Press Release, Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES

Joshua Padlick

SPENCERPORT – Joshua Padlick has been named a winner of the 2022 Carl J. Schaefer Memorial CTE Teacher Candidate Award presented by the NOCTI Board of Trustees. Padlick is a Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES career and technical education (CTE) welding teacher.

This award recognizes an outstanding CTE teacher or CTE teacher candidate. Criteria for the award includes an application describing personal goals, work experience, awards/honors received, professional memberships and leadership and community service activities.

Padlick has served as a welding instructor at WEMOCO Career and Technical Education Center in Spencerport for the past eight years. He has also offered his expertise as a Subject Matter Expert for NOCTI’s welding micro- credentials over the past two years.

In addition to teaching, Padlick is a SkillsUSA advisor, a chair for the department’s shared decision making team and the president for the Rochester American Welding Society (AWS) chapter. Since taking the AWS role, he has expanded both the chapter’s board and overall membership.

“Josh is an outstanding teacher who is active both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Theresa Alampi-Cortez, WEMOCO assistant principal and nominator. “Since he came onboard at our school, the welding program has grown significantly. Josh’s students enjoy his energy and sense of humor and learn greatly from his expertise and feedback. Josh forges great, lasting relationships with his students and he always gives 100% effort to whatever he is doing.”

Padlick received a personalized award and $500 to be used toward tuition, room and board, books, or any other educational-related expense.

The Carl J. Schaefer Memorial Award was established in 2013 to honor Dr. Carl J. Schaefer. As a lifelong champion in CTE, he gained national recognition as a CTE educator and author. He was also one of NOCTI’s founding fathers. This memorial award is a tribute to Dr. Schaefer’s memory.

NOCTI is the nation’s largest provider of industry partner certifications and industry-based credentials for career and technical education programs.

Photos and information courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA –  Congratulations go to students at the Orleans Career and Technical Education program who have been inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.

The students include: Samantha Andrews (Early Childhood Ed Program/Lockport), Alyson Berner (Early Childhood Ed Program/Royalton-Hartland), Bryce Broeker (Diesel Technology Program/Barker), Anthony Cercone (Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Program/Lockport), Michael Chisler (Electricity/Electronics Program/Medina), Hannah Coder (Early Childhood Ed Program/Newfane), Tyler Currie (Building Trades Program/Lockport), Arie Decker (Allied Health Program/Royalton-Hartland), Angelina Delgrolice (Health Occupations Technician Program/Barker), Cameron Fisher (Electricity/Electronics Program/Royalton-Hartland), Gabriella Flores-Medina (Allied Health Program/Medina), Dillion Freiburger (Electricity/Electronics Program/Lockport), Alexander Gagne (Building Trades Program/Royalton-Hartland), Miranda Gebo (Allied Health Program/Albion), Miya Goodale (Health Occupations Technician Program/Barker), Kayla Guerin (Computer Technology Program/Lockport), Tyler Halifax (Computer Technology Program/Lockport), Rylee Hallows (Culinary Arts Program/Royalton-Hartland), Rachel Hill (Allied Health Program/Medina), Ian Jones (Computer Technology Program/Lockport), Jaiden Just (Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering/Lockport), Drew Kauffman (Electricity/Electronics Program/Lockport), Madison Kelley (Allied Health Program/Royalton-Hartland), Olivia Kroening (Cosmetology Program/Medina), Zachary Luick (Electricity/Electronics Program/Lockport), Samantha McIntyre (Allied Health Program/Royalton-Hartland), Lydia Samson (Health Occupations Technician Program/Barker), Emily Scott (Allied Health Program/Royalton-Hartland), Jazmyn Shaw (Early Childhood Ed Program/Lockport), Sara Smith (Cosmetology Program/Medina), Logan Tolliver (Electricity/Electronics Program/Barker), Zachary Walker (Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering Program/Royalton-Hartland), Tyrell Wright (Computer Technology Program/Medina) and Alexa Zglinicki (Health Occupations Technician Program/Barker).

The students had to maintain an 89.5 grade average in their career and technical education programs and an 84.5 average at their high schools, have superior attendance, exemplary behavior, be a member in good standing with SkillsUSA and have a recommendation from a faculty member.

Out of all the high school students in the United States, the National Technical Honor Society students who receive this honor comprise 1.6 percent of that population. For staff at the Orleans/BOCES center, they represent the four pillars of the National Technical Honor Society: scholarship, leadership, service and character.

The students were honored in front of their teachers, families and school district representatives.

Students at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center who were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society include: Logan Becker (Electricity/Electronics Program/Starpoint), Lorna Becker (Conservation Program/Royalton-Hartland), Andrew Birtch (Electricity/Electronics Program/Starpoint), Colby Blake (Culinary Arts/Christ the King Prep), Ryan Butler (Animation, Film & Visual Effects Program/Starpoint), Matthew Cake (Building Maintenance & Management/North Tonawanda), Marianna Campione (Cosmetology Program/Starpoint), Joshua Chesterfield (Electricity/Electronics Program/Wilson), Melania Deabes (Computer Technology Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Carter Galyen (Computer Technology Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Jami Gerwycki (Emergency Medical Services Program/Lewiston-Porter), Evan Husarrek (Computer Technology Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Anhelina Kavalchuk (Computer Technology Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Blair Kephart (Early Childhood Ed Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Henry Jack Leible (Electricity/Electronics Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Joshua Linderman (Diesel Technology Program/Starpoint), Tyler Lorence (Computer Technology Program/Lewiston-Porter who attend Niagara Academy), Thomas May (Welding Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Lenora Mercurio (Fashion Design & Interior Decorating Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Sarah Morrow (Culinary Arts Program/Christian Academy of WNY), Serena Nice (Fashion Design & Interior Decorating Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Nicholas Paszt (Welding Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Eoin Potwin (Culinary Arts Program/Niagara Falls), Zelda Pulver (Culinary Arts Program/Starpoint), Sally Rick (Animal Science/Niagara Falls), Savannah Shine (Graphic Communications/North Tonawanda), Kayla Simmons (Early Childhood Ed Program/Wilson), Ranvir Singh (Computer Technology Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Evan Strong (Electricity/Electronics Program/Starpoint), Patrick Stryker (Diesel Technology Program/Niagara Falls), Cameron Thomas (Computer Technology Program/Niagara Wheatfield), Damon Tunnicliff (Project Based Engineering Program/Niagara Falls), Cassidy Wagner (Conservation Program/Wilson), Emily Yarington (Health Occupations Technician Program/Wilson) and Brian Zatkos (Project Based Engineering Program/Niagara Wheatfield).

Provided photos: The ClearSource brand includes pharmaceutical, industrial, and beverage-grade alcohol.

MEDINA – Western New York Energy last year completed a $38 million expansion to produce ultra-high-purity alcohol products under the ClearSource brand.

The company has been honored by the Merit Awards with an Excellence Award in Energy the advanced technology and distillation method to produce the ultra-high-purity alcohol products.

Tim Winters, CEO of ClearSource and WNY Energy, paired the distillation system with sustainable manufacturing practices for a higher purity product and lower carbon footprint.

“Our team is dedicated to making the best possible product and eliminating negative impacts that traditional distillation methods have on the environment,” he said.

The 6,000 square-foot expansion by WNY Energy allows the company to manufacture 15 million gallons of alcohol annually.

“While supplying alcohol for sanitizer during the pandemic, we made the decision to invest in a world-class distillation system to offer products that contain virtually no impurities,” Winters said.

ClearSource is distinguished by its commitment to the agricultural community and environment through zero-waste manufacturing “from crop to cocktail” that uses every bit of corn ground to produce alcohol products, food grade CO2, distillers’ grains and feed-grade corn oil.

“The goal of every New York distiller is to make sustainable, world class spirits, utilizing local grains and positively impacting agriculture and the communities around us,” said Brian Facquet, founder, Do Good Spirits. “ClearSource products embody this sentiment and will positively impact New York’s agricultural community while ushering in a new era of sustainable, local products.”

ClearSource specializes in pharmaceutical, industrial and beverage grades using a proprietary distillation system that produces ethanol with unprecedented levels of purity and consistency, including Grain Neutral Spirits and up to 200 proof products that are Kosher, organic and gluten free.

This state-of-the-art technology ensures New York’s largest ethanol facility can sustainably meet customers’ unique specifications.

ClearSource is determined to maintain a small business mentality. Customers work directly with sales and relationship managers dedicated to accommodating each customer’s specific needs.

Buffalo Distilling’s Mafia Sauce is made with alcohol from ClearSource.

Provided photo: Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, is shown accepting an Innovation Award from the New York State Community Action Association, presented at the annual Professional Development Conference at the Hyatt Regency in Rochester on Sept. 29.

ROCHESTER – Renee Hungerford, director of Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, and Community Action have been chosen as the recipient of the 2022 Innovation Award for their work with the Axis of Care Pilot.

Axis of Care was developed by Hungerford to increase access to healthcare for the homeless and housing for insecure families across Orleans County. The award is given by the New York State Community Action Association’s Membership Development Committee and was presented Sept. 29 at the 2022 Annual Professional Development Conference at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Rochester.

“I want to express my congratulations to Renee and the agency on their exemplary work that led to this award,” said Charles Barbay, project manager with New York State Community Action Association, in a letter to Hungerford.

The award is presented to a Community Action agency’s current project, program or initiative that demonstrated an innovative and effective response to a community challenge, addressing a need in the community, according to Barbay.

“I am honored that NYSCAA has chosen us as the recipient of the Innovation Award for our Axis of Care program,” Hungerford said. “This program is a one-year pilot, funded by the Finger Lakes Performing Providers Association, with the goal of demonstrating the critical role that community-based organizations like Community Action of Orleans and Genesee play in healthcare and wellness.

“The program will demonstrate how health outcomes can be improved with lowered costs by addressing social determinants of health, along with connecting individuals to healthcare services,” she said. “This program was developed primarily to help individuals in need, but is also intended to demonstrate why community-based organizations are a vital part of healthcare delivery and why we deserve a seat at the table in value-based contracting and SDOH service insurance reimbursement.”

Hungerford co-presented about the program with their partners at Continual Care Solutions, the creator of ImPowr. In addition, Melinda Chaffee and Hungerford were honored to be asked to participate in a recorded panel discussion about Community Action. This recording will be available at NYSCAA Learns in the near future.

Press release and photo courtesy of Orleans/Niagara BOCES

The Orleans/Niagara BOCES recently named its employees of the year for the 2021-2022 school year. Employees are nominated by their peers and a committee selects an awardee in each of these categories: Administrator, Clerical, Continuing Education, Custodial/Maintenance, Staff Specialist, Substitute, Teacher Aide and Teacher.

Amanda Bennett is the Administrator of the Year. She is the former Principal at the Niagara Academy. She worked there for the past seven years. Bennett said her favorite part of her job was the people.  “I loved the kids and being able to help them and watch them succeed. The graduation ceremony was always an emotional time with saying good-bye to them and reflecting on the graduates. I love the staff, especially my office staff. The people at BOCES really have their hearts in the right place. They are all about the kids.”

On learning she was named an employee of the year, she said, “I felt humbled to receive Administrator of the Year. My colleagues in administration are the hardest working people I have ever met in my life. To be selected amongst that group is an incredible honor.”

Bernadette George is the Clerical Person of the Year. She started her position as Senior Clerk in the Labor Relations Department in December 2014.

“I like the people that I work with and that makes any job a lot better,” she said. “I also like creating databases and helping others.”

She is honored being awarded Clerical Person of the Year. “It felt nice. It was a total surprise and the pat on the back was appreciated.”

Jennifer Moreland is the Continuing Education Employee of the Year. She has worked as a case manager at the Lockport Community Education building since 2017. Moreland said her favorite part of her job is her students.

“They are wonderful, hardworking people seeking opportunities,” she said. “In my current position, I serve students with ingenuity and creativity while collaborating with hardworking colleagues who each bring a new perspective and a plethora of experience. There is never a dull moment in our program!”

“I was so grateful to have received this award. I was nice to be nominated and I am appreciative of the people with whom I work.”

Mark Vivian is the Custodian/Maintenance Person of the Year. He has been a maintenance worker at Orleans/Niagara BOCES since 1979.  “My favorite part of my job that every day is different.  It is never the same and I work with great people,” he said.

Vivian said he was very surprised to win the award.  “It was unexpected and very nice to receive it. I am retiring shortly and it was a great going away present.”

Cheryl Herman is the Staff Specialist of the Year. She has been the Director of the Orleans-Niagara Teacher Center since 2007. “I actually started at BOCES in 2001 as a Computer Support Specialist for the career and technical education teachers and the Teacher Center. I left for a couple of years to teach high school Business in Medina from 2003-2005 and returned as a Computer Specialist. So all together I have been at BOCES for almost 18 years!”

When asked her favorite part of her job, she answered, “I love to collaborate and share with fellow colleagues. I love being able to bring awareness about new technologies to teachers and also train them in essential topics like Social Emotional Learning, Culturally Responsive Teaching and Educational Technology. Our NYS Teacher Center Network enables me to make connections across New York that most people do not get to make and these connections provide me the ability to bring vital information and knowledge to all of my consortium teachers.”

She said, “I was very excited and surprised to win Employee of the Year! Our staff specialist group has so many amazing employees and I am honored and humbled to have been chosen to be this year’s recipient. I would not be where I was without the support and friendship of all my colleagues.  A huge thank you and shout out to all of them!”

Mandy Baker was named the Substitute of the Year. She has been a substitute at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center for the past two years and is starting her third year.

Baker said her favorite part is that she is different places every day.  “I love getting to meet all the students!”  She had this to say about winning the Employee of the Year award: “This is very exciting and I feel very blessed. I am glad my hard work pays off for people to notice!”

Jeff LaFountain is the Teacher Aide of the Year. He is currently working at the Orleans Learning Center and has been working with BOCES for 20 years.

“My favorite part of my job working and interacting with the students and my coworkers,” he said. “Winning the award was a pleasant surprise. I thank my coworkers and employers for this honor.”

Richard Tynan was named the Teacher of the Year. He retired this past school year and taught English at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center since 2004. Before that he subbed and taught adult education.

When asked his favorite part of his career, “Undoubtedly the way academics were embedded into the various curricula. Students could see that literacy skills are necessary and helpful to completion of real-world tasks. I also liked working with students as they grappled with more adult workplace situations in which they assumed (sometimes) more adult responsibilities. It was fun to see their enthusiasm and engagement and to see glimmers of the amazing adults many are becoming.”

He had this to say about winning Teacher of the Year, “I am undeserving of the honor, but grateful for the recognition. It has been lots of fun. I’d like to imagine that I did some good. There are many teachers I feel are more deserving than I. The skill and dedication of the O-N BOCES staff has always made me proud to be part of the organization.”

Press Release, Daughters of American Revolution

WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 4,000 members of the Daughters of the American Revolution gathered this past week in the nation’s capital for their 131st Continental Congress, the service organization’s annual meeting.

Patrice Powley Birner

The week-long convention, which was projected to draw the largest attendance in the organization’s history, consisted of business sessions, committee meetings and social functions, in addition to formal evening ceremonies that honored national award winners and featured outstanding keynote speakers. This year’s convention was the first in-person gathering in three years, after the 2020 and 2021 editions were conducted virtually due to the pandemic.

In attendance was New York State Regent Patrice Powley Birner, a member of the Orleans Chapter in Albion. Birner was elected to the office of Vice President General at this year’s Continental Congress. She will serve a term of three years with NSDAR’s National Board of Management. Each year, seven new Vice Presidents General are elected for a total of twenty-one serving at any one time. These National officers advise and guide the work of the society.

Patrice Powley Birner has served the NSDAR since becoming a member in 2004. At the chapter level, she has served as Treasurer, Regent, and Vice Regent. In 2015, she was selected as the New York State Organization’s State Outstanding Chapter Regent.

While serving as State Historian, she managed the digitizing and rebinding of 102 volumes of state history. During her term as State Regent, Birner’s State Regent’s Project has raised awareness about General Lafayette and his 1824-1825 Farewell Tour by placing historic markers across New York and sponsoring webisodes of “Follow the Frenchmen” as part of the national Lafayette Trail project. In addition to serving as State Regent, she currently serves on the National Board of Management and as National Chair of the VanBuren President General’s Project. Birner also served on the Continental Congress House Committee – President General’s Project Sales, 2013-2016, and participated in the 2019 National DAR Schools Tour.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Patrice Birner, state regent of the DAR, spoke on April 14, 2021 at the dedication event for a new historical marker in Albion to recognize the farewell tour in 1824-1825 to honor Marquis de Lafayette, a young French aristocrat and military officer served with George Washington. Lafayette traveled on the Erie Canal from Lockport to Rochester in June 1825 to great fanfare.

The DAR Continental Congress is a time-honored annual event that has been held in Washington, D.C. since the organization’s founding. Members from across the country and around the world gather at the DAR National Headquarters to report on the year’s work, honor outstanding award recipients, plan future initiatives and reconnect with friends.

To learn more about its important work, visit www.DAR.org.

Press Release, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Photo courtesy of DEC: Thomas Russell Jr. of Albion caught this record-setting fish on June 15  at Cayuga Lake in Seneca County.

ALBION – New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced a new state record for smallmouth bass was set on June 15, opening day for bass harvest season.

Thomas Russell Jr. of Albion reeled in an eight-pound, six-ounce smallmouth bass from Cayuga Lake, Seneca County. Russell’s bass surpassed the previous record by two ounces, a tie between fish caught on Lake Erie in 1995, and in the St. Lawrence River in 2016.

“Smallmouth bass are one of New York’s most popular freshwater sportfish and it’s exciting to share the great news of Mr. Russell’s record-breaking catch,” Commissioner Basil Seggos said. “New York’s Finger Lakes are truly an angler’s paradise, providing exceptional fishing opportunities for a variety of sportfish.”

Pound for pound, smallmouth bass are considered one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish in New York. When hooked, they will often leap acrobatically out of the water, making them a highly desirable sportfish for anglers to target. They can be found across the state in cooler lakes, rivers and creeks in rocky/gravelly areas.

Mr. Russell submitted details of his winning catch as part of DEC’s Angler Achievement Awards Program, which keeps track of state record fish. Through this program, anglers can enter freshwater fish that meet specific qualifying criteria and receive official recognition of their catch and an embroidered patch commemorating their achievement.

This is the second state record set this year. On May 8, the state record for channel catfish was broken when Bailey Williams of Watertown reeled in a 35-pound, 12-ounce channel catfish from the Black River in Jefferson County.

Provided photos: The Eng Tech Team includes Alavaro Atolaguirre (Christian Academy of Western New York), Caleb Poeller (Christian Academy of Western New York) and Liam Robinson (Lewiston-Porter).

Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

Orleans/Niagara BOCES could not be prouder of all of their students who competed at the National SkillsUSA Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.

More than 6,500 outstanding career and technical education students – all contest winners – competed in 108 different trade, technical and leadership fields.

Four students from the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center brought home gold medals and one student from the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center brought home a silver medal.

Gold Medal Winners – Caleb Poeller (Christian Academy), Liam Robinson (Lewiston-Porter) and Alvaro Altolaguirre (Christian Academy) in the Eng Tech/Design Team competition. The students are in Scott Brauer’s Project Based Engineering program at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center.

Travis Franke of Starpoint celebrates with his teachers, Logan Spain (left),Travis Franke and Bob Fritton.

Gold Medal Winner – Travis Franke (Starpoint) in the Industrial Motor Controls competition. He is a student of Bob Fritton and Logan Spain in the Electricity/Electronics program at the Niagara Career and Technical Education Center.

Silver Medal Winner – Zachary Luick (Lockport) in the Electronics Technology competition. Zach is a student of Bill Leggett’s Electricity/Electronics program at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center.

The students competed against the state champions from all over the country and three US territories.

Teacher Bill Leggett congratulates Zachary Luick of Lockport for his silver medal.