Babcock can recite the day. Babcock took a job as an assistant director of housing. On Nov. 1, Babcock was promoted to executive director of housing facilities following a grueling search and interview process.
“He’s skilled and talented,” Ward said about Babcock. “He’s well respected on campus. I look forward to his vision.”
Babcock, 39, oversees a staff of 24, the residential halls and 1,000 apartments. He deals with everything from keys, pest control, furniture, laundry facilities and many other issues.
Two overcomers
Ward and Babcock have more in common than their high school alma mater. They have both overcome challenges, and they both left Albion after high school, attending small colleges about six hours away from home. Both wanted to push themselves, and see if they could make it on their own.
Ward, a 1972 Albion grad, grew up in the former Coloney Camp in Carlton. He lived there from when he was 2 until he graduated. It was one of the state’s largest farmworker labor camps, home to 60 African-American families.
Ward grew up in a loving home with loving neighbors. But his house resembled a shack. It was small, poorly insulated and field rats made a racket at night, scratching against the pasteboard outer walls, trying to get inside.
Ward was a star football player for Albion. He earned a scholarship at Mount Union College in Ohio. (In 1973, Coloney Camp was torn down and Ward’s family moved into a newly-built housing development, Carlton Manor, on Baker Road.)
He excelled as a lineman for the Mount Union football team, and was leading tackler in a senior all-star game among Ohio football players. Some NFL scouts were interested. But Ward, who was popular on campus with students, college professors and even the president, was urged to consider a career in college student services.
He took that advice and would work at Mount Union, Bowling Green, Ohio Northern University and RIT. He said he has been blessed. He hasn’t forgotten his Albion roots, and he has led diversity training for school staff, and worked with students on the college admissions process.
Howard Ward and Jeremy Babcock work out of the Global Village at RIT, a $55 million student housing and retail complex.
Babcock, the son of Jim and Linda Babcock, is an active member of the Albion Fire Department and a skilled golfer. He and Ward often play golf together, including at charity events. Babcock has a knack for hitting the ball straight, about 200 yards down the middle for his tee offs.
He does it all despite being born with birth defects in both arms. Babcock said his parents and friends always encouraged him as a kid. He played Little League baseball, basketball and used adaptive equipment made by his father to ride snowmobiles and be active in many other ways. Babcock these days drives the biggest fire trucks for the fire department.
“I’m really fortunate with what I can do,” Babcock said. “My family and friends always pushed me.”
He brings a knowledge of construction, and that helps at RIT when he reviews plans for buildings, housing units and other projects. Ward said Babcock also brings a sensitivity to using doors and buildings that many staff don’t consider in the design and construction of the space.
Babcock sees the big picture, working to do what’s best for the university and the students, Ward said.
“I like his tenacity,” he said.
Babcock was 18 when he ventured from Albion to attend college near Pittsburgh at the California University of Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in business in 1999, and then a master’s degree in business administration in 2001.
“I wanted to prove to myself that I could be on my own,” he said.
A similar path
Ward also needed that distance to become his own man. He said he was a “momma’s boy” in high school and had to fight homesickness in college. He was also one of the few black students at Mount Union.
He gained confidence and friends through football, good grades and a welcoming personality. He started his career as a residence hall director. He is now one of the key leaders at RIT. He said he enjoys empowering staff and students.
Jeremy Babcock and Howard Ward are pictured at Ward’s office at RIT on Monday.
Babcock started his career as a resident director at Brockport, overseeing a residence hall with 200 students and a staff of six. He had to discipline students and have some expelled from school. Some of those students used the punishment as a wake-up call. They turned themselves around, graduated and thanked Babcock for pointing them on the right track.
Ward stayed in touch with Babcock, and was impressed how he handled some of the situations at Brockport, working with students and also with construction of new townhouses.
“He’s worked with tough characters and high-level people,” Ward said. “He’s been involved with major projects.”
RIT has been in growth mode in recent years, and continues to expand. Babcock will helped manage another $1.9 million in renovations and projects this year.
Babcock said RIT is a home away from home for students. He appreciates Ward’s push for excellence, to make the facilities safe, comfortable and appealing for students and staff.
“We need to give them the best possible experience whether dining, the residence halls, or the apartments,” Babcock said.
The two joked over lunch Tuesday about the upcoming golf season. Babcock, a lefty, is consistent with the 200-yard drives down the middle of the fairway. Ward and some of the long hitters may hit the ball farther than Babcock, but it is often sliced or hooked.
At the end of the day, Babcock wins almost every time.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 9 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Kristina Gabalski – Holley Middle School/High School Principal Susan Cory presents head wrestling coach John Grillo with the February Soaring to New Heights Award.
HOLLEY – John Grillo, Holley’s head wrestling coach, was recognized during Monday evening’s Board of Education meeting for his milestone 700th win, which came Jan. 20 in a Genesee Region League match hosted at Lyndonville High School.
Grillo was presented with the “Soaring to New Heights” award by Holley Middle School/High School Principal Susan Cory. Grillo’s 700 wins are the most of any wrestling coach in New York State.
“This is huge,” Cory said. “John has given a lot of dedication to the wrestling program.”
Grillo has coached wrestling for more than 40 years, 30 of those at Holley. He also coached at Pavilion Central School. His Holley Hawk wrestlers have won 20 Genesee Region League titles and 11 Section V championships. Grillo was named Genesee Region Coach of the Year 15 times and Section V Coach of the Year six times.
Grillo, who also teaches physical education at Holley, coached his three sons over the years – Ashley John, Adam and Andrew – who continue to assist their dad in coaching the Holley wrestling teams. Ashley is now Elementary Assistant Principal at Holley and Andrew is a grade K-12 physical education teacher at Holley.
“We didn’t have a winning season until you joined us,” Board member John Heise said and noted Grillo has also worked over the years to help students who have been struggling academically as well those with discipline issues. “After they talked to you, the behavior stopped.”
“You’ve helped a lot of kids,” Board President Brenda Swanger told Grillo. “We appreciate all you have done for the kids.”
Grillo thanked students, parents and school staff. “Your support is part of it,” he said of his accomplishment.
In other business, Assistant Superintendent for Business Sharon Zacher reported to board members regarding the tax cap for the 2016/2017 budget. Zacher said the state must be notified by March 1 as to whether or not the district thinks it will need to override the tax cap.
With the allowed carryover, Zacher estimated the increase on the 2016/2017 tax levy to be capped at 2.173 percent. Board members agreed that they did not foresee a need to override that figure.
Superintendent Robert D’Angelo said during his report that the governor’s proposal for school districts is “ridiculously low.” However, he noted that Holley is in “pretty good shape.”
“I have a sense of optimism,” D’Angelo said, which stems from assurances he has received from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Sen. Robert Ortt that there will be “a huge difference between what the governor is proposing (in aid) and what members of the State Senate and Assembly arrive at.”
He said local superintendents have made it clear to state lawmakers that, “the proposed aid to education is unacceptable at this point.”
Although D’Angelo had wanted lawmakers to take real steps to provide relief from unfunded mandates, he said Monday evening that at this point he does not see that coming.
“They are not serious about it,” he said of lawmakers. “It hurts both the districts and the taxpayers.”
Holley Central will continue to monitor the state budget process in relation to its own budget development, D’Angelo said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
Meredith Patterson, an Albion senior, won the zone competition for the American Legion Oratorical Contest and advances to the state competition on March 5 in Albany.
The zone event was held Saturday in Mount Morris. Another Albion student, Kyle Thaine, also competed. He won the district competition in Buffalo last month. Thaine and Patterson both advanced to the zone competition.
Patterson won an $800 scholarship for the Zone 5 victory and will receive another $2,000 scholarship for competing at the state level.
The participants at the zone event needed to deliver an 8- to 10-minute speech without notes about the Constitution. Each contestant also needed to speak for 3 to 5 minutes on one of five topics, assigned at the contest.
Patterson is valedictorian for the Class of 2016. She is also captain of the cross country team, a drum major in the marching band, and a lector at Holy Family Parish. She wants to attend an Ivy League school to major in political science.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2016 at 12:00 am
Gerald Harter’s medal was found in filing cabinet at Veterans Service Agency
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Earl Schmidt, director of the Orleans County Veterans Service Agency, presents the New York State Medal of Merit to Gerald Harter of Holley this morning.
The medal was approved for Harter in December 2000 but was stashed away in a filing cabinet at the Veterans Service Agency. Schmidt started as the new director in December. He was going through the files when he discovered the medal for Harter.
“My job is making sure the veterans get what they deserve,” Schmidt said.
Harter served two years in the U.S. Army, including a year in Vietnam from 1967-68, which included the Tet Offensive. He missed the birth of his daughter when he was in Vietnam. He met his daughter Buffie when she was 6 months old. She is now Buffie Gleason.
Harter worked for Kodak and retired about two decades ago. For the past 19 years he has worked part-time as a school bus driver for Spencerport.
He also has served as a past American Legion commander for the Holley post, and was a past VFW Post commander in Holley and for Orleans County.
He thanked Schmidt for finding the medal.
“This is wonderful,” he said. “It will go in my Man Cave.”
John DeFilipps was recognized in Albany on Tuesday during the annual legislative conference for the New York State Association of Counties.
DeFilipps, a Clarendon resident, was elected to the Orleans County Legislature in November 2013, and was re-elected to another two-year term this past November.
He graduated from NYSAC’s County Government Institute, an educational program established by NYSAC in conjunction with Cornell University. The Institute provides an educational program for county elected and appointed officials, to enhance the knowledge, skills and abilities of county officials. The Institute allows the public officials to engage in informed, constructive and civil discussions on the current challenges they face as public servants.
“The County Government Institute’s vigorous curriculum prepares county leaders with the skills and knowledge necessary to meet the intense demands of local government leadership today,” said NYSAC Executive Director Stephen J. Acquario.
DeFilipps joined the County Legislature following 12 years on the Clarendon Town Board. He owned a convenience store and gas station in Clarendon for 10 years before joining the Town Board. He worked 28 years at General Motors in Rochester before retiring about nine years ago. He also helped develop the Red Rock Ponds RV Resort in Murray.
DeFilipps is on the Orleans Economic Development Agency board and he said the agency has the county well positioned for new businesses and expansions with shovel-ready sites. DeFilipps is an at-large legislator from the east side of the county.
He said the NYSAC program improved his knowledge of government and he met people with innovative thinking.
“It has made me a more effective representative,” he said.
The Institute’s curriculum includes extensive course work on government ethics, building consensus in a political environment, principles of county budget and finance, and public sector labor/management relations. The courses are supplemented with electives, training sessions, and continuing education courses designed to support county leaders in serving their constituents to the absolute best of their ability.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 31 January 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
RIDGEWAY – Glen Busch II and Valerie Childs, who got engaged to each other on Wednesday, both were honored for their service to the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company on Saturday.
Busch received the President’s Award from outgoing president Mike Kelly. He cited Busch’s work as treasurer, and for attending many fire calls as well as training courses.
“He puts a lot of time and effort into this place,” Kelly said.
Childs received the Chief’s Award from Don Marchner, the outgoing fire chief.
“Anything you ask of her, she’s there,” Marchner said.
Childs last year took an inventory of all the equipment – turnout gear, helmets, radios and pagers – and now does an annual inspection of all the equipment.
Childs, 31, also is the new president of the Fire Company, the first woman in that role in the Fire Company’s 63-year history. She joined in July 2013, four months after she and Busch started dating. She went to a few calls with Busch, waiting in his truck before she became a member. She decided to join, “rather than just sitting there twiddling my thumbs.”
Busch assumed she wanted to be a social member. But Childs took classes for scene support. She has a goal this year to take the class so she can drive fire trucks, including the big pumper-tanker.
“If you told me five years ago I would be president of a fire company and winning an award I would have laughed at you,” Childs said.
Busch, 32, joined the Fire Company in 2011. He was volunteering with Cub Scouts, and three of the Scouts were sons of Kristin McAdoo, the EMS captain.
“She inspired me,” Busch said about McAdoo. “I saw what they do.”
He also wanted to be a firefighter in memory of his brother, who died at age 10 from leukemia. Jeffrey Busch wanted to be a firefighter and when he was battling leukemia was made an honorary fire chief by the Warsaw Fire Department in Wyoming County, where Busch grew up.
Busch has worked the past 15 years as a campus safety officer for Hilbert College in Hamburg. Childs works as a technician at Baxter Healthcare in Medina.
Ridgeway Fire Company officers take the oath of office, including Francis Woodward in white. Others pictured include, from left: Guy Scribner, first assistant chief; James Marciszewski, deputy chief; Valerie Childs, president; and Melissa Hansler, vice president.
Other officers include: Rick Tuohey, second assistant chief; Patrick Kelly, captain; Jason Bessel, lieutenant; Mike Kelly, fire police captain; and Kristin McAdoo, EMS captain.
Other executive committee members include: Glen Busch II, treasurer; Laurie Marchner, secretary; Stacey Seefeldt, Kristin McAdoo and Katie Tuohey as directors; and Todd Hansler, sergeant at arms.
Ladies Auxiliary Officers are sworn in, including, from left: Tracey Hendrick, president; Melissa Hansler, vice president; and Donna Lockwood, treasurer. Other officers include Effie McAdoo, secretary; Harriett Petrie, chaplain; and Michelle Lechner, flag bearer.
Fire Chief Francis Woodward holds an axe while firefighter Charles Smith announces names of members who died in 2015. Valerie Childs would ring the bell three times in their memory.
The Fire Company’s memorial service, recognized two charter members: Gary Ehrenreich as a firefighter and Marjorie Canham in the Ladies Auxiliary. They were the last living members from when the Fire Company formed 63 years ago.
Jack McCarthy, the former fire coordinator in the county, also was remembered during the memorial service.
Charles Smith and Valerie Childs hold new axes given to the Fire Company by Harriett Petrie, right, in memory of her husband, Larry Petrie. Those axes will be used by the honor guard at funerals, parades and other events.
Rob and Rachel Kaiser, owners of Wildwood Lake KOA Campground in Medina, were given an award for helping raise money for the Fire Company and for giving firefighters a discount to use the campground. Francis Woodward, the fire chief in back, is a regular at Wildwood.
