health & wellness

Albion 8th-graders present 70 ponchos, 100 pillows to benefit breast cancer patients

Posted 23 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Provided photos – Student Mykaela Hill presents one of the pillows the class made to Dr. Supriya Mohile at UR Medicine’s Wilmot Cancer Institute at Highland Hospital in Rochester.

Press Release, Wilmot Cancer Institute at University of Rochester Medical Center

ROCHESTER – During a reception today at Pluta Cancer Center, eighth-graders from Carl I. Bergerson Middle School in Albion presented 70 ponchos they made in their Family and Consumer Science class for women who are facing breast cancer.

The students today also presented 50 pillows to both the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester and UR Medicine’s Highland Hospital.

Seventeen students from Albion Middle School presented – and modeled – ponchos for patients undergoing radiation therapy at Wilmot Cancer Institute’s Pluta Cancer Institute in Henrietta.

The ponchos are more comfortable than a hospital gown and help women feel more secure and cozy while undergoing radiation therapy that breast cancer patients often receive daily for five to seven weeks.

The pillows help provide underarm support where lymph nodes have been removed and also help increase comfort for patients in other ways.

Kimberly Toombs, the class’s teacher, gratefully received a poncho from Pluta and pillows from BCCR and Highland Hospital during her treatment, which began after she was diagnosed in 2014.

Judy Zeeman-Golden (left), social worker and poncho project organizer at Pluta Cancer Center, poses with Kimberly Toombs, family and consumer science teacher at Albion Middle School and breast cancer survivor.

Having sewing skills as a family and consumer science teacher, she wanted to give back to the projects that had helped her. This was music to the ears of Judy Zeeman-Golden, a social worker at Pluta who manages the Poncho Project.

“The Pluta Cancer Foundation buys the fabric for the ponchos but what’s hard is making sure I have enough sewers to keep the project going. Until Kim came along, I was constantly scratching my head,” Zeeman-Golden said. “Kim has been this gift from the poncho gods. She kept busy while recovering by making ponchos, then got her class involved. She knew how wonderful it was to have because she’d been given one.”

Toombs says getting her class involved in this project not only helps those affected by breast cancer but also provides a valuable service learning opportunity for the students.

“Service learning engages the students in that it allows them to become actively involved in projects,” Toombs said. “When they have the ability to make something that will help someone else, it becomes personal to them.”

The tag that will be attached to each poncho to inform the recipient who created them.

Friends of paralyzed Albion teen trying to raise funds for van

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Ashley Wiegele is pictured in her senior photo.

ALBION – Ashley Wiegele was only a few days away from her high school graduation when she was in a boating accident on Lake Ontario on June 20, 2014.

Ashley, then 17, wasn’t able to participate in commencement. She was paralyzed from the chest down.

She is home in an apartment with her mother, and receives physical and occupational therapy. Ashley is hopeful she will one day walk again.

For right now, she is mostly limited to her apartment, which isn’t handicapped accessible.

Her friends and the staff at Albion Central School want to give her more freedom to be out in the community. They have organized a benefit on Oct. 24, with a goal to raise at least $10,000 to buy a van with a wheelchair for Ashley.

“Rock ‘n Roll for Ashley” will feature live music from several local musical acts from 3 to 10 p.m. at the Albion Elk’s Lodge, 428 West State St. in Albion. The event also includes a giant basket raffle, pumpkin decorating for kids and adults, and side raffles.

“Albion and Orleans County are great. When somebody is in need they’re there to help,” said Scott Green, a guidance counselor at the high school and also the event chairman.

Ashley’s injuries have required her mom to become her full-time caregiver, resulting in a loss of income for the family.

Ashley has been mostly confined to a bed at her apartment. She only leaves the house for doctor’s appointments, which requires calling for a special van to transport her, Green said.

“This is about her mobility, to allow her to get up and go,” Green said. “Having a van will give Ashley some independence, allowing her to do things that other people take for granted, like grocery shop with her mom, or visit the library, or catch a movie with friends.”

Solo performers at the Oct. 24 “Rock ‘n Roll for Ashley” include Gregg Albertson and Shannon Vanderlaan, who will open the event. They will be followed by several local bands including Delano Steele and Atomic Swamis.

Food will be available for purchase at the event. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door or by calling (585) 944-0678.

There is also an on-line fund-raising page for Ashley at CrowdRise. Click here for more information.

Hawley, Assembly minority host WNY health fair Thursday at RIT

Posted 13 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Press Release, Assemblyman Steve Hawley

HENRIETTA – State Assemblyman Steve Hawley (R-Batavia) will host a free community health fair, sponsored by the Assembly Minority Conference on Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the RIT Inn and Conference Center at 5257 West Henrietta Rd. in Henrietta.

The health fair will be aimed at informing seniors about services available to them and how they can best manage their health. Free services at the fair will include blood pressure and glucose screenings, hearing, laser and vision screenings, flu shots and organ and tissue donor registration information.

“I am excited to host this free community health fair to give back to our seniors and help them access a multitude of free services,” Hawley said. “Healthcare is becoming increasingly expensive, and unfortunately, many residents lose access to certain services when they retire. I encourage all of my constituents to take advantage of this free health fair, and I look forward to seeing them in attendance.”

Big group turns out for run/memory walk at Browns

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 10 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
WATERPORT – The runners take off at the start of the Brown’s 5K Cross Country Run and Memory Walk. Eric Boyce of Bergen, number 360, won the race in a time of 16:25 and Dana Phillips of Lyndonville, number 380, was the first woman to finish with a time of 21:17.

There were 140 participants in the run and walk, which covered 3.1 miles at the fruit farm owned by the Brown family. That nearly doubled the participants from last year.

Runners head down a lane at the beginning of the race, which went through orchards, a wooded area and along a corn field.

Tom Smith of Albion won the 50-59 age group. He also led a “Run for God” training program to get people ready for the race.

Kate Krieger, left, and Sienna Garcia Mathewson hand out water to runners, including John Steier.

The race was dedicated to the memory of Joyce Harris, a former Carlton Town Board member and active community booster. Many of her friends wore “Ya Ya” shirts in her memory.

David Cristofaro finishes the race in memory of his mother, Judy Christopher.

Some members of the Churchville-Chili cross country team present a quilt made from past Brown’s 5K T-shirts to Margy Brown, the race organizer for all 20 of the events. Brown has put on the events as a fund-raiser for Hospice of Orleans. The first 19 races/walks raised $35,000 for Hospice. Proceeds from today aren’t tallied yet.

Paul Glor, coach of the cross country team, has run the last 13 races and won several of them. He used his past race T-shirts for the quilt.

Margy Brown and her son Jeffrey, right of quilt, are pictured with Paul Glor, left, and the Ruhland siblings, who run cross country at Churchville-Chili. Their mother made the quilt. The siblings include, from left: Matthew (in back), Ian, Elizabeth and Genevieve, far right.

Glor and the team created the quilt for Margy Brown for her commitment to the race for two decades.

Brown’s Berry Patch looks a lot different without the playground, swing set, the Jumping Pillow and other popular attractions. The family decided to retire from the retail side of their business this year.

They remain an active fruit farm, and are committed to helping Hospice.

Albion 8th-graders make pillows, ponchos for breast cancer patients

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 9 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Amber Lowery, an Albion 8th-grader, holds a pillow she made for recovering breast cancer patients.

Amber and other students in Mrs. Kim Toombs’ Family and Consumer Sciences class have been making pillows and ponchos for breast cancer patients.

Toombs was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2014. After surgery, she completed chemotherapy and radiation in January 2015.

Kim Toombs gets the thread lined up so student Julie Porter can sew a poncho for a breast cancer patient.

The class will deliver the ponchos and pillows later this month when they take a field trip to the Pluta Cancer Center through Strong Memorial Hospital, the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester, and Highland Hospital.

Toombs said she received help through all three organizations.

“I didn’t know there was a need until I went through it myself,” Toombs said about the pillows and ponchos.

Ella Knaak shows one of the ponchos she made in class. The students are making 70 ponchos, 50 medium-size pillows and 50 small pillows to be given to breast cancer patients.

Angel Rushing, front, Deyonci Farley and other eighth-graders work on the ponchos during class today.

Toombs wears a sticker noting she is a breast cancer survivor.

She thanked her students for working so hard on the project in class.

“They are doing a great with them,” she said.

New fitness trail opens at fairgrounds

By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 8 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Kristina Gabalski
KNOWLESVILLE – A new fitness trail has opened at the 4-H Fairgrounds on Route 31 in Knowlesville. There will be an opening ceremony today at 6 p.m. with the Albion Running Club, where runners and walkers will then try the course.

“We see people come and walk the grounds all the time and thought this would be a nice addition,” Orleans County 4-H Educator Robert Batt said.

The half-mile trail includes six stations with various exercises/activities. The project is sponsored by the Running Club.

The public is invited to attend the grand opening and also to come out and make use of the trail at any time.

“4-Hers will also be able to use the trail before meetings,” Batt said.

The project includes a number of recycled items. Batt said the poles used for the signs are made from recycled tires and have been repurposed from a former exhibit on the fairgrounds. Additionally, old agricultural tires are used as part of the stations. At Station #1, for example, the tires are used for a triceps dip.

“The project is green and environmentally friendly,” Batt observed. “It’s super exciting.”

Runners give new fitness trail a try at fairgrounds

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers

KNOWLESVILLE – John Steier and his son Evan haul tires on the new fitness trail at the 4-H Fairgrounds, which opened today to the public.

The Steiers and other particpants in the Albion Running Club jogged the course and tried the six stations, doing push ups, dips and other maneuvers while completing the half-mile fitness trail.

Pam Coville and her husband Mark bend down and flip tires, one of the challenges on the fitness trail.

The Running Club kicked in $450 towards the trail, which is open to the public and includes signs showing how to attempt the activities along the course.

Brian Krieger does push-ups at one of the stops.

The project includes many recycled items, including the poles used for the signs. Many old farm tires are utilized as part of the stations.

Runners get in some exercise on the course.

Albion PD promotes Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Members of the Albion Police Department are wearing pink pins with silver angel wings on their uniforms this month in honor of Breast cancer Awareness Month.

“Breast cancer has in some way affected everyone in our community,” said Police Chief Roland Nenni. “The Albion Police Department hopes that by aiding in awareness we can help in a small way to find a cure.”

Pink ribbons are also being displayed on all police patrol vehicles.

“The more we can raise awareness as professionals and public servants, it may prompt women to be checked or someone to make a donation,” Nenni said.

Sgt. Gary Van Wycke, a member of the Albion PD for 21 ½ years, stands by a patrol car that has a pink ribbon on the door.

Courthouse dome will go purple and pink to highlight causes this month

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 6 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – The dome of the Orleans County Courthouse is shining purple the first half of this month for Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

The county’s domestic violence unit responds to about 400 referrals each year.

The dome is pictured on Monday night on the courthouse.

The second half of the month the courthouse dome will shine pink at night for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. About 70 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year in Orleans County.

Watt Farms is again hosting the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk this month. The 11th annual event has been moved to a Saturday. It will be an open course from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event has raised $325,000 in its first 10 years. Click here for more information.

200 brave chill in walk/run to benefit families battling cancer

By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 4 October 2015 at 12:00 am

Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run has raised more than $250K

Photos by Tom Rivers

EAST SHELBY – There were about 200 people out walking and running the 3.1-mile course on a chilly Saturday morning for the 27th Knights-Kaderli Walk/Run.

The course starts near the East Shelby Fire Hall on East Shelby Road.

The Knights and Kaderli families have raised more than $250,000 with the event in 27 years. The money is put in a fund and given to help families with expenses while battling cancer.

John Bertrand of Clarence has a big burst of energy at the start of the race. He finished third overall with a time of 23:51. John is the grandson of the late Richard Knights.

Mr. Knights died from cancer in 1984. Five years later Sue Scharping Kaderli died from the disease.

The two families work together with fund-raisers for the Knights-Kaderli Fund. Other families also help, including the family of the late Dave Millis of Albion. Together they are able to distribute about $50,000 annually to help about 50 families battling cancer.

John Kaderli, the son of the late Sue Kaderli, sells raffle tickets on Saturday. There were about 100 gift baskets available during Saturday’s event. Kaderli thanked the community for supporting the cause for so many years.

“It’s a fabulous fund,” he said. “We’ve been able to help a lot of people.”

For more the on the Fund, click here.