The Dean’s List at Genesee Community College recognizes students enrolled either part-time or full-time who have earned a grade point average of 3.50 to 3.74.
GCC proudly announces that the following are among 366 students who were named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2014 semester.
Makaila Albanese, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Arielle Ashton, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Zachary Beecher, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Halie Gray, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Kimberly Haight, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Tricia Holtfoth, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Ashley Johnson, a full-time student and resident of Albion
William Jones, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Alec Pinson, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Kelly Sargent, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Shannan Wells, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Jenna Wildschutz, a full-time student and resident of Albion
Joshua Carpenter, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Alicia Ford, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Gary Heale, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Priscilla Hills, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Annemarie Lang, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Jenna Livezey, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Nicole Mauro, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Dominique Mendes, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Danielle Oliver, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Rebecca Reid, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Jaimie Smith, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Emily Smith, a full-time student and resident of Holley
Jennifer Stenshorn, a full-time student and resident of Kendall
Amy Herman, a full-time student and resident of Knowlesville
Seth Earle, a full-time student and resident of Lyndonville
Katherine Grochowski, a full-time student and resident of Lyndonville
Chelsey Silversmith, a full-time student and resident of Lyndonville
Abigail Andrews, a full-time student and resident of Medina
Rebecca Bashford, a full-time student and resident of Medina
Christine Capstick, a full-time student and resident of Medina
Jenna Carpenter, a full-time student and resident of Medina
Mikaela Cherry, a full-time student and resident of Medina
Christina Greco, a full-time student and resident of Medina
Valeri Kujawa, a full-time student and resident of Medina
Haley Noreck, a full-time student and resident of Medina
Felton Poole, a full-time student and resident of Medina
Mackenzie Lamirand, a full-time student and resident of Waterport
Courtney Traxler, a full-time student and resident of Waterport
Yetunde Awopetu, a part-time student and resident of Albion
Denisolt Beterbiyev, a part-time student and resident of Albion
Katelynne Klossner, a part-time student and resident of Albion
Bambi Heideman, a part-time student and resident of Lyndonville
Kimberly Eick, a part-time student and resident of Medina
Sara Marciniak, a part-time student and resident of Medina
Kevin McMullen, a part-time student and resident of Medina
Melody Parker, a part-time student and resident of Medina
Lucas Silversmith, a part-time student and resident of Medina
Victoria Szott, a part-time student and resident of Medina
Andrea Tombari, a part-time student and resident of Medina
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 February 2015 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Orleans Hub held a reception at Hoag Library this evening to recognize the Hub’s Outstanding Citizens for 2014 and the “Person of the Year.”
We announced these award winners in late December and wanted to have a reception to recognize them. About 60 people braved the bad weather for the reception.
Orleans Hub picked volunteer firefighters as the “Person of the Year” for their endless commitment to the community, helping in times of need.
The following are pictured, front row, from left: Peter Hendrickson, fire chief for Holley Fire Department; Jim Tabor, president of Carlton Volunteer Fire Company; Valerie Childs, a director with the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company; and Adam Ehrenreich, captain with the Lyndonville Fire Department.
Back row: Clarendon Fire Chief Jon DeYoung; Howard Watts, assistant fire chief with Shelby Volunteer Fire Company; Devin Taylor, captain with East Shelby Volunteer Fire Company; Gary Sicurella, president of Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Company; Mike Schultz, Kendall fire chief; Jeremy Graham, assistant chief for Albion Fire Department; and Jonathan Higgins, captain with the Medina Fire Department. Jerry Bentley, fire chief for Barre, planned on attending but needed to work plowing roads.
For more on the 2014 Person of the Year, click here.
The Hub also presented certificates to the Outstanding Citizens of 2014. The group includes, front row, from left: Melissa Ierlan of Clarendon, president of the Clarendon Historical Society; State Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Jim Hancock, Parade of Lights organizer in Medina.
Back row: Erik and Marlene Seielstad, leaders of the 4-H robotics and Legos program; Kim Corcoran, leader of the Kendall Lawn Chair Ladies; Al Capurso, pioneer enthusiast; and Bilal Huzair, leader of a food dispersal program in Medina.
For more on the Outstanding Citizens and why they were selected, click here.
Provided photo – The Iroquois Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America on Saturday recognized three adult volunteers with Silver Beaver awards, the top recognition given by the BSA. The following were recognized, from left: John G. Maier of Lockport, Linda J. Wohlers of Clarendon, Donald H. Morris of Lockport.
BATAVIA – The local council of the Boy Scouts of America honored a Clarendon woman and two other adult volunteers for their efforts on behalf of the Scouting program.
Linda Wohlers of Clarendon, Donald Morris of Batavia and John Maier of Lockport all were presented with Silver Beaver awards on Saturday during a volunteer awards dinner by the Iroquois Trail Council.
The Silver Beaver is a National BSA award that recognizes distinguished service to local youth. Each recipient is a long-tenured volunteer who has also made significant contributions by way of service to his or her local community.
Linda Wohlers has volunteered for 20 years to the Scouting program, serving as a Tiger Leader, Den Leader, Webelos Leader, Cubmaster, Commissioner and Committee Member.
John Maier’s Scouting history includes current roles as a Cubmaster, Troop Committee Member and Merit Badge counselor. A former Webelos leader, he is also an active member of the camp promotions team, district training team, and commissioner staff.
Donald Morris has served the whole family of scouting with exemplary dedication. Over the past 40-plus years, he has been involved in Scouting with 3 different local councils; Finger Lakes, New York; Blue Grass Council, Kentucky; and most recently Iroquois Trail.
The council was itself recognized by the Boy Scouts of America with the 2014 Journey to Excellence Gold Award for program excellence.
Local Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders were recognized for program excellence in the areas of advancement, camping, membership recruitment and retention, and helping Scouts to meet their funding needs.
Several youth members were also recognized. Cub Scout Tyler Mutka of Corfu topped the list with Popcorn Sales of more than $4,200. The sale raises money for Scout programs, and also qualifies Tyler for a national college scholarship program. This is Tyler’s fourth year as top seller among Scouts in a five-county area. Other Scouts who will be inducted into the scholarship program are Cameron Kreger of Lockport and Ethan Nelson of Avon.
The Iroquois Trail Council provides development, leadership, and life skills to more than 3,000 youths in Orleans, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston counties.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Dr. Clark Godshall named NYS superintendent of the year in 2014; Becky Albright praised as board president
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Legislators from Orleans and Niagara counties presented “Special Recognition Awards” to two leaders of the Orleans-Niagara BOCES.
In the top photo, Dr. Clark Godshall is congratulated for being named the 2014 New York State School Superintendent of the Year by the New York State Council of School Superintendents. He is shaking hands with David Godfrey, a Niagara County legislator.
Godshall has served as the District Superintendent of the Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services for the past 15 years. He started with the local BOCES 25 years ago and served as assistant superintendent for 10 years. He started his career as a science teacher at Hilton.
The Orleans/Niagara BOCES serves 38,000 students. It is consistently ranked as one of the top BOCES in the state.
The two-county Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance praised Godshall on Wednesday for his distinction in winning the award.
“You are a nationally recognized leader, an advocate for all students, and an expert on educational service agencies, school finance, and effective school district governance,” according to the certificate signed by Orleans County legislators David Callard, Lynne Johnson, William Eick and Ken DeRoller, and Niagara County legislators William Ross, David Godfrey, John Syracuse and Michael Hill.
The two counties also recognized Becky Albright, president of the board for the Orleans/Niagara BOCES. Albright, second from left, was recently honored by the Western New York Education Service Council Award winner.
Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller reads the certificate while Godfrey is pictured at far right.
“As the BOCES board president you have shown extraordinary commitment to the district and community, excellent leadership, and many achievements both in and outside of the workplace,” legislators said. “You have inspired others around you and therefore are a role model to our district and community. The positive impact of your efforts is widespread and long-lasting.”
Ryan P. Golden of Kent, N.Y., a junior majoring in computer science was named a Presidential Scholar for the fall 2014 semester at Clarkson University. Presidential Scholars must achieve a minimum 3.80 grade-point average and carry at least 14 credit hours.
James-Michael Joseph Soha of Medina, N.Y., a freshman majoring in chemical engineering was named to the Dean’s List for the fall 2014 semester at Clarkson University. Dean’s List students must achieve a minimum 3.25 grade-point average and also carry at least 14 credit hours.
D’Youville College
Congratulations to the local college students who have been named to the D’Youville College Dean’s List:
Meg Logan, a junior from Albion James White, sophomore from Albion
To qualify for the honor, they must have maintained a quality point average of 3.40 or above for the previous semester. This indicates superior academic performance and becomes a permanent part of the student’s college record.
Morrisville State College
Morrisville State College recently announced the students who were named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2014 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.
Adam Eick of Medina Brianna Caldwell of Albion
Nazareth College
Nazareth College is proud to announce that Brittney Perrin of Holley, NY (14470), has been named to the dean’s list for the Fall 2014 semester. Perrin is a Senior with a major in Nursing. A student’s grade point average must be at least 3.5 or above, and they must complete 12 credit hours of graded work that semester in order to be included on the dean’s list at Nazareth.
St. Bonaventure University
Congratulations to the following St. Bonaventure University students who were named to the dean’s list for fall 2014:
Jacob Lester. The accounting major is from Albion. Troy Fidanza. The biology major is from Medina. Alyssa Scherer. The international studies major with a concentration in the Middle East is from Holley. Brooke Bensley. The management major is from Albion.
SUNY Oswego
Brandon M. Comden of Holley, a senior majoring in business administration, has been named to the Deans’ List for the fall 2014 semester at SUNY Oswego.
The President’s and Deans’ lists represent the academic top 31 percent of the Oswego student body. To be included on the Deans’ List, students must have a semester grade average of 3.30 to 3.79.
Several area residents have been named to the President’s List for the fall 2014 semester at SUNY Oswego. Students who achieve grade averages of 3.80 and above on the 4.00 scale are named to the President’s List, the top 7.4 percent of students.
Alan J. Barrile of East Park Street in Albion, a senior in finance Jessica R. Washak of North Gravel Road in Medina, a senior in creative writing
BUFFALO, NY – Buffalo State is pleased to recognize the following students who were named to the fall 2014 dean’s list. To qualify, students must complete at least 12 credit hours and earn a GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Brittany Bennett-Allis of Albion, New York majoring in social work
Rael Brown of Holley, New York majoring in dietetics
Tiffany Cree of Medina, New York majoring in childhood education
Trevor Jennings of Albion, New York majoring in earth sciences
Jacob Rosenbeck of Medina, New York majoring in business and marketing ed
Buffalo State offers more than 160 undergraduate programs including applied mathematics, business administration, television and film arts, and music education. Each year, more than 9,000 undergraduate students choose Buffalo State because our faculty, programs, diversity, location, undergraduate research opportunities, and hands-on learning experiences enable them to succeed in the challenging world of the 21st century.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Provided photo by Alana Ross – Salma Huzair is pictured in New York City on Sunday after earning a Red Ticket to advance past the auditions for “The Voice.” She won’t be allowed to discuss the show publicly after Thursday when she returns to NYC.
MEDINA – Salma Huzair will head back to New York City on Wednesday to take the next step in “The Voice,” a singing competition on NBC.
Salma, 15, passed the initial audition on Sunday to advance to the next step. She is due back for the show on Thursday morning. NBC also is requiring confidentiality and issued a gag order for participants beginning on Thursday.
Salma and her parents, Bilal Huzair and his wife Alana Ross, thanked the community for their support for Salma so far. They said that has helped Salma build her confidence in singing publicly and fielding questions from the media and producers from “The Voice.”
“There is no way she would have got this far without their support,” Mr. Huzair said. “It’s just been overwhelming with all the support.”
Salma had a 2 p.m. appointment with “he Voice” on Sunday. There seemed to be thousands of singers there for the weekend, trying to pass the initial audition with producers.
Salma was led into a room, “Number 8,” with nine other singers. They were each given about 90 seconds to impress the producers. Salma was the 10th and final person to sing in her group.
“I wasn’t too nervous,” Salma said. “I was mostly excited.”
She sang, “Somewhere Over The Rainbow,” by Eva Cassidy. Salma was the only one in her group to get a Red Ticket and advance.
Salma said she has been fortunate to attend Lyndonville with a great team of music teachers. She is grateful for the community for attending two concerts in December where she sang, gaining experience and confidence to perform in front of groups.
She also went to St. John Fisher for pointers in public speaking. Her mother said that session, facilitated by Dr. David Bell (an anthropology professor), “helped get Salma out of her shell.”
Last Thursday at school, Salma was in chorus when she stepped outside of a class for a moment. When she returned, the chorus was holding a big poster, wishing her luck in NYC with her tryout.
“It gave me a lot more confidence,” she said, knowing she had the support of her classmates and community.
On Monday she went to Buffalo to be interviewed by WGRZ (Channel 2). That interview highlighted her volunteer efforts with Project Life through the World Life Institute in Waterport. Her family has long been supporters of the program, which brings war orphans from Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Kosovo and Bosnia for a summer of recuperation in rural Orleans County. Salma’s parents have hosted at least a dozen of the children and some of them have been Salma’s roommates.
“She literally grew up with Project Life,” said Chris Wilson, one of the program’s organizers. “She has been a mentor to the children.”
Salma is known to many in the Medina community. Her parents own the Old Mill Run Restaurant, and Salma works in the kitchen and as a waitress. She also enjoys singing on karaoke nights at the restaurant.
She thanked the community, including the restaurant customers, for all of their positive feedback.
She has recorded several songs at Torquil Studios with John Wragg in Middleport. Links to those videos on YouTube can be found at her new website, www.SalmaB.com.
Provided photos – Regan Stacey of Medina competed in the Distinguished Young Women of New York on Jan. 10 in Albany.
ALBANY – A Medina High School senior competed in the 2015 Distinguished Young Woman of New York and won the award for “Be Your Best Self.”
Regan Stacey, daughter of Trisha and David Stacey, competed in the Distinguished Young Women competition, which was formerly known as Junior Miss.
Heather Dorler of Stockton in Chautauqua County was the overall winner of the state-wide competition on Jan. 10 at Cohoes High School Auditorium in Albany.
Stacey and Dorler were among 11 high school senior girls from New York who competed to represent the state as the Distinguished Young Woman of New York for 2015. Participants were evaluated in the categories of Scholastics (20 percent), Interview (25 percent), Fitness (15 percent), Self-Expression (15 percent) and Talent (25 percent).
The scholarship program awarded $5,000 in scholarships, with Stacey earning $200 for the “Be Your Best Self” award.
Participants in the Distinguished Young Women of New York include, front row, from left: Sarah Pierson – Southampton; Heather Ryan – Crown Point; Sarah Burbank – Moriah; Regan Stacey – Medina; and Heather Dorler – Stockton. Back Row: Christine Schmidt – Elmira; Jonni Mills – Red Hook; Lillith Ida – Ticonderoga; Keneally Phelan – Harriman; Hillit Avnon-Klein – Queens Village; and Rachel Lavin – Whitehall.
The 58th National Finals will take place on June 25-27 in Mobile, Ala. Dorler will travel to Mobile along with 49 other state representatives to participate in personal development activities and community service projects before competing for the opportunity to become the Distinguished Young Woman of America for 2015 and for additional cash scholarships.
Abigail Feldman of Lyndonville was the NY state winner in 2014.
The New York State program is now accepting applications for any high school junior girl, with graduation date for 2016. For more information, visit www.distinguishedyw.org.
BATAVIA, NY – Responding to the concerns of part-time, high achieving students Genesee Community College has created a new Provost’s List recognizing their outstanding academic performance. The first Provost’s List honors 233 students enrolled part-time in Fall Semester 2014 classes. These students have earned a grade point average of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better.
Previously the College recognized these students on its Dean’s List, which honors part-time and full-time students with a Grade Point Average of 3.50 to 3.74. Some part-time students who had earned a higher GPA had expressed disappointment that their stellar performance was going unrecognized.
‘Part-time students often are juggling myriad responsibilities and often work that much harder to earn top scores,’ said Dr. Kathleen (Kate) Schiefen, GCC provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. ‘We felt it made sense to recognize their achievements separately and applaud the outstanding contributions they make in our classrooms every day.’
This year’s Genesee Community College Fall 2014 Provost’s List honorees, with their hometowns, include:
BATAVIA, NY (readMedia) – Genesee Community College, including all seven campus locations in Batavia, Albion, Arcade, Dansville, Lima, Medina and Warsaw, proudly announces 467 students were named to the President’s List for the Fall 2014 semester.
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.
The College has initiated a Provost’s List to recognize part-time students with a quality point index of 3.75 or better, which will be released in the next several weeks.
This year’s Genesee Community College Fall 2014 President’s List honorees, with their hometowns, are listed below:
Connor Barleben of Albion
Sandra Baxter of Albion
Christine Chennell of Albion
Pamela Cherry of Albion
Stacy Daniels of Albion
Mitchell DeSmit of Albion
Laura Dunham of Albion
Henry Haines of Albion
Audra Heslor of Albion
Angel Javier of Albion
Thomas Leggat of Albion
Dalton Mitchell of Albion
Chelsea Moore of Albion
Sarah Olmstead of Albion
Alise Pangrazio of Albion
David Pieniaszek of Albion
Marquise Riddick of Albion
Garrett Rustay of Albion
Christina Salvatore of Albion
Kelsey Schmitt of Albion
Julia Southcott of Albion
Emily Thering of Albion
Jack Treese of Albion
Pauline Twardowski of Albion
Tina Wilkins of Albion
Irene Youngman of Albion
Jessica Brien of Holley
Tashanna Hards of Holley
Heather Jones of Holley
Felicia Kraatz of Holley
Christopher Mason of Holley
Claudia Passarell of Holley
Michelle Silpoch of Holley
Emily Skehan of Holley
Lindsay Smith of Holley
Dennis Wakula of Holley
Darcey Schulwitz of Kendall
Alexa Wolf of Kendall
Mary Brockway of Kent
Barbara Feathers of Kent
Kalee Galletta of Kent
Kelli Napolitano of Kent
Nicole Boring of Lyndonville
Adrienne Hallows of Lyndonville
Stacy Heideman of Lyndonville
Charles McKinney of Lyndonville
Mandy Moore of Lyndonville
Brandon Pajek of Lyndonville
Regina Simon of Lyndonville
Kellie Wilcox of Lyndonville
Deborah Barnes of Medina
Lynn Bolton of Medina
Kimberly Brueckner of Medina
Amy Jackson of Medina
Daphne Kroll of Medina
Taylor Miller of Medina
Baillie Oberther of Medina
Elizabeth Pickle of Medina
Missy Pries of Medina
Samantha Snyder of Medina
Jacob Werth of Medina
Brad Wilson of Medina
Hannah Wolfe of Medina
Rhonda Wright of Medina
Amanda Campbell of Waterport
With the main campus in Batavia, New York and six campus centers located in Albion, Arcade, Dansville, Lima, Medina and Warsaw, Genesee Community College serves more than 7,000 students. As part of the State University of New York SUNY , GCC offers more than 60 academic programs and certificates. The Supply Chain Management concentration under the Business Administration program is one of GCC’s newest academic programs, which is offered entirely online.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Dione Harrington, a supervisor with the Department of Social Services, was named the Orleans County Employee for the Year for 2014.
ALBION – Dione Harrington admits her job will sometimes keep her awake at night. She sees many children and senior citizens in neglect and abuse.
Harrington and a team of caseworkers at the Department of Social Services will work to improve the situations, sometimes bringing in law enforcement or other support services for parenting or drug addictions.
She has worked in DSS for 24 years, including the past 14 years as a supervisor with child protective, adult protective and domestic violence cases.
Harrington and the DSS staff consistently rank in the top 10 in New York on the performance measures mandated by the state for child protection investigations, said Nola Goodrich-Kresse, a public health educator and vice president of the Employees Assistance Program.
The EAP on Wednesday named Harrington the county “Employee of the Year.” She was presented a plaque during the Orleans County Legislature meeting.
The caseloads for Harrington and six child protective caseworkers have jumped, from about 300 child protective cases in 2001 to about 700 now.
Harrington said a surge in drug problems in the community is responsible for most of the rise in child abuse and neglect.
“The big issue is drug abuse,” she said. “It is a horrific problem in the county and all over. It can impair a parents’ ability to be a parent.”
Harrington said her co-workers and many service providers “genuinely care about kids,” trying to improve their situations and make them safe and healthy.
She will often direct services to families from Drug Court, the Genesee-Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse, the Care Net Center of Greater Orleans, and other agencies.
“You cannot focus on what has happened to the child,” Harrington said she will often tell her staff. “You just focus on it not happening again.”
However, she said the cases can be troubling.
“You still bring it home with you at night,” she said.
She oversees two investigators in elder abuse. For seniors, that is typically financial exploitation, Harrington said.
She collaborates with legal and human services professionals, and she continues to earn their respect, Goodrich-Kresse said.
Harrington was named Employee of the Month last February. The EAP committee considered the honored employees from each month and then picked a top employee for the year.
Other employees recognized for going “above and beyond their duty” the past year include Wayne Krull in highway, William Culverwell in buildings and grounds, Karen Wygal in nursing home, James Halstead from the Sheriff’s Department, Tammy Vanwycke in the nursing home, Onnalee O’Connor in the Legislature’s office, and C.J. Laubacher from the Sheriff’s Department.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 January 2015 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Bill Lattin, the recently retired Orleans County historian, was presented with a “Friend of Education” award this evening by Margy Brown, president of the Albion Board of Education.
ALBION – For 20 years Bill Lattin worked with Albion students on service learning projects, first developing a walking guide and kiosk for the Courthouse Square in the mid-1990s.
Lattin and students worked to clean up and rededicate a cemetery for the alms house about four years ago, a site that was the precursor to the county nursing home on West Countyhouse Road. They have researched Albionites buried at Mount Albion Cemetery, with students portraying those residents during an annual Ghost Walk at the cemetery.
He frequently visits classes, and inspires students about the community’s glorious past, said Sue Starkweather Miller, the school’s grants manager who has worked with Lattin on many of the service learning projects.
Lattin retired as county historian on Dec. 31 after 36 years. Today he was honored by the school district as a “Friend of Education.”
“There is so much that Bill has done through the years as a friend of education,” Starkweather Miller told the Board of Education.
Lattin, as former director at the Cobblestone Museum, gave numerous tours of the property to elementary students over the years, especially the one-room schoolhouse. He also worked with high school students to clean up the property and create labels for artifacts in the Farmers’ Hall.
He teamed with students and teachers to develop a monument to pioneer black residents at Mount Albion. He has been a regular during the annual Pioneer Days celebration at the school, and he has led in-service programs with teachers, urging them to incorporate local history and architecture in their lessons.
“Thank you for telling such great stories and for giving our students such pride in their heritage,” Starkweather Miller said.
Lattin was presented with a “Friend of Education” certificate.
“I felt it was part of my job and it has been a pleasure,” he told the Board of Education.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 2 January 2015 at 12:00 am
File Photo – Bill Lattin leads a tour about downtown Medina this summer, one of the many events where he helped residents better understand the past and the county’s heritage. Lattin retired on Dec. 31 as county historian.
Editorial
ALBION – It was another day of horrible winter weather last Feb. 27. With blowing snow, fierce winds and freezing temperatures, I figured it would be a small group at a lecture by Bill Lattin. He was scheduled to talk about Mount Albion Cemetery and a Civil War memorial – the 68-foot-high tower in the cemetery – as part of GCC’s Civil War lecture series.
I went to show some support for Lattin. I really didn’t think too many people would brave the elements for his talk.
The bad weather didn’t deter the crowd. All of the seats were taken and many stood for an hour to hear Lattin talk about the cemetery and the Victorian attitudes towards death expressed in the gravestones. (Another dedicated group braved nasty weather about a year ago when Lattin led a tour of stained-glass windows at churches in Albion.)
Lattin has developed a following in his 36 years as Orleans County historian. He frequently gives lectures and talks around the county, leading tours of cemeteries, addressing service clubs and other organizations. He has proven a draw, telling stories of the county’s past, often mixing in humor and respect for residents from generations ago.
We live in an era when many people don’t know the names of their neighbors. Lattin is far the opposite. He can look at a picture from the 1940s and name the local residents, sharing anecdotes about local folks from long ago.
Local dignitaries including former Congressman John LaFalce (center) gather in 1977 for the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Ward House at the Cobblestone Museum in Childs. Bill Lattin, right, was the long-time curator and director of the museum and helped save several sites at Cobblestone Museum. The museum is a National Historic Landmark, the only location in the county with that designation.
Lattin retired on Dec. 31 as county historian, a role he served in for 36 years. A former Albion art teacher, Lattin also led the Cobblestone Museum for more than three decades, served on the Gaines Town Board, and has been active at the Pullman Memorial Universalist Church.
He has been a regular contributor to the Orleans Hub, providing us with photos and write-ups in the “Vintage Orleans” feature. For 35 years he wrote a weekly historical column for The Journal-Register in Medina. (He has given Orleans Hub additional photos that we will publish early in 2015.)
He has been available to help residents with numerous historic preservation and appreciation projects, whether erecting historical markers, researching ancestors or working with students on projects.
Lattin has worked with Albion High School students on the annual Albion Ghost Walk at Mount Albion Cemetery. He provides some background on prominent and sometimes obscure residents in the cemetery. The students will put the person from the past in the own words during a dramatic presentation at the cemetery.
The Ghost Walk typically includes about 50 students. About 500 people attend the annual Ghost Walk, which shows the community’s appreciation for history.
File photo by Tom Rivers – In this photo from last year’s Ghost Walk, student Chey-Rain Eagle depicts Elizabeth Proctor, the third wife of John Proctor. He is considered the “Paul Revere of Gaines” for riding his horse and alerting residents all the way to Lewiston that the British were coming.
In 2011, Lattin worked with Albion Middle School students in an impressive preservation effort. Lattin visited seventh graders in the 2010-11 school year and talked to their class about the former Alms “Poor” House, the precursor to the county nursing home on Route 31. The nursing home replaced the Alms house in 1960. Lattin told them why Countyhouse Road was called “Countyhouse.”
Some of the residents at the Alms House were buried in a cemetery on West Countyhouse Road in Albion. That cemetery in a wooded area became overgrown with brush and small trees.
The students wanted the residents to have a proper burial place. They worked with Lattin and the County Highway Department to research the site, find 66 head stones and clean up the property. It was rededicated in June 2011.
The poor house served many immigrants Irish, English, Dutch, Scottish and others and no doubt was a home for hard-luck Civil War veterans, Lattin said during the dedication ceremony.
He thanked the students for showing high qualities of citizenship, for wanting to recognize some long-forgotten residents. Lattin said those residents were also doting fathers and mothers, and contributing community members. But their families may not have had money to bury them in Mount Albion or another local cemetery.
Lattin’s best legacy may be empowering residents, including many students, to understand the past and to care more deeply about the community’s residents, including those who paved the way for the current generation.
If you love your community, you should know about its history. Lattin has been a dedicated teacher.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 December 2014 at 12:00 am
‘Outstanding Citizens’ serve community in many ways
Several residents deserve to be recognized as “Outstanding Citizens” for their efforts to make Orleans County a better place this past year. They did many good deeds for little to no pay, driven by a love for their community and neighbors.
Orleans Hub is pleased to recognize the following:
Leader of Lawn Chair Ladies adds excitement to local parades, community events
Photos by Tom Rivers – Kim Corcoran leads the Lawn Chair Ladies at a local parade.
When the Town of Kendall celebrated its 200th birthday in 2012, Kim Corcoran and some of her friends decided to add some excitement to the local parade. Corcoran and her friends formed the Lawn Chair Ladies and had a dance routine on the parade route. The women, while wearing pink boas, choreographed a number with lawn chairs.
They were an immediate sensation and now perform at many community events during the year. The group has 18 members who practice regularly.
“I didn’t have any hopes beyond that summer,” said Corcoran, the group’s leader. “It’s been really fun getting all of my old buddies together.”
Corcoran grew up in Kendall and was in the marching band. After a 35-year career in New York City in the advertising and publishing business, Corcoran moved back to her hometown in June 2011. She attended the parade at the Kendall Firemen’s Carnival and thought it was missing some excitement that June.
The Lawn Chair Ladies formed to add some pep to the local parade and haven’t skipped a beat since, performing in Kendall, Holley and Brockport, with requests for other events. Corcoran also has been appointed the town historian.
Volunteer event planner adds much to Medina’s cultural life
A giant snowman makes its way down Main Street in a lighted float by MAK Plowing and Landscape in Medina on Nov. 29. Jim Hancock coordinates the parade that includes many businesses, civic groups and other organizations.
Since he retired as director of the Job Development Agency in Orleans County, Jim Hancock has been busy working for free for the Medina community. He heads the Medina Tourism Committee and makes sure a visitor center inside Medina City Hall is staffed during the summer.
He plans an annual concert by the Canal Basin, and has been instrumental in establishing the Medina Sandstone hall of Fame inside City Hall. Hancock visits all of the nominated sites, which stretch throughout New York State and to Erie, Pa.
Jim Hancock, a member of the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame committee, discusses the Million-Dollar Staircase in Albany, which was partially built with Medina Sandstone. The Staircase has been nominated for the Medina Sandstone Hall of Fame.
Hancock spearheads one of Medina’s most popular events: the annual Parade of Lights on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It has turned into a mega-draw for Medina, filling the downtown and some side streets with thousands of people. The number of glowing floats increases each year. It is a great display of community pride.
Resident does the research and convinces government to name creek for pioneer
Al Capurso is pictured on a pedestrian bridge over Gilbert Creek in the Town of Gaines.
For about two centuries Orleans County residents passed by a creek in Gaines and Carlton. The unnamed waterway has remained largely unspoiled and undisturbed.
Al Capurso wanted it to have a name and to honor a pioneer resident who lived next to the creek more than 200 years ago.
For more than a year he researched the 6.5-mile creek that starts near Brown Road and heads northeast to Marsh Creek in Carlton. Capurso pushed for the waterway to honor Elizabeth Gilbert, the first settler on Ridge Road in Orleans County.
Gilbert and her husband built their cabin in 1807. Mr. Gilbert died soon after they settled, and his wife was left to raise a family and make a life in the wilderness of the Niagara frontier.
It took Capurso a year of lining up local support, and gaining permission from the federal Bureau of Geographic Names. The agency on April 10 formally approved the naming request.
Capurso painted a wooden sign with the name, “Gilbert Creek.” It stands by Ridge Road, next to the Gaines Carlton Community Church.
During the May 24 dedication program, State Sen. George Maziarz praised Capurso for working through the bureaucracy to get the creek named for one of the county’s pioneers.
“There is no better title than a citizen who loves his community, who respects his community,” Maziarz said about Capurso.
Al Capurso’s son Dan unveils the sign for Gilbert Creek by Ridge Road during a dedication program on May 24.
Resident spearheads effort to feed the hungry in Medina area
Bilal Huzair stacks up some frozen pizzas on Dec. 20 during a Foodlink delivery in Medina next to the Old Mill Run Restaurant on Route 63.
About two years ago Bilal Huzair and his family opened the Old Mill Run Restaurant on Route 63, just south of Maple Ridge Road. Huzair met many local residents and had a sense that many were struggling to buy groceries.
Huzair and other members of the World Life Institute connected with Foodlink about doing a food drop-off in Medina the first and third Saturdays each month. Huzair didn’t know what to expect – just how many people would show up for fruits, vegetables and other food.
The program started in November 2013 and quickly drew big crowds with about 200 people standing in line, with many there two hours ahead of time. Another 200-plus are given food, with deliveries by friends and World Life Institute volunteers.
Many of the people in line are senior citizens on fixed incomes. They see their income consumed by medical bills, prescriptions and other bills.
“We didn’t have an expectation,” Huzair said about how many people would seek the food. “We just knew there was a need.”
An anonymous donor has been paying Foodlink for the food that is given out. Huzair manages the volunteers and keeps the program running smoothly.
“These are people who genuinely need things,” he said.
Assemblyman leads veterans on trips to DC
Provided photo – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley, lower right, is pictured on Sept. 19 with a group of veterans in Washington D.C. on seventh annual Patriot Trip. About 100 people travelled to the nation’s capitol with Hawley to tour war memorials.
Many politicians say they value veterans, but Steve Hawley may be the only elected official in the country who leads about 100 people each year to Washington, D.C. Veterans from World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War can tour the war memorials.
It is a meaningful trip for veterans and their families and Hawley and his staff deserve praise for all of the effort. Hawley has coordinated the Patriot Trip for seven years with about 750 people travelling to the nation’s capital.
“The Patriot Trip is a token of my appreciation for the men and women who have served our country with courage and honor,” Hawley said in September, when the group headed to DC.
Hawley isn’t an Orleans County resident. He is from Batavia. He has kept his district office in Albion, even when redistricting shifted the district south with more of Genesee County. He has shown his commitment to Orleans County residents.
Historian helps awaken Clarendon to celebrated past
Melissa Ierlan, the Clarendon town historian and president of the Historical Society, unveils a historical marker on Sept. 21 for Hillside Cemetery, which last year was named to National Register of Historic Places.
In recent years, Melissa Ierlan has helped save the Old Stone Store in Clarendon, erect historical markers, and get sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Ierlan has also been good about forming partnerships and connecting with residents and preservationists. She scored a big win in 2014 by celebrating the life and legacy of Clarendon’s native son, Carl Akeley.
Last spring the Clarendon Historical Society was brainstorming programs for the upcoming year. The group considered famous people from Clarendon’s past to feature. Someone mentioned Akeley, one of the most acclaimed taxidermists in the world.
It just happened to be his 150th birthday on May 19. The Historical Society decided to throw Akeley a big party. They invited author Jay Kirk, who wrote a biographical novel about Akeley called “Kingdom Under Glass.”
Provided photo – Carl Akeley is pictured with a leopard in Africa that he killed with his bare hands after it attacked him.
Prominent taxidermists also joined 150 people at the May 21 bash for Akeley. The celebration would link Ierlan, the Historical Society president, with prominent taxidermists who have long wanted to honor Akeley. The taxidermists gave Ierlan several Akeley mementos, including a gorilla death mask, to display at the Town Hall. The taxidermists also started raising $8,000 for a monument to be set in Hillside Cemetery in Clarendon in honor of Akeley.
Akeley was also a prolific inventor and world traveller. He died of a fever in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1926, and is buried there.
Ierlan has travelled to New York City with other Historical Society members to see The Akeley Hall of African Mammals, which showcases large mammals of Africa that Akeley killed and stuffed. She and members of the Cobblestone Society Museum are working with a taxidermist to restore a stuffed fox done by Akeley as a teen.
The Historical Society also is working on Akeley’s 151st birthday party in 2015.
Albion couple teaches 4-H’ers about science through Legos, robotics
Erik Seielstad has volunteered as mentor in the Lego program since it started in 2012. He is pictured with Dan Squire, 13, of Medina in this photo from early November.
Four years ago Erik and Marlene Seielstad pushed to start a robotics program through 4-H in Orleans County. High schoolers program a robot to perform tasks, including picking up and shooting a basketball.
“Joe’s Average Slackers” were born, and they have competed in regional events. The Seielstads serve as mentors and their son Morgan is a senior in the program this year.
Many parents pushed the Seielstads to start a Lego team for kids in elementary and middle school, and the Seielstads three years ago agreed to coach the team. The The First Lego League proved popular and expanded to three teams last year and a fourth team this year. There are about 40 kids under the guidance of the Seielstads with some help from parents.
Marlene Seielstad, right, talks with members of the Prehistoric Robots team during a competition at Churchville-Chili on Nov. 15.
The Seielstads have been honored for their volunteer efforts by the FLL regional leaders. Most teams are led by paid staff in school districts.
Mr. Seielstad works as a systems engineer in Rochester. He said the students are all learning math and science skills, as well as teamwork.
“The kids get the opportunity to work together and accomplish things,” Seielstad said during a November practice.
His wife is a member of the Albion Board of Education. She keeps the teams organized and funded. She has numerous businesses backing the robotics and Lego teams.
The Seielstads believed the program could work in rural Orleans County. They have been the drivers of its success.
“I find it overwhelming that this has occurred,” Mrs. Seielstad said. “Our uniqueness is we have people from all over our county, as well as kids from other counties.”
Orleans Hub plans to honor the “Outstanding Citizens” during a reception in early 2015.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 December 2014 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Jim Andre has been with the all-volunteer veterans’ van service since it started 16 years ago. He offered to drive veterans to medical appointments. A Korean War veteran, Andre of Kent continues to give his time with the service coordinated by the Orleans Joint Veterans Council.
Andre, right in photo, was one of three volunteers recognized during a luncheon on Tuesday at the Joint Veterans Council. The group also recognized Owen Toale, left, for his fund-raising efforts that helped the Council purchase two lower-mileage vans.
Gloria Kuhn, center, is volunteer coordinator for the program. She goes to the office on Route 31 at the Veterans Service Agency and connects drivers with veterans who need rides to appointments.
There are about 25 volunteers, including drivers and people in the office. The service has five vans. In 2013, they transported 1,040 veterans to medical appointments at no cost to the veterans.
This year, drivers transported 1,627 veterans to appointments (with a week to go), the most since the service started, said Paul Fulcomer, the county’s Veterans Service Agency director.
“We are the only county with a volunteer-run program,” Fulcomer told the group. “It’s veterans helping veterans.”
Kuhn said the service tends to have a shortage of drivers during the winter, when many volunteers head to Florida, Arizona and other out-of-state locations.
“My Christmas wish is more help during the winter,” she told the group.
Fulcomer and Kuhn said many veterans still don’t know about the program. In a marketing effort, she passed out hats to all the volunteers that say “Orleans County Joint Veterans Council.” The hats include a flag.
For more information on the program, call (585) 589-2856.
