Photo by Tom Rivers – Rob and Debbie Monnier are pictured on Friday night at the Hickory Ridge Golf and Country Club, where they were honored as The Arc of Orleans County’s ‘Best Friends” for 2014. The couple is active in the Meals on Wheels program.

ALBION – An Albion couple who recently retired was looking for a way to give back to the community. Rob and Debbie Monnier heard The Arc of Orleans County could use volunteers for the Meals of Wheels program.

They figured they would help once a week, delivering meals to home-bound senior citizens. The Arc runs the program from the former grammar school on East Academy Street.

The Monniers have gone far above their initial commitment. They typically volunteer five days a week. They have befriended many of the seniors, who wouldn’t otherwise have a visitor on many of those days.

The Monniers will make return visits or call the seniors to check on their well-being. Often they will get their mail or newspapers for them.

“Sometimes, we’re the only ones they will see all day,” said Mrs. Monnier, a retired home health aide. Her husband is retired from Kodak and as a school bus driver.

She and her husband were honored as the “Best Friends” for The Arc of Orleans County on Friday night, when the agency recognized other volunteers and supporters.

The Albion couple started volunteering in October 2013 with The Arc. The agency has long been close to their hearts.

Their son Matthew had epilepsy and The Arc was helpful in providing him services with physical and occupational therapy at Rainbow Preschool.

Matthew was born in 1997 and had his first seizure at 6 months. The Arc bought the family a generator, which provided backup power for a machine to suction when Matthew was having a seizure and foaming at the mouth.

Matthew lived until he was 8 ½ years old. The family remains grateful for the services from The Arc.

“We’re just trying to give back because they did so much for us,” Mrs. Monnier said.

The agency praised the Monniers for their willingness to reach out to so many senior citizens and fill in on routes throughout the county.

“You meet a lot of interesting people and they look forward to seeing us,” Mrs. Monnier said.

The agency also presented the following awards on Friday:

Heritage Award – Keding Automotive in Albion for being a long-time supporter of the agency, sponsoring many Arc events.

Business Partnership Award – Tillman’s Village Inn, which hired a person with developmental disabilities in 1986. That person worked there until retiring in 2012. The Village Inn continues to hire some staff who are served by The Arc through the agency’s Supported Employment Program.

Self-Advocate of the Year – Shelley Hilbrand, who encourages her friends, works hard at her job and pushes to fulfill her dreams.

Community Worker of the Year – Jessa Pollock, who works as a teacher aide at Rainbow Preschool.

Enclave Worker of the Year – Brittany Marciszewski, who worked at Associated Brands in Medina before taking a job with the Ford Gum Enclave. She is a highly productive worker, Arc officials said.

Mobile Crew Worker of the Year – Donna Biaselli, who has worked full-time with the Medina mobile crew since 2007. “She is always ready to help wherever she is needed.”

Orleans Enterprises Worker of the Year – Benjamin Litchfield, who is dedicated to his work, performing it with a positive attitude.

Community Service Award – Emily Sorta, who volunteers in an Albion classroom, helping with crafts and other projects.

Provided photos
BATAVIA – U.S. Rep. Chris Collins is pictured with Jacob Bensley of Medina at Saturday’s reception for the Congressional Art Competition at the Roz Steiner Gallery at Genesee Community College. Bensely and Paige Wagner of Medina both were featured in the art competition.

The competition was open to high school students to enter visual art. Oil paintings, photographs, works in pencil, paints, pastels and mixed media where hung in the gallery.

Mallory Showalter of Clarence High School was the top overall winner.

The exhibit runs through May 18.

Paige Wagner of Medina High School is pictured with Chris Collins at Saturday’s art show reception.

Photo by Debbie Patt – Jonathan Jaeger, Music Instructor at Roxy’s Music in Batavia, practices with students Lucia Sprague, John Patt and Kirk Ellison.

HOLLEY – John Patt, a fifth grade student at Holley Central School will play with the Genesee Symphony Orchestra this weekend.

Students are participating in the 2015 Genesee Symphony Orchestra String Workshop. They will be performing “1812 Overture” and “Concerto Grosso” with the orchestra on Sun., April 12, at 4 p.m., at the Batavia High School.

Provided photos – Junior Greg Husung is corded by Senior Krista Nellist.

Press Release
Medina Central School

MEDINA – Medina inducted 35 students into High School’s Arista Chapter of the National Honor Society on March 26.

The students, a combination of juniors and seniors, were selected by a faculty advisory council, and were picked based upon their fulfillment of the four requirements of the National Honor Society: Scholarship, Leadership, Service, and Character.

In Medina, students must first meet a rigorous scholarship requirement with a cumulative high school average of 90.0 or higher. Then, they submit a 25-page Student Activity Information Form and personal statement, which helps the Faculty Council verify that students have met the requirements for service, leadership, and character.

Officer Aaron Feltz lights a candle while officers Austin Brown, Alexandra Markle and Brian Bogan look on.

The 2015 Induction Ceremony was kicked off by a slide show highlighting the current NHS members’ activities completed throughout the year, most notably the chapter’s annual Veterans’ Dinner, after which students were offered advice from the ceremony’s guest speaker, Marsha Rivers, executive director of the Orleans County United Way.

Her keynote address was titled, “Mistakes: The Compost of Character.” In the speech, which was alternatively funny and moving, she encouraged the students to see that character was the most important tenet of all, and suggested that scholarship, leadership, and service all grew naturally from one’s ability to grow as a person.

Rivers ended her remarks by saying, “You, my young friends, have grown so much already. You’ve accomplished a great deal, and we are here tonight to celebrate your achievements, as well as your potential. My best wisdom, my most sage advice to you tonight is this: Live. Do the best you can. A year ago today my friend Wayne Burlison died at the age of 36. Mr. Burlison was a music teacher at the Albion Elementary School, but he was also so many other things – including a Star Wars fan. In the band room he had a Yoda poster that said: “Do… or do not. There is no try.” So in honor and memory of my friend, I will not say, “Try your best.” I will say, “Do your best.” Or better yet: Be your best. Be and become the best possible version of yourself you can figure out how to be. And at the times when you fail to measure up to this best possible version and you will seek and find forgiveness, including from yourself.”

Newly inducted members recite the National Honor Society Pledge.

At the conclusion of Rivers’ address, Principals Mark Kruzynski and Michael Cavanagh shared excerpts from the new members’ personal statements, in which the students discussed the people who had impacted them, the characteristics that best described them, and the goals that they had for the future.

Following the introduction of new members, the 2014-15 OfficersJason Hellwig, Co-President; Regan Stacey, Co-President; Samuel Simms, Co-Vice President; Addison Zavitz, Co-Vice President; Brianna Bellan, Co-Treasurer; Aaron Feltz, Co-Treasurer; Brian Bogan, Co-Secretary; Christopher Keller, Co-Secretary; Austin Brown, Co-Social Chair; and Alexandra Markle, Co-Social Chairperformed the traditional candle-lighting ceremony.

New and Existing Members of the Arista Chapter are pictured at the March 26 ceremony.

At the conclusion of the candle lighting, existing members corded the new members, who signed the official Arista Pledge Book. Finally, together on stage, all members raised their hands and recited along with their superintendent Jeffrey Evoy to abide by the principles of the organization.

The Medina Central School District proudly congratulates the newly inducted members of the Arista Chapter of the National Honor Society. They are: Meghan Allen, Courtney Bailey, Alexis Barcena, Allison Bensley, Davina Birch, Michaela Cardone, Haylee Cogovan, Colm Cooper, Caitlyn Davies, John Derting, Zachary Harris, Aracely Hernandez, Aubrey Hoffmeister, Dominique Hughes, Gregory Husung, Emma Gardner, Alexis Koch, Zachary Laird, Ryan Leffler, Hannah Lonnen, Amanda Lunden, Joseph Mangiola, Bradley McPherson, Elizabeth Newman, Justin Morgan, Stella Russo, Carlin Sanders, Tristan Sanders, Cassandra Sargent, Alyssa Shortridge, Abigail Smith, Tyler Waldriff, Emma Wilson, Carson Zgoda, and Brennan Zinkievich.

Provided photo – Octaviano Gomez, third from left, was recognized as one of 20 “students of the year” last week by New York Association of Continuing/Community Education. He went to Albany and was recognized by state legislators, including Sen. Robert Ortt, right. Gomez is pictured with his daughter Bella and wife Carmen.

MEDINA – Octaviano Gomez only attended school for a few months in the first grade. That was it for his schooling, until 2012 when he started English as a Second Language classes, an effort that culminated with him earning U.S. citizenship in May.

Last week he was also named one of 20 “students of the year” by the New York Association of Continuing/Community Education. He went to the state capital in Albany for the awards program and was recognized by state legislators.

The Mexican native started working for U.S. farms when he was 13, picking grapes in California. He picked strawberries in Oregon, apples in Washington and parsley in Florida. For years he would work during the winters in Florida before coming to New York State to pick apples.

In 2001, he hurt his back pushing a crate of tomatoes in Florida. He was reinjured in 2012, straining his back while stacking boxes of oranges. Gomez needed surgery to help ease the pain in his leg. He remains disabled.

Photo by Tom Rivers – Octaviano Gomez is pictured with other students at the World Life Institute, watching a slide show from an awards program in Albany, where he was celebrated for his success learning English.

Gomez, now 42, was nominated by his teacher, Linda Redfield, for the state award. He is the fifth student to receive the honor at the World Life Institute, which provides ESL and citizenship education in a partnership with the Orleans-Niagara BOCES.

“It’s very unusual for an agricultural worker, with all the obstacles in life, to attain citizenship and literacy,” Redfield said. “He is a very quick learner. It’s amazing to me in two years he could prepare for the citizenship test and pass in English.”

Gomez, now 42, says he continues to suffer pain in his back and legs. But he wants to keep learning, to be an example for his children and increase his options locally.

Three of his children – Beatrice, Cody and Octavio – have graduated from Medina. Beatrice is in college in Texas. Gomez and his wife Carmen have a daughter, Bella, in first grade.

Gomez said he likes to help her with her homework.

“I want to keep learning more,” he said on Wednesday at the World Life Institute.

Gomez was recognized with a party at the school by his teachers and other students, who work at Intergrow Greenhouses and other local farms.

Gomez holds an American flag last June during an awards program for students in the BOCES program at the World Life Institute.

“I want to say this is possible for all of you,” Redfield told other students in the ESL program. “All of you are students of the year. You work on farms and then come to school at night to try to improve yourselves.”

Redfield praised Gomez for attending nearly every class on Mondays and Wednesdays for the past two-plus years. He has been faithful and determined, practicing his spelling and grammar, and using the Rosetta Stone software to practice listening and speaking skills.

“He has been a serious student,” said another teacher, Cheryl Lieberman. “He had his goals. He did the work. He always showed up to class, no matter the weather.”

Gomez has spread the word about the classes at World Life Institute and BOCES. His wife is a new student in the program.

Gomez grew up in Oaxaca, Mexico. His native language is Mixtec, a rare Indian language used in Oaxaca language. He may continue his education through community college.

“He wants to learn more and advance his skills,” Redfield said.

Provided Photo – From left, Lisa Osur, Robert D’Angelo and Julie Bader in the Holley Middle School / High School Library.

HOLLEY – Holley Superintendent Robert D’Angelo was recently honored with the New York Library Association – Section of School Librarians (NYLA/SSL) Secondary Administrator Award for the improvements he has made in the Holley Central School District libraries. Holley MS/HS Librarian Lisa Osur nominated him for the award. She credits him with the construction of the new library at the MS/HS, hiring a professional librarian, Julie Bader, for the Elementary School, and adding support staff to both libraries in the form of an aide at the MS/HS and a teaching assistant at the Elementary School. Osur feels that D’Angelo is deserving of this award because by putting these elements in place, Holley Central Schools are in a better position to affect student learning from kindergarten through 12th grade and prepare students to be college and career ready.

More importantly, according to D’Angelo, the libraries act as extensions of the classroom, where students can receive instruction in a comfortable and positive environment and are encouraged to read. D’Angelo views the library staff as “imparters of knowledge, who support the total curriculum at Holley, not just the English Language Arts component.” His goal was to provide the MS/HS with a state-of-the-art facility, in an aesthetically-pleasing environment, with comfortable chairs, room for students to work in small groups, and a bank of computers to use for research.

Osur said the students take pride in their surroundings and keep the MS/HS Library furniture and equipment clean and brand-new looking. At Back to School Nights, parents make a point of stopping in to see the library and what’s been added to the space. The collections are growing and circulation has increased. The MS/HS Library and the Holley Community Free Library continuously share resources and support each other so both students and the community benefit from the relationship. Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES helps the libraries add to their collections, organize the Elementary Library book room, and use one automated circulation system for both libraries. The MS/HS Library now receives over 250 visits from students each day.

The librarians have worked hard to attract students to the libraries, too. Audio books have been added to the MS/HS Library, along with graphic novels, digital resources, games and cards. In the fall, Bader started a pumpkin decorating contest in the Elementary Library that elicited over 100 entries that were proudly displayed on the bookshelves. She also started a Dewey the Elf scavenger hunt, where the students are encouraged to visit the library daily to find the hidden elf and discover new reading material for themselves. She is in the process of creating a book room at the Elementary Library, where teachers can access sets of books to use for guided reading or to have their entire class read the same book. Students in both schools use the libraries after school for Homework Lab. Osur also credits the Board of Education with bringing back the 5 p.m. bus run that enables students to spend supervised time in the library instead of going home to an empty house.

D’Angelo will travel to Tarrytown, NY on May 1 to receive the award at the NYLA/SSL annual conference.

Press Release, GCC
BATAVIA – Two leaders in the field of education will be celebrated by their alma mater as Genesee Community College inducts the class of 2015 Alumni Hall of Fame.

The new honorees will be recognized at 4 p.m. on March 18 with the induction in room T119 of the Conable Technology Building on the Batavia campus. A reception follows in the Alumni Hallway on the second floor.

The following will be recognized:

Renee Garrett

Renee Cain Garrett graduated from GCC’s teacher education program in 1993. She went on to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from SUNY Geneseo and an administrative degree from the College at Brockport. She began her career in the Attica Central School District where she taught students with disabilities and first grade before becoming an elementary principal.

She served as superintendent of schools in Mount Morris and Wayne Central School Districts and in January 2015 became superintendent of the Forestville Central School District in Chautauqua County.

Renee grew up in Orleans County and credits her success to the teachers who inspired her at a young age.

“While I didn’t have many resources, my teachers served as great role models for me,” Renee told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, which selected her for a Women to Watch interview. “I had a few key teachers that said, ‘you are worth it, push yourself and you can get it.'”

As superintendent Renee sees herself as “a teacher, mentor, advisor and facilitator. Making sure you know and understand who you are serving is really essential in this role, as well as the ability to make tough decisions.”

She is known as an innovator and top-level communicator and is committed to the value of lifelong learning for students, staff and stakeholders. She has been active in community organizations, including Rotary and Kiwanis, and is a member of a number of professional organizations.

Renee lives in Forestville with her husband, Mike, and their rescue dog, Tess. They enjoy exploring the outdoors together. Renee also enjoys quilting and is very handy with all kinds of home improvement projects from drywall to plumbing to exquisite tiling.

Roger Klatt

Dr. Roger J. Klatt is superintendent of both the Barker and Royalton Hartland (Roy-Hart) Central School Districts in Niagara County. He led the Barker district for six years before taking on leadership of Roy-Hart in 2013 in a first of its kind arrangement for the Buffalo area that has thus far proven successful.

For his work in leading both districts as a shared superintendent, Klatt received the Educational Leader of the Year Award from Niagara University’s College of Education in October 2014.

A native of Albion and a 1978 graduate of Albion High School, Klatt spent 15 years in that district as a teacher and coach, earning Albion’s Educator of the Year award in 1995.

He has been with the Barker Central School District for 17 years and served as middle school principal, director of instructional services and assistant superintendent before being named superintendent. Under his leadership Barker ranked 17th among the 98 Western New York school districts and earned an Achievement Index ranking of 2 among 425 schools across the state.

He was nominated for the GCC’s Alumni Hall of Fame by Barker athletic director David Carson who noted that “I have known Dr. Klatt for 17 years and he often speaks of how instrumental Genesee Community College was in his career. Dr. Klatt serves as an outstanding example of the impact that the GCC experience can have on one’s career.”

While a student at GCC, Klatt played on the men’s basketball team and earned his associate degree in physical education in 1982. He continued his studies at the College at Brockport and the University at Buffalo where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Klatt resides in Barker with his wife of 24 years, Kristen. They have two daughters: Emily is a recent graduate of Purdue University’s pharmacology program and Madeline is a junior studying business management at SUNY Oswego.

The GCC Hall of Fame is located in the Conable Technology Building of the Batavia campus on the second floor corridor, and features photos of alumni who have distinguished themselves through business and personal achievement, as well as service to the community.

Marlee Diehl will lead 70 clubs in WNY, Southern Ontario

Photos by Tom Rivers – Marlee Diehl is pictured by the Rotary sign outside Tillman’s Village Inn, where the Albion Rotary Club meets every Thursday for lunch and a program at 12:15 p.m.

ALBION – A member of the Albion Rotary Club is on track to become district governor of the 70 Rotary Clubs in Western New York and Southern Ontario.

Marlee Diehl will be the third woman to serve in the role as district governor for District 7090. Her term starts in 2017-18.

She has been active in many district events and committees, and will continue in the district leadership until her term starts as district governor. Diehl already serves as an assistant district governor for the clubs in Orleans and Genesee counties, and helps plan the annual district conference.

Retaining and growing membership, committing to community service and celebrating the volunteers in Rotary will be a part of her message as district governor, Diehl said.

“Fun and fellowship are the biggest things in Rotary while doing good in the community,” she said.

The 70 clubs had about 3,200 members collectively about 10 years ago and are down to about 2,400 now.

Diehl wants to reach out to younger adults, perhaps through Rotaract Clubs which have less of a time commitment for members. There are three Rotaracts right now in the district that are affiliated with colleges. There are also 18 Interact Clubs at high schools, including one in Albion.

Diehl wants to engage more students in Rotary, and also reach out to retired people and other community members who also have a lot of energy to give to Rotary and the community.

She will encourage existing members to invite prospective members. She also wants existing Rotarians to celebrate each other, because many Rotarians are committed to service in their community and beyond.

“Every Rotary Club and every Rotarian is different and they all come with their own life story,” she said.

Marlee Diehl has been active in Rotary since 1994, when she joined a club in Hamilton, Ontario.

Diehl’s husband Bill is current president of the Albion Rotary Club. They met at a Rotary conference in Toronto in 2009, when they were both at a training session for incoming Rotary presidents.

Bill was to be president of the Albion club for the first time in 2009-10, while Marlee was to be president of the Hamilton, Ontario club.

They became friends at that conference and would marry in December 2011. Mrs. Diehl emigrated and now lives with her husband in Carlton.

For about 35 years she worked as a recruiter, helping companies find executives and leaders in management. While connecting with business leaders, she noticed many wore Rotary pins or had Rotary posters on their walls.

When she was looking for an outlet for community service, she turned to Rotary and joined the Hamilton club in 1994.

“I believe that those who find success in life should also give back to their community and the world at large in as many ways as they can find,” Diehl said.

She is also active at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion and the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association.

A local Rotary Club recently had one of its members serve as district governor. John Heise of Holley led the district during 2010-11.

Leann Balcerzak

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – A L.A. Webber Middle-High School senior has been named to Business First’s 2015 All-Western New York Academic Team.

Leann Balcerzak (Special Mention) has qualified for this year’s list of the 100 most outstanding high school seniors in the eight-county region.

Winners were chosen for their records of academic excellence, school leadership and community involvement. The top 25 were named to the First Team, 25 runners-up to the Second Team, and another 50 to the Special Mention list.

“The competition for the Academic Team is intense,” said Jack Connors, president and publisher of Business First. “There are almost 20,000 high school seniors in Western New York, yet only 100 are selected for this honor. Every student named to the Academic Team is truly an outstanding student.”

Schools throughout the eight-county area were asked to nominate their smartest and most accomplished students for consideration by a seven-member committee, which included five admissions directors at area colleges and two Business First editors. A total of 124 schools responded with 426 nominees. (Each school was limited to four candidates.)

The complete list of 100 honorees – along with their photos and profiles – will be published in Business First’s 2015-2016 Guide to Western New York Schools, which will hit newsstands on June 12.

Press Release, Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES

LYNDONVILLE, NY – An L.A. Webber Middle-High School senior has been named to Business First’s 2015 All-Western New York Academic Team.

Leann Balcerzak (Special Mention) has qualified for this year’s list of the 100 most outstanding high school seniors in the eight-county region.

Winners were chosen for their records of academic excellence, school leadership and community involvement. The top 25 were named to the First Team, 25 runners-up to the Second Team, and another 50 to the Special Mention list.

“The competition for the Academic Team is intense,” said Jack Connors, president and publisher of Business First. “There are almost 20,000 high school seniors in Western New York, yet only 100 are selected for this honor. Every student named to the Academic Team is truly an outstanding student.”

Schools throughout the eight-county area were asked to nominate their smartest and most accomplished students for consideration by a seven-member committee, which included five admissions directors at area colleges and two Business First editors. A total of 124 schools responded with 426 nominees. (Each school was limited to four candidates.)

The complete list of 100 honorees — along with their photos and profiles — will be published in Business First’s 2015-2016 Guide to Western New York Schools, which will hit newsstands on June 12.

ALBION – Photo North East has released the results of its annual photo competition and reported that Bruce Landis of Photos by Bruce and Associates is a multiple winner with “Future Farmer” and “Blue Eyed Mikko.”

A high school senior portrait of Albion Senior Class President Aaron Burnside, titled “Future Farmer,” was Landis’s highest scoring image. The setting for the portrait is the Poverty Hill Farm of County House Road in Albion. Operated by the Neal family, the farm milks 490 cows.

Burnside, a four-year member and vice president of the Albion FFA, was photographed in the one of the barns wearing his FFA jacket with several cattle in the background. Burnside aspires to obtain a doctorate in Agriculture Business. He credits his high school teacher Adam Krenning and farm co-owner Jody Neal for the opportunity to work at the dairy farm, putting his FFA education to practical use.

Landis also won first place honors for a portrait of a Siberian Husky owned by Nick Causyn. “Blue Eyed Mikko” is a photograph taken outdoors on a snowy day, with snow covered evergreens as the background at Bruce’s Ridge Road studio.

Photo North East is the annual convention, trade show and photo competition hosted by the Professional Photographers of New York State, the Professional Photographers Association of New Jersey, and the Professional Photographers of America.