Photos courtesy of David Klafehn

KENDALL – Kendall graduates are seated in chairs on the school soccer field on Friday evening. Kendall celebrated commencement for 49 graduates in the Class of 2021 at Jurhs Field.

Normally the event is held the junior-senior high school auditorium but Covid-19 restrictions and changing guidelines from the state prompted the district to try a new venue. The soccer field has new bleachers.

Last year, when the crowd size was limited to 150 people for outdoors events, Kendall tried an outdoor ceremony at the firemen’s field. Most of the crowd was limited to staying near their vehicles. This time they were free to sit in the bleachers without masks.

Lauren Miller, one of the graduates, gave the invocation at the beginning of the program.

Willow Clark, an advanced scholar and honorary valedictorian, addressed her classmates.

Ken DeRoller, a graduate from Kendall in 1964, gave the commencement address. After a career at Kodak, DeRoller become an Orleans County legislator. He is a graduate of Leadership Orleans and an active member of the Kendall Lions Club. He urged the graduates to consider building a life in Kendall and Orleans County when they get older, and look for ways to be involved in the community.

DeRoller continued the school’s tradition of having a graduate address the class at commencement.

Carol D’Agostino, high school principal, is at left and Lisa Levett, president of the Board of Education, is at right. Julie Christensen, the district superintendent, also was on the stage. She served as master of ceremonies for the program.

Kendall class advisors Jack Kennan and Jeff Parizek released a lantern in memory of Richard J. Gilman Jr. He and his mother Joan Gilman died from carbon monoxide poisoning on April 18, 2018. Richard “RJ” would have graduated with the class this year.

Waylon Peet shares a reflection about his friend, Richard J. Gilman Jr.

The crowd watches the ceremony from the stands of the soccer stadium which recently received new bleachers as part of a capital project.

The senior chorus sang “Never Enough” from The Greatest Showman.

Ethan Kuhn gets a laugh while giving the salutatory address.

Madison Nardi decorated her cap for the commencement – “Now we breathe, We pick ourselves up, We make our family proud, and We raise our voice louder.”

Joseph Nettles, the valedictorian, gives his speech.

Class officers – Olivia Rice, Jacob Esposito, Ethan Kuhn and Joseph Nettles – lead the class in moving their tassels to symbolize their graduation.

The class gathered for a group photo before the ceremony.

Many of the graduates decorated their caps for the occasion.

Provided photos: Lions Club member John Becker presented the Citizen of the Year award to Bill Mayes.

Information courtesy of Helen Unterborn, a member of the Kendall Lions Club

KENDALL – At their last meeting of the 2020-2021 year, the Kendall Lions celebrated 46 years of service to the Kendall Community. Three new members were inducted into our club by Membership Chair Lion Mike Cusimano.

Lion Jeff Charland sponsored his son, Kurt Charland, as he became a member. Kurt also joins his mother, Lion Becky Charland. Lion Ed Haight proudly sponsored his brother and sister-in-law. We were pleased to welcome back Lion Phil Haight and induct his wife Lorraine as they join our club in service.

Lions Club members from left include Kurt Charland, Jeff Charland, Phil Haight, Lorraine Haight and Ed Haight. Kurt Charlene, Phil Haight and Lorraine Haight all joined the Kendall Lions.

The Kendall Lions also presented several awards recognizing community members and Lions Club members for their service to the community and the club.

We were proud to recognize Bill Mayes as our Citizen of the Year. Lion John Becker presented and shared how since the pandemic began, Bill has been traveling into the city two and sometimes three days a week to collect donated food. This has then been boxed and donated to many needy families in our Kendall Community.

Partyka Farms was recognized for its generous donations to many fundraisers and activities over the years. Lions Club member Eric Maxon presented the Robert J. Uplinger Award to the Partyka family.

Lion Eric Maxon highlighted their giving spirit and many of the ways they have supported our club through donations and sponsorship of our fundraisers and activities.

For the past several years, they have hosted our annual pumpkin patch for the elementary students. This year, to provide the pumpkins in a safe manner, they delivered the pumpkins and set them up for a drive-in event at the Fire Hall. During the pandemic when we were unable to host a breakfast for the 2020 Kendall Seniors, they donated coupons for a sweet treat to accompany our Lion pins as gifts for the seniors. The Kendall Lions extend a big thank you to the entire Partyka Family.

Mike Cusimano and his daughter, Julie Bunn, have made a great team for the Kendall Lions this year. Lion Mike Cusimano received the Ray Ernenwein Lion of the Year Award in recognition for his participation and leadership in the many events and service projects of our club.

Lion Julie Bunn is our newest Melvin Jones Fellow. She was recognized for her leadership and service. Lion Julie implemented aa Check In service for our Senior Citizens during the pandemic and organized many Lions and community members in picking up and delivering food boxes to over 50 families in our community. Lion Julie also is an active participant in our events and service projects and has taken on the leadership role of club treasurer.

Lions Club member Candy Minigiello (left) presented a Career Lion award to Gary Crawford, who is joined by his wife Linda Crawford.

Gary Crawford is the club’s incoming president. Lion Gary has been an active and loyal Lion for over 45 years. He is not only an asset to our club but the community as well, serving in the Fire Department and as an EMT for 50 years.

Press Release, NYS Department of Transportation

KENDALL – The New York State Department of Transportation today announced the start of construction on a $950,000 project to combat flooding in the Town of Kendall, Orleans County, as part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative (REDI), aimed at rebuilding lake shore communities affected by Lake Ontario flooding in 2019.

During times of high water, culverts adjacent to Edrose Shore, Knapp Shore and Thompson Drive become clogged with debris, causing frequent road closures due to flooding. This interruption to traffic is a safety hazard, limiting emergency access to nearby residents.

Town of Kendall Supervisor Anthony Cammarata said, “Through the Governor’s Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative, and with great partnership with state agencies, we will replace four critical culverts. These measures will not only reduce the chance of road closures due to flooding but will also increase public safety for the residents of the Town of Kendall, allowing continued access for emergency vehicles and personal. We are thankful for this opportunity to work collaboratively with New York State.”

Resiliency and revitalization measures for this project consist of replacing four existing culverts located within 200 feet of Lake Ontario with a more modern design that will ultimately enhance safety and promote uninterrupted access for nearby residents and homes.

State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez said, “Governor Cuomo is continuing his promise to help lakeshore communities build back better and ensure our infrastructure is more resilient to the negative impacts of flooding and climate change. The State Department of Transportation stands with New Yorkers who have had to experience these devastating floods firsthand, and we are committed to helping shoreline communities become more resilient and economically viable for the future.”

Orleans County Legislature Chair Lynne Johnson said, “As we continue to progress REDI projects to fortify our lake front infrastructure, the replacing of culvert ends on Edrose Shore, Knapp Shore, and Thompson Drive in the Town of Kendall are a great example of making our infrastructure more resilient to flooding. This project, along with the other Orleans County REDI projects, is a testament to the level of commitment Governor Cuomo, the Lake Ontario Resiliency and Economic Development Initiative, the Town of Kendall, and Orleans County has made to ensuring we maintain public and private infrastructure that promotes economic development, sustainability, and resiliency.”

In response to the extended pattern of flooding along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River, Governor Cuomo created REDI to increase the resilience of shoreline communities and bolster economic development in the region. Five REDI Regional Planning Committees, comprised of representatives from eight counties (Niagara and Orleans, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga and Oswego, and Jefferson and St. Lawrence) were established to identify local priorities, at-risk infrastructure and other assets, and public safety concerns. The REDI Commission allocated $20 million for homeowner assistance, $30 million to improve the resiliency of businesses, and $15 million toward a regional dredging effort that will benefit each of the eight counties in the REDI regions. The remaining $235 million has been allocated towards local and regional projects that advance and exemplify the REDI mission.

At Governor Cuomo’s direction, the REDI commission toured areas hard hit by flooding on Lake Ontario and worked with local communities to come up with a new vision for the shoreline from both a resiliency and economic development point of view in order to build back better and stronger for the future.

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – Caleb Opalecky, a Kendall sixth-grader, is in a cloud of color powder during a color splash as part of the sixth-graders moving up ceremony this evening outside the Kendall Elementary School.

Brayden Steffen  is blasted with color powder in the not-so-stuffy moving up ceremony.

The event had been the junior-senior high school auditorium in years past, until last year when there was a drive-through outdoor ceremony due to Covid restrictions. Students a year hopped out of their cars for a splash of color in a quick moving up presentation.

This year, with Covid restrictions eased, the ceremony stayed outside and the 51 students in the class sat in chairs in the parking lot with their families.

Jacob Abrams makes a dramatic entrance. Each student walked through a decorated doorway along the sidewalk, and Middle School Principal Kevin Watson shared some of their highlights from school, as well as a favorite quote from the student, a favorite memory, a favorite teacher and their future dreams.

The sidewalk was decorated with messages from parents, congratulating the students on their success in the elementary school and wishing them well in the junior-senior high school.

Parker Denning, a Kendall sixth-grader, is doused with color from Kendall sixth grade teachers as part of a moving up celebration. The sixth graders next school year will be in the junior-senior high school. The six grade teachers include Meghan Dill and Erin Coughlin, left, and Gaby Watson and Amy Bateman, right.

Adriana Schiavone is all smiles after running through the cloud of powder.

Brayden Mack takes several shots of color powder from the sixth grade teachers.

Aliie Wietz takes some direct hits from the teachers, who delighted in their role.

Preston Manners disappears in a fog of color.

C.J. D’Agostino emerges from the cloud of color powder. The ceremony was about an hour and half and was high-energy, like many of the students. Kevin Watson, the principal, as was DJ and played a range of music from “Celebration” by Kool & the Gang to “Back in Black” by ACDC.

Kaitlyn Hinman takes her turn through the color splash.

Lucas Ogden closes his eyes and soaks up the color.

Olivia Sawyer runs through the color splash zone on a sidewalk next to the elementary school.

Devin Derosia leaves a trail of color powder after darting past the teachers.

After the students all went through the color splash, they enjoyed a hay ride on a flat bed truck, courtesy of Kludt Farms. The ride went from the elementary to the high school.

Dana Longrod (right) is retiring after 35 years as a Kendall elementary school teacher. He is currently teaching fifth grade. Each student presented him with his favorite drink, a can of Mountain Dew, or his favorite snack, a glazed donut. Here he accepts a can of Mountain Dew from sixth-grader Conner Millard.

Mr. Longrod took up the challenge from the students and was doused with color powder from the teachers.

KENDALL – School district residents approved a school budget for $19,980,729 budget today in a 171 to 70 vote.

The budget raises property taxes by 1 percent and preserves the district’s programs.

• Proposition No. 2 Transportation Bus Reserve Fund, which authorizes up to $250,000, passed with a vote of 196 to 45.

• Board of Election (1 position for 5-year term) – David Warren was elected with 121 votes, over incumbent Charles Patt with 106 and Robert McGregor with 13.

‘He has a great heart and he would help anyone’

Photos by Tom Rivers

KENDALL – About 200 T-shirts were distributed this evening to show support for Tom Drennan, a retired chief deputy of the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and longtime Kendall firefighter.

Drennan was recently diagnosed with multiple myeloma and has completed two rounds of chemotherapy. He is awaiting a stem cell transplant and then faces more chemotherapy.

His friends – Steve Cooley, left, and Chris and Stacey Seefeldt – handed out the T-shirts this evening from the Kendall Elementary School parking lot.

Drennan is well-liked, especially in the Kendall community.

“Tom has been a great guy with the Fire Department and he was a great cop,” said Nathan Loescher, who was among the crowd who paid for a shirt as a fundraiser. “He has a great heart and he would help anyone.”

Loescher said he appreciated when the Kendall community rallied for his mother, when she had pancreatic cancer about five years ago. About 500 chicken barbecue dinners were sold to help her with her medical bills. “It was a huge help,” he said.

Kristen Ferris of Carlton also has felt the community support when there was cancer in her family. She wanted to help the Drennan family, and said Drennan has been a family friend her entire life.

The T-shirts include Drennan’s badge number of 145 on the front and the message “Team Drennan – You got this” on the back.

Besides the T-shirts, there was a basket raffle with the items sold with an auction through Facebook.

Chris and Stacey Seefeldt led the fundraising efforts, and managed to keep it a secret from the Drennans through a closed Facebook group.

The two families often go camping together, but that has been put off this year.

Photo courtesy of Debbie Prest

About 50 people walked from the school to Drennan’s home and surprised Tom and his wife Terri. They were presented with a check for about $11,000. A Kendall fire truck led the processional to the Drennan home.

People were eager to help the family while Drennan is off from working with Ludwick Paving & Concrete.

Terri Drennan, who works as the crime victims unit coordinator in Orleans County, posted on Facebook, thanking everyone for sending love, prayers and positivity.

“Finding out ALL OF YOU are supporting Tom’s journey means more than you can ever imagine…shirts, donations, baskets, cards, kind words…there is no way saying thank you can begin to capture how overwhelmed we are and how full our hearts are,” she said.

KENDALL – The Kendall school district is proposing a $19,980,729 budget for 2021-22 that would increase taxes by 1 percent.

The budget represents a 13.5 percent increase in spending or by $2,377,133, up from $17,603,596 in 2020-21. Of that increase, $1,550,762 is due to the debt service for a capital project and that payment is covered with state building aid, Julie Christensen, the district superintendent, stated in Kendall’s school newsletter.

The other $751,371 is an increase in operational funding for a district with 200 employees.

Kendall’s budget raises taxes by $49,155, from $4,915,501 to $4,964,656. Kendall is projecting a tax rate of $16.07 per $1,000 of assessed property for property owners. That is down from $16.48 in 2020-21.

“We anticipate all programs and services, extracurricular activities, funds for 1:1 devices and staffing ratios will remain consistent with pre-COVID-19 patterns,” Christensen wrote in the district newsletter. “We are very pleased to provide the opportunity for five days of instruction and no budgetary reductions during such uncertain times.”

Kendall’s budget is 74 percent funded through state aid. The district is receiving a $237,034 boost from the state in operating aid or Foundation Aid, which Christensen said is the first increase in that category in several years.

Kendall district residents will vote on the budget from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 18 at the Kendall Elementary School Gym, 1932 Kendall Rd. Eligible voters need to be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old and a resident of the district for at least 30 days immediately prior to the vote.

Besides the budget, residents will vote on Proposition No. 2 – Transportation Bus Reserve Fund Usage. Kendall is asking for permission to purchase transportation vehicles to replace existing vehicles in the transportation program of the district, at a sum not to exceed $250,000. The district said there will be no additional taxes with this proposal.

Proposition 3 is the election of a five-year term board member. There are three candidates for one five-year term. Charles Patt, the incumbent, is seeking re-election. He works at the Kendall Town Highway Department and owns Patt Bros. Farm.

The other candidates include David Warren, a parts manager for Auto Zone and retired manufacturing engineering manager, and Bob McGregor, a retired state corrections officer.

For more information on the Board of Education candidates, click here.

Photos courtesy of Kendall Lions Club

KENDALL – The Kendall Lions Club and other community members held their annual cleanup day on Saturday. The top photo shows John Patt, a Kendall Boy Scout at left, and other volunteers.

About 30 volunteers picked up trash along Kendall roadways. Eric Maxon of the Lions Club chaired the event.

Lions Bob Slocum and Gary Crawford drop off the trash they collected.

Pictured from left include some of the volunteers: Stacey Baker, Stacey Lynaugh and Lion Zina Cappatelli

Lions Bob Furness and Bill Ingham cook hotdogs for the volunteers.

Ken Spohr is leader of the Kendall Scout troop. Several scouts and their families participated.

On Friday, Lions Club member Mike Cusimano visited fourth grade classrooms and gave each student a tree, which has been a club tradition the day before the cleanup day.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Kendall Central School is slated for $1,274,000 in federal funding as part of the newly approved American Rescue Plan.

The newly passed American Rescue Plan will bring $12.5 million to the five districts in Orleans County, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said today.

The breakdown for the five districts in Orleans County includes:

• Albion, $4,265,000
• Holley, $2,304,000
• Kendall, $1,233,000
• Lyndonville, $1,274,000
• Medina, $3,411,000

The funding is part of $2.5 billion in federal money headed to school districts in Upstate New York, Schumer said.

The Senator said the Covid crisis forced schools to close, with safely reopening them costing districts tens of thousands of dollars. The federal funding allocated for schools in the American Rescue Plan will help bring students back to their desks when New York recovers from the pandemic.

“Everyone wants schools to reopen completely and for our children to be able to return to the classroom, but it needs to be done in a way that is safe for students, families, educators, and learning institutions,” Schumer said. “Covid brought unprecedented challenges that have cost a year of learning and development for students—challenges disproportionately felt by students of color, students from low-income families, students with disabilities, and more. As Majority Leader, I was proud to make funding for our schools a priority, and the American Rescue Plan will deliver this much needed aid to get Upstate students back in school. Help is on the way for Upstate New York’s schools put behind the curve by the pandemic.”

The federal aid will help districts fill budget gaps, address learning loss, meet the needs of students with disabilities, assist students experiencing homelessness, provide summer enrichment and afterschool programs, and other services.

“Without this funding, districts would continue to be forced to redirect resources for many of the unanticipated costs related to the pandemic,” said Sherry Johnson, executive director of Monroe County School Boards Association. “Now, our districts can focus on getting students and staff back safely, make determinations on how best to meet student needs moving forward and begin to focus on helping our communities see the opportunities for education beyond the pandemic.”

Provided photos: Pictured in front of the Kindness Display are Elementary Honor Society members Emily Brundage (left) and Adrianna Schiavone (right), holding signs they created to encourage kind behavior.

KENDALL – During the month of February, Honor Society members at Kendall Elementary School organized and implemented a Kindness Campaign.

The theme was “Throw Kindness Like Confetti” and about 200 acts of kindness were recognized on the display.

Students, faculty, staff and administrators were encouraged to look for acts of kindness. When one was spotted, a description of the act and participants were written on colored paper.

Those colored pieces of paper became the kindness confetti and were hung on the display.

The display is outside the cafeteria covering a portion of the wall. Honor Society members also created signs to hang around the school to remind students of ways to be kind.

Covid has wiped out other events

KENDALL – The Kendall Faculty Association is planning a drive-through pancake breakfast for March 20, a new fundraiser after so many of the KFA events have been cancelled due to Covid.

The breakfasts will help the Faculty Association offer scholarships. The organization offers 6 scholarships in honor of former teachers. They usually range from $500 to $1,000. Once those scholarships are awarded, the KFA has other scholarships that are usually $100 to $200 depending on how much money the KFA was able to raise that year.

The past 12 months has been a challenge for the organization to raise money. In previous years, the Faculty Association held a basket raffle at homecoming, two roller-skating parties, and a movie night.

“All of those events were cancelled due to Covid,” said Heather Tomasino, KFA president and a special education teacher. “The only fundraiser that we have been able to hold this year is the Christmas Sale, which will solely fund our scholarships. This means that we will be forced to award fewer and for smaller amounts.”

Tomasino said the pancake breakfast, if it’s a success, could become an annual fundraiser. There aren’t presale tickets for the event. It’s first come, first serve until sold out. Adult meals are $10 and kid meals are $5 and it includes pancakes, sausage and eggs. The event will be from 9 to 11 a.m. at the high school.

Provided photos

KENDALL – Students in grades 5 through 8 in Kendall celebrated the first WinterFest at the school on Friday.

Students played dodgeball, kickball, hockey, Capture the Flag, and sledding in the snow. 

“Thanks to the generosity of Brockport Schools, we were able to borrow skis and snowboards so that our students could try new activities,” said Kevin Watson, Kendall grades 5-8 principal. “Add in donuts from Millers in Medina and plenty of hot chocolate, and Middle School WinterFest became an instant classic – something we hope our middle school continues to offer students each winter.”

Kendall has about 200 students in grades 5 through 8. Nearly 90 percent decided to go outside and brave the elements. The students who stayed inside had the option of reading a book or drawing. Some of the remote-only students attended the event at the school campus.

Watson and Lindsay Hammer, the middle school counselor, have been brainstorming ways to make the middle-school experience uniquely special for the 5th through 8th graders. 

“We know now more than ever that students need to unplug and unwind,” Watson said. “Middle-level students love to play outside in the winter, so we decided to ask student representatives from each grade level to help us envision a special Middle School day outside in the middle of winter.”

Students met virtually the past two months each week to plan the types of experiences that they wanted to participate in. It started with a simple question: If you were able to plan a fun day outside in the snow, what would you want to do? 

The Kendall parents were extremely supportive of this idea, and school staff  not only helped with the planning, but they have also helped to secure winter items for many of our students, Watson said. 

“This has been a true team effort, and I am very proud of how this day unfolded,” Watson said. “I love the fact that our middle level students can feel special about having a day that celebrates them! I also love that our students were the driving force behind the day’s activities!” 

Provided photos

KENDALL – Leaders of the Kendall Lions Cub today presented a check to Stacy Lynaugh, third from left, to help with some of the financial challenges while she fights ovarian cancer. Lynaugh is a teacher’s aide at Kendall Central School.

Bob Ryan, left, is the Kendall Lions Club president and Phil D’Agostino is the chairman of an annual chicken barbecue that was last Saturday. The Lions Club served about 1,272 dinners at the annual club tradition the Saturday before the Super Bowl. Zina Cappotelli, right, is a close friend of Lynaugh’s and she also sold the most tickets for the dinners.

“When I heard the word ‘cancer’ for the first time I felt so alone, but when you live in a small town filled with the most amazing people, you do not feel alone – you feel loved,” Lynaugh said in a statement. “I would like to thank the Kendall Lions Club members, students and community members for all the hard work that went into this barbecue fundraiser. I am humbled by the generosity of this gift.

“Saying thank you never seems powerful enough words to me. How can I express how much not only this fundraiser, but every act of kindness has meant to me? I thank this small town for the all the love it has shown me.”

The Lions Club cooks the dinners last Saturday. They were served as take-outs in a drive-through line at the Kendall United Methodist Church.

Some members of the Kendall Leos Club assisted with the dinner. Phil D’Agostino was happy to have their help. The Leos from the high school volunteered 44 hours with 216 hours served by the Lions Club and community members.

This group includes Phil D’Agostino, Zina Cappotelli, Stacy Lynaugh, Bob Ryan, Mike Cusimano and Julie Bunn. The Lions Cub presented the money at the school library.

“My mom said to me that she is comforted knowing that I live in a community that continually is there for me,” Lynaugh said. “Every day a card, homemade meal, an encouraging word, and most of all prayers to lift me up and give me strength to fight this horrific disease.

“I am fortunate to work at a job that I love with people who I am honored to call family. Working at Kendall Central School and Partyka Farms has allowed me to meet so many caring people. I am proud to call Kendall home. I feel blessed to have family, friends, co-workers and community members that never cease to amaze me with how they are always there for me.”

Photos courtesy of Kendall Lions Club

KENDALL – The Kendall Lions Club cooks chicken halves on Saturday during the club’s annual winter chicken barbecue.

The club served about 1,250 dinners. The event was take-out and drive-through only at the Kendall United Methodist Church.

Proceeds from the dinner will go to Stacy Lynaugh, a local resident battling cancer. The Lions Club does that every year with the dinner, using the funds to help a local resident with medical bills or another unexpected crisis.

Kendall Lions and members of the Leos Club at the high school package the meals, which were delivered to vehicles who lined up at the church entrance off Crandall Avenue.

The Lions Club also prepped food for the big meal on Friday.

Kendall Leos assisted with the big effort on Saturday.