Photos by Tom Rivers

YATES – Firefighters put out a chimney fire this morning and make sure there aren’t any hot spots in the cottage by Lake Ontario.

Lorrie and Ed Thering are thankful there wasn’t more damage to their cottage on Fisher Lane. Mrs. Thering called to report the fire at 8:58 a.m. Her husband arrived on the scene and was able to fill buckets of water from mud puddles, helping to contain the fire.

There are strong westerly winds this morning. If it had been easterly winds, the fire likely would have spread through the house, Mr. Thering and firefighters said.

The Therings are putting an addition on the cottage, hoping to make it a year-round residence. The site has been in Mrs. Therings family for about 70 years.

There was a big turnout of firefighters from Lyndonville, Ridgeway, Shelby, Medina and Carlton. That isn’t the normal situation on a Thursday morning, but many of the firefighters are home from work right now due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Therings are hopeful they can have the room repaired soon.

Kyle Morgan of the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company carries a ladder back to a fire truck.

Donato Rosario of the Medina Fire Department removes some of the metal roofing.

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A picture of many Lyndonville students is near the beginning of a new video put together by the school district.

LYNDONVILLE – The school district has created a 6 ½ minute video with many teachers and staff holding messages, telling students they are missed. (Click here to see it.)

Lyndonville was planning a parade by vehicle last Thursday, with teachers and staff passing by students’ residences. But that parade was nixed because the district didn’t want to encourage any kind of social gathering during the coronavirus pandemic. Lyndonville students have now been out of school for three weeks, trying to keep up with school work at home.

Lyndonville instead created a video with messages from teachers, staff and school administrators. The video plays to the song, “We’re All In This Together” from High School Musical.

Myles Kifner, an elementary music teacher at Lyndonville, urges his students to practice with their instruments while they are home with schools closed.

Julia Robinson, one of the Lyndonville teachers, joined in the message brigade for Lyndonville students.

Dr. Elissa Smith, the elementary school principal, lets students know they are missed “a whole lot.”

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Press Release, Save Ontario Shores

The Renewable Energy Siting Law passed today has some minor changes from the governor’s original budget amendment. Community groups were added back in as possible parties. There are additional opportunities to request a hearing.

But the process does not give local concerns, local health impacts, and local environmental issues a chance against the looming “state energy goals” and the out of state industrial renewable developers who stand to profit from these projects.

New York Independent System Operator (NYISO) says the upstate grid is self-contained and cannot transport renewable energy downstate. NYISO also says currently planned transmission upgrades will be insufficient to transport renewable energy downstate. Since upstate electricity is 90% emission-free, New York cannot advance its renewable energy goals by adding more capacity upstate.

There are many ways to address climate change. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has chosen an upstate industrial path that will be expensive and ineffective, and he will do so with expanded authority to overrule local laws.

Local input has always been deemed necessary to properly review large-scale complex industrial projects before approvals are granted to build these projects. Local input is necessary to gauge impacts on a community’s health, environment, economy and safety. Historically these responsibilities have rested with local governments through their local laws. Under prior energy siting laws, the State has been reticent to waive them.

Now the Governor has tightened the vise to crank out many sprawling 400-million-dollar industrial projects in a year. This will be accomplished by removing the “pre-application” phase that offered the local community an opportunity to impact the application before it was filed – and by waiving local laws.

With the decision to waive local laws comes the erosion of protections for citizens and communities from harmful projects. This obligation cannot be subordinate to a political agenda or to private developers.

Unfortunately, this legislation seems to have been driven by such an agenda and the private interests behind it. Usurping home rule harms the health, safety, environment and economy of communities.

About Save Ontario Shores

Save Ontario Shores, Inc. (SOS), was formed in December 2014. We are a self-funded group of local residents and property owners from diverse backgrounds who share a deep appreciation for the unspoiled beauty of Somerset and Yates and the shoreline of Lake Ontario.  We endeavor to protect the rural environment, wildlife, economy and its citizens by opposing the Lighthouse Wind encroachment of up to 70 mammoth industrial wind turbines that will soar more than 600 feet into the sky.

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LYNDONVILLE – The school district has cancelled a faculty and staff parade that was planned for Thursday. Medina also has nixed its “Mustang Motorcade” on Friday.

Jason Smith, the Lyndonville school district superintendent, said the event on Thursday was cancelled “out of an abundance of caution.”

The district is looking at other ways to boost school spirit and connect “virtually” with students and their families, Smith said.

“Our staff was excited to re-connect with our students and families, while maintaining social distance guidelines,” Smith said. “However, given the rapidly changing conditions and recommendations/restrictions, we do not want to take unnecessary risks.”

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LYNDONVILLE – The school district announced there will be a staff parade on Thursday beginning at 1 p.m.

Teachers and other district staff will travel by vehicle to see kids in the community, who have been out of school for two weeks and counting due to health concerns with the coronavirus.

“Our faculty and staff miss you and would love to see you!” the district announced on its website this morning. “If you are on our parade route, please come on your porch or driveway. If we are not passing by your house and you are driving to the area, we kindly ask you to remain in your vehicles, or stay 6 feet apart (Social Distance Guidelines) to celebrate, while at a safe distance from others! Show us your decorated signs, get ready to wave and wear your orange and black to show your Tiger Spirit!”

The parade will follow the route of the July 4^th parade, starting by Lynoaken Farms on Alps Road, left on Willowbrook, down Lake Avenue, turning right on Route 63 (Main Street), turning left on Housel, and ending at the school parking lot.

If people don’t live on the route, they are welcome to pull up and park in their vehicles to see the teachers and staff.

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Press Release, Jason Smith, Lyndonville Central School superintendent

LYNDONVILLE – The school district is seeking to expand access to the internet for online learning during the closure, as we are committed to equal access for all students.

We need feedback if we are going to pursue this opportunity.

Free WiFi access is available on school grounds. The network is GUEST and password is WIRELESS.

Would you/your family be interested in additional hot-spots at either of the following locations?

• Oak Orchard Assembly of God Church – 12111 Ridge Road

• White Birch Golf Course –  1515 North Lyndonville Road

Please let us know by replying to the school district’s tweet, the original Facebook post or by texting us at 585-207-3323 with feedback. You can also call the school district at (585) 765-3101 or e-mail the superintendent at Jasmith@lcsdk12.org.

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Press Release, Emily Cebula, director of Yates Community Library

LYNDONVILLE – Yates Community Library will regretfully close its doors to the public, for an as yet undetermined period of time, beginning at 5 p.m. today.

This is due to the critical need to halt the spread of the COVID-19 virus. This decision was made with careful research of current, reliable information from the U. S. Centers For Disease Control and the Orleans County Health Department, and with thorough discussion among the library’s trustees, with input from our family of library users.

Emily Cebula

The library has stayed open during the early part of this week so that patrons may select the materials they need in person, use our computers to complete their Census questionnaire online, and for other needs.

Here is our plan in order to provide the best service we can in the days ahead:

Overdue Fines: all materials belonging to any Nioga Library System member library, placed in our book drop outside the library’s front, will be checked in fine-free.

Our registered borrowers can easily continue to obtain library materials to take home, using one of the following ways to request books, DVDs, magazines, and audiobooks, belonging to Yates Community Library, or to many of the Nioga System member libraries.

Three ways for registered borrowers to request materials:

• Call Yates Community Library between 2 and 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, at (585) 765-9041, to speak with a staff person directly. Or please leave us a phone message, clearly and slowly stating your full name, with spelling of the last name, and the titles of materials you need, along with your phone number;

• Place a Hold at www.nioga.org.  You will need your borrower ID number and PIN.

• Email: yatescommunitylibrary@gmail.com.

Staff will notify you when the items are available. We will check out the items, put them in a bag with your name attached, and place them on a table located in our foyer. Please pick them up here as soon as possible. The front door will be unlocked between 2 and 6 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. If this is not convenient, please call us at the above phone number to make an appointment.

To renew library materials:

Call the library at (585) 765-9041 between 2 and 6 p.m.

Log in to your account at www.nioga.org.

Additionally:  Yates Community Library’s WiFi is available 24/7 in the parking lot, from the spaces close to the building’s south side. It is not password-protected, nor is your data secure with this connection.

Please take this opportunity to try the online services available through the Nioga Library System, at www.nioga.org. You can stream or download movies, books, audiobooks, magazines, comics, and more using Hoopla, Overdrive (Libby app), and RB Digital, when you set up an account using your 14-digit Borrower ID number on your library card. Registering is much easier than in the past, and there are tutorials on the Nioga website, avove.

Please return all items to the Book Return (slide them in individually, not in a bag), which is located outside the library’s front door, in the corner to your left.

If, in an emergency situation, you need copies or faxing done, please call us between 2 and 5 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday and we will do our best to help you.

We will strive to answer any reference questions you have, M-F, except Wednesdays, between the hours of 2 and 6 p.m. Call us then, or leave a message. Or you can email us at yatescommunitylibrary@gmail.com.

Check the Library’s Facebook page for updates. Also, please visit our website at www.yateslibrary.org.

And we urge you to complete your 2020 Census questionnaire, either online (with desktop or mobile device), by mail, or by phone, using the instructions in your invitation recently received by mail. The organizations that serve you will benefit from the secure collection of your information by the Census Bureau now, more than ever.

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From Lyndonville Village Clerk Teri Woodworth

LYNDONVILLE – Due to the rapid escalation of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Village of Lyndonville offices and all facilities are closed to the public until further notice.

All payments can be made by using the drop box located on the front of the Village Hall. Please put payments in an envelope with a name and phone number. If there are any questions or concerns, call the Village Hall at 585-765-9385.

Payments can also be made online (Click here).

Lyndonville village meetings will temporarily be closed to the public as permitted by Governor Cuomo’s executive order 202, which modifies the rules of open meetings.

Village elections have been moved from March 18 to April 28, per Governor Cuomo’s executive order.

The Village Clerk-Treasurer and Mayor will be available by appointment only at (585) 765-9385 or email: villageoflyndonville@rochester.twcbc.com

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.

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