By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 December 2013 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – John Burris, left, started Burris Cleaning Service in 1991. He is pictured in front of “The Vac Van” with his employee Mark Proietty.
ALBION – The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle put a call out to its readers, seeking their favorite businesses for a variety of services and products, including the area’s best carpet cleaner.
When the votes were counted, an Albion business won a Silver Award in the 2013 Rochester’s Choice Awards.
John Burris started Burris Cleaning Service in 1991 when he was 21. Burris has one employee, Mark Proietty. They do about 80 percent of their work in Monroe County near the city of Rochester.
The business is based from Burris’s home on Route 98, just north of the bowling alley.
Burris said he is grateful the business has built a following and a good reputation in the Rochester area.
“We do things other cleaners won’t do,” he said. “We vacuum everything before we clean and the carpet is dry before we go.”
Burris has attained master certification in the industry for cleaning carpets, upholstery and oriental rugs. The 1988 Albion graduate travels to see customers in “The Vac Van.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 December 2013 at 12:00 am
Flansburgs, Paneks and Southcotts all recognized
Photo by Tom Rivers – The Flansburg family includes, from left: Ben, Sara, Barry, Carolyn, Amanda and Chris. They were presented with a “Friend of Extension” award on Tuesday.
KNOWLESVILLE – They are dependable, year after year, finding new ways to help 4-H and Cornell Cooperative Extension.
These three families – the Flansburgs, Paneks and Southcotts – should not go unappreciated or publicly recognized, said Ed Neal, president of the board for the Cooperative Extension.
On Tuesday the organization presented “Friend of Extension” awards to the three families. Neal said they all help in their own ways, and have been critical to the success of Extension, 4-H and the annual fair.
Barry and Carolyn Flansburg met as kids and became friends through the fair. Their children joined 4-H and showed animals at the fair, earning many blue ribbons. Now that their kids are grown, Barry and Carolyn are still a presence at the fair. Barry announces the very popular grease pole competition.
The Flansburg children are stepping up as leaders in the community. The three – Ben, Chris and Amanda – are co-owners of BCA Ag Technologies. They work with local farmers in precision agriculture, mapping fields and using GPS, Autosteer and other technology to boost yield and improve soil health.
Chris, 23, has joined the board of directors at the CCE. His sister Amanda, 23, is the newly elected president of Orleans County Farm Bureau. Ben is an officer with the Barre Fire Company. He also met his wife, the former Sara Dresser, through the fair.
“The Flansburgs are always here,” Neal said.
Michael Southcott and his wife Barbara donate countless hours to the Extension. Their daughters were active in the 4-H horse program. Mrs. Southcott was a leader in the Horse Program Development Committee, helping to organize clinics, classes and shows.
Mr. Southcott was a leader of the fund-raising campaign for the new Extension Education Center. That project was paid off this year.
The Panek family – Jim and Kerry and their children – have donated resources, time and money to the Extension.
Neal cited the example of the Paneks allowing a 4-H Lego League Club to use several rooms at an onion packing facility in Albion. The club is able to store Lego robots and supplies so the three teams don’t have to pack up after every meeting.
Alan Panek refurbished the big metal pie pan that was used to make the world’s largest apple pie in 1977. The pan needed repairs and Alan took care of it. It is prominently displayed at the fairgrounds.
Alan’s wife Guin is a former Extension employee. Katie Panek, now Katie Klotzbach, also worked for the Extension. Both of those former employees remain supportive of the Extension programs. Those two and Kerry Panek volunteer as evaluators for 4-H projects, helping to get youths ready to exhibit at the fair.
The family also has been a generous buyer in the 4-H market auction program.
The Extension generally awards two “Friend of Extension” awards each year, but Neal said the organization made an exception this year, wanting to recognize three families with years of commitment to Extension.
(The Southcotts and Paneks were unable to attend Tuesday’s annual meeting to accept their awards.)
BATAVIA – In his first season as the head coach of the Genesee Community College women’s soccer program, Jeff Reyngoudt has been named the 2013 Western New York Athletic Conference Coach of the Year.
Reyngoudt took over the program last offseason after a 5-12-1 record in 2012 and led Genesee to a 13-4-1 season this year, the first winning record and the highest win total since 2010. The Lady Cougars were 6-1 in conference play this season.
“He’s done a fantastic job,” said GCC Athletic Director Kristen Schuth. “It starts with recruiting and he’s done a great job working with the players he has brought in. He’s made huge strides with the program.”
GCC was ranked as high as fifth in the NJCAA National Poll this year and earned three victories over Top-10 teams. The Lady Cougars earned the number one seed in the Region III Tournament and reached the Finals where they lost in overtime to SUNY Delhi.
Genesee had seven players receive All-Conference honors and four All-Region selections this year.
Reyngoudt currently resides with his family in Holley.
Provided photo – Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Marat of the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, poses with Hampton, Va., civic leaders at a Military Recognition Luncheon. Marat was the Air Force 2013 Military Citizen of the Year for her volunteer efforts. From left to right: Hampton Mayor George Wallace, Marat, Newport News Mayor McKinley Price and Mike Kuhns, Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce president.
Article courtesy of 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, VA. – For the past four years, while assigned to the 480th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Marat has faithfully served her country, but also dedicated her time in the local area as a volunteer. Marat worked countless hours performing special services and charitable deeds in the community.
As a result of her commitment to community service and volunteerism, she was awarded the Military Citizen of the Year Award by the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce during a ceremony Nov. 12 at the Crowne Plaza Hampton-Marina Hotel in Hampton.
“I am honored to be chosen as the Military Citizen of the Year,” said Marat. “This came as a surprise to me as this year’s Air Force selectee. I did not know I was chosen until someone sent a congratulations note in an e-mail. I just feel that I am doing my part in the community.”
Each year, the Virginia Peninsula Chamber of Commerce names one outstanding and deserving representative from each branch of the military. Marat is the daughter of Larry and Susan Gaylard of Barre.
“This award for Liz is well deserved,” said Senior Master Sgt. Angelo Washington, Superintendent of Materiel Management for the wing and Marat’s supervisor. “She continuously supports the local community and always carries a smile wherever she goes and in whatever she does.”
“She is a role model and truly a positive example on base and in the local community,” he added. “No one is more deserving than she is, and I’m happy for her and the Air Force.”
The military community has a long and proud tradition of volunteer service. Since 1955, the Samuel T. Northern Military Citizen of the Year Awardis given annually to recognize the military citizen who has made the most significant contribution in the area of community service.
Marat has volunteered for a myriad of activities and special events both on and off base.
“I believe that volunteering your time is very important,” she said. “But, I also think you should volunteer for something you enjoy doing.”
Marat said she hopes her effortswill set an examplethroughout the wing.
“If it’s just an hour of your time over your lunch break, to go over to a school and read to children, assist with Meals-on-Wheels or other community-related activities, your volunteering can positively affect an individual’s life,” she said.
According to Marat, it’s all about changing lives and inspiring people in need, but most importantly, leading by example and encouraging others to volunteer.
“Whether it’s at a school tutoring in math and reading or donating your hair to Locks of Love, anybody can volunteer.”
Marat’s division chief expressed amazement at her ability to balance it all.
“Along with her daily primary and additional duties supporting our global organization, coupled with the huge demand of a large family, she still volunteers numerous hours to the community,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Reiz, Chief of ISR Systems. “She is truly an Air Force Ambassador and deserving of this award!”
Contributed Story Posted 20 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – The Orleans County YMCA has honored two volunteers for their work on projects and fund-raising for the organizations. Y Executive Director Jeff Winters, center, recently presented awards to Travis Phillips, left, and Dan Fisher. Both were named “Volunteer of the Year.”
Phillips oversees the Y’s Program/Membership Committee, which spearheaded the Medina Mud Run, a 5k mud race in September that had 78 runners. Fisher led the YMCA Membership segment of the Y’s Capital Campaign. Fisher’s team tripled their fundraising goal.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 November 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Cheryl Wertman – NOFA Commissioner Harold Suhr, right, presents Mike Wertman with two plaques after he was nominated by both the Albion and Medina football teams for the Jim Ellegate Memorial Award.Also in the picture, from left: Sherry Bensley, Medina Commissioner; and Julie Ellegate (Ellegate’s wife) and her children Nicky and Jimmy.
Veteran local sportswriter Mike Wertman was honored by the Niagara Orleans Football Association on Saturday for his devoted and thorough coverage of the local teams for many years.
Wertman will cover those youth football games on Saturdays, typically after a busy week of high school sports, including late nights with Friday varsity games. He hasn’t skipped the younger kids. He has been a mainstay covering the sport for players who are a decade away from joining the varsity teams.
Wertman was honored by both the Albion and Medina football teams on Saturday with the Jim Ellegate Memorial Award.
Wertman was honored by the league during halftime of the Medina Colts vs. Akron Mini Tigers game, the finals for the league.
He received the Jim Ellegate Memorial Award, which is given in memory of Ellegate, who lost his life in a car accident five years ago coming home from coaching a game. Wertman was nominated for the award by the Albion and Medina teams.
Wertman worked 35 years for The Journal-Register in Medina before joining Orleans Hub in late August.
The Roy-Hart team honored atheltic director John Jablonski, right, with an Ellegate award.
NOFA Commissioner Harold Suhr presents a plaque to Jim Ellegate’s wife Julie in remembrance of the five year anniversary of his death.
Press release, New York State Council of School Superintendents
ALBANY – The leader of the Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services, Dr. Clark Godshall, has been named the 2014 New York State School Superintendent of the Year.
Godshall was honored by the New York State Council of School Superintendents.
“Dr. Godshall is a nationally recognized school leader and an international advocate for students,” said Council President Mary Beth R. Fiore, superintendent of Elmira Heights Central School. “He is an experienced and involved leader on the local, state and national level, always keeping children’s interests at the center of his decision-making while seeking optimum efficiencies for his component school districts.”
She praised Godshall, calling him a recognized expert on educational service agencies, school finance and effective school district governance.
As the NY Superintendent of the Year, Godshall now becomes New York’s candidate for national superintendent of the year, to be awarded at the American Association of School Administrators’ National Conference on Education in Nashville, Tenn. in February 2014.
“I am immensely honored and humbled by this award,” Godshall said. “To be named New York Superintendent of the Year is a direct reflection of the dedication and hard work by the local school boards, staff, teachers and support teams across the Orleans/Niagara BOCES service area. The Orleans/Niagara BOCES, our component school districts and the communities we serve strongly support what it takes to make a difference in providing quality public schools. I’m honored to represent all of them and my superintendent colleagues in New York State who have dedicated their lives to this work.”
Dr. Godshall was nominated for the New York Superintendent of the Year by Orleans/Niagara BOCES School Board President Becky Albright.
“Dr. Godshall is a role model for all educational leaders,” Albright said. “His expertise, talent and creativity are examples to other educators, parents, community members and students.”
Godshall has served as the District Superintendent of the Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services for the past 14 years. He started with the local BOCES 24 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.
In honoring Godshall, the Council of Superintendents noted these details about the Orleans/Niagara BOCES:
Operates the third largest career and technical education BOCES and regional summer school in New York State;
Career and technical education graduation rate is consistently more than 93 percent and the BOCES exceeds the state and national average student performance with over 161 students receiving their Technical Endorsement Seal;
Orleans/Niagara BOCES is the only BOCES in New York State to receive frequent national recognition for their fiscal management from ASBO International and Government Finance Officers’ Association;
The current LPN program had a 100 percent passing rate for the Test of Essential Academic Skills;
Their Adult Literacy Program is ranked number one in New York State.It is had grown from 500 to 3,000 and served over 2,000 people this year alone.
While at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES, Godshall has worked with his team to:
Standardize programs against state and national benchmarks to align with state and federal standards while using data to effectively monitor students’ progress and success.
Develop an effective continuum of services for students with special needs focused on main-streaming, integrated classrooms and ensuring that service follows needs.
Expand program offerings to include new programs – Baking, Fashion Design/Interior Design, Certified Personal Trainer and Heavy Equipment/Diesel/Agricultural Mechanical programs.
Offer over 80 collegiate articulation agreements for high school students to gain higher education credit prior to graduation.
Supports a high school alternative education program enabling at-risk students to graduate with a Regents and Advanced Regents diplomas.
Promote the importance of shared services to maximize local school districts capacity to offer shared administrators, employee benefits’ consortiums, energy and purchasing co-ops, shared media and printing services, along with safety services to both schools and other agencies.
Broaden the eco-friendly focus through an increase in energy savings programs; installation of systems to shut down all computers and control building temperatures.
Conducted and facilitated over 50 professional administrator searches on behalf of regional districts.
Broaden communication to reach more people through an enhanced website and the use of Social Media such as Facebook and Twitter.
Facilitate a variety of partnerships with businesses, civic organizations, hospitals, and governmental organizations to collaborate on the provision of services and supports for students.
Develop fiscally responsible budgets, yielding one of the lowest average budget increases over the past four years, while preserving or enhancing programs in the face of spiraling reductions in state aid. Continually recognized as a state model of financial management for a school entity.
Construct and renovate facilities, all on schedule and under budget, including new component district special educational space in centralized locations.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 30 October 2013 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Jenn Suhr, shown in a pole vaulting competition on May 31 in Lyndonville, has become the most acclaimed American woman to compete in her sport. She will be inducted in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame today.
BUFFALO – Jenn Suhr will officially join the ranks of the greatest athletes in Buffalo history tonight when she is inducted in the Greater Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame.
Suhr, who lives in Kendall and Churchville, won the Gold Medal at the 2012 Olympics in London. She holds numerous American records in pole vaulting, a sport she didn’t take up until her senior year at college. At Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, she graduated as the school’s all-time leading scorer in basketball with 1,819 points.
In pole vaulting, she has excelled as one of the few women to ever clear 16 feet. Suhr is still competing and believes she can go higher.
The Fredonia native is married to Lyndonville native, Rick Suhr, who is also her coach.
Another local resident will be inducted in the Hall of Fame tonight. Dick Diminuco of Albion is one of few high school football coaches in Western New York to top 200 career wins. Orleans Hub featured Diminuco in article on Oct. 23. (Click here to see that story.)
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 5 October 2013 at 12:00 am
Photos by Tom Rivers – Matthew Prawel stands by the new sign he had erected for Camp Rainbow on Townline Road in Ridgeway. He also sanded and repainted the gates in back.
RIDGEWAY – Matthew Prawel intended to put up a new sign for Camp Rainbow. The project would be the finishing touch for him to attain Eagle Scout.
When Prawel started work on the sign at the camp, which serves children with and without disabilities, he saw a lot of other needs at the grounds. About a dozen picnic tables seemed rundown and in need of repair. The sandbox was well past its prime, and the front gates were worn.
Prawel assembled a team of about eight friends and other Scouts and they took the picnic tables apart, giving them new bolts, nuts and screws, as well as fresh paint.
The front gates were sanded and repainted. They dug out the sand box, removing rotted wood and put in a new one that’s a little bigger.
He teamed with Greg Stanton, a sign-maker from Medina, to install the new sign. On Friday, The Arc of Orleans and other community members praised Prawel for a job well done.
Matthew Prawel stands under the pavilion with his grandfather Russ Martino on Friday, when The Arc of Orleans and several community members joined for a celebration of Prawel’s Eagle Scout project. He rebuilt many of the picnic tables under the pavilion.
“This is like a little piece of Heaven in Orleans County,” State Sen. George Maziarz said about Camp Rainbow.
Maziarz, State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and County Legislator Lynne Johnson commended Prawel for the work, and presented him with government citations.
Prawel, 17, said he was grateful for the chance to help The Arc. His grandparents, Russ and Pat Martino, have been agency supporters. Mrs. Martino is a retired special education teacher at Medina.
“This wasn’t just for my Eagle project,” Prawel said. “It was about helping a great organization.”
The camp started in 1970. It is the oldest program for The Arc. The site on Townline (follow Knowlesville Road going north) has become popular not only for its five-week summer camp season, but also for graduation parties, wedding receptions and reunions.
This past summer, the town of Yates had its youth swimming program at Camp Rainbow for the first time. The Lyndonville Area Foundation paid for the program.
State Sen. George Maziarz was among the well-wishers who congratulated Prawel for completing the project.
Vickie Randall, the recreation manager for The Arc, said the camp serves about 100 children over the summer. She and other Arc officials meet with Scouts to help identify projects to improve the camp. Ben Kirby, a Scout from Albion, is also doing his Eagle project at Camp Rainbow, working on the teeter-totters and a storage building.
Prawel spent about $2,000 for the camp project, using community donations and contributions from his family. He has been active in Scouts for about a decade.
“Scouts has been a wonderful experience,” he said. “It’s given me a chance to see things and have so many experiences.”
He is currently senior patrol leader for Troop 35, and works with the younger Scouts to earn merit badges. He plans to attend Syracuse University to major in forensic science. He hopes to play in the university’s marching band.
Provided Photo – Medina resident Shirley Bentley is Orleans/Niagara BOCES Substitute of the Year.
Press release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES
Shirley Bentley is no stranger to Orleans/Niagara BOCES; she had worked for them for 38 years. She was a special-education teacher aide at many of the BOCES sites. When she retired in 2011, she found that missed the students a lot.
“I love the kids and that is why I keep coming back here to sub,” she says. “How many jobs can you go to where you look forward to going to them? The staff at BOCES is wonderful and it was a great honor to be recognized by them with this award.
