achievements

Kendall named to 2016 list of best high schools by U.S. News & World Report

Photo by Tom Rivers: The Kendall Jr./Sr. High School recently received a significant change to its exterior, as well as many interior upgrades.

Posted 29 November 2016 at 10:35 pm

Press Release, Kendall Central School

KENDALL – Kendall Junior/Senior High School was named on the 2016 list of America’s Best High Schools as determined by U.S. News & World Report.

According to the publication’s website, the “2016 Best High Schools rankings awards the top 6,517 public high schools with gold, silver and bronze medals, indicating their level of college readiness.” Schools received these medals based on their performance on state assessments and how well they prepare students for college. All results were based on data from the 2013-14 school year.

Kendall received a bronze medal for student performance on state exams. Kendall students performed better than the state average on state reading and math proficiency tests, with Kendall’s disadvantaged students also performing better than the state average.

In this evaluation, disadvantaged students were defined as black, Hispanic and low-income. With a total enrollment of 366 students, 12 percent of Kendall students were classified as minorities and 39 percent of all students were classified as economically disadvantaged (eligible for free or reduced-price meals).

Based on state test results, 78 percent of Kendall students were proficient in math and 94 percent were proficient in English. Seventy-seven percent of disadvantaged students were proficient on these exams compared to 83 percent of non-disadvantaged students who were also proficient on these exams.

Kendall graduation rates met or exceeded the national standard. The graduation rate at Kendall was 92 percent. U.S. News & World Report calculated a “College Readiness Index,” based on Kendall students’ participation in Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams. Twenty-three percent of Kendall students participated in an AP course, with most students taking, on average, one AP exam.

For more information on Kendall’s ranking on the U.S. News & World Report list, visit www.usnews.com.

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Youth football league honors Holley Buildings & Grounds Department

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 28 November 2016 at 10:28 am

Provided photo: Robin Silvis, a member of the Holley Board of Education, is pictured with John Sherman at last week BOE meeting in Holley.

Provided photo: Robin Silvis, a member of the Holley Board of Education, is pictured with John Sherman at last week’s BOE meeting in Holley.

HOLLEY – The Holley Central School District Buildings & Grounds Department has been honored by a youth football league for its upkeep of its playing fields.

Holley recently was awarded the Jim Ellegate Memorial Award by the Niagara Orleans Football Association. The award was presented to John Sherman, the district’s director of facilities, during the regular meeting of the Board of Education on Nov. 21.

Robin Silvis, vice president of the Board of Education, presented Sherman with the award. She explained that Jim Ellegate was a football coach for the Roy-Hart Rams Beginner Football Team. He tragically lost his life coming home from a football game.

“He was a man that gave freely of his time, not only volunteering to coach football, but he was involved in coaching baseball and was also a Cub Scout leader,” Silvis said. “With Jim’s passing, the Niagara Orleans Football Association executive board and its commissioners wanted to keep his spirit alive, and this is how the Jim Ellegate Memorial Award was created. This award is given to a person or an organization that shows their passion for the love of the game and for the love of the children.”

The Holley Central School District Buildings & Grounds Department was nominated for the award by the Eastern Orleans Jr. Hawks because of “stellar conditions of not only the youth football field on district grounds, but for our district facility as a whole,” Silvis says. “It is very well maintained, clean, and a very welcoming facility that shows much hard work and dedication by those that take care of it, and demonstrate the ultimate in Holley pride.”

The Buildings & Grounds Department supports our community’s youth by going beyond their job expectations, putting in a lot of extra time.

“Our football fields and the areas surrounding always are top notch,” Silvas said. “They made it possible for our youth to not only play on beautiful grounds, but they made it so that we have a portable scoreboard for each contest, which is absolutely outstanding. This team always had the cheer mats available for our cheerleaders and seamlessly made everything available to these youth.”

Silvis adds that the district is very fortunate to have such hard working and dedicated people caring for its buildings and grounds.

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Albion FFA named grand champion of Medina parade

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 27 November 2016 at 4:12 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – The Albion FFA was named grand champion of Medina’s Parade of Lights on Saturday. The FFA dethrones Matt C.M. Contracting, the three-time grand champ, and wins a $1,000 prize.

The FFA used 10,000 lights in creating its float with a Candy Land theme.

Here are the other winners announced today by Jim Hancock, the parade chairman:

Matt C.M. won the Commercial/Business Class with its float of a 13-foot-high tree with presents.

Religious – Community Fellowship Church at Johnson Creek in Middleport

Service Club/organization class – Cub Scout Pack #35

Fire Company Class – Lyndonville Fire Company

Not-For-Profit Class – Knights-Kaderli Foundation

Star Award – Hands 4 Hope

Littlest Elf Award – Orleans County Christian School

Community Spirit Award – Middleport Fire Department (with 1893 horse drawn steamer)

Santa’s Pick – Stanton Signs

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Medina man has run 201 races and counting this year

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2016 at 4:02 pm

Jose Quiros sets new record for WNY runners

Photos by Tom Rivers: Jose Quiros of Medina runs along the towpath in today’s 5-kilometer race in medina where he finished second in 19:55. This was the 201st race he’s run this year.

MEDINA – On Thanksgiving morning, Jose Quiros reached a milestone never attained by a runner in Western New York: He ran his 200^th race in a calendar year.

Quiros made it 201 races this morning when he ran the Home for the Holidays 5K in Medina. Quiros has run races all over Western New York this year. This morning, he had to travel the least distance. Medina is his hometown.

BuffaloRunners.com tracks the total races for runners. Quiros is 11 ahead of Heather Burger (Click here for a breakdown of all the races Quiros has run in 2016.). He first set the Wester New York record in 2014 with 154 races. He pushed the record to 170 in 2015.

He also leads by racing 1,004 miles so far this year. Kelly Roberts of Barker is second at 833. Only seven are at 500 or more for the year.

“It’s pretty nutty,” Quiros said about his busy racing schedule.

He hasn’t just run a bunch of 5Ks. Many of his races cover long distances, including the Mind the Ducks 12-hour run for 40.5 miles in Webster, and a 6-hour distance race in Williamsville where he completed 32.4 miles. Quiros also ran four marathons (26.2 miles), nine half marathons (13.1 miles), and two 30-kilometer races (18.6 miles).

He is grateful for making many friends in Western New York through running.

“The running community is amazing,” Quiros said. “From being out in the lead to the back of the pack, they’re all very friendly.”

Jose Quiros is in the homestretch of today’s race in Medina, a course that included a stretch along the Erie Canal.

Kelly Roberts of Barker finishes the race in Medina today. It was her 158th race of the year and 140th in the Buffalo Runners series, which puts her eighth overall in WNY.

He took up the sport in 2013 when he weighed about 200 pounds. He has lost more than 50 pounds since then.

“I’ve seen so much of Western New York, from Pennsylvania to Rochester,” said Quiros, who works as a driver supervisor for Modern Disposal.

He said his co-workers will cover for him sometimes so he can get a race in.

Quiros said he is eyeing six more races this year, which would make the record 207. He thinks an ambitious person could do 210 or 215 races max. But it’s tricky scheduling to get to all of the races. Some days he would run two or three in one day.

Quiros doesn’t plan to try to surpass his record next year. He wants to do more long distance training so he can meet a new goal of qualifying for the Boston Marathon. He will turn 40 in March and would need to run 3:20 to qualify for Boston. He needs to shave 5 minutes off his personal best to qualify for Boston.

Quiros is well respected in the running community, said Kelly Roberts of Barker, who has run 158 races this year.

Quiros isn’t just plodding through the races. He gives a strong effort and is typically among the leaders. He was under 20 minutes in today’s 5K.

“His recovery is amazing,” Roberts said about Quiros and his consistently fast times. “He runs every race amazing. I strive to be like him.”

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Picture of Mount Albion wins Orleans Tourism’s photo contest

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 26 November 2016 at 8:19 am

ALBION – Peggy Barringer of Albion won the 2016 Orleans County Tourism Photo Contest with her entry, “Springtime at Mount Albion Cemetery.”

Barringer wins 2 tickets to Sunday’s Buffalo Bills game with the Jacksonville Jaguars at Orchard Park.

Photographers were invited to send in photos of Orleans County with a “tourism-draw” subject matter such as recreation, heritage, nature, annual event or tourist attraction.

“We thank the participants for submitting images from around Orleans County and encourage everyone to continue snapping away as we will likely be announcing more photo contests in the future!” Tourism Coordinator Lynne Menz announced Friday on the Tourism Facebook page.

To see the honorable mentions, visit https://orleanscountytourism.com/.

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Albion man reaches 20-gallon milestone for donating blood

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 November 2016 at 7:37 pm

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – Fred Miller, the owner of a hardware store in downtown Albion and also an Orleans County legislator, gives blood today as a double red donor. He is pictured with Cindy Fraser, a donor specialist for the American Red Cross.

Miller said he first gave blood when he was 19. He become a regular donor in his mid-30s. It takes eight donations to reach a gallon, unless it’s a double red which counts for two pints.

Donors can give every 56 days or every 112 days if it’s a double red, where more red blood cells are taken.

Miller holds a pin noting he was a 20-gallon blood donor.

Miller holds a pin noting he is a 20-gallon blood donor.

“I’ve been blessed to be fortunate enough to give,” Miller said during the blood drive today at the Elks Club in Albion. “I’m fortunate I’ve been healthy because you can’t give if you aren’t healthy.”

Miller, 63, has been a regular at the blood drive for about 25 years. He typically heads over after he closes the hardware store at 5 p.m.

“It’s something we can do because blood isn’t man-made and may never be,” he said.

The Red Cross says each pint donation can be used by as many as three people. Miller has given the equivalent of 160 pints, and potentially saved nearly 500 lives, he was told by Fraser, the donor specialist.

“You just gave me goosebumps,” Miller responded.

Terri Gannon, a supervisor with the Red Cross, said there are still many dedicated regular donors like Miller, but the Red Cross would welcome many more.

“You don’t see it every day,” she said about someone reaching the 20-gallon mark.

About 45 people were expected to give blood at today’s drive at Elks Club.

“For some people it is a way of giving and helping the community,” Gannon said. “It doesn’t cost you anything but your time.”

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28 from Orleans/Niagara BOCES inducted into National Technical Honor Society

Provided photo: This group was recently inducted into the National Technical Honor Society. Front row, from left: Brendan Schyve, Jacob Kelkenberg, Noah Rocklein, Fessor Thomas, Tanner Bulmer, Jake Stern and Paul Grabowski. Back row: Cheyenne Pegelow, Sarah Kurbs, Cassidy Geise, Andrew McKee, Rielly Albee, Alexis Rinker, Jessica Kassmann, Rajillya Storms. Back row: Teri-Ann Graham, Scott Zeitz, Baily Michel, Stephen Zayac, Jarrett Thompson, Tim Moriarity, Jonathan Costanzo, Anthony Harris, Ryan Townsend, Tanner Rees and Brandon Luthart.

Posted 21 November 2016 at 1:44 pm

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – Congratulations to 28 students from the Orleans Career and Technical Education Centers who were recently inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.

The students were honored at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES technical education centers in front of their teachers, families and district representatives for maintaining an 89.5 average in their career and technical education programs and an 84.5 average at their high schools.

This year’s inductees include: Stephen Zayac (Albion/Diesel Technology), Baily Michel (Barker/Culinary Arts), Noah Rocklein (Barker/Welding), Sarah Kurbs (Lockport/Cosmetology), Fessor Thomas (Lockport/Electricity), Ryan Townsend (Lockport/Cosmetology), Paul Grabowski (Medina/Diesel Technology), Brandon Luthart (Medina/Electricity), Jonathan Costanzo (Newfane/Security and Law Enforcement), Cassidy Geise (Newfane/Cosmetology), Teri-Ann Graham (Newfane/Cosmetology), Anthony Harris, Jr. (Newfane/Building Trades), Jacob Kelkenberg (Newfane/Computer Technology), Scott Zeitz (Newfane/Building Trades), Andrew McKee (Orleans County Christian School/Computer Technology), Rielly Albee (Roy-Hart/Early Childhood Ed), Tanner Bulmer (Roy-Hart/Electricity), Jessica Kassmann (Roy-Hart/Allied Health), Matthew Maines (Roy-Hart/Auto Tech), Timothy Maines (Roy-Hart/Welding), Timothy Moriarity (Roy-Hart/Electricity), Cheyenne Pegelow (Roy-Hart/Early Childhood Ed), Tanner Rees (Roy-Hart/Graphic Communications), Alexis Rinker (Roy-Hart/Allied Health), Brendan Schyve (Roy-Hart/Electricity), Jacob Stern (Roy-Hart/Allied Health), Rajillya Storms (Roy-Hart/Security and Law Enforcement) and Jarrett Thompson (Roy-Hart/Auto Tech).

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ESL class helps former farmworker become citizen

Posted 16 November 2016 at 10:12 am

Jesus Garcia

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

LYNDONVILLE – English as a Second Language teachers Shelly and Jeff Smith recently saw one of their students achieve a dream. Their student, Jesus Garcia, became an American citizen.

Garcia is from Xoaxia, Mexico and came to the United States when he was 15 years old to pick apples with his parents at a local farm. He worked with them picking apples for a local farmer. He wanted to attend school, but his parents would not allow it.

At the age of 25 he found his way to the Yates Baptist Church in Lyndonville and started attending ESL classes there. The program is run by the Orleans/Niagara BOCES.

Recently with his teachers and his family – wife Janna and his sons Liam and Jamie – Garcia stood in front of the Honorable Judge Hugh B. Scott and was sworn in at a Naturalization Ceremony in Hamburg.

“We are so very proud of his accomplishments that he has made,” says Mrs. Smith. “It was amazing to observe.”

Garcia now is employed at Ontario Shores Construction working on metal roofs and pole barns.

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Albion Police Department receives traffic safety award

Posted 15 November 2016 at 10:01 pm

Press Release, Albion Police Chief Roland Nenni

ALBION – The Albion Police Department is pleased to announce being awarded the 2016 Community Traffic Safety Platinum Award by the America Automobile Association.

The nationally recognized AAA Platinum Community Traffic Safety Award is the highest award AAA can bestow on any Police Department. It’s awarded to departments that have developed and maintained traffic safety initiatives in their communities and who have shown success in those initiatives.

The Albion Police Department has used programs such as Buckle Up New York, Selective Traffic Enforcement Program, Stop DWI, Pedestrian Crossing Safety and Awareness, and the Child Passenger Safety Seat Program to enforce vehicle and traffic laws as well as to educate and assist motorists.

Throughout 2016 the Albion Police Department conducted several targeted details that focused on specific areas of safety for both motorists and pedestrians. These details were done in non-traditional ways to increase their effectiveness.

Several more details are planned using techniques that have never been done in our area and will increase awareness and effectiveness with the end goal of making our community safer.

This is the sixth consecutive year that the Albion Police Department has received the Community Traffic Safety Platinum Award.

The Albion Police Department is dedicated to making our highways and streets safer for all who use them. Throughout the holiday season we will continue our efforts by adding more patrols and details and we urge motorist to make responsible decisions.

(Editor’s Note: The Holley Police Department, which is also managed by Nenni, won AAA’s Bronze Award for community traffic safety.)

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Veterans worker named Orleans County’s ‘employee of the year’

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 November 2016 at 12:38 pm

Provided photo: Mary Jo Syck is pictured with David Callard, chairman of the Orleans County Legislature, after she was named the county’s employee of the year during a luncheon last Thursday at Tillman’s Village Inn.

ALBION –Mary Jo Syck is one of those “extraordinary” people who go above and beyond her job in serving Orleans County veterans and their families, said Earl M. Schmidt director of Veterans Service Agency.

Syck is assistant administrative veterans secretary for the county. She does far more than typical secretarial work, Schmidt said.

“The biggest thing is she goes over and beyond – she goes that extra step,” Schmidt said about Syck, who last Thursday was named the county’s employee of the year. “In today’s workforce you have the people who go to work and do their job, but she does more. People like that are extraordinary.”

She was instrumental in the plan for recent renovations of the Veterans Service Agency, making the site more user-friendly for the public and more secure for employees and volunteers.

Syck has worked for the county for 26 years, serving roles in the Personnel Office, Social Services, the County Highway Department, the County Clerk’s Office and the Veterans Services Agency.

“Whether it is making contact with a town clerk to make sure the right veteran exemption for taxes is correct or to assist the funeral director to get the death certificate in a timely manner to assist a widow or a family member with burial benefits, she makes every effort to assist the mission of the Veterans’ Office every day,” said Jack Welch, the county’s personnel director. “She also ensures that the five volunteer vans are schedule for maintenance to ensure that they are safe and ready to serve our veterans.”

Syck assists volunteers that run the van service, where veterans are transported for medical appointments.

She will often write letters to the families of deceased veterans, urging them to check to see if the family is entitled to veteran’s benefits.

“This employee is able to perform her duties and is willing to take on additional service to the veterans and their families, always cheerfully with a can-do attitude,” Welch said.

Syck was recognized during the county’s annual employee luncheon. Each month, one employee is recognized. A committee then reviews the nominations for the employees of the month and picks the employee of the year.

Other employees of the month recognized include:

Michelle Sargent (Office for the Aging), October 2015; Elizabeth Milazzo, (Social Services), December 2015; Diana Kephart, (Social Services), January 2016); Mary Jo Syck, (Veterans Services Agency) February 2016; Ryan McPherson, (Social Services) March 2016; Ryan Stork (Buildings and Grounds), April 2016; Mary Grouse (Social Services), May 2016; Linda Karp (Mental Health), June 2016; Cathy Miller (Public Health), July 2016; and Nola Goodrich-Kresse (Public Health), September 2016.

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