By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, Public Health Educator for the Orleans County Health Department

Although it is snowing and it will soon officially be winter, it is still a good time to get exercise and enjoy the outdoors. The best way is to do it with friends to help you stay motivated and for safety.

The Albion Running Club, Inc., is a new non-for-profit organization to help all residents get moving and active throughout the year. Started by Wayne Burlison, Jack Burris, Mark Moore and Brian Krieger to keep the Strawberry Festival 5K running several years ago, the group realized the need to expand on what they could offer our county in the area of physical activity.

As they looked at the statistics for Orleans County, which has ranked low in the annual County Health Rankings with high incidents of overweight and tobacco use and low access to exercise, they started a Run for God 12-week beginner training running/walking program at their local church. The first year was a success with many of their graduates running their first 5K ever. Since then they have increased participants every year.

This growth was encouraging so the Running Club moved forward to incorporate. The board of directors for Albion Running club will be working together to initiate two new races and continue the Strawberry Festival race in 2015.

The first race will be in March 2015 with the Run for Wayne Scholarship race. This fun run/walk is in memory of Wayne Burlison, Albion School music teacher and the original idea man for the Running Club. He died from colon cancer in March 2014. The scholarship will be for an Albion High School senior.

In June, the Strawberry Festival 5K/8K will put the strawberry to test once again and in August an exciting new race, the Metro 10 will be initiated to draw a competition between Buffalo and Rochester which will highlight the historic and scenic area of Orleans County. The race will be open to everyone, but participants will choose if they will represent Buffalo or Rochester. All races will be sanctioned under the USA Track and Field and be in insurance and safety compliance.

Besides organizing the races, ARC has received a grant from The Greater Rochester Health Foundation to continue the Run for God program, and initiate a Fit in Fifty weekly groups to encourage consistent exercise.

Fit in Fifty includes accumulating mileage to different prize levels to help participants see progress and keep motivated. And last, but not least, the Shoe Fits program is designed to assist program participants (for a minimal fee of $20) to be fitted by trained personnel and given a pair of sneakers, participate in a training or weekly run groups as well as receive an entry in one of the Albion Running Club hosted events.

All of these activities fit the mission, which is “the Albion Running Club is committed to nurturing the mental, physical and spiritual health of its community by promoting civic engagement through fun, family friendly events and programs.”

Having such an organization as the Albion Running Club is encouraging for Orleans County residents who want to make healthy changes in their lives. The Orleans County Health Department looks forward to working with them as we strive to become a Healthier Orleans County together.

To learn more about the Albion Running Club and how you can participate in their events or partner with them through donations or volunteering opportunities, visit their web site by clicking here or contact Brian Krieger, executive director, at 585-590-0955.

Photos by Tom Rivers – Officials at Medina Memorial Hospital and Orleans Community Health celebrated a new CT scan machine that will give better imagining reads and also expose patients to 40 percent less radiation. The following are pictured during an open house on Thursday, from left: Board of Directors members Les Morse and Ron Felstead; Janelle Cordle, lead CT technician; Board Vice President Dawn Meland (in back); Jen Maynard, director of radiology and corporate compliance; Board President Bruce Krenning; and Dolores Horvath, hospital CEO.

MEDINA – A new CT scan machine was welcomed into Medina Memorial Hospital on Thursday. The machine will give hospital staff much improved imaging when scans are taken of a brain, chest, abdomen and pelvis.

The CT scanner replaces one from 2001. The new one is a 64 slice CT scan compared to a 4 slice. Besides better imaging, the new machine will expose patients to 40 percent less radiation, said Jen Maynard, director of radiology and corporate compliance for the hospital and Orleans Community Health.

“We’re taking the concerns of our patients to the next level,” said Dolores Horvath, CEO of the hospital and Orleans Community Health.

Hospital officials gathered for a ribbon-cutting celebration on Thursday. Horvath said it will be part of a wave of improvements at the hospital and the Orleans Community Health.

She expects the state Board of Health will soon give the final OK for renovations in the front lobby and emergency room at the hospital. The community can also expect new medical and surgical services, as well as additional outpatient services in 2015.

Orleans Community Health invested about $400,000 for the CT scan machine and $130,000 for a digital reader and backup system in the X-Ray Department. The hospital worked with General Electric for both equipment purchases.

“It’s very complicated, highly technical and very expensive,” Horvath told officials during the ribbon-cutting. “It brings us into state-of-the-art imaging.”

Jen Maynard, the director of radiology and corporate compliance for Orleans Community Health (Medina Memorial Hospital), holds up a digital reader that also backs up files. The hospital spent about $130,000 for the equipment. Dolores Horvath, left, is CEO for the hospital and health system

By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, Public Health Educator for the Orleans County Health Department

The Orleans County Health Department today is asking residents to give special thanks to their state and local “public health heroes” who protect the nation’s health throughout the year.

The Health Department is joining Research!America and its partners, which include the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the Society for Public Health Education, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, American Cancer Society and others for “Public Health Thank You Day 2014.”

The day honors all those unsung heroes whose duties although vastly spread in focus, have the same overarching goal of protecting the health of the public. Public health is all around us. Take the time to appreciate some examples including the clean water you drink, the street signs, signals and lights, access to health care, emergency response, and recycling and trash removal services.

These unsung heroes who protect the nation’s health throughout the year include our health inspectors, environmental health scientists, public health researchers, sanitation workers, medical investigators, outreach workers, doctors, nurses, emergency responders, public health administration and support staff and many, many more.

File photo by Tom Rivers – Sanitation workers are unsung heroes who help protect the community’s health.

Recent outbreaks have shown us that in spite of the challenges and risks, public health professionals continue to dedicate their time and energy to combat disease and maintain a healthy environment for Americans.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and various institutions within our public health infrastructure have come together to address recent outbreaks, and public health professionals are tackling these threats head-on as they do with other health challenges on a daily basis.

We also want to take the time to wish you and your families a very healthy and Happy Thanksgiving season. We appreciate all the good things you do for our community.

The Orleans County Health Department will be closed on Thanksgiving Day and on Friday, Nov. 28. We will re-open on Monday, Dec. 1, 2014, at 8 am. Have a great holiday!

Group plans 3 races for 2015, including 10-mile “Metro” race pitting Rochester vs. Buffalo

Photo by Tom Rivers – Thom Jennings, left, and Brian Krieger, leaders of the Albion Running Club, are planning several races and programs to improve the fitness in the community. They are pictured at last month’s 5-kilometer race at Brown’s Berry Patch in Waterport.

ALBION – They have seen the statistics and cringed. Brian Krieger and Thom Jennings want to unleash a force to raise the county’s dismal health stats, among the worst of all 62 counties in the state.

The annual County Health Rankings ranks Orleans as the 52nd healthiest county out of 62. Orleans ranked 52nd in health outcomes, 57th in health factors, and 58th in health behaviors. In Orleans, 66 percent of adults are overweight, 41 percent in that group are obese, and 55 percent say they don’t engage in daily exercise.

Krieger and Jennings are both leaders of the Albion Running Club. They believe the non-profit organization can make an impact in the county by offering fitness programs and three races that provide goals to motivate walkers and runners.

“We want to use the sport of running to build a healthier community,” said Krieger, executive director for the Running Club.

Krieger has seen the community respond to a running program.

He teamed with Wayne Burlison and Jack Burris to spearhead a 5K “Run for God” program that took people from the couch to a 5K race in about three months. The Run for God drew nearly 100 participants in its first three years, with the runners and walkers completing the 5K Strawberry Festival course.

“There have been some unbelievable changes in people,” Krieger said.

File photo – Sheila Lemcke of Albion lost more than 100 pounds through exercise and better nutrition. She was the honorary “Strawberry” in last June’s Strawberry Festival race. She has participated in the Run for God programs.

The Albion Running Club is a 501c3 tax-exempt organization. It has organized the Strawberry Festival race recently, including the record crowd of nearly 300 runners last June.

It wants to add another race this March 28 as a memorial for Wayne Burlison, one of the founders of the Running Club. He was 36 when he died from colon cancer on March 26. Burlison was a music teacher at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School.

A 5K is 3.1 miles, but the “Run for Wayne” race will be different. That run/walk will be 3.17 miles. Burlison battled cancer for 3 months and 17 days. Proceeds from the race will be used for a scholarship in Burlison’s name.

The Running Club will continue to organize the Strawberry Festival 5K/8K on the second Saturday in June. With nearly 300 runners, it’s one of the most successful small town races around. About $2,000 in profits from the race are distributed to local charities and agencies.

Krieger and Jennings, the Orleans County YMCA executive director, believe the race could grow to 500 participants. That would mean more money to share with local causes and more people working on their fitness goals. Jennings has experience promoting concerts and events. He is the communications director for the Running Club.

Krieger and Jennings connected in May after Krieger read an article on the Orleans Hub about Jennings running a marathon with his son. Jennings took up running about three years ago and lost more than 100 pounds.

Krieger and Burlison were running partners. They trained for a marathon together. Burlison lost more than 150 pounds through exercise and nutrition. Krieger saw similarities between Burlison and Jennings.

Provided photo – Wayne Burlison started running in 2008 and completed a marathon and several half marathons. He was one of the founders of the Albion Running Club.

Krieger was also intrigued by a comment that Jennings made in the Orleans Hub article. Jennings saw Albion as an ideal host for a mega-race, a long distance run that would draw Buffalo and Rochester runners.

The two had coffee and together they brainstormed the “Metro 10,” a 10-mile race planned for Aug. 22. They expect at least 1,000 runners. Each runner will pick a side: either Rochester or Buffalo. Finishers will score points for either metro area and overall winner will be named with Buffalo or Rochester taking home a trophy.

The Running Club has a promotional video (click here) for the race and is working on more video vignettes to promote the event. (There will be one featuring chicken wings vs. Garbage Plates.)

Many races typically present medals to the top finisher or the top three in each age group. That leaves a lot of people unrecognized. With the Metro 10, every runner will have an impact on their community’s overall score.

“Even if you’re not an elite runner, you can feel part of the competition,” Jennings said. “Albion makes sense as the host for the race. We’re centrally located.”

The Metro 10 course is tentatively laid out to showcase the historic Courthouse Square, the downtown, some of the fruit orchards, the canal towpath and the rural landscapes. The race will end at Bullard Park in a festival-like atmosphere with bands.

Jennings believes the Metro 10 will show off Albion’s assets to the running community. Some of them may like what they see and move to the Albion area, Jennings said.

File photo – Runners take off at the start of the Strawberry Festival Race last June, when about 300 people completed the course.

“These marathons and events can turn a community around,” Jennings said. “They will see our great real estate that is low-priced. They will see people in a friendly environment. It’s an opportunity in my mind for Albion to be a host community. We can be ambassadors of the county.”

Krieger and Jennings know a 10-mile race can be a big draw, and be the foundation to build other fitness programs. Krieger has met the leader of the Crim Fitness Foundation, which organizes a festival of races every August in Flint, Mich. The races started in 1977 to promote fitness in the community. (Click here for more on the Crim Foundation.)

The event draws 50,000 people to Flint, and has led to several year-round programs. Krieger sees the Crim Fitness Foundation as the ultimate model for Albion and Orleans County.

The Running Club plans to offer a “Fit in 50” program throughout the year. The Running Club has applied for grants to help pay for some of the fitness initiatives. It already has secured some sponsors for the Metro 10.

Krieger works in regional sales for the hydraulic fluid industry. He wants to engage more community partners to promote health and wellness in the community.

“if you want to change the community, which is in desperate need, then people must step up and do something,” he said.

For more information about sponsoring, volunteering or teaming with the Albion Running Club, contact Krieger at585-590-0955 or email bkrieger@albionrunningclub.com.

For more on the Albion Running Club, click here.

Editor’s Note: Tom Rivers is on the board of directors for the Running Club.

A partnership between Orleans and Genesee counties, where they share a Public Health director and other staff, has been recognized with the “Outstanding Rural Health Program Award” by the NY State Association for Rural Health.

Paul Pettit of Albion serves as public health director for the two counties. He is pictured at left with Donald Rowe (center), director of the Office of Public Health Practice at the University of Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions; and Kenneth Oakley, CEO of the Lake Plains Community Care Network.

The NY State Association for Rural Health recognizes individuals and organizations that have made a significant contribution to rural health. Recognized state-wide for the high quality of service that they represent in rural health, the NYSARH annual awards are selected by NYSARH’s Board of Directors, who are composed of representatives of all facets of the rural health care industry.

The Orleans and Genesee departments have been sharing a director and other staff since Jan. 1, 2013. The initiative is a collaborative effort of the Lake Plains Community Care Network, Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments, and the University of Buffalo School of Public Health and Health Professions.

The agencies have been studying and assessing the merits of sharing public health services over a two-year period. Coinciding with this pilot project, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, in partnership with the Kansas Health Institute, began a cross jurisdictional services study on shared public health services nation-wide. The Genesee and Orleans Counties Cross Jurisdictional Sharing Program is one of 16 sites selected by RWJF to be a part of this study.

By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, Public Health Educator for Orleans County Health Department

If you noticed you are exceptionally early for things, you may need to double check your clock. This past Sunday everyone should have been setting their clocks back one hour for daylight savings time.

This is also a great time to look at protecting your family and your home. Check your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide alarm batteries and clean them out according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Never remove batteries from either of these alarms other than to put in fresh batteries in the fall and spring when you change your clocks. If your alarms are more than 10 years old, or you don’t know how old they are, consider replacing them with new alarms.

Take time to go through your emergency supplies. Make sure they haven’t expired. Changing these items twice a year helps you know what you have and makes sure you don’t have expired foods or water in your emergency kits. You might also want to freshen up any clothes or blankets you have packed and make sure they are appropriate for the winter season.

If you haven’t already made one, make an emergency kit for your pets. Make sure you have at least a 3-day supply of water and food for your furry friends. Double check their vaccinations to make sure they are current and keep copies of them in their supply kit in case you have to leave your home in an emergency. Most public shelters do not allow pets, so plan ahead for your pets.

File photo by Tom Rivers – Much of Orleans County had its electricity knocked out in an ice storm last December, just before Christmas.

Contact your out-of-town/state buddies you have listed for your family to contact in the event you are separated in an emergency. Touch base with them to make sure you have their current information and remind them how important they are as a contact for your family. Offer to be their contact as well if you are able.

Make sure your emergency supply kits have fresh batteries, chargers, flashlights that work and other comfort items for sheltering in place or if you have to leave in a hurry. Keeping copies of current medical information for each family member, insurance forms, licenses, etc. will go a long way in helping during recovery efforts.

Make sure your house and vehicles are in good repair for the upcoming winter and keep emergency kits in your car and your workplace because you may get stuck someplace other than home.

Remember, when you turn your clocks back in the fall and forward in the spring, it is always a good time to plan ahead for safety. Have a great Fall season!

If you would like to ask the Public Health Educator a health related question to be answered in a future column, e-mail her at Nola.Goodrich-Kresse@orleansny.com. The Health Department reserves the right not to answer any questions deemed unsuitable.

Photo by Tom Rivers

ALBION – The crowd of 1,000 participants at The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk raised $50,000 on Sunday for breast cancer research and for programs for people battling the disease.

The top photo shows a group of students from the Iroquois Job Corps Center in Medina at the beginning of the 5-kilometer walk.

The $50,000 raised on Sunday brings the total to $325,000 over 10 years since Watt Farms started hosting the event.

The American Cancer Society organizes other walks in the region and they typically are in urban areas. There was another Making Strides walk on Sunday at Jamestown Community College.

The walk in Albion differs from the others for its farm setting, said Monica Dailey, a specialist for community events for the American Cancer Society.

She praised the participants and Karen Watt, co-owner of the farm and a breast cancer survivor, for working so hard on the Making Strides walk at Watt Farms.

“The community rallies together,” she said. “You see a sea of pink.”

Photos by Tom Rivers – Molly, a 3-month-old black lab, snuggles with Abby Ferris, 6, who has epilepsy and suffers from unpredictable seizures. Molly will be trained to watch for the seizures and to alert Abby’s parents or an adult.

CARLTON – The seizures started with Abby Ferris was she was 2, often striking at night. In the four years since then she has had about 30 seizures. They are unpredictable.

Abby, now 6, has epilepsy. Her parents, Kristin and Todd Ferris, keep a watchful eye on her, afraid to keep her out of sight in case of a seizure. They don’t let Abby sleep alone or go play by herself for very long.

Abby should soon be able to have more independence because the family purchased a seizure response dog, a black lab named Molly. The dog is just 12 weeks old but has already begun some basic training. Molly will be trained to observe Abby for seizures. If Abby is having one, the dog will be trained to go paw at Mr. or Mrs. Ferris.

“I want her to be a normal kid to be able to sleep in her own bed and go play on her own,” Mrs. Ferris said.

Abby Ferris is pictured with her parents, Kristin and Todd Ferris, and Abby’s seizure response dog, Molly.

Abby is very much an active 6-year-old, dancing at Gotta Dance by Miss Amy, jumping on a trampoline and riding a Barbie Car in the backyard.

There is a good chance she will outgrow epilepsy, a neurological disorder. Her seizures can be long, often more than 5 minutes. The family has medication at home if there is an extended seizure.

Mr. Ferris is a long-time Carlton firefighter, a former chief who led the department for 8 years. If Abby has a seizure, he can administer her medication and then check her pupils, muscle strength and equalization – the strength of her left and right sides of the body. Mrs. Ferris also worked in a doctor’s office.

Abby drives her battery-charged Barbie car in her backyard in Carlton.

The couple has learned not to panic when their daughter has a seizure.

However, they said they feel always on alert that their daughter could lose consciousness from a seizure. It’s particularly worrisome at night if she were to have a seizure and vomit. If she were alone, she could choke to death.

“It’s a guessing game. It’s so unpredictable,” Mrs. Ferris said.

Molly, the seizure response dog, gives the family some peace of mind, as well as providing an energetic playmate for Abby.

The family is working with Laura Gates from Gates Dog Training in Ransomville to have Molly become a trained seizure response dog. That training could cost $5,000 to $7,000.

Abby Ferris enjoys jumping on the trampoline.

The family is teaming with the Orr family in Albion for a fund-raiser on Oct. 25 to help pay for the costs of medical dogs.

Tyler Orr, 9, has juvenile diabetes. He was diagnosed almost two years ago. He has unpredictable seizures. His medical dog will be trained to detect a drop or spike in blood sugar levels. Tyler was featured in an Orleans Hub article on Aug. 3: “Family seeks medical dog for son with diabetes.”

Iva McKenna and Country Lane Veterinary Services in Barre are organizing the spaghetti dinner and basket raffle. For more information about tickets or to donate a basket, call Country Lane at 589-9835.