Turf instead of wood chips, and many other state-of-the-art features

Construction started on Kendall’s new playground in May, will continue throughout the summer and is expected to be complete in the fall.

Photos and information courtesy of Kendall Central School

KENDALL – Construction has started on a new playground at the elementary school on Kendall Road, and includes some features that are new to playgrounds.

The new playground is funded as part of the $12.68 million 2023 capital project, and work has been underway at the elementary and junior/senior high school buildings, as well as the transportation and building and grounds facilities.

“We are excited to bring a state-of-the-art playground to the Kendall community,” said Superintendent Nicholas Picardo. “The new location and design will provide enhanced safety and a multitude of play options for our students. I would further like to thank Campus Construction Management, LaBella Associates, and Parkitects for their collaboration with the district on bringing our vision to life.”

The playground will include turf that will replace the current woodchip base. Work will continue throughout the summer, with an official grand opening being planned for early fall. The new playground will replace one that is 30 years old.

District Superintendent Nick Picardo and elementary school principal Kevin Watson join board of education members and other officials in a ground breaking for a new playground at the elementary school.

This new space includes a wide variety of interactive stations that appeal to all elementary-grade levels. The previous structure had limited access points, often only allowing one student at a time to use specific features. Now, with a more open and varied layout—including multiple slides, see-saws, and swings—kids will always be able to find something fun and available to explore.

Many of the playground decisions were made with safety, comfort and accessibility in mind for all students and community members. The current playground is not built to scale for the tiny humans in Pre-K through first grade, as many features were simply too large or difficult for them to use. At the same time, the limited variety meant there wasn’t much that appealed to students in fifth and sixth grade. The new layout ensures that all age groups can find something engaging and developmentally appropriate.

The We-Go-Round is a modern take on the merry-go-round, with floor-level entry rather than requiring students to climb on. This makes it easier for students who use wheelchairs or have mobility difficulties to join in on the fun. It also features custom panels with seasonal photos taken by art teacher Andy King, showing off Kendall in spring, summer, fall and winter – a vibrant upgrade from the plain side paneling originally proposed.

The turf will also bring big improvements. Compared to the woodchips (which were messy and needed constant upkeep), the turf will be cleaner, safer, more accessible, and usable in more types of weather.

Kendall’s new playground will be the first school district on the East Coast to have a Volo Aire – a covered climbing tower complete with slides. There will also be We-Saws, a We-Go-Round, swings, a zipline, chill spinners, climbing mounds, and plenty of shade to protect students and equipment from the sun (no more hot metal slide summers)—as well as for grown-ups to enjoy while they keep an eye on their kids.

Finally, the playground’s new location addresses a major safety issue: previously, students had to cross an access road to reach the play area. With the removal of the nearby tennis and basketball courts, the new playground will be located further back from the road, allowing students to head directly outside without having to navigate traffic.

The design of the new playground took into consideration ideas from several focus groups made up of students and staff members. A Playground Committee was also formed to take the lead on bringing those ideas to the forefront of the planning process.

“I’d like to thank the playground committee for taking the time to help push this project further with design features, color recommendations, site visits to other schools, and their genuine passion,” said Elementary School Principal Kevin Watson. “Our committee featured the voices of older students who wished to advocate for our youngest eagles. Together, we designed the next generation of play for our community!”

The committee, which was composed of both students and staff members, took a field trip to visit three elementary school playgrounds in Orchard Park. There, students tested out the structures, noted features they hadn’t seen before, and brought their ideas back to the district.

“I knew our school needed a new playground, and I felt like I should take responsibility and see what I could do to help,” said sixth grader Kaitlyn Bunn. “I talked to Mr. Watson about it, and then I got invited to join the playground committee. We went on a trip to test out playgrounds in Orchard Park. After that, I helped give suggestions and share ideas about what I liked. I thought it was really smart that we’re going to have two different playground areas, because the larger one is too big for the Pre-K students, and they could get hurt.”

One of the first things to top the list was the type of slide. During Voting Day 2023, KES students cast ballots for either a curly slide or a double slide. Their voices were heard, the votes were counted, and the curly slide won by a landslide.

The Playground Committee members include Amy Bateman, Angela Cole, Sarah Cole, Toni Cook, Sara Dellaquila, Meghan Dill, Andy King, Taylor Kingsbury and Jackie Roberts, as well as student participants Chase Kludt and Kaitlyn Bunn, who shouldered the exhilarating task of product-testing the Orchard Park playgrounds.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Kendall Town Board members on Thursday joined state officials for the ground-breaking of a $17 million sewer project in Kendall and Hamlin. They are shown at Lake View Park on Thompson Drive, where the project will start and then head east to Hamlin covering about 15 miles of sewer pipe. From left include Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak; Mark Mistretta, WNY regional director for NYS Parks; Tim Walsh, DEC Region 8 Director; Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata; and Town Board members Barb Flow, David Bentley and David Gaudioso.

KENDALL – The Town of Kendall celebrated the start of a $17 million sewer project on Thursday, a project that was delayed a few years after initial bids exceeded the budget.

The town was able to secure more funding from the state to allow a 15-mile-loing sewer district to go forward serving 330 residences in the two towns with most of the sewer pipe going in Kendall.

The project starts at Thompson Drive and heads east along the shoreline in Kendall, and then includes part of Hamlin, covering an area just south of the Hamlin Beach State Park.

Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata said the sewer project is a first for the 10 towns in Orleans County. He recalled when the lake waters were so high they chewed away many feet of the shoreline in 2017 and 2019, threatening residents’ property. He thanked the state for increasing its contribution to the project when the initial bids came in far above projections.

Kendall was able to tap more than $12 million in the State’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI), up from the initial award of $9 million. Kendall also was awarded a $1,763,835 state grant through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act.

“This is a blue ribbon project,” Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata said during the ground-breaking celebration on Thursday. “I am very honored. This is one of the largest REDI projects in the state.”

Kendall has created five water districts during Cammarata’s tenure as town supervisor, but he said the sewer district was by far the most challenging to line up the funding and work out all the details.

Tim Walsh, DEC Region 8 Director, said the state has worked with lakeshore communtiies with the permitting process for solutions that make ecological sense, protecting the environment and property.

Two contractors are lined up and ready to start work on the project which serves about 270 residences in Kendall and about 30 in Hamlin.

Blue Heron Construction Co. LLC will be paid $8,326,480 to install low-pressure sewer collection system from Thompson Drive to Troutburg Cottages. The company will install will install grinder pumps, lateral connections and abandon septic tanks at each residence.

Rochester Pipeline Inc. is the low bidder at $5,380,730 to construct three sewer pump stations, and install sewer force main and gravity sewer from Troutburg Cottages to the sewer connection point in Hamlin. The three sewer pump stations will be near Lomond Shores/West Kendall Road, Troutburg Cottages and Hamlin Beach State Park entrance off Moscow Road.

The entire project should be done by late 2026. The transmission lines and pump stations are scheduled to go in this year, with the connections to the houses next year.

The project costs include paying for the connections to the homes and the grinder-pump stations for each residence. The work also includes decommissioning the septic systems and filling in those areas with dirt. Residents will have to pay to have electricians put in the electricity connections.

Powerful waves from Lake Ontario took out chunks of land, including this spot on Ed Shores Road shown on May 7, 2017.

Cammarata recalled when Lake Ontario water levels were high in 2017 and 2019, eroding the shoreline. Residents and National Guard soldiers tried desperately to save property with sandbags and Aqua-Dams. The highway department, firefighters and Ladies Auxiliary all teamed in a valiant effort to help the shoreline residents, Cammarata said.

“Something needed to change to prevent the destruction of our town,” he said.

The National Guard from Rochester helped stack sandbags in Kendall on May 7, 2017.

The new sewer system is designed to allow for sewer expansion in the future, said Jason Ebbs and Jacob Bower, engineers from LaBella Associates.

Cammarata and Town Board members said they will continue to look for ways to expand infrastructure in the town, including additional water districts.

From left include Jacob Bower, project engineer for Labella Asssociates; Jason Ebbs, project manager for LaBella; Eric Maxon, Kendall highway superintendent; Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata; and Town Board members Barb Flow, David Bentley and David Gaudioso.

Group formed in 2012 for Kendall bicentennial, draws members from Orleans and Monroe counties

Photos by Natalie Baron: John Grillo, the Village of Albion recreation director (center), is joined by recreation committee member Bernie Baldwin and Lori Cyr, director of the Kendall Community Band. They welcomed people to Wednesday’s concert at Bullard Park in Albion. The band will be back in Albion on June 13 at the Strawberry Festival, performing from 5 to 7 p.m.

By Natalie Baron, Orleans Hub intern

KENDALL – The Kendall Community Band performed at Bullard Park’s amphitheater on Wednesday, the kick off of Albion’s summer concert series.

The band recruits members from both Orleans and Monroe counties.

Peggy Warren

Peggy Warren, a retired chemistry teacher from Kendall, is one of the band’s flute players.

“We just love it. We go play in nursing homes, we play at the carnivals, just to share our joy of music,” she said.

David Warren, Peggy’s husband, is a retired manufacturing engineer from Kendall who plays trumpet in the band.

“I played in high school. I loved it. It saved my life,” he said. “It kept me on the straight and narrow, so music’s very important to me. I started with the band about twelve, thirteen years ago and I’ve just stuck with it. It’s grown since then.”

David and Peggy’s daughter, Tricia, is another returning member of the band, performing on bass clarinet. She works as a nurse.

The band formed for the Kendall bicentennial in 2012. It has been around ever since.

Lori Cyr, the band’s director (left), is shown with Tricia Warren, a nurse who plays bass clarinet.

Lori Cyr is the band’s director. She is a retired music teacher from Potsdam. She explained that the band gains a couple of new members each year.

“I have been involved in community music my whole life,” Cyr stated. “Starting even when I was in high school, I was involved in the community band in the summertime.”

Cyr performs in three ensembles and directs two, including a community clarinet choir in Rochester that she directs and plays in.

The band’s members give a lot of their time and energy to the band, ensuring it is the best it can be.

“I give this group a lot of credit for what they’re willing to do and the amount of commitment they make to the group,” Cyr explained. “They show up every week for rehearsals. We rehearse every week from September through June with a couple of vacations. I put music in front of them that they don’t like at first because it’s too hard, and yet they work on it and it gets better. It’s a great group of people and I absolutely love doing this.”

David Warren plays a trumpet solo during Wednesday’s concert at the amphitheater at Bullard Park.

Mr. Warren stated that the band is always looking for new members, and the offer is open to anyone who plays an instrument. The band plays for donations only.

The Kendall Community Band will next be playing at the Strawberry Festival on June 13, with future dates at The Manor House in Batavia and The Villages of the Orleans Health and Rehabilitation Center in Albion.

Visit the Kendall Community Band’s Facebook page for further details about the group.

Lori Cyr introduces some of the music during Wednesday’s concert in Albion.

The Kendall Community Band welcomes more members for their performances at community events and at care facilities.

Photos by Tom Rivers: Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata stands at Lake View Park which was established through the REDI program – Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative. This area used to be a turnaround along Lake Ontario. Big chunks of the land were washed out and eroded during high lake levels in 2017 and 2019. The town’s new sewer project with Hamlin will start near this park.

KENDALL – The towns of Kendall and Hamlin on Thursday will celebrate the start of construction on one of the bigger municipal projects in recent memory – a $17 million sewer project that will stretch about 15 miles in the two towns.

Two contractors are lined up and ready to start work on the project which serves about 270 residences in Kendall and about 30 in Hamlin.

Blue Heron Construction Co. LLC will be paid $8,326,480 to install low-pressure sewer collection system from Thompson Drive to Troutburg Cottages. The company will install will install grinder pumps, lateral connections and abandon septic tanks at each residence.

Rochester Pipeline Inc. is the low bidder at $5,380,730 to construct three sewer pump stations, and install sewer force main and gravity sewer from Troutburg Cottages to the sewer connection point in Hamlin. The three sewer pump stations will be near Lomond Shores/West Kendall Road, Troutburg Cottages and Hamlin Beach State Park entrance off Moscow Road.

Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata said the “blue ribbon project” includes many different entities, including the two towns, counties of Orleans and Monroe, Monroe County Pure Water, the state parks system, and many other entities.

A section of Thompson Drive at the western end of Kendall was eaten up by Lake Ontario in the spring 2017. This photo was taken on May 7, 2017.

The cost was significantly higher than the initial $9 million earmarked for the project in 2019. The state offered to pay 95 percent of the cost through the REDI Commission, which was established with $300 million for projects along the south shore of Lake Ontario.

Kendall and Hamlin were able to get about $4 million more from the state towards the project, and access other grants to bring the project to an affordable costs for residents.

“This is a win for everybody,” he said.

Kendall and Hamlin officials will join dignitaries on Thursday for an 11 a.m. ground-breaking at the Lake View Park on Thompson Drive for the sewer project. Kendall used REDI funds to create a small town park at Thompson Drive. This area saw chunks of land eroded from the high lake waters in 2017 and 2019.

Many of the septic systems along the 15-mile project have septic systems vulnerable to high waters that could erode land for septic. The project will disconnect homes from the septic systems and connect them to a wastewater system.

Besides the 15 miles of force main via horizontal directional drilling, the project includes 3,431 feet of gravity sewer via open trenching, and approximately 5 miles of sewer laterals to private residences via open trenching.

This map from LaBella Associates shows the project area in Kendall and Hamlin.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata stands at the chapel at Beechwood Cemetery. The Medina Sandstone Society contributed $1,400 towards new doors for the chapel which has been hit with vandalism in recent years. The town recently put a new roof on the sandstone structure which was built in 1898.

KENDALL – The Medina Sandstone Society has approved a $1,400 grant to assist the Town of Kendall with new doors for a sandstone chapel at Beechwood Cemetery.

The new doors will protect the chapel from vandalism on the inside of the building which was constructed in 1898.

Sandstone Society President Matt Holland said the organization wanted to help the town in preserving and safeguarding the historic building.

Provided photo: Matt Holland, president of the Medina Sandstone Society, recently presented a check for $1,400 from the Medina Sandstone Society to Kendall Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata. The money goes towards new doors on a chapel at Beechwood Cemetery.

Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata said the town appreciates the assistance from the Sandstone Society. Cammarata said the total cost of the new doors will be about $3,500.

“It’s a big help,” he said about the $1,400 grant.

He also is thankful the Medina Sandstone Society is looking to assist with preservation projects outside its immediate target area of Medina.

“This sends a message the Sandstone Society is for all of Orleans County,” Camarrata said.

The Town of Kendall Highway Department recently worked on the roof of the chapel. With the new doors, Cammarata expects the building will be used to store lawn mowers and equipment. It also will keep out vandals.

“It’s a beautiful little chapel,” Cammarata said.

Holland said the Sandstone Society commends the Town of Kendall for working to preserve the chapel. The Sandstone Society is looking to partner with organizations to maintain historic sandstone buildings.

“This is really at the heart of why the Sandstone Society was created in the first place,” Holland said about the organization, which originally formed to save the Medina Armory and find a new use for the site (which later became the YMCA). “I look forward to doing more projects like this.”

The Sandstone Society also approved a $2,500 grant towards a memorial at Boxwood Cemetery in Medina for the 107 people buried in the potter’s field. Of those 107, only 28 have head stones. The Friends of Boxwood Cemetery would like to install a plaque in the cemetery listing all 107 people.

Photos and information courtesy of Country Mouse Nursery School

KENDALL – The sign outside of Morton Baptist Church has welcomed preschoolers from the Kendall-Hamlin community since the fall of 1974. This year marks 50 years of preparing children for kindergarten and their school career.

To celebrate past teachers, Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Unterborn and present teacher, Mrs. Grimm invite former students and their families to reconnect.

On Sunday, June 8, there will be an open house at Morton Baptist Church (1152 County Line Road, Morton NY) from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Come take a walk down Memory Lane. Say Hello to your teachers and former classmates. Bring a favorite photo to add to our collection and share your favorite memories.

2 seek one spot on Board of Education

KENDALL – Eligible voters 18 and older in the Kendall school district will vote on a proposed budget, propositions and also will elect a member to the Board of Education.

Voting is from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Kendall Town Hall, 1873 Kendall Rd.

The district is proposing a $21,424,159 budget, which is up by 2.40 percent or by $502,327 from the $20,921,832 in 2024-25. The district has 708 students.

The proposed tax levy would increase 2.95 percent or by $147,922 from $5,014,303 to $5,162,224. The tax rate of $10.60 per $1,000 of assessed property is amongst the lowest in the region, Kendall school officials said.

State aid covers 67 percent of the budget or $14,427,435.

The budget will be proposition one on the ballot today.

Other propositions include:

Proposition 2 – Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund Usage to allow spending up to $350,000 to purchase purchase of transportation vehicles to replace existing vehicles in the transportation program.

Proposition 3 – Establish a Vehicle Capital Reserve Fund at a sum not to exceed $10 million. It will be used towards future vehicle purchases.

Proposition 4 – Building Capital Reserve Fund Usage to allow an increase to the local funding of the $12.68 million capital improvement project. The sum may not exceed $260,000.

Board of Education – There are two candidates for one five-year term.

Bryan Hardenbrook, a machinist with SPX Flow Rochester, is married with two children.

“I would like to continue to serve Kendall, my lifelong home,” he stated in the school newsletter. “I have the perspective of a parent of a special needs student, a firefighter, a graduate of a CTE program – I would like to continue to use my experiences to help the community I love.”

Scott Martin, an engineer and member of MCC faculty, he has three children in the Kendall school district.

“I am a US Army vet having served in both Iraq and Afghanistan,” he said in the school newsletter. “I am currently an Engineer at SPX Flow and Faculty at MCC teaching Engineering and Technology courses.

“I have three kids at Kendall Elementary and volunteer as a youth baseball, football and basketball coach in Hamlin and Kendall. My goal is to make sure Kendall remains one of the top schools in the county and teaches our children what they need to grow and be successful adults. I will ensure district decisions are transparent and parents are not left in the dark wondering what’s in their child’s curriculum. I believe the best way for my children to be successful after high school is for them to have the best education possible, and I want to do my part to help make that happen.”

Photos courtesy of Kendall Lions Club – (Left) Lions Club President Zina Cappotelli is shown accepting a proclamation from State Assemblyman Steve Hawley. (Right) Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak presented a citation to the Lions Club on behalf of the Legislature.

Article by Helen Unterborn, Kendall Lions Club member

KENDALL – The Kendall Lions on Saturday celebrated 50 years of service to the Kendall Community. Members, their families and guests gathered at the Hamlin VFW for dinner, a program and display honoring our members past and present.

State Assemblyman Steve Hawley and Orleans County Legislator John Fitzak both presented official citations recognizing the service of the Kendall Lions Club. The guest speakers were Korey K. Brown, Monroe County Undersheriff and Holly Dutcher, Executive Director of C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer Association.

Monroe County Undersheriff Korey K. Brown Monroe County Undersheriff shares his family’s journey with childhood cancer, which has twice affected his grandson Joel.

Undersheriff Brown shared his family’s cancer journey with their grandson Joel and how he is giving back to C.U.R.E. in appreciation for their help and to raise awareness of childhood cancer. During September, Childhood Cancer Month, he completes a 5K every day to raise funding and awareness for C.U.R.E.

Dutcher then shared the work of C.U.R.E. And the resources and assistance they provide to families.  This past February the proceeds of the Kendall Lions annual Chicken BBQ were designated for C.U.R.E., and a check for $6,500 was presented to the organization at the dinner on Saturday.

Kendall Lion President President Zina Cappotelli (middle) presents a check for $6,500 to Holly Dutcher, executive director C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer and Monroe County Undersheriff Korey K. Brown, who is an active volunteer for the organization.

The Kendall Lions Club has been very active serving the Kendall community since it was chartered on January 28, 1975, under the leadership of charter president Ray Ernenwein. From early in our existence, the Kendall Lions Club has had an impact on the community in big and little ways.

The Lions Club played a significant role in creating the Kendall Medical Center and bringing Kendall its first doctor. As time went on, the Lions club helped the fire department purchase a new truck and a new ambulance. The club has also made important donations to our school by donating such things as vision testing machines, nebulizers and AEDs.

We were one of the original supporters of Camp Abilities, a week-long camp at Brockport College for visually impaired students. To this day we continue to cook a dinner for the campers annually.

For most of our existence, we invite parents to bring their Pre-K to 3rd grade students to come for a wagon ride to a Pumpkin Patch for a free pumpkin, donut and cup of cider. We also celebrate the accomplishments to each senior class at our Senior Breakfast at a local facility.

A banner marks the Kendall Lions Club’s 50th anniversary.

Each year, on Superbowl Saturday we have a Chicken BBQ with the proceeds going to a local family in serious need, to the school or to a non-profit organization.

In 2018, our community was stunned by the tragic deaths of a single mother and her son to carbon monoxide poisoning.  The Kendall Lions responded by teaming with the Kendall Fire Department providing and installing free smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors to any community member who wanted them.

Most recently, our club raised the funds and provided AEDs to each of the churches in the Kendall Community.

In addition, we also play Bingo with the vets at the VA in Batavia twice a year. We have an emergency fund and a medical loan closet to support community members as needs arise. We sponsor an Environmental Cleanup Day and a Fourth Grade Forester Program on Arbor Day (we give each 4th grader a tree to bring home to plant). We give scholarships to graduating seniors, are the district’s hub for eye glass collections and offer free eye exams and glasses to students in need.

As you can see, for our entire existence, the Kendall Lions Club has proudly and tirelessly lived up to our motto, “We Serve.”

Lions Club members and guests celebrate the milestone anniversary for the service organization.

Press Release, Kendall Central School

Photo courtesy of Kendall Central School: Superintendent Nick Picardo, left, and Karen Jones, right, congratulate Cindy Tinkous on being “employee of the year” among Kendall bus drivers.

KENDALL – Cindy Tinkous, a Kendall school bus driver, received the Rochester Area Transportation Supervisors Association 2025 Professional Pupil Transportation Employee of the Year recognition.

The Rochester Area Transportation Supervisors Association (RATSA) annually awards exceptional employees from area school districts to receive the Professional Pupil Transportation Employee of the Year award.

Nominees are chosen based on merits such as having good attendance, being accident-free, having a friendly disposition, and readily accepting and exceeding responsibilities. They are also expected to relate well with fellow workers, parents and children.

Tinkous was recognized at a ceremony that took place on Thursday alongside transportation honorees from a number of area school districts.

“Cindy has been employed at Kendall for over 20 years and is an invaluable asset to the pupil transportation department as a long-time driver,” said Director of Transportation Karen Jones. “She has been a mentor to all drivers and loves all of her students on the bus. Cindy is the matriarch of the Kendall Bus Garage family and will be retiring in July. She will be greatly missed by all.”

Program has low enrollment in Kendall, putting funding at risk

KENDALL – Community Action of Orleans and Genesee announced it will be closing a Head Start site in Kendall. There are currently 11 children in the program this school year, with six eligible to return next year.

That low enrollment puts the agency at risk of losing funding, said Renee Hungerford, Community Action executive director.

The Community Action board of directors followed a recommendation to close the Kendall program and that was approved on Wednesday by the Head Start Policy Council, which is predominantly Head Start parents. The decision follows “extend analysis,” she said.

“We are going to do all that we can to accommodate those families,” Hungerford said about the six eligible for the program next year.

Community Action has partnered with the Kendall district for the past 20 years to provide a Head Start preschool classroom.

 “Unfortunately, the extremely difficult decision has been made to close this classroom at the end of this school year,” Hungerford said.

Head Start is a federally funded program which provides comprehensive, early childhood services to income eligible children and families living in poverty in both Orleans and Genesee counties since 1965, she said.

“The program has been identified as under enrolled and may be at risk of reduced funding despite ongoing recruitment efforts across the program, including in Kendall,” Hungerford said. “In hopes of preserving full funding, the program has and will be utilizing program data to make strategic operational changes.”

The children, families and staff displaced by the closing of the Kendall location will be offered opportunities at the other sites, the closest being in Albion.

All other Head Start sites will remain open but Hungerford said there may be some changes in format, such as the potential expansion to infant care and offering more full day classes.

Some parents have started an online petition (click here), hoping to keep the Head Start program in Kendall.

“I am asking for the community to come together and fight to keep this program at Kendall since this has made an overwhelmingly positive impact on the families and the community,” said Clancy Gaddy, co-chair of the policy council. “I hope we as a strong community can come together and support this program!”

Another parent, Chelsea Winkler, said Head Start has made a big impact on her children, providing services and friendships.

“I can’t imagine our lives without these relationships or the opportunity to have been part of this program,” Winkler said. “I am so devastated for the teachers and staff, along with the kids who desperately need this program and the support it provides.”

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Mike Hallowell starred as Willy Wonka in Kendall’s production of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory on Friday and Saturday.

He is shown singing the “Golden Age of Chocolate” with the Oompa-Loompas, which work in his chocolate factory. Wonka announces that he is retiring and he must choose a new successor.

Kayla Minster is in the role of Charlie Bucket and she comforts her father, Ryan Gaesser after he was laid off from his job at the toothpaste factor. Charlie sings “Think Positive” and encourages her dad to not give up.

Charlie lives in an impoverished with four bedridden grandparents. From left include Grandpa George (Sammy Conte), Grandma Georgina (Kierra Davenport), Grandma Josephine (Brooke Rodas) and Grandpa Joe (Karter May).

Grandpa Joe predicts Charlie will one day be working in the Wonka factory.

These kids hold lollipops while performing “The Candy Man.”

The Candy Man (Mike Hallowell) greets the children and sells them Wonka bars. Charlie is the only kid too poor to afford a candy bar. She helps The Candy Man and is given a lollipop and a newspaper. Charlie takes the newspaper home and finds out Wonka has a contest with five golden tickets hidden in candy bars. The winners get a tour of his factory and lifetime supply of chocolate.

Augustus Gloop (Noah Morehouse), an over-sized German boy who loves to eat, gets the first golden ticket. He sings, “I Eat More!” and tries to sample the desserts.

Phineous Trout (Emma O’Neill), a reporter, interviews the very spoiled Veruca Salt (Adrianna Schiavone) who has the second golden ticket. Her father Mr. Salt (Lucas Wachtel), owner of a very successful nut company, made his factory workers open hundreds of thousands of candy bars in search of the ticket.

Violet Beauregarde (Elli Baker) gets the third golden ticket. She is abrasive and loves to chew gum. She is joined in the interview by her mother, right, played by Irelynn Maloney.

Maddie Teavee, played by Madison Hults, finds the fourth golden ticket. Teavee loves video games and cell phones. Riley Passer plays her mother, Ms. Teavee.

Grandpa Joe (Karter May) is delighted when Charlie wins the fifth and final golden ticket. Charlie invites Grandpa Joe to join her on the trip to the chocolate factory and grandpa is so happy he gets out of bed for the first time in years, singing “(I’ve) Got a Golden Ticket.”

In the factory tour, the group gets whittled down after failing temptations until the final person is left. That is the one Wonka wants to take over his factory.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – The elementary chorus performs on Saturday at the Kendall school auditorium as part of the All-County Festival.

The event is organized by the Orleans County Music Educators’ Association.

There are 88 students in the elementary chorus from Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina school districts.

The All-County also included 78 students in the junior high band and 66 in the high school chorus, making 232 students in the All-county Groups.

There will be another All-County Festival on March 8 in Lyndonville featuring the top students for the elementary band, junior high chorus and high school band.

At the beginning of the concert on Saturday in Kendall, a moment of silence was observed for Josh Peters, a 16-year-old Kendall student who was killed in a car accident on Wednesday.

The elementary students were led by guest conductor, Annelle VanNortwick, a general music and chorus teacher at Clinton Elementary School in West Seneca.

The students performed four songs: “A Joyful Song,” “Mary Had A Little Blues,” “Why We Sing” and “Feel Good.”

The junior high band played “Wild Blue,” “When Summer’s In The Meadow,” “Tripwire” and “Byzantine Dances.”

The students started rehearsing together for the first time Friday and the next day had their concert.

Matthew Tichy served as guest conductor of the Jr. High All-County Band. He is the band director at Mill Middle School in Williamsville. He also performs with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Syracuse Orchestra. He is a member of the Blue Stars and Bluecoats of the Drum Corps International.

Ryder Jones of Medina sings a solo during “City Called Heaven.”

Elliott Michki of Albion conducts the high school chorus in “The Dreamer.”

Four vocal and chorus teachers in Orleans County led the high school chorus, with the teachers each serving as guest conductor for a song. Michki, Albion High School chorial director,  led the group in “The Dreamer” while Kelly Marzano of Holley Jr./Sr. High, led them in City Called Heaven.”

Rachel Trillizio of Medina led the students in “Set Me As A Seal” while Jennifer Neroni-Trupo of Lyndonville conducted “Take On Me.”

Kendall takes the title this year of tournament that started in 1954

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Kendall and Hamlin capped a three-week euchre tournament on Wednesday when 74 card players gathered at the Kendall fire hall.

This group in front includes Bill Hardenbrook, right, and his son Brian Hardenbrook, second from left, who were on the Kendall team. They are playing Ken Jurs, left, of Hamlin and John Hurd, second from left.

The tournament started in 1954 when a group of farmers from Kendall and Hamlin stopped to play cards after attending a farm show in Rochester.

They had so much fun playing cards and drinking beer that the euchre tournament became an annual event. It remains popular and has expanded from a one-evening tournament to being spread over three Wednesday in the dead of winter.

“It’s just the camaraderie,” said Ken Jurs of Hamlin, who estimates he has been playing in the tournament for 35 years.

Jurs said many of the Kendall and Hamlin residents know each other quite well. His grandfather, Walter Jurs, was Kendall’s highway superintendent.

The tournament still includes many farmers but it has opened up to the entire community. The action alternated from Kendall to Hamlin and then back to Kendall again for the conclusion last night. The players pay $10 each night and at includes beer or soda. The first two nights it also includes a boiled Zweigle’s hot dog.

John Becker, left, is the chairman for the tournament for Kendall while Dave Leverenz serves as Hamlin’s chairman. Becker welcomes the players to Kendall and asks how many want to order a fish fry at The Grove 1848. The losing team had to pay the $10 charge for the fish fry for the winners.

Kendall emerged as the victor of the tournament after the results were tallied over the three weeks. Kendall defeated Hamlin by 158 points – 4437 to 4279.

 All three nights of card playing brought out at least 70 people, which was up from the 50s and 60s last year.

There were 72 card players on Jan. 22, followed by 76 on Jan. 29 and 74 on Feb. 5.

John Becker thinks the tournament peaked with more than 80 players in the 1970s. He is pleased to see the tournament remains popular, and to see some younger people getting involved.

Becker has been part of the tournament since 1977, a year after he moved to Kendall and joined the fire department.

“Back in those days everybody played cards,” Becker said.

The tournament was sidelined one year, back in 2021 due to Covid restrictions. Otherwise the players keep coming back, year after year.

Becker doesn’t know of any other euchre tournament that has endured for so long that is a town versus town.

“It’s a fun evening,” he said. “They come here and we go there. It’s nice to see the two towns have a relationship and a friendship.”

HAMLIN – A Kendall High School student was killed this afternoon in a car accident on Roosevelt Highway.

Josh Peters, 16, was killed in a one-vehicle crash where he was eastbound, left the road and struck a utility pole, downing power lines on Route 18 near Drake Road, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office.

Nick Picardo, the Kendall school district superintendent, shared with “deep sadness” that Peters died in a car accident.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and to all those who knew and loved him,” Picardo said in a message on the district website.

“Please know that we are here to help our staff and families through this grief,” Picardo said. “Our Crisis Response Team has been activated to provide support. Counselors will be available all day Thursday for students and staff members.”

For those who need additional support, Picardo said the district will have counselors on hand at the junior/senior high school on Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.

“Thank you for your support and understanding in this difficult time,” Picardo said. “We once again will pull together as one family, one school, and one community.”