By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 26 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski – The annual Grace Lang/Amber Liese Walk Thursday afternoon was well-attended.
KENDALL – Despite threatening skies and a heavy downpour about 45 minutes into the event, students, faculty, staff, administrators and community members came out in record numbers Thursday afternoon for the annual Grace Lang/Amber Liese Memorial Walk at the Kendall High School Track.
The event is sponsored by the Kendall Sr. National Honor Society and benefits the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, Teens Living with Cancer, Kendall Ambulance and the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance.
Members of Libby Jurs’ family pose together before hitting the track to walk.
This year’s walk was dedicated to Libby Jurs, a beloved former Kendall school nurse, who died of cancer in 2015. The Jurs Family participated in the Walk and said Libby had participated herself in past years.
“She is missed for sure buy a lot of people,” Libby’s husband, John said. “She touched a lot of people.”
“We appreciate all that has been done for our family by the Kendall Central School District,” Libby’s daughter, Jennifer said.
A sign alongside the track featured a photograph of Libby.
National Honor Society co-advisor Gretchen Rosales estimated participation this year at more than 100 people, which is more than usual.
“Libby had a huge impact on all of us,” Rosales said. “Today is a celebration of her life. We are excited to be able to honor her memory today.”
Kendall Jr./Sr. High School Principal Carol D’Agostino said this year’s school yearbook will be dedicated to Libby during the school’s formal awards ceremony next Friday.
The Walk is named for Grace Lang, the Kendall school nurse who preceded Libby, who died of cancer of 1990, and Amber Liese, a Kendall student who died of cancer in 2010 just months after graduation.
Members of the Kendall Central School faculty, staff and administration pose on the track with the photo of Libby.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 24 May 2016 at 12:00 am
File photo by Tom Rivers – Aleka Schmidt, pastor of First Baptist Church in Albion, is a 10-year survivor of breast cancer. She is keynote speaker during this evening’s For Women Only event to benefit the Community Partners outreach program of Orleans Community Health.
LYNDONVILLE – The 20th annual For Women Only this evening not only celebrates a milestone anniversary for the event, but also will mark 10 years of being cancer-free for the keynote speaker.
Aleka Schmidt was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer when she was 28, shortly after her daughter’s second birthday.
In the fog of bloodwork, diagnostic imaging, surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments, hospitalization, and strong medication, life as a cancer patient soon became the new norm in her household.
Schmidt will share her story during the For Women Only event today at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville. The event is already sold out with nearly 300 tickets sold.
Schmidt said everyone should get to know their body and be on the lookout for anything unusual that could be cancer.
“Speak up if you have a concern,” she said.
Cancer patients in Orleans County are fortunate to have quality healthcare options close to home, especially with cancer specialists in Rochester and Buffalo, she said.
She said people should maintain a positive outlook, even while fighting a potentially life-threatening disease.
“Choose to be better, not bitter,” she said.
Schmidt was working full-time as a music therapist when she was diagnosed. She has switched careers and now is pastor of the First Baptist Church in Albion. She is a semester away from earning her master of divinity at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. She continues to work part-time as a music therapist.
As part of the evening today, Jenifer Maynard, director of Imaging Services at Orleans Community Health, will present the new 4D ultrasound machine. The machine provides superior image quality for more accurate diagnoses. Orleans Community Health started using the new ultrasound on Jan. 1.
The new ultrasound machine has high frequency, wide field-of-view probes and improved software for advanced breast imaging, improved sensitivity and powerful enough to scan all body types, and portability to accommodate patients and staff.
This year’s event will include wine and chocolate tastings, appetizers and desserts, basket raffle, survivor recognition and a celebration of women. All funds raised from the event will benefit the Cancer Services program which provides free screenings to individuals with little to no health insurance.
The event raises about $5,000 that helps Community Partners, the outreach program Orleans Community Health, offer cancer screenings and also complete blood work.
By Kristina Gabalski, Correspondent Posted 19 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Photos by Kristina Gabalski – Sixth graders from Holley Central School learn about water and boating safety from members of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Dept. and the NYSDEC Environmental Conservation Police.
KNOWLESVILLE – Sixth graders from around Orleans County traveled to the 4-H Fairgrounds Tuesday and Wednesday for the 48th annual Conservation Field Days. The event provides students with hands-on learning about the environment, wildlife conservation, safety, healthy eating and more.
This year, educational stations included a habitat walk with exploration of a variety of animal habitats; composting with Orleans County Master Gardeners; the use of hunting and trapping in wildlife management with the Gregoire family of Murray; how pesticides, herbicides and other wastes affect local watersheds with the Orleans County Soil and Water Conservation District; green power with Scott Dean of the NYS Public Service Commission; Rabies with Nola Goodrich-Kresse of the Orleans County Health Department.
Other stations included Mammal ID with staff from the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge; the tree factory with staff from the NYSDEC’s Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center in Depew; Heritage Sheep with Orleans County 4-Her Andrew Dreschel of Holley; dog agility with members of the Orleans County 4-H dog program; water and boat safety with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Department and the NYSDEC Environmental Conservation Police; and Natalie Heller, nutrition
educator, Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, with information on healthy and fluid-replenishing drinks for the summer.
Students prepare for a “drag race” of tiny solar-powered cars with Scott Dean of the NYS Public Service Commission, who talked to them about green energy.
Products and items on the table overseen by staff from the NYSDEC’s Reinstein Woods Environmental Education Center are all made from trees.
Students were able to explore varieties of local wildlife as well as hunting and trapping equipment with Mark Gregoire, who explained why wildlife management is necessary and how it helps the environment.
Orleans County Master Gardeners explain the process and benefits of composting yard and kitchen waste to students from Lyndonville Central School.
Kim Hazel of Cornell Cooperative Extension in Orleans County, tells students about wildlife habitat, including habitat created by garbage cans like the ones stored under the trees in the background of the photo.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Vendors, speakers will cover range of topics
Photo courtesy of Photos by Bruce – Gwen St. John, center, is pictured with her daughters, Cheryl Chladek, left, and Karen Sawicz. St. John, former owner of the Lake Country Pennysaver and a registered nurse, died on Feb. 25 at age 88 after fighting cancer and other illnesses.
ALBION – A seminar on Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Hoag Library will explore end-of-life care issues that many people are reluctant to consider.
The Albion Rotary Club has organized the seminar that will include a vendor fair from 6 to 8 p.m. Many businesses and agencies will be available to discuss their services including representatives from nursing homes, Hospice, Brigden Memorials, assisted care facilities, funeral homes, Mount Albion Cemetery, Office for the Aging, a bank that provides long-term care insurance, Medina Memorial Hospital and other service providers.
After the vendor fair, several speakers will then share advice and their experiences from 8 to 9 p.m.
Local attorney Sanford Church will discuss advanced directives, John Zonitch will highlight Medicaid Law with nursing home admissions, Scott Schmidt will bring a coroner’s perspective to unattended deaths, Susie Miller from the Office for the Aging will talk about a PRI (Patient Review Instrument), and Karen Sawicz will offer advice from a caregiver’s perspective.
“People don’t want to think about that their parent or that they themselves will come into this situation,” said Grace Denniston, a retired Office for the Aging director and Rotary Club member who helped plan Tuesday’s seminar. “Taking care of some of the issues can make it so much easier for the survivors.”
Denniston suggests pre-paying for a funeral, buying a cemetery plot and gravestone.
There are many issues for the caregivers, and Sawicz will share advice learned from five years of managing her mother’s health care.
Sawicz is president of the Rotary Club. She pushed to have the seminar on Tuesday after realizing there was so much she didn’t know in caring for her mother, Gwen St. John, who had her first surgery for cancer in March 2011. She battled other illnesses until her death at age 88 on Feb. 25 at the Martin-Linsin Residence of Hospice of Orleans.
St. John was a dynamic woman who earned her degree as a registered nurse in 1948 from Rochester General Hospital. She worked many years at the former Arnold Gregory Memorial Hospital in Albion. She maintained her license until she was 82.
In 1960, she and her husband Vince purchased the Albion-Holley Pennysaver, which they jointly operated until their retirement in 1989. Sawicz has been running the operation since, and serves as publisher of the Pennysaver and the Orleans Hub.
Sawicz was a caregiver for her mother, and organized schedules for home healthcare aides. Her mother was able to stay at her home on Route 279 before moving to Hospice for the final week of her life.
Sawicz had help in hiring home health aides, and planning their work schedules from a friend in the health care field. Sawicz fielded calls from the aides who would share her mother’s condition.
“You have to learn your patient,” she said. “You don’t call the ambulance or doctor every time.”
Sawicz and the aides learned St. Johns baseline temperature, about 97 degrees. If her temperature was 100, that was a worrisome sign. Her mother didn’t tolerate antibiotics well, and her sodium level would plummet.
Sawicz kept records and showed doctors the documentation about how her mother responded to medicine. She often would seek clarification from doctors, making sure they understood her mother’s patient history.
“You need to be assertive and ask questions,” Sawicz said. “Don’t be nasty but be assertive.”
Sawicz kept her mother’s medical history on her SmartPhone. She would suggest people do the same, or print it out on paper so it’s easily accessible when filling out numerous medical forms and meeting with doctors.
Sawicz said she was fortunate to have a supportive family and employees, who would step in at a moment’s notice when she had to care for her mother. St. John battled cancer, a stress fracture, dementia and other health issues. Dementia was the worst to endure because her mother was robbed of her sweet disposition and personality, Sawicz said.
“We just want to help people think about planning,” Sawicz said about the seminar. “It will make things a little easier because people don’t want to talk about death.”
By Nola Goodrich-Kresse and Kristine Voos, Genesee-Orleans Public Health Education Team
Ticks can spread disease. Not all ticks can cause disease and not all bites will make you sick, but as these diseases become more common it’s important to learn how to prevent a bite, how to remove a tick and what to do if you think you could have a tick-borne disease.
“The warm winter and recent temperature increase have set the stage for a flourishing tick population, providing an update on Lyme disease, the most common tick related illness in our area, seems prudent,” states Brenden Bedard, director of Community Health Services for Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments.
Lyme disease is also the most common disease spread by ticks in New York but there are other serious diseases they spread including Anaplasmosis, Erhichioisis, Babesiosis, and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever.
There are many different species of ticks but locally the most common is the Deer Tick. The Deer Tick is a vector for several diseases (Lyme disease, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis) and received the name because of its habit of living and feeding on white-tailed deer, however ticks acquire Lyme disease by feeding on infected mice and other small rodents.
“Although Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming Counties have had less than 5 reported cases of Lyme disease annually since 2013, ticks are here locally and you can’t tell which are infected by disease or not,” stated Paul Pettit, Genesee and Orleans Public Health Director.
Ticks may be found in many types of settings such as woodlands, tree stumps, lawns and gardens, around stone walls, nature trails, outdoor summer camps, and playing fields. Ticks do not jump or fly, they attach to their host when a human or animal makes contact with something that a tick is on, like tall grass, shrubs, or an animal. The risk of human infection with Lyme is greatest in late spring and summer, but ticks can be active any time the temperature is above freezing.
“The high concentration of ticks in NYS counties including Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Ulster, Dutchess, and Albany leads me to believe the threat of tick-borne diseases will continue and likely increase locally in the future, this is why it is important to become aware and prepare now,” said Pettit.
Lyme can only be transmitted after being bit by an infected tick- seeing an attached tick or a tick bite does not necessarily mean Lyme has been transmitted. It generally takes between three days to one month after a tick bite for Lyme disease symptoms to develop.
In 60-80 percent of Lyme cases a “bulls-eye” circular rash or solid red patch develops at or near the site of the tick bite first and steadily gets larger or spreads out. You can also get several patches of rash on your body. Early on in the disease (days to weeks post-tick bite) you may develop symptoms such as fever, chills, headaches, joint pain and/or swelling, fatigue, or facial paralysis (Bell’s Palsy), sometimes these can be very mild.
As Lyme disease progresses more severe symptoms like arthritis with severe joint pain and swelling may develop months-to-years post tick bite in 60% of persons who are not given antibiotic treatment.
It is important to keep in mind that getting Lyme disease once does not provide protection against getting Lyme in the future, if you are bitten again at a different time you can get Lyme disease again. If you develop any of these symptoms you should call your doctor right away to inquire about getting tested and treated.
To prevent tick-borne illness exposure while outdoors you and your family can do the following:
Wear light-colored clothing with a tight weave to spot ticks easily.
Wear enclosed shoes, long pants and a long-sleeved shirt. Tuck pant legs into socks or boots and shirt into pants.
Check clothes and any exposed skin frequently while outdoors.
Use insect repellent with 20-30% DEET.
Stay on cleared, well-traveled trails. Avoid dense woods and busy areas.
Avoid sitting directly on the ground or on stone walls.
Keep long hair tied back, especially when gardening.
Bathe or shower as soon as possible after going indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks that may be on you.
Do a final, full-body tick check at the end of the day (also check children and pets), and remove ticks promptly.
Additional prevention tips for homeowners to create a tick-free zone in your backyard to keep you, your family and pets safe from tick exposure:
Keep grass mowed, along with clearing tall grasses and brush.
Remove brush and leave around stonewalls and wood piles.
Keep wood piles and bird feeders away from your home.
Keep family dogs and cats out of wooded areas to reduce ticks brought into your home.
Place swing sets, sand boxes, decks and patios in a sunny spot away from yard edges and trees.
Place a 3-ft wide barrier of wood chips or gravel between lawns and wooded areas and around patios and play equipment.
What you can do if you find a tick attached to you, a family member, or a pet:
You should use fine-tipped tweezers to grasp the ticks by its mouth parts, as close to the surface of the skin as you can. Carefully pull the tick straight up without twisting. Do not touch the tick. Do not squeeze the body of the tick (may increase your risk of infection). Clean your hands and the areas on your skin where the tick was. Watch the site of the bite for rash (3-30 days after bite). Removing a tick within 36 hours of attachment to the skin can lower the risk of contracting Lyme disease.
To learn more about ticks, Lyme disease and other diseases ticks can spread visit the New York State Department of Health, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 12 May 2016 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
MEDINA – Fast Fitness and the Orleans County YMCA joined forces for a 12-week “Boot Camp Challenge” that was completed by 50 people. The challenge also raised $350 for the Y’s “Strong Communities” scholarship program to make the Y affordable for families.
The photo shows Kim Lockwood, left, owner of Fast Fitness with Mike Eaton and Shauna Parkinson of the Y.
Eaton had the idea for the Y and Fast Fitness to partner on the Boot Camp Challenge.
“The turnout for this challenge was very impressive,” Eaton said. “Bringing two gyms together and watching the progress made by everyone shows how much this community is committed. It was truly a joy to work with everyone and I look forward to more challenges.”
The Y and Fast Fitness plan to offer the challenge again in late summer or early fall, said Parkinson, the Y executive director.
“Enhancing the health and wellness of our community is our mission,” Parkinson said. “It was incredible the we were able to collaborate with Fast Fitness to provide an exceptional program, developed by Mike Eaton, that improved the lives of over 50 people.”
The Boot Camp Challenge was open to members and nonmembers of both facilities, and classes were held at both sites. Utilizing the resources of both the Y and Fast Fitness, Eaton developed a comprehensive and challenging program that engaged over 50 people, Parkinson said.
“A testament to Mike’s leadership and success as a fitness instructor, hundreds of pounds were lost and the quality of participants lives were improved through their participation in the program,” she said. “Both organizations benefited from the collaboration, Fast Fitness had several people participating in a program and getting exposure to new programs and services in the women’s-only facility. The same was true for the Y and a donation was given to the Y to benefit our scholarship assistance program.”
Jocelyn Beach won the challenge by losing the most weight.
“It was great for two organizations to come together to support the health and wellness of our community,” Lockwood said.
Orleans County residents can dispose of unused prescription medication, sharps and pet medications on Saturday at three drop-off sites from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The goal of this event is to provide a safe disposal method that will prevent the contamination of the water supply and most importantly decrease the likelihood of theft and abuse of prescription medications. Upon completion of this event all collected medication will be destroyed in the presence of law enforcement officers at a designated incineration facility, said Sheriff Randy Bower.
“This is a great opportunity for the public to surrender unwanted and/or expired medications for safe and proper disposal,” Bower said. “Events such as these have dramatically reduced the risk of prescription drug diversion and abuse, as well as increasing awareness of this critical public health issue.”
The National Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative includes the following sites in Orleans County:
Orleans County Public Safety Building – 13925 State Route 31 – Albion
Holley Fire Department – 7 Thomas Street – Holley
Medina Fire Department – 600 Main Street – Medina
The Public Safety Building also has a collection box that is available five days a week during regular business hours.
Saturday’s collection is a collaborative effort with the U.S. Department of Justice – Drug Enforcement Administration, the Orleans County Health Department, and the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism & Substance Abuse.
This photo includes back row, from left: Teacher Nicole Homme, Kathryn Young, Jamie Boyce, Taylor Hurrell, Hannah Sones, Alexandria Sargent. Front Row: Hailee Ogden, Bryanna Sikorski, Mercedes Wilson, Megan Dunn and Morgan Roach.
Press Release, Medina Central School
MEDINA – Mercedes Wilson is 2000 graduate from Medina High School. Recently she found herself back on campus with a new mission.
She spent several days talking with the high school girls about feeling confident in expressing themselves and being their own advocate when it comes to their health.
“When I was 28 years old I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer,” says Mrs. Wilson. “I thought I had a pulled muscle and when I discussed it with my doctor they assured me that I was too young to be concerned about anything. I was fortunate enough when I started to go to a new doctor that they insisted that I get it checked out. It was devastating to think if I had pushed to be tested earlier, I would not have had to undergo what I did.”
Her journey inspired her to start the organization For Our Daughters (click here). Its focus is to empower young women to break down communication barriers and become advocates for their own health and wellness.
“Our youth are under an immense amount of pressure and while they are developing, it is our job to teach them valuables,” she says. “Not only do we address self-esteem issues, but encourage communication with parent/guardians.”
Mrs. Wilson was invited to talk to the students during their gym period by teacher Nicole Homme. The girls ran different scenarios on how to communicate with their mothers showing a productive way to do that and a negative way. Mrs. Homme says she thinks the students respond better to hear these important strategies from someone on the outside.
“Her story is very personal and she has experience of what happens if you don’t learn communication skills earlier on in life,” Homme says. “She tells the students if they feel something is not right, they need to advocate and communicate what it is that they are feeling. It is a very valuable lesson.”
This group participated in Zumba led by Ashley Ramsey, owner of FIT Method in North Tonawanda. She is in front of photo. Other participants include second row, from left: Abigail Neuman, Abbigail Lilly, Kali Worley, Lillian Alberi, Regan Dole, Brooke Bearss, Paige Dunn and Shelby Weese. Back row: Syiera Dow, Alexis Greco, Jessica Lawrence, Nicole Cooper, Jelia Howard, Nodia Osby, Hannah Heil, Divere Brown, Brianna Bearss and Jizzell Banks.
As part of the workshop, a Zumba instructor, Ashley Ramsey from FIT Method in North Tonawanda, came in to teach a class to the students.
“Being active is a key to promoting a healthy life,” says Mrs. Wilson. “Hopefully it will instill a desire to do some sort of activity for the rest of their lives. We can do better, if we know better.”
Mrs. Wilson talks regularly to many local high schools and hopes to reach her goal of reaching 1,500 young women in the Western New York area.
“These girls deserve a world where they feel confident, empowered, and their voices are heard,” she said.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 16 April 2016 at 12:00 am
About 120 participate in event to honor Wayne Burlison
Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Brian Krieger and Adam Burlison release balloons just after noon today during the second annual Run for Wayne, a 3.17-mile race in honor of Adam’s father Wayne Burlison.
He was 36 when he died from colon cancer on March 26, 2014. Krieger and Burlison were close friends and running partners. They helped start the Albion Running Club, which organized today’s race.
Wayne’s wife Lisa Burlison thanked the community for supporting the race. She also shared about her husband’s faith, and his commitment to his family, fitness and his students. Mr. Burlison taught music at Albion for 12 years.
The runners gather on Clarendon Road near the elementary school for the start of the race. The 3.17-mile course represents the 3 months and 17 days that Burlison lived his diagnosis of Stage 4 colon cancer.
The bright sunshine and temperatures in the 60s was a contrast from the first Run for Wayne on March 28, 2015, when there was lots of snow on the ground and frigid temperatures.
The Albion pep band played upbeat tunes to cheer on the runners.
Runners head east on Route 31 past Butts Road for the first mile.
Tess Pettit, right, and Trinity Allen hand out water.
Runners head into Mount Albion Cemetery, passing underneath the big stone arch. Burlison played in the Mark Time Marchers, a band that performs in many local parades.
A runner approaches a photo of Burlison attached to a tree along the course in the cemetery.
After a loop in the cemetery, runners head west on Route 31 to the finish at the elementary school.
Riley Seielstad, an Albion high schooler, ran her first race today. She was one of Burlison’s students.
Race results will be posted on the Albion Running Club website. Click here for more information.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 April 2016 at 12:00 am
Provided photo
ALBION – Staff at the Orleans Correctional Facility in Albion today cooked hot dogs, dressed in casual clothes, sold wristbands to raise awareness for colon cancer and made donations, an effort that raised $1,600 for the Cancer Services programs of Genesee and Orleans.
Some of the staff members are pictured outside the prison this afternoon. The facility is a medium-security prison on Gaines Basin Road.
The staff at Orleans Correctional pushed to raise the funds after Al Miller (pictured) of Corfu, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in December. Miller continues to work his shifts at the prison while he is on light duty.
Miller said he is grateful for his job, which he has had for 20 years. He said he is fortunate to have good health insurance. The Cancer Services Program in Genesee and Orleans provides free cancer screenings and other services.
Miller said he appreciated the turnout and support from his collages today.
“I feel bad for people without family and friend support,” he said. “I’m very fortunate here for the support system that I have.”
Kenny Gold, a corrections officer and leader in the union, said Miller has been a dependable worker for two decades.
“He’s been here for everybody for 20 years, and we’ll all be here for him, especially during his most vulnerable time,” Gold said today.
The union representing the corrections officer gave about $400,000 to different charities and causes last year, Gold said.
“The prisons are more than just people watching over convicted felons,” he said.
File photos by Tom Rivers – Firefighters spent hours at this massive fire in Albion at Orleans Pallet on Oct. 17, 2013.
Press Release, State Sen. Robert Ortt
ALBANY – Senator Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda) today announced the New York State Senate passed legislation on Monday that would provide volunteer firefighters with more health benefits as they continue to put their lives on the line to protect others.
The bill (S3891) amends the Volunteer Firefighters’ Benefit Law to extend levels of protections for volunteer firefighters that develop certain cancer related diseases while on the job.
“Volunteer firefighters provide an invaluable service across our state and especially here in Western New York,” Ortt said. “In the vast majority of my rural district, these selfless men and women are the first responders when emergency strikes. This legislation acknowledges the health risks they face and justly offers them the protections they deserve.”
There are more than 100,000 volunteer firefighters statewide that would have presumptive cancer coverage as a result of this legislation. The number of firefighters diagnosed with cancer has increased in recent years, and medical studies have shown that they are at a significantly higher risk for various types of cancer than the general population.
Dark smoke spewed from the Orleans Pallet fire in Albion on Oct. 17, 2013.
Increased cancer risks are linked to the high levels of carcinogens and other toxins from building fires and other hazardous settings where firefighters serve.
The bill is being sent to the Assembly.
This measure for volunteer firefighters is in addition to the $250,000 the State Senate recently secured as part of the enacted 2016-17 State Budget to support the recruitment and retention of volunteer firefighters.
The funding will help to address the shortage of volunteer firefighters throughout the state by using promotional tools to highlight the importance of protecting local neighborhoods and enforcing public safety.
The money will be used for promotional materials, public service announcements, and other tools in an effort to bolster the number of volunteers.
By Nola Goodrich-Kresse, public health educator for Orleans County
The first week of April is National Public Health Week (NPHW), a week set aside showing us how we can choose healthier living.
National Public Health Week started in April 1995 by the American Public Health Association (APHA) with a focus on Public Health prevention topics. This year’s theme is, “Healthiest Nation 2030”. This year the focus is on working together to make changes in our health and the health of our communities.
“Working across county boarders allows us to collaborate more efficiently and effectively,” stated Paul Pettit, Director of both Genesee and Orleans County Health Departments. “Pooling resources not only help rural health departments financially, but provide us the opportunity to expand our outreach with the ‘one message, many voices’ approach. This allows us to send out timely, consistent health related information.”
Review the following calls for action and see what you can do to work toward becoming the Healthiest You 2016!
The focus areas chosen this year are:
Build a nation of safe, healthy communities
Help all young people graduate from high school
The relationship between increased economic mobility and better health
Social justice and health
Give everyone a choice of healthy food
Preparing for the health effects of climate change
Provide quality health care for everyone
Strengthen public health infrastructure and capacity
This article will only touch on a couple of the focus areas. To learn more about National Public Health Week and the movement for change, visit their website by clicking here.
Build a nation of safe, healthy communities: make health a priority. From healthy housing to parks and playgrounds, choose to walk and bike. When biking, make sure you follow the rules of the road and wear a properly fitted helmet, no matter what your age is. Support local law enforcement to help them make our communities safer. Support farmers’ markets and local businesses that value health, such as retailers that don’t sell tobacco/nicotine products.
Help all young people graduate from high school. Education is the leading indicator of good health, gives people access to better jobs, incomes and neighborhoods. Engage your children in learning activities, visit their schools and get to know their teachers. Participate in school activities with your children and participate in your Parent/Teacher/Student groups. Become a mentoryou can make a difference!
Give everyone a choice of health food. Our food system should provide affordable food with nutritious ingredients, free from harmful contaminants. Consider starting a home garden. If you don’t have a lot of space, talk with family and friends to see if they would like to build one together. Containers work well for small tomatoes and herbs. Encourage your family to eat more fruits and vegetables instead of processed foods and sugar-sweetened beverages.
One of the easiest ways to strive toward a healthier nation is to take care of you. Make sure you eat well, engage in physical activity often, spend less time in front of a screen, and get plenty of rest. Treat yourself and others with care and respect. And finally, remember to have fun and laugh … after all, laughter is the best medicine.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 28 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Pilgrimage in honor of friend battling cancer
Provided photo – Tom Dujenski leaves for Madrid, Spain, on Wednesday and will start his 500-mile walk on Sunday.
MEDINA – From 5k walks and runs, to wine-tastings, basket raffles and golf tournaments, the Knights and Kaderli families and their supporters have tried many ways to raise money to help Orleans County residents fighting cancer.
How about a 500-mile-walk in Europe?
A Medina native, who now lives in Kansas, will soon embark on a 500-mile journey by foot in northern Spain and France to raise money for Knights-Kaderli.
Tom Dujenski has been planning the walk along the el Camino de Santiago route for about two years. When he learned Elaine McPherson of Medina was battling cancer, Dujenski decided to make the effort a benefit for McPherson and others in Orleans fighting cancer.
Dujenski has been close friends for decades with Elaine’s husband, Paul. He and Elaine have both been long-time participants in the annual Knights-Kaderli walk and run in East Shelby.
“This is a great opportunity to turn something into good,” Dujenski said by phone this afternoon from Olathe, Kansas.
Dujenski, 57, graduated from Medina and then worked in Buffalo before a career with a bank regulatory agency took him all over the country. He settled in Kansas to be near his daughter.
He has been preparing for the long walk, building his stamina and planning the trip.
He flies out to Madrid on Wednesday and starts the walk on Sunday at the base of the Pyrenees Mountains. He is allowing 40 days to cover 500 miles.
Dujenski said the walk will be a spiritual journey for him, a chance to visit sacred sites. He is taking a rock with Elaine’s name on it. Dujenski said there is a stone pile on the trip that has become a shrine. He will add Elaine’s stone to that collection.
He will also go to a shrine in Lourdes, France, and bring back holy water for Elaine.
“I’m so excited it’s not even funny,” Dujenski said today.
His wife, Lupita, will meet him at the end of the journey and they will fly home together.
Elaine McPherson’s family appreciates Dujenski’s effort in the challenging journey and for thinking of Elaine and others fighting cancer.
“She is very grateful,” said Elaine’s sister, Barb Hale.
The Knights-Kaderli Memorial Fund is named in honor of Richard Knights died from cancer in 1984, and Sue Scharping Kaderli who died from the disease in 1989.
Knights-Kaderli distributes about $50,000 annually to help families with expenses while battling cancer.
For more on the fund, and to donate as part of Dujenski’s walk, click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Goal: be ready for Strawberry Festival race in June
Photo by Tom Rivers – Some of the leaders of the “Run for God” program include, front row, from left: Tom Smith, Sheila Lemcke and Brian Krieger. Other participants in back include Becki Keegan, Joe McPhatter, John Given and his son Zeke Given.
ALBION – In 2012, the Albion Free Methodist Church started a “Run for God” program that takes people from the couch to running a 5-kilometer race in 12 weeks.
Organizers of the first Run for God weren’t sure how many would take up the challenge, starting in cold March weather and concluding with the 5K race in June during the Albion Strawberry Festival. There was a strong response to “Run for God” with 40 people finishing the first race.
Altogether, 274 people have participated in Run for God (including a half marathon training program) in the first four years. A new Run for God starts tomorrow (Saturday) at 8:30 a.m. at the Free Methodist Church, corner of East State and Platt streets.
The group meets for a devotional or spiritual lesson, and then begins the journey to a 5K, alternating with short jogs and walks. The group will gradually increase the running times during the following weeks.
Tom Smith and Sheila Lemcke are leading the program again this year. Smith, the worship leader at the church, said he enjoys the camaraderie among the runners.
The participants go at different paces. Run for God is open to new and more experienced runners, and people can join at any time during the 12 weeks.
“There is no judgment,” Lemcke said. “Everyone is accepted at any level.”
There is no cost to be in the program, unless participants want to buy a T-shirt or a Run for God book. For more on Run for God, click here.
The program is now sponsored by the Free Methodist Church and the Albion Running Club. The late Wayne Burlison was a founder of the Running Club and pushed to start the Run for God program.
Burlison was 36 when he died from cancer nearly two years ago on March 26, 2014.
The Running Club is planning the second annual “Run for Wayne” in honor of Burlison on April 16 at the Ronald L. Sodoma Elementary School, where Burlison was a music teacher.
The race starts at 12:01 p.m. The course is 3.17 miles. That distance was chosen to honor Burlison’s 3-month, 17-day fight with stage 4 colon cancer.
Burlison was a proponent of healthy living in the community. Through diet and exercise, he lost more than 150 pounds and ran a marathon and several half marathons.
For more information on “Run for Wayne,” click here.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 15 March 2016 at 12:00 am
Photo by Tom Rivers – Medina school counselors Sarah Ha, left, and Linda Knipe, right, are pictured with Kelsey Wolcott, a mental health clinic therapist.
MEDINA – Medina has three school counselors working with 635 students in grades 8 through 12. They focus on academic and career preparation, but the counselors for years have juggled helping students with anxiety, depression and other mental health issues.
That changed in early February when a mental health clinic therapist from the Orleans County Department of Mental Health started working out of the school.
Kelsey Wolcott spends two days at Medina Central School, splitting time in the high school and elementary school. Middle schoolers also go to appointments at either school building.
Wolcott said some students feel the pressure of family life, with parents going through divorces or blending families, while others may also feel the strain of poverty, and social and academic pressures. She helps students develop coping skills for some of the challenges.
Wolcott’s presence has allowed the school district’s guidance counselors to stay focused on providing career and college guidance for students.
“We were spending an inordinate amount of time on personal counseling,” said Linda Knipe, one of Medina’s guidance counselors. “We try to clear the obstacles so they can get an education.”
Medina, Lyndonville, Kendall and Holley have all teamed in recent months with the Mental Health Department to allow a therapist to work out of the school. That way students miss less class time by not having to travel to Albion at the Mental Health clinic on Route 31. Some of the students also have transportation issues, making it difficult to get to Albion.
Marc O’Brien, the director of the county’s Mental Health Department, has been part of joint meetings with the five school district superintendents the past two years. He said other counties have tried satellite offices at schools.
“It makes it more accessible for the kids,” O’Brien said. “The superintendents have been super cooperative to work with.”
All of the new satellite sites needed approval by the state Office of Mental Health. Students still need to travel to Albion if they need to see a psychiatrist.
The satellite sites are funded just like the county’s main clinic in Albion. Insurance companies are billed for the services, O’Brien said.
“We’ve been able to broaden the footprint of the department and get out into the community,” he said. “So far it’s working great.”
