Provided photo: Dave Hofer was a long-time leader for Kendall’s Boy Scout Troop 94. He also helped with many projects at Scout camps.

KENDALL – A Kendall man was honored posthumously on Saturday with a Silver Beaver award by the Western New York Scout Council.

Dave Hofer volunteered for many years with Kendall’s Troop 94 and also did many improvements projects at Camp Dittmer in Phelps and Camp Sam Wood in Portageville.

Hofer passed away from pancreatic cancer on Jan.10, 2024 at age 61.

His 30 years of service to scouting was recognized during the Scout Council’s annual volunteer award dinner on Saturday.

Scouting representatives were able to present the Silver Beaver award to Hofer in person on Dec. 9 at Strong Memorial Hospital. He also received the District Award of Merit.

The Silver Beaver Award is a top award from a council given to a scouter who has made an impact on the lives of youth through service given to the council.

Hofer relished service to scouts, including leading Troop 94 as Scoutmaster. He completed all Scout leader training including Cold Weather and Okpik Training. He was recognized with the Order of the Arrow Vigil Honor in 2020 and earned his Wood Badge Beads in 2021, the council announced today on its Facebook page.

Hofer was the owner of DMD Machining Technology Inc. in Kendall. He also worked for Eastman Kodak for 23 years.

Despite being busy in his career, Hofer made time available to help teach and lead scouts. He has served as director of the Webelos Conservation Camp and a member of the Council Camping Committee, in addition to an active role with Troop 94.

He attended the Philmont Scout Ranch with his son Matt. Philmont, in the Rocky Mountains, is a high-adventure base of rugged mountain wilderness in northeastern New Mexico.

Hofer lived the Scout Law of being trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.

KENDALL – The Kendall school district is presenting a proposed $20,921,832 budget to the community on May 21 that calls for a 1 percent increase in the tax levy.

The school budget represents a 2.5 percent spending increase, which district superintendent Nick Picardo said reflects increases in special education enrollment, benefit expenses, and year-over-year merit raises.

There will be a hearing about the budget at 6:30 p.m. today in the junior-senior high school library. The budget vote on May 21 will be from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the Kendall Town Hall. Residents 18 and older who have lived in the district for at least 30 days are eligible to vote.

State aid, budgeted at $14,563,029, covers about 70 percent of the budget. The tax levy, at $5,014,303, is the second-biggest source of revenue. The levy is up 1 percent from the $4,964,656 in 2023-24.

Kendall also receives $150,000 in sales tax from Monroe County, and $60,000 in PILOT payments from the Troutburg cottages.

The district’s proposed tax rate is $11.88 per $1,000 of assessed property.

Besides the budget, voters will be asked whether to authorize up to $350,000 from the Transportation Bus Reserve to purchase transportation vehicles to replace existing vehicles.

Two candidates also are running for one five-year on the Board of Education. Chaley Swift isn’t seeking re-election to her seat on the board.

The candidates include Colleen Dorney and Scott Martin. Dorney works as a senior client service manager at Epic Retirement Plan Services. She has two children. Martin is an engineer as a member of the Monroe Community College faculty. He has three children in the elementary school.

Provided photos

KENDALL – Volunteers from the Kendall Lions Club and Kendall Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts picked up litter from Kendall roadsides on Saturday.

The annual event is organized by the Kendall Lions Club. The volunteers were able to pick up litter and debris from about half of the roads in Kendall.

“There were twice as many people last year so we got more roads done,” said Eric Maxon, Kendall Lions Club president and Kendall highway superintendent.

The Kendall Lions have been doing the environmental cleanup day for many years.

The group was served hot dogs and soda as a token of appreciation.

Performance dedicated to teacher who passed away on March 8

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Adrianna Schiavone plays the role of Belle in Kendall’s production of Beauty and the Beast, which had shows on Friday and Saturday evening. Belle is an intelligent and vibrant girl who loves libraries and is eager to experience life.

The performances were pushed back a week following the unexpected death of elementary special education teacher Courtney Fannon on March 8.

The Kendall cast was in costume and makeup when the performance was cancelled on March 8 at 5:15 p.m., less than two hours before the show was scheduled to start.

The Kendall cast, crew and teachers in the production dedicated the performances on Friday and Saturday to Fannon, who was 29 and eight months pregnant. Her unborn daughter, who was to be named Hadley Jaye, also didn’t survive. Kendall observed a moment of silence for Fannon and her daughter before the performances this weekend.

Lucas Jones plays the Beast, a prince who is transformed into a terrifying beast for his lack of compassion. He is turned into a beast after turning away an older woman who was begging.

The Beast is hot-tempered and commanding, but does have a loving heart under his gruff exterior.

The only way for the Beast to become human again is if he learns to love and be loved in return.

Jimmie Swift stars as Gaston, an ultra-masculine villain who is determined to marry Belle. He carries his bumbling sidekick LeFou, who is played Mike Hallowell.

Karter May is Lumiere, an enchanted candelabra and a loyal and steadfast servant for the Beast.

In back are Riley Passer as Cogsworth (left), an enchanted mantle clock, an Madison Hults as Chip, an enchanted teacup.

The servants in the Beast’s castle are very hopeful as Belle and the Beast begin to befriend one another. If the spell is broken, the characters under spell will become human again.

Seth Pray plays Maurice, Belle’s father and an eccentric inventor. He gets lost in the woods and is taken prisoner in the Beast’s castle.

Aubrey Hamm is Madame De LA Grande Bouche, a wardrobe that was an opera singer. She brings a larger-than-life personality to the story.

Provided photo

ALBANY – Hannah Brundage of Kendall finished fourth in the state in the American Legion Oratorical Contest. The competition was March 2 at the Crown Plaza in Albany.

Brundage advanced to the state contest after winning the zone competition in Mount Morris. She also won the Orleans County and the 8th District Level contests.

She advanced to the state competition after giving an 8-10 minute speech on the Constitution and then a 3-5 minute additional speech on a chosen piece of the Constitution decided that day.

Brundage entitled her main speech, “Understanding the Government.” She began by asking how many in the audience ever leave home, wondering if they will ever see their loved ones again, not knowing if they would make it back alive?

Her father, Daniel Brundage, experienced that as an Army veteran with the 10th Mountain Division. He served a tour in Afghanistan and two tours in Iraq. As a firefinder radar technician, his job was to locate incoming artillery and their trajectories and determine the enemy’s position.

“Putting his life on the line, he was able to save countless other soldiers from a gruesome death,” Hannah Brundage said. “Just like him, thousands of men and women in the military are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect us. Many do not return.”

Brundage urges citizens to educate themselves on the Constitution and the role of government.

“As James Madison said, ‘Knowledge will forever govern ignorance, and a people who mean to be their own governors must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives,’” she said.

Courtney Fannon

KENDALL – The school district is mourning the loss of a special education teacher.

Courtney Fannon, 29, passed away on Friday with her infant daughter, Hadley Jaye.

“Courtney was a special education teacher who served her students with passion and joy each day,” District Superintendent Nick Picardo said in a message to the community. “When she wasn’t in her classroom sharing her love and gift for teaching with her students, she could be found walking our halls with a smile and a friendly hello.”

School is closed today. Counselors will be available at the elementary school for students and staff on Tuesday.

A GoFundMe has been established to help Fannon’s family.

Cross-town rivals unite for beloved first grade teacher who passed away July 30

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – The Laureano family is introduced at the Kendall-Holley faculty basketball game this evening in Kendall.

The game, besides a friendly competition between the two schools, also was a fundraiser for the Amy Laureano Memorial Fund.

Amy was a much-loved first grade teacher at Kendall. She passed away on July 30.

She and her husband Justin have three children: Easton, 21; Kaeden, 18; and Janelle, 15.

Mr. Laureano is an elementary school physical education teacher.

“She was magnificent,” Laureano said about his wife, a well-regarded mentor to younger teachers in the elementary school. “She was a spitfire woman who touched a lot of people.”

Justin Laureano, right, and Nick Picardo, the Kendall school superintendent, embrace on court. Picardo joined Laureano and his children in the starting lineup. Picardo has been a long-time friend of the family.

Laureano said he appreciated the community support since his wife’s unexpected passing. Many people have contributed to a memorial scholarship in his wife’s name, and also for a fund to help some students and their families. Laureano said his wife would privately pay for a few students’ Christmas presents or if they needed clothes.

The fund will cover expenses for a few students each year for clothes, Christmas presents or to participate with a sports team.

The Kendall Lions Club presented Laureano and the school leaders with a donation to the memorial fund. Those are the proceeds from a chicken barbecue on Feb. 10 when the club served 672 dinners.

The Holley faculty and staff team gathers before the start of the game. Mackenzie Fiorito (center in red shirt), a high school junior, served as the student coach. She gave the team a quick pep talk. Logan Gillespie also was a student coach for Holley.

Macey Harrell, a Kendall physical education teacher, is introduced along with the other Kendall teachers and staff.

Kendall won the game, 53-36.

Kevin Parmele, Amy Laureano’s brother, said his sister “let her light shine.” Her family appreciates all the love and support from the community.

Brian Bartalo, the Holley superintendent, and Nick Picardo, Kendall’s district superintendent, met on the court before the game.

The two districts have had several faculty basketball games in recent years, playing to a packed house.

There were baskets up for raffle as a fundraiser for the scholarship.

Kendall teachers including fifth grade teacher Lisa Smith served up food from Jimmy Z’s. Smith is adding hot sauce from her spot in the food service line.

Smith and Amy Laureano were colleagues and friends for about two decades.

“Amy had a great heart,” Smith said. “She was very caring with the children. She made sure all the kids and staff were comfortable in any situation they were in.”

Kaeden Laureano smiles after making a 3-point shot early in the game.

Lucien Price, left, congratulates Derek Edick after making a basket for the Kendall team.

The Holley team gathers for a photo before the game.

The Kendall squad gathers for a team picture.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Elementary students sing “Solfege Symphony” by Cristi Cary Miller. The song is a mashup with classical music including Eine kleine Nachtmusik, Surprise Symphony, Peer Gynt, Beethoven’s 5th and 9th Symphonies and the Hallelujah Chorus.

The sing during this afternoon’s All-County Music Festival at Kendall. The students were directed by guest conductor Dr. Sara Massey, a professor and music education coordinator at Houghton University.

There were 75 students in the elementary chorus from Albion, Holley, Kendall, Lyndonville and Medina.

The elementary students also sang “Look At The World” by John Rutter, “Ching A Ring Chaw” arranged by Linda Spevacek-Avery, and “Can You hear Me?” by Bob Chilcott.

Andrew Bodemer, a Clarence music teacher, served as guest conductor of the junior high band.

The 77 students in the band performed “Flourish and Festivity” by Douglas Akey, “Chasing Sunlight” by Cait Nishimura, “The Road Less Traveled” by Mat Campbell, and “Heart of Gold” by Brian Balmages.

Liam Leader of Albion was one of the trombonists in the junior high band.

Cassie Brown, front center, of Albion is among the 64 members of the senior high chorus. They started by singing “Três Cantos Nativos” by Marcos Leite.

The senior high chorus also sang “O Love” by Elaine Hagenberg, “Sisi Ni Moja” by Jacob Narverud, and “The Awakening” by Joseph M. Martin.

Dr. Kevin Dibble served as guest conductor for the senior high chorus. He is the associate director of the Greatbatch School of Music at Houghton University, where he is also associate director of choral activities and assistant professor of music.

The students sing “Sisi Ni Moja,” a Swahili title that means “We are one” and shares how human beings have much in common.

Photo by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Ron Lasal, second from right, looks over a tractor that caught on fire today when it was inside Lasal’s garage.

A Good Samaritan helped prevent the fire from spreading in the garage.

Firefighters were dispatched to 1556 Kendall Rd. at 12:22 p.m. for a structure fire in a garage.

Lasal had been out snowblowing with a John Deere tractor. When he was done he put the tractor back in the garage.

When he was inside he smelled smoke and thought something might be burning in the kitchen. But the smoke was coming from the garage.

A driver who was out snowplowing noticed the dark smoke coming from the garage. Nate Loescher pulled into the driveway and met Lasal in the driveway. Lasal asked if Loescher if he had a chain on the truck. Loescher did, and they were able to hook it to the tractor that was on fire and pull it out before the flames spread to the garage, said Jeff Cole, a deputy with the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office.

Cole said the fire was likely caused by an electrical or mechanical malfunction with the tractor.

Lasal said he is thankful Loescher stopped to help him. There was no damage to Lasal’s car, and only some smoke damage inside.

Kendall firefighters ventilated the house and garage. Lasal and his wife will be able to stay because the damage was minimized.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Rob Fagan, left, and Steve Barrett flip chickens today in the fire pits behind the Kendall Methodist Church.

The Kendall Lions Club with help the Kendall Leos and other volunteers served 672 chicken barbecue dinners today in annual tradition the Saturday before the Super Bowl. The Lion Club has been organizing the dinner for nearly 20 years and picks a different recipient of the proceeds each year.

The money from today’s dinner will go towards the Amy Laureano Memorial Fund, which has been started for a much-loved Kendall first grade teacher. Amy Laureano passed away on July 30.

Lucas Jones of the Kendall Leos Club scoops cole slaw in a take-out container in the fellowship hall of the church. Ken DeRoller, a Kendall Lions Club member for 40 years, assists in the line of volunteers.

Debbie Ryan of the Lions Club gets a takeout dinner ready to go. Many of the Leos at the Kendall school served as runners, taking the meals out to a lineup of cars.

Elizabeth Pratt, left, puts cole slaw in a take-out container held by Destiny Blosenhauer. The Kendall students volunteered in serving today’s meal. The students liked the fast pace of the operation.

Lions Club members Douglas Urquhart, left, and Cary Wright keep a close eye on the chickens, taking the temperature. The chickens took a little longer to cook today than usual. The Lions Club worked on the cole slaw on Friday and cooked the chickens and potatoes this morning right up until the meals were served after noon.

The club expects the benefit raised about $5,000 for the memorial fund.

There will also be a faculty basketball game on March 7, with teachers from Holley playing Kendall, to raise money for the Amy Laureano Memorial Fund to assist students at Kendall.

Wilma Lemcke aka Ann Mitchell has been a mainstay at jazz clubs in Rochester and Buffalo for many years

Photo by Jack Zuff: Ann Mitchell performs in a Buffalo jazz club.

SPENCERPORT – A Kendall native has just released her first jazz CD, “Again … for the first time” and it features timeless classics spanning the jazz era from the 1930s through the 1950s.

Wilma Lemcke graduated from Kendall in 1976, and has been performing as a jazz singer for many years in the Rochester and Buffalo. She performs under the name Ann Mitchell.

The Spencerport resident has been singing professionally for many years in a very competitive market.

The cover art for the album was designed by Karl Slominski, Ann Mitchell’s son.

“I’ve always followed my heart and passion with music,” she said during an interview by phone today.

Mitchell is a frequent guest on Jazz 90.1, and she performs in jazz clubs, restaurants, and at weddings and funerals in the Rochester and Buffalo region.

She has juggled her professional singing career with raising a family and working as a substitute music teacher. She pushed to get a CD done, and will have it available at her events for $15, and expects it will be in music stores.

“It’s a humbling feeling,” she said today about holding her CD. “You put your heart and soul into it. It’s been quite a journey.”

Lemcke grew up on Carr Road in Kendall. She graduated in 1976 when the country and local community were celebrating the bicentennial of the USA. That commemoration included a trip by Kendall music students to Philadelphia. It was a great year for the Kendall music program, she recalled.

Mitchell earned a degree in theater from SUNY Brockport. She then found her niche in jazz performance as the vocalist for the former bands, Brass Menagerie Big Band and Bob Ames & Co.

Mitchell then formed her own combo to focus her performance on the rich vocals of the jazz era’s timeless classics. Her focus has been to preserve and share music recorded by artists such as Peggy Lee, Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, Julie London and Judy Garland.

Mitchell’s new album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Andy Calabrese. The songs recorded were written by Gershwin, Rogers and Hart, Coleman and Leigh, Warren, Bacharach.

The album include collaborations with musicians Michael Van Allen, John Gabriele, Kyle Vock, Christos Dembeyiotis and Ralph DeBergalis. Mitchell said they have a real understanding of her vocal style and song interpretation.

She will be performing this Saturday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Flight Wine Bar, 262 Exchange St., Rochester. The Ann Mitchell Jazz Trio will be featured in the Jazz 90.1 Greece Baptist Church Concert Series on at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 1230 Long Pond Rd., Rochester.

Mitchell said she would welcome the chance to perform in Orleans County at a concert series. For more information, check her website www.annsings.com or send her an email at annmitchelljazz@gmail.com.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Wilma Lemcke sings “God Bless America” in Kendall on Sept. 29, 2019 when a new war memorial was dedicated at Kendall’s community park.

Amy Laureano

KENDALL – A faculty basketball game on March 7, with teachers from Holley playing Kendall, will raise money for a scholarship fund in a memory of a beloved Kendall first-grade teacher.

Amy Laureano passed away on July 30. A memorial fund in her honor goes to help students in different ways.

“She was a teacher in Kendall for over 20 years and had an immense impact on not only our students, but our community as well,” said Kendall teacher Taylor Kingsbury. “She is missed by all who knew her.”

Kendall vs. Holley faculty basketball game starts at 6 p.m. on March 7 at the Kendall High School Gym. Cost is $2 per person or $8 per family. There will be contests, prizes and basket raffles. Concessions will be available from Jimmy Z’s.

The Kendall Lions Club also will be having a chicken barbecue from noon to 2 p.m. on Feb. 10 with proceeds going to the Amy Laureano Memorial Fund. The barbecue will be at the Kendall United Methodist Church. Tickets can be purchased at the main offices for the elementary school or junior-senior high school.

Provided photos

KENDALL – Kendall town officials took the oath and were sworn in on Jan. 4. The top photo shows Town Supervisor Tony Cammarata and Town Board member Barb Flow reciting the oath of office from Town Justice Debra Kluth.

David Bentley is a new Town Board member and he takes his oath of office.

Eric Maxon is sworn in as new highway superintendent. His granddaughter Maddison holds the bible.

Eric Maxon is joined in this photo by, from left: his son Mike, girlfriend Phyllis Winters, granddaughter Maddison, daughter-in-law Deserae, grandson Michael Jr. and Town Justice Debra Kluth.