By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 21 March 2020 at 9:30 am
Photos courtesy of Kim Corcoran
KENDALL – The electricity was fully restored in Kendall at about 1:40 a.m. in Kendall after several utility poles snapped on Kendall Road at 1 p.m. on Friday due to powerful winds.
National Grid had new poles in place and the power back on for all of its customers about 12 hours later, although many customers came back on line much sooner.
About 1,500 National Grid customers initially lost power.
Kim Corcoran took these photos. The poles came down near the Kendall Elementary School.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 20 March 2020 at 3:40 pm
Provided photos
KENDALL – The powerful wind gusts snapped a series of utility poles on Kendall Road this afternoon at about 1 p.m., knocking out electricity for about 1,500 National Grid customers. This is near the Kendall Elementary School.
The power company said 1,490 customers were without electricity after the poles were snapped. The outage was down to 983 at 3:30 p.m.
National Grid is estimating a full restoration at 4:30 p.m.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 March 2020 at 8:56 am
Photo by Tom Rivers: Kendall teachers Tonya Lustumbo (left), a fourth grade teacher, and Amy Conine, a high school math teacher, helped distribute meals on Tuesday at Kendall Junior-Senior High School. The school district served 200 meals on Tuesday.
KENDALL – Three school district provided meals for 800 students on Tuesday. That number will grow today when Holley and Albion start meal programs for students who are home due to schools across the state being shutdown for at least the next two weeks.
Medina on Tuesday provided 490 breakfasts and 490 lunches. Lyndonville served 100 breakfasts and lunches, while Kendall provided 200 “grab and go” meals.
The two Kendall teachers worked together to distribute the meals to families who pulled up in vehicles. Kendall delivered 70 meals to residences while the rest were picked up by parents.
Kendall delivered 70 of the meals, while the other 130 were picked up at the school. The meals are available for any child under the age of 18 who resides in the school district.
“We are taking it day by day in the number needed,” said Julie Christensen, Kendall Central School superintendent. “Families who did not pick up a meal today may do so at a later time. I want to thank our outstanding staff who assisted with preparing the bags, distribution of the bags and managing the planning. We had volunteers from our food service staff, bus drivers, teachers, aides, nurse, clerical, custodial and administrative staff on site assisting with smiles and true compassion for our families.”
In Kendall, families can contact Cindy Wolck at cwolck@kendallschools.org with questions about delivery.
ALBION – Students in the school district (or a parent of an ACS student presenting ID) may pick up meals beginning today. Parents need to fill out a short form available by clicking here so the district can have the right number of meals ready for each location.
Meals will be available Monday through Friday beginning Wednesday at the following locations:.
• Barre Center Presbyterian Church (11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
• Carlton Recreation Hall (11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
HOLLEY – Beginning today Holley is providing free “grab and go” meals (breakfast and lunch) to all children ages 18 and under. This food distribution plan will continue for the duration that schools are closed.
Breakfast and lunch meals will both be available at the same time for pick-up from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. our five distribution locations. (Click here to fill out a survey to help the school district prepare meals for each site.)
For questions or concerns about getting access to food, please contact the elementary or junior-senior high school, or the food service office (638-6318 Ext. 2566).
The food distribution sites include:
• Holley Elementary School (back bus loop)
• Clarendon Town Hall (parking lot)
• Thomas Estates (bus stop loop)
• County Line Trailer Park (Gulf Road & County Line Road)
• Fancher-Hulberton-Murray Fire Hall (parking lot)
Look for the Holley school bus at each pick-up site. Staff will be there to assist.
LYNDONVILLE – The district on Tuesday started offering grab-and-go breakfasts and lunches available for all Lyndonville students at no cost. Families may pick up meals via the drop-off loop off Housel Avenue on the campus from 8 a.m. to noon this week. Beginning next week, meal service hours will be from 9 to 11 a.m. If families have transportation needs or questions, call 765-3101 or email Llamay@lcsdk12.org.
MEDINA – The school district has breakfast and lunch available to students between 11 a.m. and noon each day at the following locations:
• Pine Street Park: corner of Pine Street and Park Avenue
• MAAC Thrift Depot: corner of Starr Street and Orient Street
• Orleans County YMCA Parking Lot: 306 Pearl Street
• Former Towne School Parking Lot: 181 Bates Road
• Shelby Fire Department Parking Lot: 4695 S. Gravel Road
• Knowlesville Volunteer Fire Company Parking Lot: Knowlesville Road
• Oak Orchard Elementary Bus Loop
Students must be present, when possible, to receive their meals, Marc Graff, assistant superintendent, said in a letter to the community.
“We will monitor the distribution process and make any necessary adjustments as needed,” Graff said. “We wish to thank all of our students, families and staff for their understanding and patience as we work through these unprecedented times.”
For more information, click here to be directed to the district’s website.
Provided photo: Kendall staff are pictured in the school cafeteria with meals that were prepared for students on Tuesday.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 17 March 2020 at 8:48 am
KENDALL – The school district is closed until further notice but beginning today will continue to provide meals to students age 18 and younger who reside in the district.
Bagged breakfasts and lunches will be available to all students between 10 a.m. and noon each weekday at the Junior/Senior High School Cafeteria.
Parents are asked to remain in their vehicles and drive around to the back of the school (closest to the varsity soccer field) where a school representative will deliver the meals directly to the vehicle, Julie Christensen, the district superintendent, advised the community in a letter on Monday.
If a parent or guardian is unable to pick up the breakfast/lunch, contact Cindy Wolck at 659-8317 to have meals regularly delivered to a residence.
Kendall will have a school representative be responsible for recording the family name and the number of meals issued to each family. Christensen said parents need to be prepared to share their child’s name at the time of pickup.
“On behalf of the staff at KCSD, we are thankful for the support of our families and students during this challenging time,” Christensen wrote in her letter. “The district will monitor the distribution process throughout the week and make any necessary adjustments as needed.”
KENDALL – Due to the rapidly escalation of the COVID-19, coronarvirus, the Kendall Town Hall and highway department offices will be closed to the public.
The Kendall town clerk will be available by appointment only. Please phone (585) 659-8721 or email: clerk@townofkendall.com.
Town meetings will temporarily be closed to the public as permitted by Governor Cuomo’s executive order 202, which modifies the rules of open meetings.
Please deposit any necessary documents in the drop box, located by the front door. Include your name and phone number so we can contact you if necessary.
We regret this decision. In the best interest of our community it has become necessary to help prevent the spread of the virus. This is a routine precautionary measure and not a cause for panic.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 14 March 2020 at 3:10 pm
All 22 school districts in Monroe County will be closed
Photo by Tom Rivers: Kendall Central School will be closed beginning on Monday.
Kendall Central School will be closed beginning Monday until further notice.
The closing also means no sports practices or extracurricular events. Kendall announced the news in automated phone calls to the community at 3 p.m.
The district said it will provide updates on its website and through social media.
All 22 public school districts in Monroe County also will be closed until further notice, Monroe County Executive Adam Bello said this afternoon.
He made the announcement following the second confirmed case of coronavirus in Monroe, this time involving an employee at the Greece arcadia Middle School.
Here is the statement issued by Bello this afternoon:
“After consultation with Public Health Commissioner Dr. Mike Mendoza and the Superintendents of all 22 Monroe County School Districts, all Monroe County public schools will be closed to students beginning Monday, March 16, until further notice.
“Staff may be asked to report depending on the individual district needs.
“This closing includes all school-related activities, including sports and other extracurricular activities.
“Each individual school district will share more specific information regarding their plans for food, social supports, remote instruction, and other operational procedures with their individual communities.
“The Monroe County Health Department and school leaders will be reviewing this on a week-to-week basis — and providing an update by midday Friday.
“The City of Rochester will be announcing its efforts regarding food distribution and support for children and families tomorrow morning at a 10 a.m. press conference at the Emergency Operations Center.”
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 8 March 2020 at 10:24 am
Photos by Tom Rivers
KENDALL – Benjamin Davis served as the guest conductor of the elementary band during Saturday’s All-County Music Festival at Kendall. The band included 73 students from Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina school districts.
Davis is the band director at the East Aurora Union Free School District. He also is a composer and arranger of band music.
Elementary students perform at the All-County Music Festival. The band performed four selections, including “Quintus” by Larry Clark, “Maesong” by William Owens, “Drive” by Mark Williams and “Sing, Sing, Sing” arranged by Michael Story.
Jillian LeBaron of Albion plays the trombone for the elementary band. Each of the five school districts sent some of their top musicians for the festival.
Saturday’s event included 73 students for the elementary band, 93 in the junior high chorus and 75 students in the high school band. There was also an All-County Music Festival last month that featured the elementary chorus, junior high band and high school chorus.
The festivals are organized by the Orleans County Music Educators Association.
Jacqueline McLean served as guest conductor for the junior high chorus. She has taught the past 11 years at Le Roy, leading the junior and senior high choir programs.
The junior high chorus performed five songs – “Cantar! (Sing!),” “I Dream a World,” “Festival Sanctus,” “Mairi’s Wedding” and “You Will Be Found.”
Elaina Huntington of Medina sings a solo during the festival with the junior high chorus. Elizabeth Whipple of Lyndonville and Ryder Jones of Medina also were soloists.
Staff Sergeant Joshua Meyer directs the senior high band. Meyer is a trumpet player with the 198thArmy Band. He has been a member of that band for eight years and toured with them in Alaska, Texas, Arizona, Georgia, South Carolina and Hawaii.
The senior high band performed “America, The Beautiful,” “John Williams: The Symphonic Marches,” “Children’s March” and “March: Grandioso.”
Dan Grabowski of Albion plays the trumpet in the senior high band.
Staff Sergeant Joshua Meyer addresses the crowd. He thanked the parents and school districts for supporting the students and music in the schools.
ALBION – Girl Scouts from Troops 82257 and 82127 in Kendall spent Saturday afternoon at the Martin-Linsin Residence for Hospice of Orleans County. The Scouts teamed with residents to decorate chocolate dipped cookies and paint clay pots to plant succulents in.
Bottom row, from left, include: Ava Newbould, Peyton Shuler, Jemma Nash and Mallory Holt. Back row: Abby Robb, Julianna Newbould, Abrielle Shuler, Kendall Newbould and Riannon Newbould.
These Scouts get prepared to paint the clay pots. They include, from left: Peyton Shuler, Jemma Nash, Mallory Holt, Julianna Newbould and Abby Robb.
Julianna Newbould and Peyton Shuler help a resident transplant a succulent plant.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 19 February 2020 at 2:48 pm
Provided photos
KENDALL – The four Boy Scouts from Kendall who led the effort to build a war memorial in the community on Monday thanked a bricklayers union for its help with the project.
Jason ReQua of Kendall is secretary-treasurer with the union, BAC #3, in Rochester. He helped build the 39-foot-long brick wall. Other union members who helped and provided guidance with the project include organizer Robert Sotir, JATC Coordinator Arthur Miller and previous Local 3 President Anthony DiPerna.
Pictured include front row, from left: Brian Shaw, Jayden Pieniaszek, Secretary/Treasurer Jason ReQua, Noah Rath and Ryan Barrett. Back row: JATC Coordinator Art Miller, President-Rick Williamson, organizer Robert Sotir and Kendall Troop 94 Scoutmaster Ken Spohr.
The wall features granite plaques highlighting the American Revolution, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, the Persian Gulf War, and the War on Terror. Alternating the granite plaques are concrete medallions representing five branches of the military. In addition, there are three flagpoles that stand tall behind the brick wall. The memorial is respectfully lit from dusk to dawn.
The Eagle Scouts presented BAC Local #3 with a granite plaque as a thank you for contributing to the community service project.
Founded in 1865, the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers represents craftworkers in the trowel trades across the United States and Canada including bricklayers, stone and marble masons, cement masons, plasterers, tilesetters, terrazzo and mosaic workers, and pointers/cleaners/caulkers.
KENDALL – Kendall High School senior Katherine Pearson was selected as the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen of the Orleans Chapter. She demonstrated the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. She is pictured at left with Principal Carol D’Agostino.
The award includes a $200 scholarship. Pearson was required to write an essay about participating in Empire Girls State program. The focus of the scholarship is patriotism and being proud to be an American.
Pearson is an active student. She is a three-sport varsity athlete (soccer, basketball and softball). She also is an officer in the Principal’s Club, vice president of AFS, performs in the musical, and she sings in the school’s elite choral group, Vocal Effect.
Press Release and photos from Kendall Central School
KENDALL – Kendall fourth grade teacher Justin Staebell recently received a Golden Apple Award. He was surprised by WROC-TV (Channel 8) News Anchor Lia Lando on Jan. 9 with his award.
Justin Staebell is pictured with Anthony Seymour, who nominated his teacher for the award.
The Golden Apple Award recognizes teachers making a difference in their communities. The segment airs weekly on WROC-TV and Staebell’s episode aired on Jan. 21. Click here to see it.
Staebell was nominated for the award by student Anthony Seymour. Anthony, with the help of his mother, nominated Staebell for helping him make the transition to a new school and classroom easier.
“Anthony’s ability to talk to everyone in class helped him fit in this year,” said Staebell. “He came in with a smile every day and ready to learn, so he made his own transition easy.”
Staebell was very surprised to receive the award. He said the last time a teacher at Kendall Elementary School received this award was close to 20 years ago, but he thought that would be a nice goal to achieve for himself someday. He comes from a family of educators and has five children of his own.
“This award is just as much about the kids the teacher has as the teacher himself,” he said.
He told his class the story of a student that he tutored every day one summer.
“She hated it and would cry every day,” he said. “She really struggled that year.”
He recently ran into her parent, who told him how she was getting ready to graduate college this year and become a nurse.
“Her father told me, ‘You made her feel like she could do it, and she has,’” he said. “That story makes me feel great to know that I had an impact on her. I am so proud of her.”
Staebell is often asked by graduating seniors to attend their commencement ceremonies, which demonstrates the impact he has on students who have long left his fourth grade class.
At the January Student of the Month assembly, Principal Heather Eysaman presented Staebell with an actual golden apple.
“I’m just one of the apples on a golden tree here at Kendall Elementary,” he told the audience.
WROC-TV (Channel 8) News Anchor Lia Lando visited Mr. Staebell’s fourth grade classroom.
Photos courtesy of Helen Unterborn: Kendall Lions Club members Cary Wright, Doug Urquhart and Kyle Sayler cook the chicken halves on Saturday during the Lions Club’s annual Chicken BBQ.
Press Release, Kendall Lions Club
KENDALL – It was a bustle of activity and high energy at the Kendall United Methodist Church on Saturday as the Kendall Lions Club demonstrated the club’s motto, “We Serve.” The Lions held their annual Winter Chicken BBQ to aid a community member in need.
This year’s recipient is Phil Haight, who suffered a severe head injury from a fall in October. Phil is very active in the community serving in the Kendall Fire Department and several years as a Lion. This year Phil’s contributions to our annual auction to benefit the food cupboard netted over $500.
Lions Club member Phil D’Agostino gives Leos Club members from Kendall Central School some instruction on how to serve at the drive-through.
The Chicken BBQ is led by Lion Phil D’Agostino along with the active support of the Lions, Leos and community members who sell advance tickets and prepare the meal. Thursday, Lions met at the school to prep the cabbage for the salad and beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday the Lions were out in full force at the BBQ pit cooking over 1,100 chicken halves.
Inside the church hall Lions and Leos worked to package the dinners and distribute almost 1,100 dinners in two hours. Community members were able to drive through and receive the meals, often adding an extra donation to the cause. Any remaining dinners were donated to several families in the community.
The Kendall Lions is truly appreciative of the community for their outstanding support and the service provided by our Lion and Leo members as we again offered support to a community member in need.
Lions Club members Bob Furness, Dan Peckham and Randy Unterborn along with Greg Speer prepare the dinners.
Julie Bunn and Barb Bartkowiak, both Lions Club members, bag over 1,000 dinner rolls.
Community member Blaine Young and Lions Bob Gaylord and Rob Fagan turn the chickens.
Lions Candy Minigiello, Craig Herman and Randy Unterborn prep the cabbage. Craig also has been in charge of cooking the salt potatoes for most BBQs.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 January 2020 at 8:45 am
File photo by Tom Rivers: The western end of the Lake Ontario State Parkway runs along 12.7 miles in Orleans County.
KENDALL – The Lake Ontario State Parkway Steering Committee will meet today in Kendall to discuss the future of the recreational route.
The 7 p.m. meeting at the Kendall Town Hall will include a review of alternatives for the Parkway. The public is welcome to attend the session.
The Genesee Transportation Council in Rochester and Orleans County have been studying the future of the Parkway, looking at possible alternatives for the westernmost 12.7 miles of the Parkway that runs along the lake through Kendall and part of Carlton. Altogether, the DOT spent about $14 million on the paving projects.
At today’s meeting, some of the alternatives will be presented as well as estimated costs of implementation. The committee will evaluate some of the future concepts for the Parkway.
Today is the committee’s first meeting in about two years. Since the last meeting, the state Department of Transportation has repaved stretches of the Parkway near Kendall and Hamlin.
The committee has mulled some ideas for the Parkway, including closing the northern side, currently the western lanes, and have the Parkway be a regular two-lane state road on the south side.
That would free up the northern side for possible housing development. Except, in many places, there wouldn’t be enough room north of the road to accommodate new development because the Parkway is too close to the lake.
The Transportation Council also is considering closing off either the north or south sides to traffic and designating one side for cyclists and snowmobiles. But County Legislator Ken DeRoller has said snow doesn’t seem to “stick” too well on the Parkway surface.
And the state would need to modify the interchanges if traffic was allowed on only one side. The cost of redoing the interchanges might negate any maintenance savings from closing off one side to traffic, DeRoller said.
The committee looking at the Parkway also is considering a reduced speed of 40 miles per hour for the Parkway, or perhaps an elevated speed limit to make the road faster for motorists.
DeRoller has said he favors more maintenance and paving in the current Parkway setup. He thinks the roadway should be better marketed as a connector to popular state parks at Lakeside Beach in Carlton and Hamlin Beach. Those two state parks together draw 443,000 visitors annually, DeRoller said. They each have about 250 camp sites.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 22 December 2019 at 5:05 pm
Provided photos
KENDALL – The Town of Kendall had a party on Thursday for Warren Kruger in recognition for his 30 years with the town’s highway department.
Kruger is the second from right. He is pictured with Kendall Town Board members, from left: Margaret Lynn Szozda, Bruce Newell, Barb Flow and Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata.
Previous town supervisors also attended the celebration for Kruger.
The town supervisors shown with Kruger include, from left: Jack Gillman, John Becker and Tony Cammarata.
Some of the current and previous town highway employees as well as Kruger’s family joined the party.
A cake with an image of a plow truck was served at the party.
By Tom Rivers, Editor Posted 18 December 2019 at 8:38 am
Provided photo
ALBION – Boy Scouts in Kendall Troop 94 made 30 large goodie bags for Orleans County veterans, and delivered them on Tuesday to the Veterans Service Agency to be distributed to local veterans. The Scouts and their adult leaders are pictured with Nancy Traxler, director of the Orleans County Veterans Services Agency.
This is the second straight year the scouts passed up exchanging Christmas gifts and instead used the money they would have spent on gifts to make these goodie bags. Scouts and their families each donated an item to include in the goodie bag as well as homemade cookies.
There were about two dozen Christmas cookies in each bag along with water bottles, gloves, socks, hand warmers, hand cream, soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste, along with a handmade ornament depicting the Kendall War Memorial.
Each goodie bag also had a thank you note and a Christmas card signed by each scout.
