Provided photos

KENDALL – An annual Flag Day tradition at Kendall Elementary School includes a group photo of students and teachers assembled in front of the school, with photo taken from the rooftop.

Today’s photo showed the students in the formation of a giant heart. Teachers wore blue shirts and lined up inside the heart to show the initials “AL” and “CF.”

That is in honor of two teachers who died unexpectedly within the past year.

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

Courtney Fannon, a special education teacher at Kendall, passed away after collapsing at the school on March 8. She was in the late stages of pregnancy.

The “AL” includes Amy’s husband Justin Laureano at the top of “A.” Mr. is an elementary school physical education teacher.

Kendall’s Flag Day celebration also included an assembly that taught students about the holiday, how to properly display and dispose of a flag, and about proper use of a flag. The students sang “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “God Bless America,” “America the Beautiful,” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” There also was a ukulele version of “Born in the U.S.A.”

Kendall, Middleport churches would close in recommendation not yet finalized

Photo by Tom Rivers: St. Stephen’s Catholic Church would be closed as part of a restructuring plan announced tonight by the Diocese of Buffalo with the church merging with Holy Trinity in Medina. St. Mark’s in Kendall would merge with St. Mary’s in Holley.

The Diocese of Buffalo tonight announced its restructuring plan for churches in Orleans and Niagara counties with St. Mark’s in Kendall to close and merge with St. Mary’s in Holley, and St. Stephen’s in Middleport to close and merge with Holy Trinity in Medina.

These are recommended changes and not final, said Joe Martone, Diocese spokesman.

The plan for parishes within the Niagara/Orleans Vicariate was presented this evening to pastors and parish family officers at the Diocese of Buffalo’s Renewal meeting at Immaculate Conception in Ransomville.

Parish families have the opportunity to present alternative proposals by July 15, Martone said.

The 8-county Diocese of Buffalo announced on May 28 it will work to reduce the number of parishes by 34 percent in the eight-county region, which includes Orleans.

“The Diocese of Buffalo is facing multiple challenges including a significant priest shortage, declining Mass attendance, aging congregations and ongoing financial pressures brought about by our Chapter 11 filing,” Bishop Michael Fisher said on May 28.

Some of the grim data from the Diocese includes a 49 percent decline in registered households across the 8-county region, 59 percent of parishes with a negative net operating balance, 59 percent of parishes experiencing a steady decline in baptisms, 24 percent decrease in marriages from 2020 to 2023 in the Diocese, and the average age for priests is 76, with 63 percent of the priests between the ages of 65 and 70.

Orleans County already lost a Catholic church last year when St. Joseph’s in Lyndonville was badly damaged in a Feb. 28 fire. The Diocese opted not to rebuild the church and had it torn down in November.

Diocese recommendations for Niagara/Orleans Vicariate

(Changes in italics)

Family #10

All Saints, Lockport – merge with St. John – close St. Joseph campus

Our Lady of the Rosary worship site in Wilson to close

St. John the Baptist, Lockport

Immaculate Conception, Ransomville – move to Family #34

St. Patrick, Barker – move to Family #10

St. Brendan on the Lake, Newfane

Family #11

St. Stephen, Middleport to merge with Holy Trinity in Medina

St. Mark in Kendall to merge with St. Mary’s in Holley

St. Mary, Holley

Holy Family, Albion

Holy Trinity, Medina

Family #34

St. Raphael, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Peter, Lewiston

St. Peter, Lewiston

Accept Immaculate Conception, Ransomville, into Family #34

Family #35

Divine Mercy, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Mary of the Cataract

St. John de LaSalle, Niagara Falls – merge with St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul, Niagara Falls

St. Mary of the Cataract, Niagara Falls

Holy Family of Jesus Mary and Joseph, Niagara Falls – Our Lady of Mount Carmel site to close

Amber Harrier, who lost both parents to a car accident when she was 10, will graduate with high honors

Photo by Tom Rivers: Amber Harrier, a senior who will graduate on June 28, said the school district and many local families have helped her reach this point. Her parents were killed in a car accident when she was 10 in September 2017.

KENDALL – These days when Amber Harrier, 17, looks in the mirror, she sees her mother. Amber has her mom’s long curly hair and their facial features are a close match.

Seeing that resemblance makes Amber happy – and sad.

Amber was 10 when both her mother and father were killed in a car accident on Route 31 near the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville. Rebecca Harrier had slowed to make a left hand turn onto Taylor Hill Road when her Chevrolet Corsica was rear-ended. Mrs. Harrier was pronounced deceased at the scene on Sept. 17, 2017. Her husband Randy, 38, was a passenger and died from his injuries the following day.

“I miss them,” Amber said during an interview last week. “I have dreams where they are magically there.”

Amber is the youngest of their three children. She said she continues to feels grief, and anger from the loss of her parents. She has managed high honor roll grades in school, but she admitted she struggled her junior year and considered dropping out.

But teachers, staff and friends kept her going. She has refocused this year and will be attending St. Bonaventure University in Olean to major in psychology with a goal to become a mental health counselor.

Amber says she kept a consuming anger bottled up for several years. As a freshman, she started to let it out. That has helped.

She has come out of her shell, and this year tried things outside her comfort zone, including singing and dancing in the school’s musical of Beauty and the Beast.

“I never thought I’d see myself doing that,” Amber said about performing on stage.

In the musical program, she thanked two teachers, Jeff Decker and Maggie Allocco, for their extra care during her high school years. They helped fill some of the void from losing her parents. Amber said in the program she hoped she made her mom and dad proud.

Photos courtesy of Amber Harrier: Amber Harrier is shown with her mother Rebecca and her father Randy. Amber said she thinks about them every day.

Decker teaches technology and has had Amber in class for four of the past five years. He said she is a role model who has become a leader.

“Everyone should follow in her footsteps and persevere,” Decker said.

He sees Amber taking apart contraptions, trying to figure out how they work. In his principles of engineering class, Amber and her classmates had a challenge in Power Tool Drag Racing where they had to take apart a power toll and repurpose it into a drag racing vehicle.

When others were stumped, Amber kept searching on how to build a chassis, and use old gears and pulleys.

In his classes since 8^th grade, Amber has explored electronics, woodworking, 3-D modelling, photography, computer graphics and other technology.

“She has a strength that most kids don’t have,” Decker said. “She doesn’t see it, but I do. It’s the way she overcomes obstacles.”

Decker can relate to losing a parent. He was 17 and living in West Irondequoit when his father died unexpectedly.

Amber said Decker is very patient – “He is chill.”

He helps students work through their problems in the classroom, offering praise for their successes and some gentle correction when they are stuck.

“He is just there for me,” Amber said.

Decker said many students have challenges outside of school, and some have suffered tremendous losses and pain.

“You have no idea what a kid is going through,” he said.

Decker said his teachers were a critical support for him when he lost his father.

Amber Harrier has kept high grades in Kendall and looks forward to attending St. Bonaventure University.

Amber also cited Allocco, an earth science teacher, for giving her extra kindness.

“She reminds me of my mom,” Amber said. “She has taught me life. I would be a totally different person without her.”

Marjim Bauer also has been a big support for Amber during her junior high and high school years. Bauer has worked as a counselor at Kendall for 25 years.

She gives Amber some “tough love,” and helps her complete some of the daunting paperwork to enroll into college, including the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and the form for TAP (Tuition Assistance Program).

Bauer was a teen when her mother died. Bauer said she is committed to helping students work through barriers to their success.

Amber also said some of her friends and their families have been very welcoming, in particular the Stonewell, Reis and Allen families.

“They have let me be part of their families,” Amber said. “I’m very thankful.”

This year Amber has stayed with her friend Callie Allen and her family. Amber and Callie are both headed to St. Bonaventure.

Amber said her goal is to become a mental health counselor to work with teens struggling with anger, grief and other issues.

She said Bauer, the school’s director of counseling, is her role model for what she wants to do with her career.

Bauer said Amber is self-driven to excel. She deserves lots of credit for showing such resilience amidst so much adversity, Bauer said.

“She has pride,” Bauer said. “She wants to do well.”

Photos and information courtesy of Christa Bowling, Troop Leader

ALBION – Kendall’s Girl Scout Troop 82257 surprised PAWS Animal Shelter in Albion today with over $800 in animal care donations.

The Kendall Girl Scout troop is made up of 34 girls from kindergarten to grade 4. This year when the troop members discussed all of the fun things they could do with their money earned from selling Girl Scout cookies, the first thing they said was “Help an animal shelter.” Today they did just that.

This Kendall troop sold over 10,000 boxes of Girl Scout cookies this past cookie season. Their leader, Christa Bowling of Kendall, couldn’t be more proud of her girls and their big hearts ready to help. PAWS was a great shelter to work with, and enjoyed sharing the animals with the girls today.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Bailey Schultz is covered in fake blood in a simulated car crash this morning at Kendall Junior-Senior High School. Five Kendall students role played in a message for their classmates about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Kendall did the event a day before Friday’s prom which will be at the White Birch Golf Course in Lyndonville.

Firefighters and school officials told students to avoid driving if they’ve been drinking alcohol, or if they are overly tired or texting. And that message applies at all the times, especially during the prom and upcoming season of graduation parties.

“Drinking and driving is not an option,” said Melissa Strelick, the school’s principal. “You need to look out for each other. This is totally avoidable.”

Kendall firefighters work to take apart the roof of the car, peeling back the metal. There were students inside to be rescued.

Kendall has done the simulation each year before the prom since at least 2013.
“It’s for the kids to show the effects of drinking and driving, texting and driving, and any impairments,’ said Mike Schultz, a lieutenant with the Kendall FD.

His daughter was one of the “injured” students. Schultz said it was painful to see his daughter in the simulation and he had to walk away because he was feeling so emotional.

Sgt. Adam Hazel of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office does a DWI field sobriety test on Hunter Richards, who portrayed a drunk driver. He was handcuffed and led away in a patrol car.

Hazel spoke to the students and told them a fatal car accident can devastate the entire community.

“You have to make good decisions,” Hazel said.

Monroe Ambulance medics have Jimmie Swift on a stretcher. He was one of three students taken away by ambulance as part of today’s simulation. Gracie Robb and Lucas Jones also portrayed injured students who needed ambulance transport.

About 100 students in the junior and senior classes watched the simulation this morning.

Orleans County Chief Coroner Scott Schmidt comforts Karen Jones, who was the “acting mom” for Bailey Schultz. Schmidt pronounced her deceased at the scene and covered her with a blanket. Jones is also Kendall’s director of transportation.

Kendall firefighters take off the windshield in one of the cars. The event is also a recruitment effort for the department. After the simulation, Fire Chief Randy Davis encouraged the students to get a close look at the fire apparatus and tools. Davis said about eight students in recent years have joined the department after seeing the DWI crash simulation.

A1 Towing & Auto in Holley donated the two vehicles for today’s simulation.

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.